Update, October 12, 2026: this Mega Malamar raid rotation ended on September 29, 2026. The guide below is kept as a reference for counters and catch CP, with a recap and next steps added at the end. For what is live now, see the October 2026 events calendar.
Mega Malamar has taken over Mega Raids this week, running alongside the regional Ultra Beast raid rotation. Some sources list this run as a tougher Super Mega Raid (see the recap below), so here’s what you need to beat it and what a caught Malamar looks like afterward.
When: Dates & Times
- Start: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 6:00 a.m. local time
- End: Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 10:00 p.m. local time
Mega Malamar is available worldwide during this window — no regional lock, unlike this week’s Ultra Beast raids.
Type & Weaknesses
Malamar is a Dark/Psychic-type, and its Mega Evolution keeps that typing.
- Weak to: Bug-type moves (its biggest weakness) and Fairy-type moves
- Resists: Psychic-type attacks
Best Mega Malamar Counters
| Counter | Fast | Charged |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Beedrill | Bug Bite | Fell Stinger |
| Mega Heracross | Fury Cutter | Megahorn |
| Mega Pinsir | Bug Bite | X-Scissor |
| Mega Scizor | Fury Cutter | X-Scissor |
| Shadow Vikavolt | Bug Bite | X-Scissor |
If you don’t have a Mega-Evolved Bug-type, any strong Bug attacker (Shadow Beedrill, Shadow Pinsir, Leavanny, Shadow Scyther) still chips away reliably. Fairy-type attackers can also work, but Bug-type attackers rank higher in Pokémon GO Hub’s list.
How Many Trainers Do You Need?
Group size depends on the raid format your lobby used. In the Super Mega format, eight Trainers are needed and each must bring a Mega Pokémon; in a regular Mega Raid, a smaller group with Bug-type attackers can do it. We could not confirm exact group-size thresholds, so use the in-game lobby to judge.
Malamar Catch CP
| Weather | CP Range |
|---|---|
| Normal | 1,292–1,347 |
| Weather-boosted | 1,616–1,685 |
Malamar can also appear Shiny — check the encounter carefully before you throw your first Poké Ball.
FAQ
Does beating the raid give me a Mega Malamar? No — like all Mega Raids, you catch the base-form Pokémon, a regular Malamar, not the Mega form itself.
Event Recap: What Happened
Mega Malamar was a Mega Raid boss from Wednesday, September 23, 2026 to Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Leek Duck lists the window as 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM local time; other trackers show the raid pool changing at 10:00 AM, so treat the exact start hour as approximate. It was available worldwide, with no regional split.
| Detail | What we verified |
|---|---|
| Typing | Dark/Psychic |
| Weak to | Bug and Fairy |
| Resists | Psychic |
| Boss base stats | Attack 208, Defense 222, HP 200 (max CP 3554) |
| Catch CP (normal weather) | 1,292 to 1,347 |
| Catch CP (Fog or Windy boost) | 1,616 to 1,685 |
| Shiny | Shiny Malamar could appear |
Two points that other pages often get wrong. First, the Pokémon you catch after the fight is a regular Malamar, not a Mega Malamar; the catch CP above is the base form’s. Second, the raid tier is described inconsistently. Mega Malamar debuted on March 1, 2026 in Super Mega Raids during the Global GO Tour: Kalos, and Pokémon GO Hub’s boss guide still labels it a Super Mega Raid. Leek Duck and Hub’s weekly schedule list the September run simply as Mega Raids. We could not confirm which format your lobby used, so check what you saw in game.
The counters are the same either way: bring Bug-type attackers. The strongest options in Pokémon GO Hub’s ranking were Shadow Vikavolt (Bug Bite / X-Scissor), Shadow Scizor and Shadow Pinsir (Fury Cutter / X-Scissor), Volcarona (Bug Bite / Bug Buzz) and Shadow Escavalier (Bug Bite / Megahorn). Mega Beedrill, Mega Heracross, Mega Pinsir and Mega Scizor were the recommended Mega options. In the Super Mega format, each Trainer can break only one shield and needs a real Mega Pokémon for it; Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon and transformed Ditto cannot break shields.
What To Do Now That It Has Ended
- Check your Malamar. Appraise it, then use the IV calculator and the IV guide before spending Stardust. Pokémon GO Hub describes Malamar’s PvE moveset as average and considers it a niche pick, so most players will not need to power one up.
- Keep your Mega Energy. Mega Energy is species-specific and was earned by winning Mega raids. Bulbapedia lists the first Mega Evolution of Malamar at 300 Malamar Mega Energy (a single source, so confirm in game). Later Mega Evolutions cost less as the Mega Level rises, and a Mega Evolution lasts eight hours.
- Know what Mega Malamar helps with. While it is Mega Evolved, Pokémon GO Hub notes a higher chance of XL Candy when you catch Dark- and Psychic-type Pokémon. Mega Evolved Pokémon also boost other trainers’ attacks in raids and gyms: Bulbapedia lists x1.3 for moves of the Mega’s boosted types and x1.1 for everyone else’s, with no stacking.
- Prepare for the next Mega boss. Plan Mega Evolutions around the current events calendar so the eight-hour window overlaps the raids you want.
Will It Return?
There is documented precedent for it being a raid boss at different times: Mega Malamar first appeared in Super Mega Raids on March 1, 2026 (Global GO Tour: Kalos) and then in the September 23 to 29 rotation above. Niantic announces returns on its own schedule, and we have not found any announced future date. Check the Live Now page for current bosses.
Related Guides
- Pokémon GO events in October 2026
- Beginner’s guide to raids
- Raid counters tool
- Type effectiveness chart
- Weather boost guide
- Pokémon GO raids hub
Sources: Leek Duck: Mega Malamar in Mega Raids; Pokémon GO Hub: Mega Malamar raid guide; Pokémon GO Hub: September 2026 events; Pokémon GO Hub: Mega Malamar in the meta; Leek Duck: GO Tour Kalos Global; Pokémon GO: Mega Evolution 2026 update; Bulbapedia: Malamar (GO); Bulbapedia: Mega Evolution (GO); Rotom Labs.
