Ranking ALL Mega Evolutions (Revised)

As of this writing, “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” has officially been out for almost a year. Despite the mixed reception of this X/Y sequel, it has cemented its place in fans’ hearts and brought Mega Evolution roaring back to life. With the introduction of many new Mega Evolutions in the main story and the DLC, I wrote two articles ranking every previous Mega from worst to best, followed by another article ranking the Z-A Megas that I knew about. However, I regretfully didn’t write another article ranking the rest of the new Megas because I was focusing on my “Avengers: Doomsday Spotlights” series. Now that it’s finished, I’m back to combining my previous two articles, adding in the new Megas, and maybe even changing some rankings around. 

93. Kangaskhan

This is by far the worst Mega Evolution I’ve ever seen. Kangaskhan was already a forgettable Pokémon, but its Mega design 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 other Megas unfortunately outshine them with superior abilities. 

92. Pyroar

Half of the new Megas in this game are either uninspired or lazy, and Mega Pyroar is a prime example. When I first saw spoilers for this mega on social media (before I even got to that point in the game), I genuinely hoped the images were fake or at least that the mega wouldn’t be as bad as people were making it out to be. Boy, was I wrong! There was so much potential in making a mega for a proud, fierce fire lion. Instead, all they did was make its mane slightly bigger and call it a day. Worse, the extra bits at the top of its head look so weird that it makes me very uncomfortable. Overall, I understand that the mane is meant to resemble the Japanese symbol for “flame” or “blaze,” but the execution is so awkward that it makes me believe they could’ve done better. Aside from the design, it does gain slightly raised Special Attack and Speed stats while its other stats are evened out, but that’s barely an improvement in the long run. 

91. Tatsugiri

I already hated Tatsugiri long before it got a Mega, simply because I don’t understand how living sushi could be classified as a Dragon-type. I also don’t understand its relationship with Dondozo; I know that it acts as bait while Dondozo is the muscle, but I never fully understood this symbiotic relationship. Digressing back to the point, I remember seeing this Mega for the first time and feeling utterly disappointed and weirded out at the very sight of it. This is mainly because I hated how it just made a sushi platter out of nowhere, and a couple of other Tatsugiri appeared out of nowhere. Later, I would find out that Tatsugiri made these copies itself, but it’s still way too weird for my taste. If it weren’t for the fact that it’s a Dragon-type, along with the varying stats across its three different base forms, it would be right above Kangaskhan on this list. 

90. Floette

Disappointment is a HUGE understatement to how I felt about this mega, especially after how much of the game was spent hyping this up. Throughout the story, AZ constantly warned us about the danger ahead and explained that only a true master of Mega Evolution could use Mega Floette (a unique side effect of its Eternal Flower form) to save the city. However, when it was finally time to destroy the weapon and mega-evolve Floette, I was anxious and excited to see what it would turn into. At first, my hopes were high when the camera only showed the bigger flower, but then it zoomed out, and I realized that’s literally all there was to it. It’s not like it had to turn into a big flower creature with glowing eyes or anything, but we should’ve at least gotten a little more than a Floette with a cord connecting to a bigger flower. Even before AZ’s hype of the Mega, Eternal Flower Floette already had high expectations because of its deep and tragic lore. Because of that lore (and because I personally love the Flabébé line, especially this specific Floette), it’s not dead last on this list, but the Mega makes me wish they never gave Floette one to begin with.

89. 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 not only gains this type upgrade, 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 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. Aside from that, its base form originally had two abilities (Healer and Regenerator, the latter of which heals the Pokémon after withdrawing it), but Mega Audino completely abandons Regenerator in favor of Healer, which is not a great trade-off. 

88. Emboar

I used to think this Mega was amazing, but after reflecting on it for a while, it’s hard to believe I ever thought that. Don’t get me wrong, I love how Emboar exudes the aura of a true warrior with its new form. Emboar’s tusks are twice as long as they were before, its fiery beard has grown into a cape and suit of armor, and it wields a spear literally made of fire! Plus, the slight change in the swirling patterns across its chest makes it look like a general of a royal army. However, when I really think about it, not much has changed at all for this Mega. Its appearance barely changes, and even its stats barely change. Finally, I can’t explain it, but unlike other Pokémon that carry weapons or objects, carrying that giant fire staff somehow looks kinda awkward and unnatural. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it as much as I used to.

87. Venusaur

Contrary to most other people’s opinions, I think Venusaur is a pretty good 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. Then again, its Thick Fat ability is very useful since it can halve the damage from Fire and Ice-Type moves, but in the end, it’s just too boring to care about. 

86. 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? Finally, while its No Guard ability guarantees direct hits every turn, it also leaves opponents able to guarantee their hits every turn as well, so it’s a very risky ability if you’re feeling brave. 

85. 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. 

