Highlights

• Mega Sceptile is a fast and powerful Grass/Dragon type Pokemon, but its defenses are weak.
• Mega Ampharos has strong Special Attack and solid overall stats, but its low Speed can be a disadvantage.
• Mega Gardevoir is a formidable Psychic/Fairy type Pokemon with boosted Normal-type moves and few weaknesses.

Mega Evolution can be a really useful mechanic for trainers who are looking to get the absolute most out of their Pokemon. With only 48 different kinds of Mega Evolutions, you should find it easy to figure out which ones suit your styles best with relative ease.

All sorts of Pokemon have been given this unique ability; from starters to Legendaries, pseudo-Legendaries, and everything else in between. With so many out there, it can be difficult to pinpoint which ones are strongest, so let's take a look at some of the best and most powerful Mega Evolutions ever.

Updated on January 24th, 2024, by Andrew Scariati: With Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, and its DLC now firmly behind us, it seems the wait for additional Mega Evolutions continues, with little indication that the mechanic will ever return. Even so, let's look back at the strongest Mega Pokemon for nostalgia's sake. While the crown for best Mega Evolution is hotly contested, some choice legendaries remain head-and-shoulder above their peers.

23 Mega Sceptile

Mega Sceptile's a speed demon. Lizard. Tree. Thing. Look, whatever it is, it's fast.

That Special Attack's nothing to sneeze at, either. What we have here is a fully evolved, amped-up, Grass-type that tags Dragon as a secondary, making moves like Dragon Pulse just as frightening as that accursed Giga Drain keeping it going for the long haul.

On the other hand, those defenses aren't precisely great by Mega Evolved standards, so if you're up against this big buddy you should rail at it as quickly as possible.

22 Mega Ampharos

Not only does Mega Ampharos have some of the best hair in the series, but its Special Attack raises significantly, which might shock your opponents on the battlefield. Most of Ampharos' strongest moves — like Thunder, Dazzling Gleam, and Power Gem — can take down even the strongest Pokemon in a single hit.

Mega Ampharos has solid stats across the board, but it's usually never going to be the first Pokemon to attack during a battle. You also need to be incredibly careful against Ground, Ice, Dragon, and Fairy-type moves because Ampharos becomes a dual Electric and Dragon-type Pokemon after Mega Evolution.

21 Mega Gardevoir

Gardevoir is already a formidable Pokemon if you train it right, and this Psychic and Fairy-type becomes even stronger when you Mega Evolve it. Its Normal-type moves turn into Psychic-type when you tack on the evolution, and from there they get a 20 percent power boost.

Since Gardevoir is Psychic, those moves also receive an extra boost from being the same type. It always helps that Psychic and Fairy-type Pokemon only have two weaknesses in Steel and Poison, so Mega Gardevoir can get a lot of work done before anything can knock it out.

20 Mega Abomasnow

First things first: you're going to have to come to terms with the fact that Mega Abomasnow will virtually never act ahead of its opponent. With 30 Speed, this big guy's added bulk halves its already-low swiftness upon Mega Evolution. That's just wild.

Being a Grass and Ice-type Pokemon, Mega Abomasnow will be decimated by Fire-types, too, so there's also that. So, why is Mega Abomasnow even here? Well, its physical and special-based attacks are both very reliable, and its move pool has a ton of variety. You'll want to bring this one out to (slowly) strike fear in the hearts of your foes.

19 Mega Alakazam

Alakazam is already known as one of the smartest Pokemon in the series, but after Mega Evolution, it trades all of its muscle ability to unlock its true psychic potential. Mega Alakazam might not have the highest HP, Attack, or Defense, but it makes up for it with phenomenal Speed and Special Attack stats that make this Pokemon an absolute menace during battles.

Moves like Future Sight, Psychic, and Psyshock can easily devastate enemy Pokemon, though it might be a good idea to have Recover in Mega Alakazam's moveset in case of emergencies. It doesn't change type after Mega Evolution, so if you stay clear of Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type Pokemon, Mega Alakazam can take you to the Pokemon League without any major problems.

18 Mega Altaria

Altaria takes its fluffy-cloud look to the max and becomes a powerful Dragon and Fairy-type Pokemon after its Mega Evolution. It also uses the Pixilate ability after it evolves, which makes its Fairy-type moves 1.3 times stronger than normal, and they get an extra boost thanks to the Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB).

