Mega Evolution has been a fan-favorite gimmick in the Pokémon franchise ever since its debut in 2013’s Pokémon X and Y. Obtaining the Mega Stones and triggering the numerous transformations of their favorite Pokémon with a Key Stone is so much fun! The best part, of course, is using the newly mega-evolved powerhouses in the gyms or Pokémon League.
And now, after so many years, Mega Evolution FINALLY returns in “Pokémon Legends Z-A.” The reveals of Mega Dragonite, Mega Victreebel, and now Mega Hawlucha accompanied the most recent updates about this game. Therefore, in honor of the new reveals and of the upcoming game, I’ve decided to go through every single Mega Evolution up until this point and rank them. (Disclaimer: Groudon and Kyogre won’t be part of this list because Primal Reversion doesn’t necessarily count as Mega Evolution, and neither does Ash-Greninja’s Battle Bond.)
51. Kangaskhan
This is by far the worst Mega Evolution I’ve ever seen. Kangaskhan was already a forgettable Pokémon to begin with, but the design for its Mega doesn’t improve that at all. Literally the only thing that changes is the baby Kangaskhan, while the mother stays the same. That’s it. No more, no less, they just made a pumped-up baby and called it a day. Now, their Parental Bond ability sounds pretty cool, since they can both attack in one turn. However, that’s about the only thing they’ve got going for them, as they’re unfortunately outshone by other Megas with superior abilities.
50. Audino
They really took another forgettable Pokémon and only barely made it memorable. The reason I say that is because I absolutely love Fairy types, since they’re resistant to a lot of other types and can really pack a wallop in battles. In this case, Audino can now not only do that, but its brighter colors make it appear more elegant than its base form. But in the long run, it’s also a pretty weird design. Especially with that weird fluff ball and string right below its face, and while the colors are pretty, it’s not enough to make Audino stand out any more than before. Plus, the only significant improvements are the small boosts in its Defense and Special Defense stats.
49. Venusaur
Contrary to most other people’s opinions, I think Venusaur is an alright Pokémon, especially with its bulk and power. While its Mega Evolved form improves this by increasing its Defense, Special Attack, and Special Defense stats, that’s about where the positives end. This is because its overall design is sorely lacking. All they did was make Venusaur slightly bigger, make its plant bigger, add a couple more vines, and slap a flower onto its forehead. That’s literally all they did, and yet they had the potential to do so much more. In the end, it’s just too boring to care about.
48. Pidgeot
The designers truly put the “Normal” in this Mega’s Normal/Flying type, but not in the best way. Much like Venusaur, all they did was make a bigger bird with bigger wings and a weirdly long head feather. While its new colors make the design pop a little, it’s barely enough to portray this as a true Mega Evolution. Its dex entry attempts to rectify this by saying that it can fly for two weeks straight without taking a break. But despite how impressive that sounds, it’s not that different from other Flying types with similar feats. I mean, Dragonite can circle the globe in about 16 hours, so what does Pidgeot’s “flex” matter?
47. Sharpedo
Sharpedo was already a cool-looking Pokémon, but its Mega is honestly a bit disturbing to look at. Don’t get me wrong, the extra yellow markings and increasingly jagged fins are pretty sweet because they make this Pokémon look like a scarred brute. Additionally, the extra features around its eyes and body give it a look reminiscent of an armed submarine. However, its long nose and the little spikes on the sides of it rub me the wrong way. In addition, while its Strong Jaw ability can be useful, amping up bite-based attacks ultimately isn’t that impressive.
46. Mewtwo X
I must admit that I feel a bit mixed about this mega. The fighting build is pretty cool, and the lore that its psychic power severely strengthened its muscles is pretty interesting. However, the longer I look at it, the more unsettled I get. I don’t know if I can explain it, but the design just looks really weird to me and especially with that short tail. Plus, for a being literally made to be the embodiment of psychic power, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to mega-evolve into a hand-to-hand fighter. Especially when such battling seems to be beneath Mewtwo, due to the insane battles it gave in the anime over the years.
