Staraptor gets its Mega Evolution debut on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, with Super Mega Staraptor Raid Day. It’s a short, raid-focused event built around one Pokémon, so here’s everything worth knowing before you spend Raid Passes on it.
Event Date and Time
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, September 19, 2026 |
| Time | 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. local time |
| Remote Raid Pass limit increase | Friday, September 18, 5:00 p.m. PDT – Saturday, September 19, 8:00 p.m. PDT (limit raised to 20) |
Featured Pokémon: Mega Staraptor Debut
Mega Staraptor makes its first appearance in Pokémon GO, available in Super Mega Raids for the three-hour event window. Staraptor caught from these raids comes with Mega Level 1 already unlocked, so you can Mega Evolve it as soon as you catch it without needing to farm Mega Energy first.
Super Max: Brave Bird+
Like Mega Beedrill and Mega Houndoom during Mega Squads the week before, Mega Staraptor’s Mega Level can be raised all the way to Super Max, unlocking the Charged Attack Brave Bird+: 70 power and −3 Defense stages to the user in Trainer Battles, or 150 power in Raid Battles. It’s a big commitment in Mega Energy to reach Super Max, so it’s worth deciding up front whether you’re building a Staraptor for raids, PvP, or just to have one.
Shiny Staraptor
The Shiny Staraptor rate is increased for Super Mega Raids during the event window, making Raid Day the best opportunity so far to add one to your collection.
Free Bonuses
- Remote Raid Pass limit raised to 20 from 5:00 p.m. PDT on September 18 through 8:00 p.m. PDT on September 19
- Up to six free Raid Passes available from spinning Gym Photo Discs during the event
- Raid-caught Staraptor has Mega Level 1 pre-unlocked
Paid Ticket ($4.99)
An optional $4.99 ticket adds extra value on top of the free bonuses:
- Up to 14 Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs (instead of 6)
- Increased chance of Rare Candy XL from raids
- An extra 5,000 XP and 5,000 Stardust per Super Mega Raid win
The Web Store also sells an “Ultra Ticket Box” for $4.99, bundling the event ticket with a bonus Premium Battle Pass.
Field Research
A free Timed Research line tied to the event rewards a Premium Battle Pass and a Gardevoir encounter.
Best Uses for Mega Staraptor
Staraptor is a Normal/Flying-type, and Brave Bird+ leans into that typing as a hard-hitting Flying-type Charged Attack, at the cost of a steep Defense drop after use. It’s primarily a raid and Gym attacker; check our full raid roster guide for how Flying-type attackers currently stack up, and our Mega Evolution guide if you need a refresher on Mega Levels and Energy costs before deciding whether Super Max is worth it for this particular Pokémon.
Event Tips
- If you’re going in blind on Remote Raids, the higher 20-pass limit only applies from 5:00 p.m. PDT the day before through 8:00 p.m. PDT on Raid Day itself — check that window against your own local time before assuming it covers the whole weekend.
- Decide whether you want a Shiny before you start battling, since the increased rate only applies during the three-hour window.
- Complete the free Timed Research early if you want the Gardevoir encounter regardless of how your raiding goes.
Final Verdict
This is a straightforward, well-supported Raid Day: a genuine Mega debut, a real shot at Shiny Staraptor, and enough free Raid Passes that you don’t strictly need the ticket unless you’re planning to raid heavily. Worth three hours if Staraptor fills a gap in your raid or Gym lineup.
Source: Leek Duck.