While none of Mega Altaria's base stats stand out as truly superb, neither do any suffer a low blow. After Mega Evolving, Altaria swaps out its dual Flying-type for Fairy, eliminating its Rock-type weakness, but making Poison and Steel-type more threatening.

17 Mega Absol

Absol is a perfect option for trainers who want to hit hard. What it lacks in durability it more than makes up for in power. Its only drawback is that it has fairly subpar speed. It’s in a weird place where it should be used as a glass cannon, but can’t function effectively in that role.

Mega Absol solves this issue by raising Absol’s speed and giving its Attack stat a boost too. With these changes, it becomes a much more viable quick-hitting option. It remains a Dark-type Pokemon despite the wing-like appearance its fur takes on, so you don't have to worry about adjusting defensive strategies for new weaknesses.

16 Mega Gengar

Gengar has been a fan-favorite since it first appeared in Pokemon Red and Blue, so it wasn't that surprising when it was revealed that the Ghost and Poison-type would receive a Mega Evolution in Pokemon X and Y. While its type remains the same, Mega Gengar's new stats make it worth having by your side if you're looking for a spooky companion for your journey.

Mega Gengar doesn't have great Attack or Defense, but it's a tricky Pokemon that benefits from having a higher Speed, Special Defense, and Special Attack than before. Strike terror into your opponents with moves like Shadow Ball and Dream Eater, but be wary of Dark, Ghost, and Psychic-type moves.

15 Mega Aggron

With base stats totaling a whopping 530, Aggron is already just 70 points shy of pseudo-legendary status. While its Attack and Defense stats are excellent, the rest are kind of lacking. Pair that with a quadruple weakness to Fighting and Ground-type moves, and you have the potential for huge issues down the line.

Mega Aggron doesn’t solve all of Aggron’s issues, but it makes them much easier to overlook while even getting rid of some. Its Attack and Defense skyrocket upon Mega Evolving, and it drops its Rock-typing to become a pure Steel-type, reducing its quadruple weaknesses. This thing is a beast that will help you dig your way to victory.

14 Mega Metagross

Metagross has been an essential Pokemon for competitive battling since its introduction in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, but the Mega Evolution managed to make an already powerful creature even stronger. Its dual Steel and Psychic types provide Metagross with a plethora of immunities and resistances, and now it can eliminate its toughest competition with incredibly high stats.

Mega Metagross' weakest point is its Special Attack, which significantly weakens its Hyper Beam move. Everything else though — from HP to Speed — is either great or phenomenal, creating a powerhouse Pokemon that can annihilate almost anything in its path.

13 Mega Lucario

Since its movie debut and initial game appearances in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, Lucario has managed to become one of the more popular Pokemon in the series. Lucario has great Attack and Special Attack as well as some pretty high Speed, and while its Defense stats aren’t terrible, they’re not all that great either.

Mega Lucario only improves upon this. It significantly boosts Lucario’s strengths while also giving it a better defensive cushion, though it still doesn't want to be taking hits. With a base stat total of over 600 in its Mega Evolved form, this Pokemon can swing a battle for you.

12 Mega Aerodactyl

If you want to soar above the competition, Mega Aerodactyl is an excellent choice for your party. Its defense might not be as great as others, but Aerodactyl is a dual Rock and Flying-type Pokemon that provides it full immunity from Ground-type moves and resistances to Bug, Fire, Flying, Poison, and Normal-type moves.

Mega Aerodactyl's potential shines through its wonderful Speed and Attack stats. The Fossil Pokemon will often strike first against most enemies, and certain moves like Giga Impact, Rock Slide, or Iron Head can knock out your opponents in a single turn. It's also wise to teach Mega Aerodactyl Fly, so it can avoid deadly attacks from dangerous foes before delivering the final blow.

11 Mega Scizor

Aside from being just plain cool-looking, Scizor is also one of the best Bug types you can get your hands on. With its Bug and Steel-type pairing, Scizor can cause a lot of headaches for opponents with its various resistances and immunity to Poison-type moves. Just be wary of Fire-type moves, as Mega Scizor has a deadly quadruple weakness to them.