45. Gardevoir
Similar to some of the entries in this list so far, they barely changed Gardevoir’s original design. It’s literally just Gardevoir with a poofier dress, and if you want to be even more particular, it has some extra but barely noticeable features. The facial horns on the sides of its face, the longer chest horns on its noodle body, and the extra hair? I feel like they only did that to show that it changed enough to pass as a mega evolution. The only reason it isn’t ranked lower is because of my aforementioned love of Fairy types, plus its significant bulk in Defense and Special Attack stats.
44. Absol
My issue with this mega is a little bit complicated. First of all, there’s the issue that it (once again) barely changes from its base form: just some extra fur, some fluffy wings, and a wider horn accompanying a smaller one. In spite of these small changes, it actually makes the mega look beautiful and majestic. However, that positive also serves as a negative when you consider its lore. Apparently, Absol hates taking this form, and it also converts the mega energy into an overwhelming aura that can make people faint. While I can kind of see that, it just doesn’t evoke that feeling in me. In the end, it’s just not very memorable.
43. Heracross
It’s not completely terrible, but it’s not all that great either. For starters, I do appreciate how they fully leaned into Heracross’ rhino beetle inspiration. With this mega, Heracross looks like a tank with its bulkier arms and build, and those new colors really work for it. However, at the same time, its design is also a bit weird. For example, base Heracross’s horn was so amazing and powerful, so why did they feel the need to shrink that horn and make a larger one grow out of the back of its head? Also, why do its fingers disappear in its battle animation? Finally, despite the arms’ newly acquired bulk, the round shapes make it look a bit goofy. Still, it has great Attack stats, and its Skill Link ability could come in handy by extending multi-strike moves.
42. Mawile
Looking back on this mega, I confess that it’s not quite as lame as I remember. After all, the “pants” instead of its base form’s “skirt” make it look more grown and capable in battle. The extra mouth and the darker colors highlight this, and I can’t help but find this cooler than I once thought. But in the long run, it’s just a slightly taller Mawile with an extra mouth, nothing more and nothing less. Again, it suffers the fate of the entries in this list so far because it barely changes from its base form, but unlike said entries, the small adjustments make it look cooler and slightly more memorable than the others. Even so, this, combined with its barely adequate stats, just doesn’t cut it for me.
41. Camerupt
Once again, I find myself feeling a combination of things about this particular mega. First, I do love how it looks more intense: the vibrant coloring, the scowl, and of course, the massive volcano on its back! Plus, and I could be digging too deep into this, but I like how its fur resembles flowing lava. Finally, I love the lore that mega evolution caused its bones to reform themselves and eventually result in the volcano on its back. However, after comparing it to its base form, I can’t help but notice how awkward the mega looks. Base Camerupt looked so strong, sturdy, and, in spite of its massive size, mobile. Its mega-evolved form, on the other hand, seems to lose a lot of its bulk in favor of the volcano. Plus, with all that fur spreading out over its feet, it makes it look poofier and seemingly not very capable of mobility. This doesn’t help when you realize its Speed stats are shockingly and depressingly low.
40. Lopunny
If they didn’t give Lopunny a Mega Evolution, I probably wouldn’t even remember this Pokémon very well. But I absolutely love how they turned it into a Fighting type, and it looks so cool as one! The darker colors and the whip-like ears make it look like an awesome spy character, such as Black Widow from the MCU. In addition, I love that mega evolution actually awakened Lopunny’s apparent fighting instincts, therefore giving it that form. On the other hand, though, I wish they did more with the overall design. Even after mega evolving, Lopunny still pretty much looks the same, just with darker colors and less fur on its ears. Despite this, it has better stats than its base form, and with its Scrappy ability allowing it to hit Ghost types with Normal and Fighting type moves, it’s easy to ignore the small changes.
39. Medicham
The base form for Medicham always creeped me out, which is why I love its mega-evolved form A LOT more! For starters, the turban on its head, the extra golden patterns on its arms and legs, and the little blue gems on its legs fully complete the look. In addition, the floating bandages behind it, along with the way they form into fists and move in the battle animation, make the mega look even cooler than regular Medicham! Overall, the design fully distracts me from the creepy face and the awkward baggy jeans from the base form, making me feel like this is what Medicham should’ve looked like from the start. On the downside, though, its stats are barely an improvement from its base form, making it not fully desirable to use in battle.
