Mega Scizor Raid Day: Everything You Need to Know

Mega Scizor Raid Day: Everything You Need to Know

Mega Scizor makes its Pokémon GO debut for a three‑hour raid day, but the event comes with a few quirks you’ll want to understand before you jump in. Below is a complete breakdown of the schedule, rewards, raid mechanics, and the best ways to maximize your gains.

Event Overview

• Date & Time: June 27th, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. local time.
• Raid Boss: Mega Scizor appears for the first time in Super Mega Raids only.
• Shiny Rate: Scizor caught from these raids has a boosted 1 in 10 shiny chance.

Raid Passes & Link Charges

• Free Raid Passes: Up to six free passes from spinning gyms (includes the daily free pass). You can also keep a daily free pass from the day before, giving a total of seven passes for the event.
• Link Charges: Obtainable for free via weekly challenges and opening gifts from friends. They can be used to join Super Mega Raids instead of a raid pass.

Remote Raid Limit Increase

• From June 26th 5:00 p.m. PDT to June 27th 8:00 p.m. PDT, the remote raid limit rises to 20 per day.
• This lets you remote‑raid Mega Scizor and other concurrent raid bosses such as Celesteela, Kartana, Mega Pidgeot, and Shadow Dialga.

Timed Research & Free Rewards

• Free timed research grants: a Premium Battle Pass, Stardust, Charged TMs, an encounter with Houndoom, plus Candy and Candy XL.
• No Mega Energy is awarded, but a Mega‑evolved Pokémon is required to break shields during the raid.
• Community Ambassador Meetup: Checking in yields an extra free Premium Battle Pass.

Optional $5 Ticket

• Benefits: Eight additional raid passes from gyms, higher chance for Rare Candy XL, +5,000 XP and +5,000 Stardust per Super Mega Raid.
• Web Store Bonus: Same price on the Pokémon GO web store you also receive a bonus Premium Raid Pass.

Super Mega Raid Mechanics – What You Must Know

1. Limited Gyms: Only specific gyms can host Super Mega Raids. Use the web‑based map beforehand to locate eligible gyms in your area.
2. Shield System: The boss activates a number of shields (likely eight, as with Mega Feraligatr). Each trainer can break one shield per raid using a charged attack from a Mega‑evolved Pokémon.
3. Minimum Trainers: At least eight trainers with Mega‑evolved Pokémon are needed to clear all shields.
4. Party Setup: Keep a Mega‑evolved Pokémon in the back of your party; the game will auto‑swap it in when shields appear. Avoid using it early to prevent fainting and the need to heal/re‑enter.
5. Rural Considerations: Fewer eligible gyms and the high trainer requirement make remote raiding (200 Link Charges + Remote Raid Pass) the most viable option for many players.

Is Mega Scizor (Mega Skarmory) Worth Raiding?

• Super Max Mega Level (Level 4): First Steel‑type to reach this tier. After the first Mega Evolution, you can walk any Skarmory to earn Mega Energy without further raids (7,800 energy to max).
• Catch Bonuses at Max Level: +3 Candy and 30 % chance for Candy XL per catch of a shared‑type Pokémon (vs. +2 Candy / 25 % at level 3).
• Battle Performance: As a Flying attacker it sits near Toucannon, Staraptor, Incarnate Tornadus, and Braviary – well below top meta options like Mega Pidgeot. As a Steel attacker it is even less effective.
• GO Battle League: Skarmory currently ranks low in Great and Ultra Leagues.

Additional Event Benefits

• Galarian Yamask & Hisuian Qwilfish Evolution: Each requires 10 raids as buddy – the free raids accelerate this.
• Bisharp → Kingambit: Steel‑type raid boss helps meet the evolution requirement.
• Rare Candies & TMs: Free from raids (especially valuable during the Team GO Rocket Takeover when Frustration can be removed).
• XP Gains: 15,000 XP per Super Mega Raid; with a Lucky Egg (and the $5 ticket) you can hit ~40,000 XP per raid.
• Origin Dialga’s Roar of Time: Extends Lucky Egg duration for even more XP.

Best Counters for Mega Scizor / Mega Skarmory

Top Tier (Shadow / Mega): Shadow Reshiram, Mega Charizard Y, Shadow Heatran, Shadow Electivire, Regieleki, Shadow Raikou, Shadow Zapdos, Shadow Magnezone, Reshiram, Zekrom.
Budget Options: Electivire, Cinderace, Magnezone, Delphox, Incineroar, Charizard.

Weaknesses: Electric and Fire.
100 % IV CP Targets: 1,204 (normal), 1,506 (windy or snowy weather).

Maximizing Candy During the Event

• Flying Taxi Takeover Go Pass: Reach rank 10 for 2× catch Candy. Combined with a Pinap Berry → 12 Candy per Skarmory; Silver Pinap → 14 Candy.
• Mega Evolve a Shared‑Type Pokémon: Any Flying or Steel Mega gives extra Candy, Candy XL, and XP per catch. Steel Mega also benefits Shadow Dialga catches.
• Super Max Mega Dragonite (if owned): Provides the highest Candy/XL yield at max level.
• Trading Skarmory: June Monthly Go Pass (rank 1) gives +1 Candy and guaranteed Candy XL per trade. On Friendship Fridays: +2 special trades, 20 % less Stardust, higher lucky‑trade chance, and 2 guaranteed Candy XL per trade (level 31+).

Medals & Progression

• Platinum Rising Star Medal: New raid boss counts toward it.
• Champion Medal: Progresses with each raid win.
• Raid Expert & Rising Star Duo Medals: Advance when raiding with a friend.
• Mega Evolution Guru Medal: First Mega Evolution of Skarmory adds progress.
• Success Medal: Also gains progress.

Conclusion & Call to Action

The Mega Scizor raid day offers a rare shiny chance, valuable free passes, and a pathway to the first Steel‑type Super Max Mega Evolution. However, the Super Mega Raid’s shield mechanic and limited gym availability mean you’ll need a coordinated group (or remote setup) with Mega‑evolved Pokémon ready.

Ready to raid?

1. Check the web map for eligible gyms today.
2. Stockpile Link Charges and keep a Mega‑evolved Pokémon in reserve.
3. Decide if the $5 ticket’s extra passes and XP boost fit your goals.
4. Plan your counters and candy‑maximizing strategy before the 2 p.m. start.

Good luck, trainers – may your shields break quickly and your Scizor shine!