Pokémon GO adds Mega Raichu X and Y to July 18 raid day

Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y will hit Pokémon GO in the same three-hour Super Mega Raid Day window on Saturday, July 18, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time. That double debut turns the event into more than a simple raid stop: it gives collectors two new Mega forms to chase at once, and it gives raid groups a very short window to line up enough players and passes.

Niantic is stacking the day with the usual raid-day support, starting with up to six free Raid Passes from Gym Photo Discs. The Remote Raid Pass limit will jump to 20 from Friday, July 17 at 5:00 p.m. PDT through Saturday, July 18 at 8:00 p.m. PDT, which should make it easier for distant players to pile into lobbies. A paid ticket priced at US$4.99, or local equivalent, pushes the Gym Photo Disc total to 14 Raid Passes and adds increased Rare Candy XL chances, plus an extra 5,000 XP and 5,000 Stardust per Super Mega Raid.

The catch is that the event still demands real coordination. Pokémon GO Hub says Super Mega Raids require at least eight Trainers, and both Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y are weak to Ground-type attacks. That makes counter prep important before the clock starts, especially for groups that want to move quickly through multiple raids and maximize the free and paid pass stacks.

There is also a practical reward on the back end: any Raichu caught from Super Mega Raids will already have Mega Level 1 unlocked. Event-exclusive Timed Research will add a Premium Battle Pass and a Steelix encounter, along with Steelix Candy, Steelix Candy XL, Stardust, and Charged TMs, giving players another reason to clear the research before the day ends.

The timing sits inside a crowded summer stretch for Pokémon GO. Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Copenhagen runs June 12 to 14 at Fælledparken in Copenhagen, Denmark, with park gameplay from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CEST and city gameplay from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CEST. Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global is set for July 11 and 12, and the official news site says the Copenhagen event will mark the first Pokémon GO collaboration with the LEGO Group while celebrating the game’s 10th anniversary this summer.

Niantic’s official map, along with Campfire’s discovery page, should be useful as July 18 gets closer, because both are designed to surface raids, events, meetups, and community gatherings. With only three hours to work with, players who want Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y need their passes, counters, and raid groups ready before the first lobby opens.