38. Victreebel
When I first saw this new mega, I was completely disgusted and dumbfounded at first. However, as time went on and after seeing different commentaries online, I obtained a newfound appreciation for Victreebel’s new form. This is mainly due to the lore behind it: apparently, mega evolution has caused Victreebel’s body to fill up with a MASSIVE amount of acid and poison. Even though its body expanded to contain it, the amount of liquid is too much, and Victreebel now has to literally wrap vines around its own throat to keep it from leaking out. While stats and abilities are still unknown at the time of writing, it’s said that its poison could melt steel. This leaves me hopeful that maybe Victreebel will gain an ability or move that allows it to harm Steel types, but that’s just wishful thinking at the moment.
37. Sableye
For this specific mega, I might sound a little hypocritical here. This is because I actually like the small changes made to Sableye: the slightly longer horns, the many gems on its back, the red eye coloring, and the giant red gem it holds. This may seem like a bunch of insignificant or even lazy changes, but given that it’s a Pokémon that literally eats gems and diamonds, it makes sense to emphasize more focus on that aspect rather than its overall physical appearance. This is made better with the lore behind the massive shield: apparently, mega evolution energy poured into the gem in its stomach, making it grow until it literally rips out of Sableye and becomes that same shield. It may sound a bit dark, but it’s still weirdly fascinating at the same time. Unfortunately, though, this also causes a harsh lowering of its Speed stats, so it’s probably a last choice in battle.
36. Gallade
Not that Gallade itself was a terrible design, but it was a bit dull in the sense that I couldn’t tell its arms were blades until it used blade-based moves. But that is why Mega Gallade is so awesome! GameFreak full-on leaned into the sword theme by transforming its arms into actual blades! Not only that, but the curved horn at the top of its head, combined with the cape-like thing behind it, makes the Pokémon look like a real swordsman! Even its Inner Focus ability adds to this aspect, because just like a true master of the blade, the ability now keeps Gallade from flinching or being affected by the attack-lowering ability of Intimidate.
35. Dragonite
Again, I’m going to sound a bit hypocritical with this, but hear me out! Not much has indeed changed in this mega evolution, and admittedly, I don’t like that it hasn’t. However, in the small changes that appear here, there’s actually a deeper level to this! According to the official website for “Legends Z-A,” Mega Dragonite possesses many traits from Dragonair: the wings on its head, the slender tail, and the pearl at the tip of said tail. While it may not look like the fearsome mega that fan artists dreamed of, I REALLY appreciate the homage paid to its predecessor. Plus, with the complaints of how the elegant Dragonair evolved into something completely different, it’s like GameFreak is making Dragonite revert to its old roots and evolve how it (arguably) should’ve looked. Finally, the extra feathers and its bright green, glowing eyes make Dragonite look twice as kind and gentle! Not much else is known at the time of writing, but I think I’m gonna add this onto my team when the game comes out!
34. Slowbro
It may not look like much at first glance. After all, it looks like a Slowpoke in a larger Shellder and nothing more. However, I personally love this mega! I mean, the Shellder becoming a suit of armor (of sorts), thus drastically raising Slowbro’s Defense stats, is a pretty cool concept. In addition, I find the lore behind this sudden transformation to be pretty interesting. According to the Pokémon website, the energy from mega evolution is channeled into Shellder to the point where it can completely engulf Slowbro. Finally, I love that the Shellder granted the new ability Shell Armor, which can protect Slowbro from critical hits. Overall, I love that GameFreak expanded on Slowbro’s most defining trait (the Shellder on its tail) and transitioned it into a protective shell, the perfect evolution for Slowbro!
