Pokémon GO Fest 2026 recently kicked off in Tokyo, Japan, but the rollout will be gradual, depending on whether you plan to visit the events in Chicago or Copenhagen or wait until Pokemon GO Fest Global in July. There are many Pokémon available as part of GO Fest, but the ones we're most excited about are Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y. In terms of meta relevance, both versions of Mega Mewtwo will be very powerful, and if the leaked data about Mega Mewtwo's stats is accurate, it could be one of the best Pokémon in the game.
However, some people may have noticed that the costs associated with Mega Evolving Mega Mewtwo X or Mega Mewtwo Y are much more significant than any other Mega Pokémon in the game. Some equate this to the cost associated with Eternatus, the best Dynamax Pokemon in the game. Mega evolving Mewtwo into X or Y form for the first time costs 7,500 Mega Energy. At first glance, this seems like a lot. Especially considering that players only get about 450 Mega Energy for each raid they complete. But Niantic and Scopely are actually doing something rather clever with this, and I think it's actually really cool.
Mega Mewtwo X and Y aren't as expensive as you might think.
One of the biggest differences from Pokémon GO's Mega Mewtwo Raids during Pokémon GO Fest 2026 is that players who complete Super Mega Raids will have the opportunity to catch Mewtwo with its first Mega level already unlocked. Furthermore, it's unlikely that Mewtwo in Super Mega Raids will unlock a second or third mega level, but the odds of him receiving those upgrades aren't certain.
What's interesting is that after unlocking the first level, the cost to giant evolve Mewtwo is on par with any other giant evolution in the game. Specifically, it looks like unlocking levels 2 and 3 will cost significantly less Mega Energy, and reaching Mega Level 4 is expected to cost around 5,000 Energy. So what's actually preventing players from accessing one of the best Pokemon is 7,500 Mega Energy. Pokemon GO.
Being able to skip the initial Mega Energy cost motivates players to use the new Mewtwo they catch during Pokémon GO Fest, either in offline events or in globals, and to use a Mewtwo that is either a shiny 100% IV or an ultra-rare Shundo (shiny + 100%) rather than a Mewtwo they already have. Basically, Pokémon GO players will be getting back to hunting Mewtwo.
For Pokémon GO, this is a huge advantage because it means more players will participate in Mewtwo X and Y's Super Mega Raids. Niantic wants as many players as possible to participate, as it sounds like these super mega raids could be the most difficult they've ever seen. For the GO Tour, Mega Dragonite Super Mega Raids required at least 12 Mega-Evolved Pokémon to break the shield and effectively complete the raid. So it's not surprising to see Mega Mewtwo have a higher shield count. Probably about 15 shields, which would require 15 mega evolved Pokemon. Currently, the maximum number of people for a Super Mega Raid is 20, which means the barrier to entry is high if the population is not active during GO Fest.
So while you can quite easily do enough Super Mega Raids to get 7,500 Mega Energy and finish it in a day, it seems more likely that players will be hunting a Mewtwo that is either Mega Level 2 or Mega Level 3, or at least Mega Level 1 and possibly has one of the shiny or unique GO Fest backgrounds. For my money, it's a really smart play for Niantic to get more players to invest, which is crucial for GO Fest to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the hugely popular mobile game.
Why you need to farm Mega Mewtwo in Super Mega Raid
Without the benefit of an instant Mega Level 1 unlock, the Mega Energy cost might have turned players off almost immediately, but now it seems to be the biggest incentive to engage in Super Mega Raids now rather than waiting for potential Super Mega Raids with Mega Mewtwo in the future. I know I'll be hunting for glitter with good IVs for both Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y.
Aside from Mega Mewtwos' high CP and strong stat values, their meta relevance as a Raid attacker is quite large. Mega Mewtwo Y will be one of the best Super-type Pokemon GO attackers once he enters the game, and Mega Mewtwo X will be one of the best Fighting-type attackers once he enters the game. It also has different types and relevance depending on what actions you add.
Mega Mewtwo is one of the main selling points of GO Fest 2026, but that's not the only reason to attend this year's event. Zeroara's debut is exciting for a number of reasons, including its relevance when its mega-evolved form debuts. Many of the game's most popular Pokémon will be available in raids throughout the event Saturday and Sunday. Of course, you also have the chance to catch Pokémon with special themed backgrounds.
But if there's one thing you should do during GO Fest, it's participate in Mega Mewtwo Super Mega Raids. Ideally, I would participate in both X and Y, but if I had to choose, I would focus on Y. Mega Mewtwo Y will be one of the best Pokémon in the game and one you won't want to miss. Be sure to bring a Mega-Evolved Pokémon to the Super Mega Raid.