84. Dragalge

Despite this mega being so low on the list, I don’t full-on hate it, but I also don’t fully love it either. First of all, I love that the mega makes Dragalge even more like flowing seaweed, and it even makes me think of a sunken pirate ship. Plus, I like that they made the body a bit longer and gave it extra fins to make it look more like a dragon. However, my issue with the design is that it’s still only “just okay” to me. Maybe it’s because Dragalge wasn’t my favorite Kalos Pokémon to begin with, but for some reason, it’s just not really memorable for me. It doesn’t help that the mega has these weird, purple orb things on its head, and I keep wracking my brain trying to figure out what that’s supposed to mean. Finally, while its Special Attack and Special Defense stats are bulked up, its terrible Speed and tradeoff of abilities (from Poison Point and Poison Touch to a measly Regenerator) aren’t enough to make up for anything.

83. Chimecho

I was way too generous with this Mega in my original article, and I feel so bad that I put it above Mega Zygarde! When I first saw Mega Chimecho in a trailer, I was completely blown away! I absolutely loved the gold beams that extended from its head, but then I noticed the overall design looked very much like Chimecho’s pre-evolved form, Chingling. Now, I love how Pokémon pay homage to their pre-evolved forms, but I like it more when they do it more subtly, like what Mega Dragonite did. Mega Chimecho, however, makes it look more on the nose: the round design of the rings, the obvious face in the center, and the big ribbon at the top seem to rub it in our faces as if we couldn’t tell for ourselves. Despite that, I must admit that I’m still very impressed with the design, and the gold beams still look very cool. What makes them even better is having those wind chimes, which look very close to Chimecho, hanging from them. It’s like the chimes give this mega an intimidating yet beautiful appearance. As a bonus, Chimecho gains the Steel-type upon mega evolution, which finally gives its Levitate ability some legitimate use. However, even with all of these plusses, it’s still simply “meh” to me. I don’t hate it, but the design and Pokémon itself just aren’t enough to fully win me over. 

82. Raichu Y

I was absolutely blown away when I first saw the reveal trailer for the two mega-evolved forms of Raichu! However, when I got a closer look at the Y form, I got less excited about it compared to the X form (which I’ll get into later). A big thing about this new mega that really bothers me is the two lightning bolt-shaped things coming out of its head, because it just looks so weird when they’re placed right in front of its ears. When you don’t truly look at the mega or think about it too much, that can be the case, but it still makes me wish those were actually its ears instead of the signature Pikachu-like ears it has. Plus, while I like the orange color, blue eyes, and decent design of the tail, it feels very underwhelming compared to Mega Raichu X. Overall, Y feels like the designers played it too safe and could’ve explored deeper than what we’re shown here. Even so, I love Raichu and the fact that it can Mega Evolve now, so I won’t put it too low here. 

81. 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, especially with that short tail sticking up in the back. Plus, for a being made to be the literal embodiment of psychic power, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to mega-evolve into a hand-to-hand fighter. This is especially true when you think of the intense battles and demonstrations of its power that it gave in the first movie and its other appearances since then. Fighting with your bare hands seems beneath such a powerful psychic being. Finally, while its Steadfast ability could be useful, flinching already has a low risk of happening, so Speed boosts might not happen enough to make this a plus. 

80. 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. Another significant bulk is its Pixilate ability, which turns Normal-type moves into Fairy-type ones. Any ability that turns Normal-type moves into a different type is always an improvement in my book. 

79. 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 see that a little, it just doesn’t evoke that feeling in me. Regardless, its saving graces are its Attack and Special Attack boosts, along with Magic Bounce, which reflects status conditions.  

78. Scovillain

Contrary to initial reception of the first-ever Fire/Grass-type, I actually really loved Scovillain. I appreciated how they went with a pepper for this approach, especially a Pokémon with two different-colored peppers for heads, each with its own temperament. So imagine my confusion and disappointment when I see it mega-evolve, but barely notice any changes. All they did was give it a black top, add some spikes or whatever to their heads, and this very weirdly proportioned pepper “necktie.” Weirdly, at the same time, I do also love how it looks more like a dinosaur now. Plus, its heightened Attack and Speed stats, combined with its brand-new Spicy Spray ability (which burns an opponent when they hit Scovillain), really make me appreciate this Mega a bit more. However, it’s still not enough for me to place it any higher. 

77. 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. At the same time, though, its design is a bit weird. For example, base Heracross’s horn looked 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.

76. 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. 

75. 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. 

74. 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 the 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. 

73. 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. 

72. 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 because of 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. Unfortunately, “Legends Z-A” does not incorporate this lore in the sense that it can hurt Steel-types with Poison-type moves. Its new ability, Innards Out, on the other hand, can be pretty useful: depending on how much health Victreebel has before being knocked out, it’ll deal an equal amount of damage to that amount of health afterwards. Depending on how you play your cards, this could be just as useful as melting Steel-types. 

71. Garchomp Z

Despite being above the bottom 20, I still have mixed feelings about this particular Mega. On the one hand, I do love how the developers leaned more into Garchomp’s fighter-jet qualities by expanding its wings, adding spikes to them, and even adding longer spikes on its head to make it look more aerodynamic. Plus, drastically boosting its Speed and Special Attack stats is a very nice touch. On the other hand, it doesn’t look that impressive. Despite these new aerodynamic features, it doesn’t look anywhere near as imposing as its other mega-evolved cousin (which has literal giant scythes for hands, by the way). Also, while gaining the Levitate ability can be very useful, it doesn’t feel right for Garchomp. After all, while Ground-type attacks can still pack a punch, Garchomp can already shrug them off even in its base form, and Ground isn’t even a major weakness for it. Therefore, this new ability is completely pointless when compared to other Megas that got better abilities. Even Scovillain, which is lower on this list, got a better ability despite having a mediocre design. 