33. Charizard Y
Charizard was already a fantastic Pokémon, but being able to transform into not just one, but TWO mega-evolved forms? This is incredible! Regarding its Y form, I like that the added spikes, fins, and torn wings make it resemble a worn-out dinosaur or dragon. Additionally, with its high Special Attack stats, it’s definitely a powerful contender! This is especially true when you combine those stats with Charizard’s new Drought ability, which creates harsh sunlight and powers up Fire type moves. However, that’s about all the positives I see. Overall, little changes with Charizard’s design. It’s just a spikier version of its original form with a new ability, and when you consider its X form, Y sorely pales in comparison. (On a personal note, it holds a special place in my heart because Y was my first officially owned Pokémon game)
32-31. Latias and Latios
The Eon Duo made a shocking appearance in “Omega Ruby” and “Alpha Sapphire” with their brand-new mega evolutions! Gone are their cute but intimidating, blue and red forms. Now, they are purple and have the aura of military fighter jets! Their wings have moved from their backs to their arms, which both fascinates and kind of weirds me out. Regardless, soaring on their backs in their respective games has always been a thrilling experience! However, my biggest issue with both of these Legendaries is the same reason why I lumped them both together and put them in the bottom 20: they’re practically the same! Seriously, I know that red and blue make purple, but you could expand so much more from that! It’s frustrating to see two completely different Legendaries, with near-limitless potential in their mega evolution designs, be made all but 100% identical. Aside from that, the mega evolutions are pretty awesome. I just wish they had a bit more individuality in both of their forms.
30. Blaziken
I really hate to repeat myself, but there’s not a lot that’s different between Blaziken’s mega and base forms. However, like Sableye, the few changes there are actually make the mega better. For instance, the way the feathers on its head are arranged standing up like that, plus the “x” pattern on its chest, just screams that this Pokémon is ready for battle. Plus, with the black coloring in its legs and the fire streaking from its wrists, Blaziken just became a more intimidating foe than it already was. But this Blaziken isn’t “all bark, no bite,” as its Attack, Special Attack, and Speed stats have skyrocketed! As if that weren’t enough, it also gains the Speed Boost ability upon mega evolving, which increases its speed every turn. When you combine these stats with the fact that you can get faster the longer the battle goes on, you’re completely obliterating the competition!
29. Alakazam
It may just look like Alakazam with a beard, but this mega evolution is perfectly fitting for the Pokémon. For instance, according to the lore, mega evolution made Alakazam swap its muscles for an extra boost of psychic power. To portray this power boost, Alakazam now sits and looks like a monk with its legs crossed and its hands raised up to keep its many spoons floating in the air. But Mega Alakazam can do more than just make spoons float, as in the movie, “Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel,” it was able to levitate many different megas AT ONCE, which includes Mega Steelix!!! If that isn’t the sign of a psychic master, then I don’t know what is.
28. Altaria
This mega is the whole package: cute, elegant, beautiful, and gentle! The massive amount of fluffy feathers actually makes Altaria look like a cloud, or even a whole sky. But when you combine its cloudy appearance with the lighter blue tone and its longer tail feathers, you realize that it embodies its newly acquired Fairy type beautifully! Further, not only is it the first and only Dragon/Fairy type, but it’s an incredible advantage against Dragon types. Imagine having a Dragon type without ever having to worry about its glaring weakness: other Dragon types. With Mega Altaria, despite its other weaknesses, you can at least rid yourself of the worst one and utterly destroy your opponent’s Dragon type.
27. Diancie
I have to be honest, I thought this mega was lame at first. I thought it was just a Diancie, but bigger and nothing more. However, looking closer at the mega, it’s one of the most beautiful creatures I’ve ever seen in this franchise! Its rocky bottom has transformed into a diamond, larger diamonds grow around it to form a dress, and those streamers coming from the back of its head make it look like a Disney princess! Plus, I love how the little diamonds float and dart around whenever it attacks. Finally, what especially cements this mega in my heart is how it squared up against Yveltal in “Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction,” and created a gigantic heart diamond to defeat it.