Mega Scizor isn't the quickest Pokemon out there, but it covers all the bases. It has great Attack, high Special Defense, and even higher Defense stats. Take your pick of any great Physical moves in its move pool, and you’re ready to go.

10 Mega Tyranitar

Tyranitar is pretty stacked statistically, there's no doubt about that. The problem arises when you look at its weaknesses. Seven type weaknesses — including a quadruple weakness to Fighting-type moves — may be enough to turn you off this Pokemon entirely.

But for trainers who are willing to look past that, Tyranitar — and more importantly its Mega Evolution — brings a lot to the table. Though it's not the most agile Pokemon in the world, Mega Tyranitar can deal a ton of damage and take its fair share as well. It may not be perfect, but it’s certainly an asset if used right.

9 Mega Steelix

Steelix isn’t the kind of battle partner that will take enemies out in one shot. It’s a tank — it grinds enemies down and wears them out. That isn’t to say that it can’t hit pretty hard when it needs to as well, though.

Mega Steelix not only adds to its ridiculous Defensive totals but also gets a nice Attack boost as well. Despite its four weaknesses, it has plenty of resistance and immunities to compensate for that. Just bear in mind that the 30 Speed it shares with Mega Abomasnow is low enough that, with all the wrong EVs, you could genuinely be looking at a Pokemon at Level 100 with 58 Speed.

8 Mega Houndoom

Houndoom already looks like a strong Pokemon you don't want to mess with, and Mega Houndoom takes that aesthetic to the extreme. While Houndoom may not be perfect, it’s a great Pokemon to have on your side, and its Mega Evolution drives that point further.

Defense is Houndoom's biggest issue, but its Mega Evolution fixes that, while also improving on its Speed and Special Attack. It has a nice mix of both Fire and Dark-type moves, along with useful assets like STAB priority, the Solar Power ability, and the tricky Destiny Bond.

7 Mega Gyarados

Despite the omission of Mega Pokemon from newer generations, there's no denying Gyarados is still among the best Water types in Scarlet & Violet. Mega Gyarados was a dominant force in the meta-game and offers a simple – but wonderfully upgraded – Mega Evolution design.

Highlighted by an exceptional 155 Attack stat and a solid movepool, Mega Gyarados is the entire package, easily deserving of being called one of the best Mega Evolutions. Its biggest pitfall is its expanded set of weaknesses that come along with the Mega Evolution, such as Fighting, Fairy, Electric, Grass, and Bug.

6 Mega Charizard X

Charizard is one of only two Pokemon to have been given a choice of Mega Evolutions. Both are excellent, but when it comes to physical setup sweepers, few are as feared as Mega Charizard X.

Mega Charizard X has balanced Attack and Special Attack stats, with beefed-up Defense. Though its Special Attack is lacking compared to its other Mega Evolved form, this variant is all about physical power. It swaps Charizard's dual Flying-type with Dragon, giving it access to Dragon Dance, strong STAB moves like Flare Blitz and Outrage, and with the Tough Claws ability on top of everything else, it's a force to be reckoned with.

5 Mega Blaziken

Blaziken gets the slight nod over its Gen 1 counterpart here. It may not have the same strengths that Charizard offers, but overall, it's a monster. With high Attack stats and fairly decent numbers in everything else, Blaziken is always on the offensive.

With its Mega Evolution, Blaziken’s Attack power increases exponentially, and the rest of its stats are better rounded off as well. Mega Blaziken's Speed Boost ability can allow it to snowball in the blink of an eye. It can hit you quickly and has the durability to serve as more than a glass cannon.

4 Mega Kangaskhan

On design alone, Mega Kangaskahn might be the most boring Mega Evolution of all time, as its small child simply hops out of its mother's pouch. That's it – that's the entire design.

Aside from the boring visual alteration, there's no denying Kangaskhan's lasting impact on the metagame (and our memories) due to its unprecedented Parental Bond Ability.

Parental Bond allowed Kangaskhan to attack twice – with the second attack's damage reduced to 25 percent of the usual damage. Despite that limitation, Kangaskhan's ability to utilize secondary effects twice (like Power-up Punch) made it a terrifying beast in the competitive landscape.