As the sun sets on the in-person Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos 2026 events in Los Angeles and Tainan, Trainers worldwide are bracing for the Global Tour next weekend. The breaking news from the Rose Bowl Stadium is the debut of the formidable Super Mega Raids, a new tier of difficulty that has humbled even veteran players. With Mega Dragonite, Mega Malamar, and Mega Victreebel taking over Gyms, securing victory requires precise Pokémon GO raid strategies 2026. Whether you are recovering from the local events or preparing for the global rollout on February 28, this guide covers the essential counters and shiny hunting tips you need.

Mastering Super Mega Raids: A New Challenge

The most significant development from the Kalos Tour is the introduction of Super Mega Raids. Unlike standard Mega Raids, these seven-star battles require a minimum of 8 Trainers to trigger the battle effectively, though lobbies of 10-15 are recommended for comfort. The bosses boast inflated HP pools and aggressive attack stats, making coordination with your local community mandatory.

Trainers attempting to duo or trio these bosses have faced consistent failures. To succeed, you must prioritize damage output (DPS) over survivability (TDO) and utilize the Party Play feature for that crucial damage boost. Let’s break down the optimal counters for the three new bosses.

Mega Dragonite Counters: Freeze the Dragon

Mega Dragonite Pokémon GO raids are currently the hardest content in the game. As a Dragon/Flying type, it possesses a massive double weakness to Ice-type moves. Exploiting this vulnerability is non-negotiable if you want to beat the timer.

Top-Tier Counters:

  • White Kyurem: The undisputed king of this raid. Equipped with Ice Fang and Blizzard, it deals catastrophic damage.
  • Shadow Mamoswine: A glass cannon that shreds Dragonite’s health bar. Ensure it has Powder Snow and Avalanche.
  • Mega Rayquaza: While it doesn't hit the double weakness, its raw neutral DPS with Dragon Ascent is unmatched.
  • Galarian Darmanitan (Zen Mode): If you have one from recent events, its Ice-type output rivals Shadow Mamoswine.

Be cautious of Mega Dragonite’s Draco Meteor; it will one-shot almost anything that isn't a Fairy type. Dodge aggressively to keep your damage dealers on the field.

Crushing Mega Malamar and Mega Victreebel

Mega Malamar Counters

Mega Malamar's unique Dark/Psychic typing creates a double weakness to Bug-type attacks. This is your chance to let your Bug-type attackers shine, a rarity in the current meta.

Best Counters:

  • Mega Heracross: The absolute best counter. Struggle Bug and Megahorn will melt Malamar quickly.
  • Mega Pinsir: A strong alternative if you lack Heracross energy.
  • Shadow Scizor: Resists Malamar’s Psychic moves and hits back hard with X-Scissor.
  • Volcarona: High DPS, though slightly less durable against Rock-type coverage moves.

Mega Victreebel Counters

Mega Victreebel (Grass/Poison) is weak to Fire, Flying, Ice, and Psychic. However, Psychic types like Shadow Mewtwo are risky if the boss runs Dark-type moves. Fire and Flying are your safest bets.

Best Counters:

  • Mega Charizard Y: Fire Spin and Blast Burn dominate this raid.
  • Mega Rayquaza: Once again, Dragon Ascent proves to be the best Flying-type move in the game.
  • Shadow Blaziken: Offers immense Fire damage but is frail.
  • Reshiram: A bulky anchor for your team with Fusion Flare.

Shiny Honedge Guide and Kalos Debuts

For collectors, the Pokémon GO Kalos event rewards are headlined by three major shiny debuts: Honedge, Hawlucha, and Klefki. The in-person events confirmed that shiny rates are boosted, but hunting them requires specific methods.

Shiny Honedge: This sentient sword is appearing exclusively in 1-star raids and field research tasks. Do not waste time hunting it in the wild; it is not spawning wildly for the Global event. Focus your raid passes here if you aren't chasing Mega Energy.

Shiny Hawlucha & Klefki: These regionals are hatching from 10km eggs. During the event window (10 AM - 6 PM), egg hatch distance is halved. The strategy is simple: clear your egg storage before the event starts, then run only 10km eggs during event hours. Incubators will be your best friend this weekend.

Shiny Diancie Masterwork Research

Finally, the crown jewel of the tour is the Shiny Diancie Masterwork Research. Ticket holders who logged in during the Kalos Tour receive this long-term questline. Based on reports from Los Angeles, the first step involves catching 30 Rock-type and 30 Fairy-type Pokémon.

Don't rush this. Masterwork Research is designed to take months. However, catching Rock-types is easier during the "Mountain Manor" habitat rotation, so try to progress that step while the habitat is active. The final reward is a guaranteed encounter with Shiny Diancie, a Mythical powerhouse that can Mega Evolve to become the top Rock/Fairy attacker in the game.

As we pivot toward the Global event, ensure your storage is cleared and your raid parties are saved. The Kalos region has brought some of the most difficult challenges yet, but with these Super Mega Raid counters, you are ready to conquer.