26. Lucario
If I had to summarize this form, it would be: “the physical incarnation of aura.” This is, in part, because of the lore behind this transformation. Apparently, mega evolution drastically increases its aura to unparalleled levels! And, judging from its appearance, it’s easy to see why. The black patterns streaking across its body, the extra “dreadlocks” on its head, and even the extra spikes give it a dark, foreboding presence. If you’re physically next to or across this Pokémon, I’ll bet you can just FEEL the immense aura before it even demonstrates its insane power!
25. Houndoom
Man, does this mega put the DOOM in Houndoom! Seriously, the longer horns, the additional bony spikes, the pointier tail, and the red-hot claws make it look like an actual hellhound! Even its stats are insane, as its Defense and Special Attack stats are way higher as a result of this mega evolution. However, the only downside is how much pain this causes Houndoom. According to the Pokédex, Houndoom’s mega evolved form generates an INSANE amount of heat! So insane, in fact, that its claws and the end of its tail literally melt from the temperature. Houndoom’s “fiery breath [may turn] its opponents to ash,” but the cost is too high and tragic for this dog (pokemon.com).
24. Hawlucha
FINALLY! After over a decade, Kalos FINALLY decided to mega evolve one of their OWN Pokémon for a change! But in all seriousness, the most recently revealed mega shows that Hawlucha has returned with a vengeance. Fully embracing its luchador inspiration, Hawlucha now sports a black and gold headdress, longer head feathers, and vibrant colors all across its body. If that wasn’t enough, Hawlucha looks a lot more muscular than its base form ever did, making it more than a match for anyone in the ring. Not much else is known at the time of writing, but Hawlucha definitely looks like it can tackle whatever “Legends Z-A” dishes out.
23. Aerodactyl
With this mega, the designers made one of the greatest apex predators in prehistoric Pokémon history even greater! The additional rocky spikes and armor do more than just add a cool cosmetic to the Pokémon, because they have a huge purpose for the creature itself. In the Pokédex, it states that mega evolution has completely restored Aerodactyl’s genes, which results in its more fierce appearance. This would explain a lot, since fossil restoration in Pokémon is largely imperfect, and you can even see that Aerodactyl’s base form looks mostly bare, like it’s missing something. Thanks to Mega Aerodactyl, we not only get a complete prehistoric Pokémon, but a true dinosaur and terror of the skies.
22. Pinsir
On the one hand, Pinsir’s mega-evolved form feels more like the designers just slapped a pair of wings onto its back and called it a day. But on the other hand, that’s one of the reasons that it’s such an amazing mega! For example, Pinsir did resemble a stag beetle, but those insects typically have wings and a more intimidating appearance. Not only does Pinsir gain this, but it makes all the more sense that it should finally be able to fly now. Plus, with the spikier horns, yellow eyes, and extra lines and patterns across its body, it looks like a heavily armored beast of a bug! This is further backed up with its stacked Attack stats and Aerialate ability, which changes Normal type moves into Flying type moves.
21. Banette
Thanks to that one episode in the final season of Pokémon, Banette is one of my favorite Ghost types. And an extended thanks to GameFreak, for turning one of my favorites into something even cooler! I mean, the darker colors, the bright pink contrasting with said colors, and all those zippers? BRUH, that’s so cool! But what makes it even cooler is how there’s a logical explanation for it: thanks to mega evolution, not only does it increase its need for revenge, but its power has built to where it’s literally leaking out of those zippers! While its stats could be improved (except for its high Attack stats), this Mega Evolution should not be ignored or underestimated.
20. Mewtwo Y
Now THIS is what a mega evolution for Mewtwo should look like! It may be smaller now, but for a being of immense psychic power, when does that even matter? According to the Pokédex, its psychic power has increased to the point where it can demolish a skyscraper with a thought! This is reflected in its stats, as its Special Attack stats are CRAZY high! Not only that, but its HP, Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats are higher than its base form! The only caveat is that its Defense stats are pretty low, but then again, this also complements its more diminutive size. Moving on, I mainly love how this form actually looks like it evolved from Mewtwo: from the tail-head, to its longer fingers and toes, and even its smaller body. Unlike Mewtwo X, Mewtwo Y fully embraces its psychic traits and expands on them. My only complaint is that I wish we got a deeper lore explanation for how two mega stones exist for a manmade Pokémon.