70. 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. 

69. Drampa

It feels almost criminal to put Mega Drampa this low because it really does look pretty sick! I mean, with the darker colors, the threatening posture, and especially how they darkened its white fur to look like storm clouds, it all truly draws out its aggressive nature. Plus, I admit that the lore of how Mega Evolution allowed Drampa to regain its youth by reinvigorating its cells is all very interesting. However, much like the other entries on this list so far, it feels like they barely do anything else with Drampa aside from changing its color palette and posture. It almost doesn’t feel like a Mega Evolution compared to others like Garchomp or Aggron, but at the same time, I can still see and feel it. So, despite my hesitations about this mega, I love it enough to put it right here in this spot. 

68. Glimmora

At first, I never really liked Glimmora, and especially not its pre-evolved form, Glimmet. Glimmet’s body proportions were just so weird and made me feel a bit uncomfortable, and I always did find Glimmora fascinating, but its cone-face kinda set me off. Regardless, I surprisingly found myself appreciating Glimmora more due to its unique design, and the Rock/Poison-type to accompany that design. But with its new mega, they expand further upon it! Base form Glimmora is known for scattering toxic spikes when hit by a move, embodied by its ability Toxic Debris. Now, Mega Glimmora’s rotating petals further scatter that toxic debris without needing to be struck (at least lore-wise). In addition to this, I also love that its petals grew so large that they almost look like armor plates, and its cone-face sharpened to where it looks like a spear. Accompanied by those red eyes, it makes me anxious to see this thing charging at me. Finally, it trades its Toxic Debris ability for Adaptability, which powers up the same type of attacks as its own typing. If you play your cards right, you can have an automatic Toxic Spikes, mega evolve it, and then unleash this powerhouse on your opponent. 

67. Feraligatr

After reflecting on this article and past Megas I dismissed, I realize now that I was way too harsh on Mega Feraligatr. Yes, I was initially confused and disappointed with how little Feraligatr seemed to change. Yes, I was disappointed with how Mega Feraligatr’s fins and spikes made it look like a giant Totodile. However, all of that changed when I remembered how ridiculously overpowered Feraligatr was before it Mega Evolved. After all, it already has a wide and versatile range of moves like Ice Beam and Outrage, and its Attack and Defense stats are pretty great. But as a Mega, those stats are DRASTICALLY boosted! Plus, gaining the Dragon-type gives you an automatic defense against many other types, especially when paired with the Water-type. Finally, it recently gained the Dragonize ability, which transforms Normal-type moves into Dragon-type moves (finally, a worthwhile tradeoff of abilities)! And I must admit, despite looking like a goofy Totodile when it bites down, the fact that the fin can regulate temperature and bite down into its arm spikes at such incredible speed does sound very cool.

66. Skarmory

I believe I was a bit harsh when I wrote about this in my original article. Overall, it still feels like it could’ve either been an evolution of Skarmory or even a shiny (instead of the brown-and-green coloration GameFreak gave us). However, after re-examining the Mega and thinking about it some more, I’ve grown to appreciate it a lot more. First off, it swaps out its Defense and Attack stats, lowering the former and drastically raising the latter. Combined with its boosted Speed stats, this thing feels more like a missile than its base form. This is especially true with its new ability, Stalwart, which ignores moves or abilities that redirect or absorb your own attacks! Finally, while I still wonder how it can land or attack with its oversized talons, I still absolutely love how frighteningly armed-to-the-teeth this bird looks!

65. Starmie

Okay, hear me out! I know Mega Starmie has been memed to death by fans on social media, but after seeing it with my own eyes, I don’t believe it’s as bad as people made it out to be. While yes, I have been very clear about how disappointed I am with how the megas so far have barely changed at all, I feel like Starmie’s longer arms and legs are appropriate here. When I battled that starfish and saw it lumbering over to me, I couldn’t stop thinking about how intimidating that was. It was almost like watching a Pokémon version of Starro from “The Suicide Squad.” But while that thing had an eyeball, Starmie’s soulless and expressionless gemstone adds to the awesome yet terrifying nature of this mega. However, at the end of the day, there’s just nothing really notable about the design, and the others are simply a lot better than this one. Regardless, I still love this giant starfish!

64. 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. 

63. Delphox

I was genuinely surprised at how well-received this mega was, considering how many people already hate base form Delphox. But apparently, it’s not without good reason. From raised Special Attack and Special Defense stats, to accessing new and more powerful moves, and especially the design, this mega seems to have redeemed Delphox in the eyes of many haters. I must say that I agree with the reception, because I do love how they lean more into its witchy inspiration, and the fiery broomsticks look amazing! However, in spite of that, I feel like not a lot has changed except for a new wardrobe and hopping on a broomstick. When you also compare it to Mega Chesnaught and Mega Greninja, it makes you wish they did just a teensy bit more with the Mega. Nevertheless, this is an awe-inspiring design for an equally impressive mega!

