Summary
Mega Evolutionis one of the best and most popular generational gimmicks ever introduced inPokemon. With one simple click, certain Pokemon can mega evolve and transform into a better version of themselves, with fierce new designs, a considerable stat boost, and sometimes even a brand-new ability. This mechanic changed the franchise forever, andmost fans hope that it will be brought back somedayin the future.
Naturally, some of the most popular Pokemon got a Mega Evolution, likeLucario,Garchomp, orGengar. But this mechanic also blessed some of the less popular creatures in the series and truly redeemed them in the eyes of the fans by giving them interesting redesigns and/or more usability in competitive battling.
Beedrillwas always seen as part of the lower tier of Bug-type Pokemon from Generation One. Not as iconic asButterfreeor as intimidating asScyther, this was often considereda weak insect that was more of a pest than a powerful fighter. But things changed whenOmega Ruby & Alpha Sapphireintroduced its Mega Evolution out of nowhere.
Mega Beedrilllooks considerably better than the regular version, mainly because of its new arms that are reminiscent of long spears. But this Pokemon was greatly benefited by its new ability:Adaptability, which powers up its STAB. Since Beedrill is a fairly weak Pokemon, this Mega Evolution was not overpowered at all and could be used in conventional competitive circles.
As iconic as it is,Pidgeotwas left behindwhen compared to the other “Regional Birds.”Back in the day, it looked great. But nowadays, when compared to the likes ofStaraptororTalonflame, its design and stats leave a lot to be desired. That’s whenOmega Ruby & Alpha SapphireintroducedMega Pidgeot, and the original Regional Bird was back in the spotlight.
The long hair was always Pidgeot’s most defining feature, so the fact that its Mega Evolution gave it even longer hair was quite clever. And while it may not be the best Mega Evolution in the game, its newNo Guardability and higher Special Attack stat made it a force to be reckoned with.
It’s quite interesting becauseMega Kangaskhandidn’t change much from the original Pokemon. In this case, its baby just came out of the pouch to fight alongside its mother. With something as simple as that, this Mega Evolution became one of the most prominent creatures in the competitive scene during Generations Six and Seven, mainly due to its new abilityParental Bond.
Kangaskhanwas not the worst-designed Pokemon, but it was always one of the most forgotten ones in the Generation One Pokedex. And it never really shined in battle either. So having a Mega Evolution that altered its appearance in a simple, yet clever, way and completely enhanced its competitive viability was a game changer.
4Mega Mawile
Two Mouths Are Better Than One
Mawilewas always one of those Pokemon that felt like wasted potential. For a creature based onsomething as unique as theFutakuchi-onna, it mostly felt uninteresting and weak. But, with the release ofPokemon X & Y, Mawile received two major upgrades. It turned into a Steel & Fairy-type, and it got one of the best Mega Evolutions in the game.
Mega Mawileimproved this Pokemon’s design by giving it a second mouth on the back of its head, which looked better and made it look more intimidating. But the best improvement was the addition of its new ability,Huge Power, which greatly boosts its Attack stat. Coupled with its incredible typing, Mega Mawile was one of the best creatures to use in the game, and most fans wished it was a permanent evolution instead of a temporary add-on that hasn’t come back in years.
5Mega Medicham
Enhancing A Solid Concept
For being the first ever Fighting/Psychic Pokemon, Medicham was oddly forgettable. This may be because it was introduced in the same generation as solid Pokemon of the same type, likeHariyama,Breloom,orBlaziken. Or maybe because it looked weird, and its concept didn’t really resonate with fans.
Some Mega Evolutions completely change a Pokemon’s concept and appearance, but others just barely improve on what’s necessary to make them stand out more. That’s exactly what happened withMega Medicham. The new design made its yoga and Buddhist elements more apparent, and it retained thePure Powerability which, alongside the stat boost it received,helped it become extremely strong in battle.
6Mega Glalie
Ugly, But Powerful
Glaliehas always been one of Hoenn’s most infamous Pokemon.An odd-looking Ice-typethat wasn’t easy to catch and wasn’t powerful. To make things even worse, Generation Four introduced its counterpart,Froslass, which instantly became way more used and recognizable than the Face Pokemon from Generation Three.
But Frosslass didn’t get a Mega Evolution - Glalie did. And it was one of the most bizarre ones. With its giant broken jaw,Mega Glalielooks even weirder and, in a way, this made it stick out more since it perfectly encapsulated the concept of Mega Evolved Pokemon suffering physical damage when they power up. And thanks to its newRefrigerateability that turned all Normal-type moves into Ice-type moves, Mega Glalie had quite a lot of use when it was introduced.
7Mega Lopunny
An Unexpected Addition
Why didLopunny, a Generation Four Pokemon that didn’t originally exist back in Generation Three, receive a brand-new Mega Evolution in the remakes,Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire? It’s impossible to say why this happened, but most fans are glad thatMega Lopunnyexists because, as unexpected as this was, it greatly improved on whatused to be considered a bland Normal-type Pokemon.
Aside from its striking new design, Mega Lopunny got two incredible changes. The addition of the Fighting-type, alongside its Normal-type, and the abilityScrappythat let it hit Ghost-type Pokemon with moves of those same two types. And, since it also had incredible boosted Speed and Attack stats, Mega Lopunny was a rather strong Pokemon whose existence no one saw coming.
Like most Generation Five Pokemon,Audinowas the counterpart of a Generation One Pokemon. In this case, it wasChansey, as both were seen as the nurses of their respective regions. Aside from that, there wasn’t much about the Hearing Pokemon that stuck out, and most fans just saw it as a tool to farm more experience for their team.
But comeOmega Ruby & Alpha SapphireandMega Audinowould be introduced, with a cuter design, a new Fairy-type, and the usefulHealerability. But the weirdest thing is that this is currently the only Unova Pokemon that has a Mega Evolution. That fact alone is enough to make Audino stand out, but most people are now hoping thatpossible Generation Five remakeswill change this.