19. Scizor
Scizor’s base design was not bad by any stretch, but its roundish claws make it hard for me to believe they can slice through steel. With this mega evolution, I can definitely see it now! Seriously, those things are MASSIVE! I’d be willing to bet they could crush a car with one snap. But seriously, I love how they improved the design of the claws and overall made Scizor a lot more armored, with both aspects reflected in its Attack and Defense stats. Perhaps the only thing I hate about this mega is the lore: apparently, the mega energy can make its body melt, and the claws are ridiculously heavy. It’s still pretty interesting, but in a tragic way.
18. Glalie
Speaking of tragic, let’s talk about Glalie! Apparently, when it mega evolves, its jaw literally breaks apart and mostly hangs open. With so much power building up inside, and the power to freeze anything in seconds with its more powerful cold breath, it’s easy to see why its jaw would break clean off. However, in spite of this dark lore, I still love the overall design! The darker coloring, the red eyes, the rocky chin, and the icy/rocky spikes on its head make it look like a hailstorm. I also love that its Attack and Special Attack stats are bumped up, but I’m surprised that its Defense and Special Defense stats aren’t very high, since its rocky and hard body would insinuate such defensibility.
17. Blastoise
I absolutely love what they did with this whole design! They took a giant battle turtle with two hydro cannons in its shell, and then furthered it by making Blastoise a literal hydro cannon! I especially use that description because the dex entry on Pokémon Go states that Blastoise’s legs and muscles evolved to handle the recoil of its cannon’s attacks, almost like an actual cannon. I also love how they gave Blastoise wrist blasters alongside its massive back cannon, further evolving Blastoise in all the right ways. I also love how its boosts in Defense and Special Attack stats, showing off its defensive bulk combined with its powerful weaponry. Even its new ability, Mega Launcher, shows this off by boosting pulse-based attacks, which is perfect for demonstrating the firepower of that massive hydro cannon.
16. Manectric
This mega’s design is SO MUCH BETTER than its base form! First of all, I love how it’s mainly covered in fur, which makes it look like an actual lightning bolt! In addition, with the spiky horns and Manectric being on all fours, it makes the Pokémon look like an intimidating and feral beast! I also love how the fur obscures all of Manectric’s awkward proportions and actually makes it look like an animal, whereas its base form was a bit difficult to determine what it even was. Anyway, backtracking to the lightning bolt fur for a second, I love that the mega’s lore and stats once again reflect the Pokémon itself. For example, the lore states that the mega now has an immense amount of electricity built up inside itself! With such an immense amount of power, it makes so much sense that its Special Attack and Speed stats are bumped up. With so much electricity, it makes sense that attacks such as Discharge or Thunderbolt would be supercharged, as well as stimulate the Pokémon’s muscles and energy to make it move faster.
15. Ampharos
It may just look like a fluffier Ampharos, but there’s something elegant and powerful about these simple changes. First of all, there’s its fluffier tail with the numerous red orbs scattered throughout the wool, and then its luscious locks of wool on its head. Combine that with its more confident stance, and that’s a proud Pokémon right there. The best part, though, is the lore behind this transformation. Once again, the Pokédex elaborates by explaining that mega evolution has awakened its (apparently) long-dormant Dragon type genes and made its wool grow back. I can’t explain it, but just looking at this mega makes you understand, yet simultaneously confused about how adding the Dragon type to it makes sense.
14. Steelix
I don’t know how it’s possible, but they really took a giant, awesome iron snake and made it BETTER! Not only does Steelix look twice as metallic as it did in its base form, but it fully embodies the Steel type with the numerous metal chunks orbiting around its body! In addition, it also embodies its Ground type with diamonds growing out of its body, replacing its base form’s iron spikes. As if that wasn’t enough, its Defense stats are ALMOST 100% PERFECT! Its other stats leave a lot to be desired, but Mega Steelix can still serve your team well by being its own living shield.