62. 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!

61. Scrafty

I gotta admit: when I first saw this mega, I was not impressed. After all, it’s basically just Scrafty with a new cosmetic, and I hated the “bangs” that drooped over its face. However, the more I look at this Mega Evolution, the more it is finally growing on me! I love how Scrafty’s “clothes” actually make it look more intimidating, truly complementing its Dark-typing by leaning more into its hoodlum inspiration. For instance, with that hood up, the bangs drooping over its face, its hands in its pockets, and its black eyelids halfway down, Scrafty now looks like a dangerous thug in a bad neighborhood. Plus, I love how the pale white of its new skin clashes with its deeper-orange skin and the smaller black parts as well. My only complaint is that Scrafty didn’t become a Ghost-type upon mega-evolving, because the pale whiteness of that cloak, those long, white strands branching out, and those round eyeholes just scream “Ghost-type.”

59-60. 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 been a thrilling experience as I got to soar above Hoenn, looking for hidden islands and battling Pokémon in the sky! However, my biggest issue with both of these Legendaries is the same reason why I lumped them both together in this spot: 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.

58. 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 get faster the longer the battle goes on, you’re completely obliterating the competition!

57. 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.

56. Zeraora

Of all the Mega Evolutions announced for the upcoming DLC, this has gotta be one of the most surprising reveals by a landslide! Not only is this a mega for yet another Pokémon from a different region, but it’s also the first mega we’ve received for a mythical Pokémon in a long time. Despite that, the design completely delivers! I absolutely love how the overall mix of black, blue, and yellow makes Zeraora look like a wild thunderstorm. What makes this even better is how Zeraora shows how its power has grown exponentially: the bigger blue patterns on its chest, the blue spikes on its wrists and forehead, and its blue eyes make me feel like this Pokémon is about to burst with overloading power! Finally, I love how it grew a second tail and how they both look like lightning bolts. While it doesn’t get a new ability upon Mega Evolving, it’s still such an awesome Mega! 

55. 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. 

54. Baxcalibur

I really seem to have a pattern of underestimating a lot of these designs, because when I saw the reveal for this mega, I didn’t think it was any good. It barely looked any different from the base form of Baxcalibur, but upon closer examination, I realized that the mega actually made it look better! Now, I absolutely love Baxcalibur. I’ve used it in my team, and it was pretty awesome. However, what always bothered me was the weird shape of its back fin and most of the proportions of its body. Mega Baxcalibiur fixed that by adding more ice armor onto its face and body, making it look bulkier and more intimidating. The true fix, though, is shaping some ice on its chest to look like the handle of a sword. Therefore, when you take a step back and look at the whole thing, it looks like a gigantic ice sword is stabbing this pseudo-legendary ice dragon. I don’t know why, but that is just AWESOME and quite a genius design choice (I don’t know how GameFreak got away with such a gruesome look lol)!

53. Eelektross

I remember going up against Canari and her Mega Eelektross in the game for the first time, and how disappointed I was at first. I originally thought that the developers lazily slapped two guns on Eelektross’ arms and called it a day. However, that was before I did a little digging and discovered some interesting things about it. First of all, the two “guns” aren’t actually guns, but are what the Pokédex refers to as “false Eelektrik,” AKA electrified mucus. This mucus not only stores more electricity, but it also helps Eelektross swim twice as fast and even packs enough power to take out a freaking Wailord! I mean, how crazy is that? In addition, I also love that the claws at the end of each arm resemble a plus and a minus, which is perfect for an Electric-type. Plus, I love the modified stripes and patterns streaking across its body, especially when the yellow around its red eyes really makes them pop. Safe to say, these facts and design choices really redeemed Mega Eelektross in my eyes, enough to be the 41st best Mega Evolution in my book. 

52. Barbaracle

I absolutely hated this at first (yes, I’m aware I’m repeating myself, but bear with me here).  I thought the design was proportionally weird, with how wide its chest is, the shape of its head, and those many eyes branching out. However, after seeing how well fans have received it, I decided to give this mega another chance. And I must say, I love how this thing looks like a living, evil fortress. The dark brown colors of the arms, mixed with the bright orange in the arms and face, and those beady red eyes, all make it look more intimidating and threatening. Every time I look at this thing, I can’t help but think that it reminds me of the castle from “Sleeping Beauty,” when it was all wrapped up in thorns, and Maleficent was stopping the prince from getting there. Unfortunately, despite these attributes, it becomes a Rock and Fighting-type instead of a Dark type, which I believe is more fitting. Nevertheless, I can see how the Fighting-type fits, with the sharp claws, aggressive posture, and a hornet helmet fit for a warrior. I’m glad to say that this is my 40th favorite Mega Evolution on my list.

