Mega Levels + the 2026 Mega update
The Mega Level system rewards repeated Mega Evolution with bigger candy bonuses. The 2026 update changed two things — split evolutions now use separate energy, and Mega Level 3 can be speedrun instead of waiting 30 days. Here's the full system and the smartest way to play it.
Mega Charizard X and Y used to share one Mega Evolution — evolving Charizard let you pick either form. They are now two separate Megas with separate Mega Energy. X energy comes only from Mega Charizard X raids, Y energy only from Y raids.
Nothing was lost in the split: any Charizard you had already Mega Evolved kept its Mega Level on both forms, and your existing energy was granted to both pools. The change sets up Mega Mewtwo X / Y — and more split Megas from the Legends Z-A batch.
Reaching Mega Level 3 used to mean ~30 days of daily Mega Evolutions — a hard time-gate no amount of raiding could skip. The update adds a paid shortcut: spend double the Mega Energy and jump straight to Mega Level 3.
The old free path still works exactly as before — this is an extra option, not a replacement. Nothing about the existing Mega system was removed.
- · First-time Mega Evolution: 100, 200, or 300 Mega Energy depending on the species. (Primal forms cost 400 — but Primals are not Megas and do not use the Mega Level system.)
- · Free re-evolution: after the first time, re-evolving is free once the cooldown clears — 7 days at Mega Level 1, 5 days at Mega Level 2. The energy cost also drops a little each day you wait.
- · Buddy walking: once a species has been Mega Evolved at least once, walking it as your buddy earns 25 Mega Energy per 5 km — free, no raids needed.
- · Speedrun to Mega Level 3: double the Mega Energy it would otherwise cost to evolve up to Level 3 — and the cost shrinks for every day of progress you have already made the free way.
The speedrun is most efficient when you do not use it from scratch. Because every free Mega Evolution you do reduces the remaining speedrun cost, the cheapest route to a Level-3 Mega before a big event is a hybrid:
- · Mega Evolve the species every couple of days the free way, riding the cooldowns, for the weeks leading up to the event.
- · Bank Mega Energy from Mega Raid Days in the same window — those events hand out far more than you need for a single evolution.
- · Then speedrun only the remaining gap to Mega Level 3, right before the event — you pay a fraction of the full speedrun cost.
If you need the Level-3 candy bonus now — a Community Day is live — speedrunning outright is fine. The hybrid only matters when you have lead time.
▸What changed in the 2026 Mega update?
Two things. First, split evolutions (Mega Charizard X and Y) are now two separate Megas with separate Mega Energy pools — previously one Mega Evolution gave access to both forms. Second, you can now speedrun a Pokémon to Mega Level 3 by paying double Mega Energy, instead of the old 30-day daily-evolution time-gate.
▸Do Mega Charizard X and Y share Mega Energy now?
No — not anymore. After the update they are two separate Megas. Mega Charizard X Energy comes only from Mega Charizard X raids; Mega Charizard Y Energy comes only from Mega Charizard Y raids. The same split applies to Mega Mewtwo X and Y. Expect more split Megas as the Legends Z-A batch arrives.
▸Did I lose progress on my Charizard when the split happened?
No. Any Charizard you had already Mega Evolved kept its Mega Level on BOTH the X and Y forms, and your existing Charizard Mega Energy was granted to both pools. If you had 5,000 Charizard energy before the split, you have 5,000 on X and 5,000 on Y after it. Only future energy is earned separately.
▸How do I get Mega Level 3 fast?
Use the speedrun option from the 2026 update: pay double the Mega Energy it would cost to evolve up to Mega Level 3, and you skip the time-gate entirely. The old free path still works — Mega Evolve daily through the cooldowns over ~30 days — but the speedrun is instant for players who have the energy.
▸Is Mega Level 3 worth it?
Yes. Mega Level 3 unlocks significantly increased candy and Candy XL farming bonuses for the Mega's type. A Mega Level 3 Dragon-type active during a Dragon Community Day, for example, dramatically boosts candy and XL gains on every Dragon catch. It is the single best level to target.
▸Should I push a Mega to Level 4?
Most players should not. Mega Level 4 needs roughly 5,000 Mega Energy — about 1,000 km of buddy walking or an enormous number of raids. The bonus over Level 3 is marginal for the cost. Stop at Level 3 unless you are a heavy spender with a specific reason.
▸What is the cheapest way to raise a Mega Level?
The fully free path: Mega Evolve the species once (100-300 Mega Energy depending on the Pokémon), then re-evolve for free after each cooldown — 7 days at Mega Level 1, 5 days at Mega Level 2 — and walk it as your buddy to bank more energy (25 per 5 km). Slow but zero cost. The speedrun is only for players who would rather spend energy than wait.
▸Does the speedrun cost less if I have already Mega Evolved some?
Yes. Every day of progress you make the old free way reduces the remaining speedrun cost. The smart play before a big event is to Mega Evolve every couple of days through the cooldowns, then speedrun only the remaining gap to Mega Level 3 right before you need it — you pay far less energy than speedrunning from scratch.