13. Beedrill
They had NO RIGHT making Beedrill look this awesome! The extra stingers, additional stripes, shapes of its eyes, and even the shape of its rear stinger make it look terrifying AND amazing at the same time! Plus, I love the lore in the Pokédex about how its legs also evolved into stingers, because it’s very interesting, and it also makes sense for a bee with literal spike hands. With five stingers and fast-beating wings, it’s no wonder that its Attack and Speed stats are significantly bumped up! It still might not be everyone’s first choice in battle, but that doesn’t mean this form should be overlooked or forgotten! Whether it’s weak or strong, if I see this truly giant murder hornet coming straight for me, I’m gonna run for my life or give up right there lol.
12. Aggron
They actually took a massive beast of a Pokémon and turned it into a living, walking TANK! And I don’t say this lightly, either. First of all, much like Steelix, Aggron fully takes on its Steel type attributes in its bulky armor plating. However, Aggron takes it a step further and becomes PURE Steel type, forgoing its Rock type. This might not seem like a huge deal, but getting rid of its Rock type got rid of quadruple super effective types like Ground and Fighting, and also eliminated its weakness to Water types. But even if a strong, super-effective move works its way past all that, it has ALMOST PERFECT Defense stats and its Filter ability to further protect itself. Again, Aggron is an absolute tank in every respect!
11. Gengar
When I first saw this mega evolution as a kid, I went completely nuts! This shouldn’t be surprising, since Gengar is my favorite Ghost type, but putting that aside, I love how they leaned more into Gengar’s attributes and personality with this. For example, since Gengar is a silly prankster a lot of the time, they made him spikier with crazed eyes and a wider smile to make him look more psychotic. They even gave his arms an upgrade with extra fur and enlargements, and the circle on its head was a nice finishing touch. Finally, I love the lore that mega evolution gives Gengar the ability to access other dimensions and a mysterious power, because it continues to hook us in with the never-ending mysteries of the Pokémon world.
10. Abomasnow
Holy cow! What a behemoth! Everything about this design is absolutely incredible in many ways! For example, I love how the added layers of fur and their more jagged patterns make it look more like a pine tree, and also make it look bigger and more intimidating. Also, I love that giant ice crystals grew out of its back, undoubtedly the result of its growing power. Plus, it further adds to the aforementioned beastliness. Finally, I must say that I love its increased Attack and Special Attack stats, along with a decent upgrade in its Defense and Special Defense stats. Combine that with its Snow Warning ability, and you’ve got one heck of an opponent!
9. Swampert
The bane of Pokémon Go players across the world has become a greater nightmare with this mega evolution! The longer fins and whiskers, its very bulky arms, and its intimidating stance truly make it a terrifying foe! But those guns aren’t just for show, as its Attack stats are pretty high, and even its Defense and Special Defense stats are bulked up as well. But if that isn’t enough, apparently this mega evolved form allows Swampert to demolish boulders with a single hit as well as tow massive ships! Yeah, no way I want that kind of smoke.
8. Gyarados
Much like Diancie, I thought this mega wasn’t much to look at. My first reaction was thinking how chonky Gyarados looked, but after some time, I’ve come to appreciate it a lot more. For instance, along with a darker shade of blue, the designers gave Gyarados shades of red, yellow, and black that just make the whole thing pop. In addition, those colors, combined with its black horns and massive back fins, really make Gyarados just as terrifying as its base form. With high Attack and Special Defense stats to make its bark worse than its bite, I wouldn’t wanna face this either. My only complaint, though, is that they didn’t make it a Dragon type. Gyarados already looked like a dragon so it would’ve been more satisfying, but then again, it also makes sense to turn it into a Dark type instead.
7. Garchomp
Everyone’s favorite pseudo-legendary, and with this mega evolution, I can see why that is! Garchomp’s hand spikes have grown and melted into MASSIVE scythes! Its shark fin is more jagged, it has even more spikes, and it has a wild look in its eyes that would make anyone quake in their boots! It’s no wonder, since this ferocity is caused by the pain of his wings and arms transforming into its signature weapons, making it rampage and become twice as vicious as it was before. Finally, if it knows Sandstorm, then that’s great for you since Mega Garchomp also has the Sand Force ability, which boosts the power of Rock, Steel, and Ground type moves in a sandstorm.