51. Malamar

I hate putting this mega so low because I absolutely loved it when I saw its reveal trailer posted on YouTube. First off, I really like how they made Malamar look more like a supervillain by giving it a collar with shoulder pads, and especially rearranging the fins on its head into a glowing brain. Not only does this show off more of its Psychic-type, but its supervillain look perfectly complements its Dark-type. And as if that weren’t enough, I love when they showed it hypnotizing with its long, noodle arms spinning and emitting colorful lights. I especially like that detail because base form Malamar can already hypnotize using a series of flashing lights, but Mega Malamar adds color to them and uses an alternative method of hypnotization, which truly portrays further evolution. And yes, it loses its Suction Cups ability while keeping Contrary, but it is such a dangerous yet tactful ability that I couldn’t care less about what other ability it previously had. 

50. Falinks

I didn’t know I needed a Mega Falinks until Ivor mega-evolved it in my promotion battle! But since I was caught up in said battle and the story, I didn’t get a good look at it. However, once I did, I came to love it almost instantly! First of all, I love how Falinks looks like a full-on gladiator, with the different Falinks stacking together to form a humanoid shape, and even a couple of them serve as a weapon and a shield. Plus, I love how the larger spikes, the blue dots at the sides of the Brass’s eyes, and the shield head on the right Falinks give it a bulky, fierce appearance. But the funnest part of this whole design is the Falinks in the middle, eyes squinting as it’s struggling to hold up the Brass and the other two! Not only is it a nice attention to detail, but it’s kinda funny (but also pretty sad) to see that poor little Falinks hold up its humongous comrades. But this might not bother it very much, because according to the Pokédex, “this form can only be achieved when the troopers and brass have the strongest of bonds,” which is such an incredible and heartwarming feature for this mega. Honestly, I don’t think I have any complaints.

49. Meganium

Now, here is where I might sound a bit hypocritical, since not much has changed with this mega. All they really did was add more flowers onto Meganium’s neck, some poofy pant legs at its feet, and some curlier antennae. However, where some see a disappointing mega, I see beauty. Adding more flowers gives Meganium more color, giving it the appearance of a bouquet or flower garden. This also perfectly complements its Grass-type, but it also portrays its newly acquired Fairy-type, since most fairies are known to grow and attend to plant life. Plus, the elegant curling of the antennae, soft eyes, and glowing flowers give it a gentle vibe that Fairy-types are typically known for. Plus, if I’m being honest, it’s this high mainly because I chose Chikorita as my starter, and there’s my aforementioned love of Fairy-types. 

48. Chesnaught

I already liked Chesnaught; it was my second favorite Kalos starter, and I probably would’ve picked it if Froakie didn’t exist. But Chesnaught’s new Mega Evolution makes the Pokémon even better! I love how it has more of a royal look to it, with its flowing red cape, the yellow “crown” on its head, and the extra bulky armor. The icing on the cake, however, is that Chesnaught can now take off one of those spiky shoulder pads and literally turn it into a mace! It even grows a long handle, sharp spikes, the whole nine yards! I can just imagine that beast swinging that massive weapon down, smashing anything and everything in sight, and making the ground crack apart with each impact. It is absolutely insane, almost like watching a warrior king from the “Lord of the Rings” franchise in action!

47. Lucario Z

I really loved this Mega when I first saw its reveal trailer, and I still love it now! Its darker coloration, the patterns on its face, the blue eyes, its yellow fur, and the two “pomytails” at the back of its head really make it more elegant and graceful. Even the Pokédex compares its new battle style to that of graceful dancing (pokemon.com). Further, it makes me feel like this beautiful new design embodies its Anubis inspiration better than its other two forms do. Aside from that, the lore behind this new Mega is very fascinating. Apparently, pokemon.com states that it fully cloaks itself in its aura, which the official Legends Z-A website elaborates as Lucario Z channeling its aura throughout its body to strengthen attacks or create shields, overall buffing its defenses (although its defensive stats don’t seem to change). Regardless, the design and these new lore facts perfectly embody Lucario as an aura guardian, whereas the site also compares this to how Lucario and its other Mega mainly channel aura into offensive and destructive capabilities. Lucario Z, on the other hand, masters aura the way an aura guardian should. Unfortunately, though, I still prefer the original Mega over this one. 

46. 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. 

45. 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 from this Pokémon, I’ll bet you can just FEEL the immense aura before it even demonstrates its insane power!

44. Chandelure

To me, this is what Chandelure should’ve ALWAYS looked like! Sometimes, it really bothers me to see what’s supposed to be a chandelier, only to have two arms with little to no additional candles to complete the look. Mega Chandelure, on the other hand, delivers on this and then some! Its arms are longer, its flames are bigger, and the numerous candles make me think this could be something hanging from a hotel lobby. In addition, the blue colors of its body and roaring flames give it a beautiful, crystalline appearance, while also making it very spectral and haunting at the same time. Plus, having drastically increased Special Attack stats and the Infiltrator ability (penetrates barriers and other defensive moves) doesn’t hurt either. 

43. 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). 

42. Hawlucha

With the power of this new form, Hawlucha has stepped back into the ring 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. While previously unknown when I first wrote about that fact, the lore explains that Mega Evolution amplified its muscles to a ridiculous degree, which is further attested by its drastically heightened Attack stats. 

41. 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 fiercer 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. 

