Pokémon GO Unleashes Alolan Forms and Mega Raids

Trainers can now encounter Alolan regional variants and battle powerful Mega Evolutions in the latest Pokémon GO update.

On July 21, 2024, Niantic launched a major update to Pokémon GO, bringing Alolan forms into daily gameplay and reintroducing Mega Raids with two new additions: Mega Pidgeot and Mega Glalie. The update coincides with the annual Alola Region Tour, a global in-game event celebrating the tropical archipelago from Pokémon Sun and Moon.

Alolan Forms Return

Alolan variants of classic Pokémon—such as Alolan Rattata, Alolan Geodude, and Alolan Marowak—are now appearing in the wild with increased frequency. These forms differ in type and appearance from their Kanto counterparts:

• Alolan Raichu: Gains Psychic typing and can ride a psychic surfboard.
• Alolan Exeggutor: Pure Psychic type with towering height.
• Alolan Ninetales: Ice/Fairy type with a snowy aura.

Players can also complete special Field Research tasks to encounter rare Alolan forms like Alolan Meowth and evolve it into Persian, which is required for the Mega Evolution of Mega Gengar.

New Mega Raids: Mega Pidgeot and Mega Glalie

The Mega Raid rotation welcomes two long-requested Pokémon:

• Mega Pidgeot: Gains Flying/Psychic typing and the ability Scrappy, allowing it to hit Ghost types.
• Mega Glalie: Becomes Ice/Steel with Refrigerate, turning Normal moves into Ice-type.

These Mega Raids require 6-player coordination and Mega Energy from previous evolutions. Defeating them grants rare candies, Technical Machines (TMs), and shards for future Mega Evolutions.

Global Event: Alola Region Tour

The event runs from July 20–23, 2024, and features:

• Double Stardust and Candy from catches.
• Increased spawns of Alolan and tropical Pokémon like Litten and Rowlet.
• 2km Eggs containing Alolan forms.

"We’re bringing the spirit of Alola to every corner of the world."

App Stability and AR+ Mode

The update includes bug fixes for AR+ mode, improving detection accuracy and reducing crashes on iOS 16+ devices. Battery optimization has also been improved for extended outdoor play.

With vibrant new content and community-focused events, Pokémon GO continues to evolve as a social and exploratory experience. Whether you're chasing Mega Raids or collecting Alolan rarities, there's never been a better time to hit the streets.