6. Sceptile
Due to my amazing experience with “Pokémon: Omega Ruby,” this mega evolution definitely holds a special place in my heart. Adding the Dragon type to Sceptile is especially genius, because it already looks enough like a dragon before mega evolving. After which, I love how I get to see many different colors and bulbs that make Sceptile appear more exotic and draconic. And of course, the very fact that the big tree on its tail can shoot out like a missile is completely insane! Also, the bigger leaves on its arms aren’t just for display, as the Pokédex states they’re sharper than swords! Finally, if you attack Mega Sceptile with an Electric type, its Lightning Rod ability will boost its already high Special Attack stats! How awesome is that???
5. Salamence
NOW we’re getting to the good stuff, starting with Mega Salamence! First off, I love how its wings are fused to make a crescent moon shape, along with a shell at the front for its front legs to tuck inside and give it more speed. To add to this, the horns and fins above and below its head definitely look like they help slice through the air like butter. As a bonus, all of its stats are significantly higher to support its rampaging behavior. But my favorite part of this mega is that we would eventually get a Paradox version of Salamence in Scarlet and Violet, which looks like its mega evolution!
4. Tyranitar
It’s official: Godzilla exists in this universe, and he’s a mega evolution! But in all seriousness, the design is overall very incredible! I love how its chest looks more like an angry Pupitar, with spikes growing all the way around to its back. Said spikes do a fantastic job complementing the Rock type, while also complementing the Dark type with their intimidating appearance. However, despite what looks like an awesome form, there’s a horribly dark side behind it (pun unintended). Apparently, when it mega evolves, its back literally splits open because of the insane amount of power! While this also complements the Rock type with the shifting and cracking of its rocky shell, it’s also very tragic and especially when the Dex says that “its destructive instincts are the only thing keeping it moving” (pokemon.com).
3. Rayquaza
HOLY CRAP! Not only is this design super awesome and hardcore, but it’s also very beautiful for a dragon’s appearance! The extra lines, the red glowing orbs, the glowing streamers, and that part around its jaw all combine to make it an imposing yet beautiful creature from space. The long, slender body and the flowing streamers remind me of eastern dragons, which I consider a huge plus. The best part, however, comes in the lore behind its mega evolution. It’s not like the other entries on this list, with changes to a body part or anything, but rather, it can obtain mega evolution completely on its own! All it has to do is eat enough meteorites and, with enough buildup from the energy within them, can mega evolve without a mega stone or a trainer’s key stone! I mean, how crazy is that?
2. Metagross
Metagross was already my favorite pseudo-legendary, but this mega evolution CEMENTS this status in my heart for all time. The longer, yellow horns and chin-spike make it look tough, but the four humongous arms and the four smaller ones in the back make it look like a dynamic missile! And on a personal note, thanks to Steven Stone, the shiny version of this form makes me wish it were that color all the time! Moving on, I also love how mega evolution has increased its intelligence, but I struggle to understand how a Metagross, a Metang, and two Beldum fuse together to create this form. I mean, when, how, and where does that happen during the process where the trainer activates the key and mega stones? Aside from that, it’s an INCREDIBLY AWESOME form to use during my first play through of Omega Ruby.
1. Charizard X
Weirdly enough, I never thought this was my personal favorite, even though Charizard is my favorite. I thought it was overhyped and other megas deserved more attention, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how AWESOME IT IS!!! Seriously, the black and blue blend so amazingly together, especially when you add the blue fire spewing out of its mouth! This makes it an especially fitting evolution, considering that blue fire is the hottest kind of fire, so it makes sense for Charizard to reach that point. Further, according to the lore, the temperature of said fire is actually what causes its body to burn black and turn its flames blue in the first place! And the pièce de résistance: IT’S FINALLY A DRAGON TYPE! Seriously, it already looked like a dragon! Why on Earth was it ever a Flying type? Why did it take SO LONG to finally give it that status? Regardless, I am grateful and starstruck that we were given this gift!