40. Crabominable

Contrary to most fans, I actually love Crabominable. The unique design, compliemented by its Ice/Fighting type, made really appreciate this yeti crab. Unfortunately, though, its crappy stats didn’t make it a must-have on my team. However, that’s when Legends Z-A fully redeemed this widely hated Pokémon. First of all, they look a lot scarier and more formidable than their base forms! They tower over you on icicle legs, with fists comprised of rock-solid ice, and those small, beady white eyes make it look like a true abominable snowman! Sure, it only has its punch-boosting Iron Fist ability, but with very high Attack stats, that’s a lethal combination. And surprisingly, its Attack stats weren’t the only ones to get this special treatment, as its Defense and Special Defense stats are greatly boosted as well! So, not only can it hit like a truck, but it can also be as defensive as a tank. No wonder it took me countless tries to defeat two of these things at once in the DLC. 

39. Excadrill

How do you make a drill Pokémon even better? You give it an upgrade and turn it into a REAL drill! I am a huge fan of how they took Excadrill’s most unique attributes and expanded on them: they grew its horn and claws, which already combine into an awesome drill, into much bigger and longer proportions! And, as if to show Excadrill becoming properly equipped to handle the massive weapon, I love how they changed his face to look like it’s peeking out of a helmet. To add to the look, Excadrill looks a bit bigger (in weight) with a firmer stance, ready to drill into its next opponent. I don’t know about y’all, but I absolutely love this mega, and I wish I had better opportunities to use it if I didn’t love my team the way it was.

38. 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 by its stacked Attack stats and Aerialate ability, which changes Normal-type moves into Flying-type moves. 

37. 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 up 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. 

36. 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.

35. 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. 

34. Golurk

I seriously can’t believe how many megas I initially didn’t like or care about until reflecting on and writing about them! Mega Golurk was no exception, because for some reason, this new Mega didn’t look like how I imagined. I don’t know what I imagined, but I expected that its leaked power would look better than wearing an X-shaped strap. However, after taking a closer look, I actually LOVE it! For example, the swirly patterns on Golurk’s hands and shoulders are now dark and empty, because the power spilled out of its seal and spread across its whole body! And I love how that power also spreads into yellow/purplish flames on its shoulders, further showing why it’s dangerous to remove Golurk’s seal in the first place. But the best part is its raised Attack and more defensive stats, along with its new Unseen Fist ability, which can even penetrate protective moves! GameFreak really took an already awesome Ghost-type and turned it into an undead juggernaut!

33. Glalie

Speaking of tragic mega-evolving like Scizor, 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. 

32. 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, powers up Fire-type moves, and weakens Water-type moves. Originally, I was harsh about this Mega, thinking it was just a spikier version of Charizard. But Drought truly is an underrated ability with many payoffs if used correctly. Finally, on a personal note, it holds a special place in my heart because Y was my first officially owned Pokémon game.

31. 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.

30. Meowstic

I didn’t know what to expect from a Mega Meowstic, but this Mega did not fail to surpass them anyway! In my opinion, it is the perfect evolution/advancement of Meowstic because, firstly, the dark blue and white halves serve to combine attributes of its male and female forms. Next, the way its eyes close while its ears stick up, revealing those psychic eyes that its base forms are known for, is utterly perfect. It’s like Meowstic is now closing its physical eyes and fully opening its “third eye,” which is fitting for a Psychic-type. Thirdly, the extra tufts of fur, along with its fluffier tails, make this new Mega just as elegant as it is fierce. Finally, its stats also gain a significant buff, with its Special Attack and Speed getting the best upgrades!  

29. 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. 

28. Zygarde

I remember being barely impressed with this new Mega. I thought it needed more than a glowing body holding a giant bazooka. However, I’ve come to not only appreciate it more, but also see how it’s the full embodiment of Zygarde. I love that Zygarde only achieves this form in response to people’s emotions during extreme crises, and this form perfectly embodies that! The glowing green body looks like its cells are collectively supercharged from Mega Evolution, and I don’t know how it made a giant bazooka, but I love how this new form grants an already powerful legendary even greater power for dire situations, like with the plant-tower monster. Plus, it looks cool that Zygarde is only holding it up with those four spindly arms on its shoulders. I also love how its new signature move, Nihil Light, is such an overpowered move that not even Fairy-types can resist it! And having the bazooka charge up by flashing X, Y, and Z patterns before firing is a very nice touch. Finally, I don’t know if this was intentional, but the red and blue dots on its chest remind me of the two different Zygarde cores from the anime. I still wish they added a few more to this Mega, like maybe making Zygarde look more like a dragon or something, but it’s still a very imposing design. 

27. 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 about 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! But don’t let that seemingly harmless appearance fool you, because its Multiscale ability reduces damage taken when at full health, making it slightly tankier in many respects.

26. Raichu X

Now THIS is a Mega Raichu, not that crappy Y form! The reason I say this is that this particular mega evolved form actually looks like it evolved from Raichu. For example, what is the most iconic feature of Raichu? Arguably, I’d say it is the tail. And Mega Raichu X not only makes the tail even closer to resembling a lightning bolt, but it now has TWO of them! As if that weren’t enough, its ears have also grown to such a sharp and intimidating point, and the curls at the bottom are a nice touch. Its shining eyes, brighter skin, and small fangs make the mega look more feral and ready for a fight. Finally, when you see it spread out, you can see how it actually makes an “X!” And while Raichu Y achieves the same thing, Raichu X makes it less awkward and clunky, and more natural and awesome instead. Either way, I’m definitely adding this to my team in the DLC when it releases! I hate that such an amazing mega isn’t higher on this list, but it’s still definitely one of my personal favorites!

25. 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. 

24. 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. 

23. Froslass

My jaw literally dropped all the way to the floor when I saw one of my favorite Ghost-types mega-evolve for the first time! I don’t know what I was expecting, but I definitely didn’t expect to see Pokémon Elsa; that’s for sure. But in all seriousness, I love how beautiful it looks with its long, flowing, white gown. I also love the ice crystals and snowflakes that decorate it, which perfectly complement its Ice-type without being too on the nose. Further, its long “sleeves” and “hair” add to its snow queen appearance. But then you look at its long, icy horns and realize that it’s not just beautiful, but very menacing. This, accompanied by the narrow eye slots and scowl, reminds us that it’s still a Ghost-type through and through. Gorgeous yet terrifying, this stunning ice ghost queen claims this high spot on the ranking. 

22. 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. 

21. 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!

20. 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. 

19. Clefable

I never really cared about Clefable all that much, even after seeing how tanky and powerful it is. But when I saw this thing mega evolve for the first time, I fell in love with the Pokémon on the spot! I can’t believe I never expected its tiny fairy wings to grow into these huge, butterfly wings that it can fly or glide on, but it fits so PERFECTLY! After all, if you’re gonna make a creature that is supposed to represent a fairy, you need to give it true fairy wings to let it fly. Aside from this, its soft, glowing green eyes, its long ears, and the “ice cream swirl” on its head all portray a kind and beautiful fairy! And to make it better, it actually gains the Flying-type, which may leave it vulnerable to additional types, but it’s still a very defensive and tactical typing to have in a battle. My only regret is not adding a Clefable to my team immediately after the battle I saw it in.

18. Golisopod

When I first saw this Mega in Hyperspace, I couldn’t even tell that it was Mega-evolved from a distance. When I got closer, I definitely wasn’t impressed at first. Initially, it felt like the developers were lazy for adding an extra pair of arms and legs, making longer hair, and calling it a day. However, that’s when I recently found clips on Instagram that delved deeper into the Mega and showed some gameplay on Pokémon Champions. Immediately after watching them, Mega Golisopod skyrocketed up my personal list! First of all, it’s a Bug/Steel-type, which is a very defensive typing in general. Further, while now extremely weak to Fire-types, this new type completely eradicates its previous weaknesses to Rock, Electric, and Flying-types! But to make it better, Mega Golisopod gains the Tough Claws ability, which boosts its direct contact moves! I’ve seen players fully utilize its capabilities when mixing it with rain conditions and Trick Room, allowing this Mega to completely decimate Hisuian Samurott, Froslass, and countless other victims with little to no effort. Finally, despite my initial reaction, I’ve grown to love Golisopod’s extra appendages and darker coloration; they truly make him less like a tank, and more of a walking fortress. 

17. 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! 

16. 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. 

15. Gyarados

Much like Diancie, I thought this mega wasn’t much to look at. My first reaction was thinking about 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. 

14. Staraptor

I both really love and really hate this new Mega, but not in the way you think. First off, I absolutely hate it because recently I battled against someone using a Mega Staraptor on their team, and it took me a while to realize that it had the Contrary ability. So, any time I tried lowering its stats, they kept getting raised instead, making this bird unkillable, and I got completely humiliated. I was so angry for a long time after that lol. Personal issues aside, though, its Contrary ability is one reason why it’s so high on this list. That, and the fact that its Attack and defensive stats are dramatically boosted, which allow it to shrug off super-effective moves (or at least hold out a bit) while delivering a powerful Close Combat. Speaking of which, Starpator also gains the Fighting-type upon Mega Evolving. This is way more fitting than being a Normal/Flying-type, because Staraptor is well-known for beating the absolute crap out of its victims (as portrayed by Ash’s Staraptor in the anime). Sure, it gains a couple more weaknesses (Psychic and Fairy-types), but this bird is so aggravatingly strong that it literally doesn’t even matter. 

13. Absol Z

Now THIS is what an Absol Mega Evolution should look like! While I do love how majestic the other Mega is, Z truly embraces its role as the harbinger of disaster. The black coloration, the red claws on its fur, and those sharp, twisty horns truly make it a terrifying demon! It’s almost like a Pokémon version of the Grim Reaper! This is further realized with its new ability, Sharpness, which powers up slicing moves like Night Slash or X-Scissor. If you’re lucky, you won’t even need to wait for critical hits or held items’ side effects, not with this kind of power. But if that wasn’t enough, its Attack and Speed stats are RIDICULOUSLY buffed, so let’s just say you’d better have a Pokémon that’s faster than this thing. However, the best part about this whole Mega is the fact that it now has the Ghost-type, which some could argue is what base Absol should’ve been. Regardless, this new typing eliminates two of its three weaknesses, leaving only Fairy-types. This is an unbelievably huge advantage, and it will undoubtedly serve as an absolute monster in online battles. 

12. Scolipede

When I heard that Scolipede could Mega Evolve, I was immediately intrigued and swapped my Heracross for an Alpha Scolipede to prepare for when I’d get its Mega Stone. And after seeing Corbeau use it in my promotion battle, I was relieved that it was DEFINITELY worth the hype! I absolutely loved how much of an absolute TANK they made this bug! For example, they made the front half of its centipede-like body extra bulky, complete with longer and more colorful horns, and even additional armor protecting its front. I read somewhere that Scolipede’s whole thing is charging into opponents, so it makes me happy that the developers fully leaned into that aspect! And seeing my Scolipede use Megahorn on opposing Pokémon was INCREDIBLE, like watching a bulldozer absolutely demolish a city block! Finally, I love how the neon coloring embodies the Poison-type because it’s like someone dipped this giant bug in nuclear waste.

11. 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 its 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. 

10. Magearna

I didn’t know I needed a Mega Evolution for Magearna until this insane reveal! Despite how much I sympathize with Magearna (thanks to the Volcanion movie), and how interested I am in its lore (how a scientist made it centuries ago), I never really thought much about Magearna. But all of that changed immediately after seeing its new Mega! I absolutely love how Magearna looks less “poofy” and takes on a slimmer figure, with extra “horns” on its head, narrower eyes, and all secured in a fighting stance like Black Widow. Finally, the gears rotating around her are a very nice touch, as they add more to its mechanical background and also serve as awesome weapons to hit opponents with. I also love how the Mega pays homage to Magearna’s original coloration from when it was first created all those years ago with the red-and-gold palette. Finally, as if its base form’s Special Attack stats weren’t already high enough, the Mega makes them even higher! At this point, Magearna is no longer the dainty mechanical princess that inspired the modern Pokéball; that’s a mechanical warrior with enough firepower to blast you into next week!

9. 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 that, 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???

8. 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!

7. Darkrai

Despite being my favorite Mythical Pokémon, I did not initially like its new Mega. I thought it looked so weird because the round shape and tendrils made me think of a blimp or a bird from the side. But after looking deeper into this Mega, I finally understand how it expands on Darkrai’s nightmarish nature. For instance, while its body is a bit round for my taste, it’s actually a lot more intimidating when you think about it. Instead of a blimp, Mega Darkrai looks more like a cloud of pure darkness. Its black colors, thin white stripes, pointy white hair, and the dark tendrils make it look like a bad dream given true form. Further, for good measure, its head can disappear into its body, revealing a terrifying “evil eye.” The Pokédex states that this eye has the power to blot out the sun itself, hold its gaze on anyone no matter how far they go, among many other dark powers. Since that apparently still isn’t enough, Mega Darkrai’s offensive and defensive stats got significant boosts as well! I did not think you could make a nightmare even scarier, not until I saw the evil eye. 

6. 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, especially when the Dex says that “its destructive instincts are the only thing keeping it moving” (pokemon.com). 

5. Greninja

If this mega didn’t exist, Scolipede would’ve won as my favorite new mega by a landslide. Perhaps it’s because I chose Froakie all those years ago, when I played my first Pokémon game, “Pokémon Y,” that this mega especially holds a place in my heart. Or maybe it’s just that awesome! I know it’s not as epic as Ash-Greninja was (and I agree that it should’ve been the mega instead), but I completely love how the developers leaned further into its ninja inspiration. For instance, Mega Greninja is hanging upside down, almost like how we would depict ninjas today. It also sports darker colors, especially on its legs, to mimic the black outfits we imagine them wearing. And while not a dark color, I love how the blue colors around its eyes not only make the design pop, but also highlight its increased power through mega evolution. But enough beating around the bush, because we need to talk about the giant water shuriken it’s hanging from! I’m not gonna lie, sometimes I laugh to myself as I think of the “helicopter helicopter” meme. In all seriousness, though, it is absolutely insane how Greninja uses its own weapon to hang from, and how fast it spins to keep Greninja afloat.

4. Heatran

By far my favorite Mega Evolution from the DLC! Like many other entries on this list, I didn’t even know I needed a Mega for this Legendary until I had to fight it with the other NPCs. Now, I already liked Heatran’s initial design; it made me think of an imposing beetle, with its steel-covered face ready for battle. Mega Heatran, however, took its fiery traits and pushed them to the limit! I absolutely love how it looks like molten, flowing lava now. The melting body, the gaping mouth, teeth spread in a circle, and smoke billowing from its back truly embody a creature that crawled out of a volcano. After all, I don’t know how else you can further evolve a Pokémon known for living in fiery mountains, pumping magma-like blood, and absorbing heat as if it were a food source. And just like Darkrai and Magearna, its already high offensive and defensive stats got boosted even further! Heatran probably didn’t need (too much) more power since it’s already a Legendary, but Mega Evolution transformed it into an eruption with no end. 

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!