Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day Guide | Pokémon GO

Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day arrives in Pokémon GO on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time. The event marks the debut of Mega Staraptor and introduces Super Mega Raids, boosted Shiny Staraptor encounters, new Mega Level progression, and the Super Max upgrade path.

Whether you plan to play for free or buy the $4.99 event ticket, this guide covers the event schedule, bonuses, ticket rewards, Mega Staraptor counters, Shiny odds, Brave Bird+, Super Max progression, and the best way to prepare for Raid Day.

Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day 2026: Date & Time

Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day takes place on September 19, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time.

The event lasts only three hours, so preparation matters if you want to complete as many Super Mega Raids as possible.

The boosted Remote Raid limit runs from September 18 at 5:00 PM PDT through September 19 at 8:00 PM PDT, covering the full Raid Day window across different regions.

Super Mega Raids will appear only at selected Gyms. Not every Gym will host this raid type, so check the in-game map and local community event information before the event starts.

 

Free Event Bonuses

All trainers can receive the basic event bonuses during the 2:00 PM–5:00 PM local event window, whether or not they purchase the paid ticket.

Free Raid Passes

You can obtain up to 6 free Raid Passes by spinning Gym Photo Discs during the event.

These free passes make the event worthwhile even if you do not plan to spend money on the ticket, especially if your main goal is to get Staraptor encounters, collect Mega Energy, or hunt for a Shiny.

Increased Remote Raid Limit

The Remote Raid limit increases to 20 during the event period.

This gives players more flexibility if local Super Mega Raid locations are limited or if they plan to raid with friends in other locations.

Increased Shiny Staraptor Chance

Staraptor has an increased Shiny encounter chance from Super Mega Raids during the event.

The exact boosted rate has not been released, so there is no confirmed percentage to use when estimating your Shiny odds.

Mega Level 1 Unlocked

Every Staraptor caught from a Super Mega Raid starts with Mega Level 1 already unlocked.

This means you do not need to spend the initial Mega Energy normally required to unlock its first Mega Level, giving you a head start toward higher Mega Levels and the new Super Max progression.

 

Staraptor Raid Day Ticket: Price & Rewards

The optional Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day ticket costs $4.99, or the equivalent price in your local currency.

Ticket bonuses are active only during the 2:00 PM–5:00 PM local event window.

Ticket Benefit	Reward
Raid Passes	Up to 14 from Gym Photo Discs
Rare Candy XL	Increased chance from Raid Battles
XP	+5,000 from each Super Mega Raid
Stardust	+5,000 from each Super Mega Raid

The biggest difference is the number of Raid Passes available from Gym Photo Discs. Free players can receive up to 6, while ticket holders can receive up to 14.

That means the ticket can provide 8 additional Raid attempts if you are able to use all the available passes.

Ticket holders also receive an additional 5,000 XP and 5,000 Stardust from each completed Super Mega Raid.

For example, completing 10 Super Mega Raids would give you:

• 50,000 bonus XP
• 50,000 bonus Stardust

The ticket also increases your chance of receiving Rare Candy XL from Raid Battles.

One important detail: the ticket does not increase the Shiny Staraptor encounter rate. The boosted Shiny chance is part of the free event. The ticket simply gives you more Raid opportunities, which means more chances to encounter Staraptor.

You can gift the ticket to Pokémon GO friends after reaching Great Friends friendship level or higher. PokéCoins cannot be used to purchase the ticket.

Web Store Ultra Ticket Box

The Pokémon GO Web Store also offers an Ultra Ticket Box for $4.99.

The bundle includes the Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day ticket plus one Premium Battle Pass.

If you already plan to purchase the event ticket and have access to the Web Store, the bundle provides an additional Premium Battle Pass at the same listed price.

 

Is the $4.99 Ticket Worth Buying?

The ticket makes the most sense for players who plan to spend most of the three-hour event farming Super Mega Raids.

Its value increases with the number of Raids you complete because the extra Raid Passes, bonus XP, bonus Stardust, and increased Rare Candy XL chance all scale with your activity.

The Ticket Is Worth Considering If You:

• Plan to raid heavily throughout the three-hour event
• Want more Staraptor encounters
• Want additional chances to find a Shiny Staraptor
• Are working toward Super Max Staraptor progression
• Want to collect more Rare Candy XL
• Have enough Gym access or Remote Raid opportunities to use the additional passes

You Can Skip the Ticket If You:

• Only want to register Staraptor in your Pokédex
• Want a few Shiny attempts rather than a large number of Raids
• Only need enough Mega Energy for a single Mega Evolution
• Do not expect to complete many Raids during the event

The key point is simple: buying the ticket does not improve your individual Shiny odds. It gives you more Raid attempts, so its value depends heavily on how actively you plan to play.

The free event already provides up to 6 Raid Passes and the same boosted Shiny chance.

If you plan to raid heavily during Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day, you may also want to prepare enough in-game resources before the event starts. Check our Pokémon GO items for additional resources and event preparation.

 

Mega Staraptor Weaknesses & Best Counters

Mega Staraptor is a Fighting/Flying-type Pokémon.

It is weak to:

• Electric
• Ice
• Flying
• Psychic
• Fairy

Because Super Mega Raids are designed around group play, coordinated teams are strongly recommended. Solo clears are not realistic for most players.

 

Best Mega Counters

1. Mega Mewtwo Y

Recommended moves: Psycho Cut + Future Sight

Mega Mewtwo Y ranks among the strongest options for this Raid thanks to its powerful Psychic-type damage and excellent overall Raid performance.

Psychic attacks hit Mega Staraptor's Fighting typing for super-effective damage.

2. Mega Rayquaza

Recommended moves: Air Slash + Dragon Ascent

Mega Rayquaza is a strong Flying-type attacker that takes advantage of Mega Staraptor's Fighting weakness.

It is also a convenient choice if you have already invested in Mega Rayquaza for previous Raid events.

3. Mega Mewtwo X

Recommended moves: Confusion + Psystrike

Mega Mewtwo X provides another powerful Psychic-type option with strong sustained damage.

4. Mega Raichu Y

Recommended moves: Thunder Shock + Zap Cannon

Mega Raichu Y takes advantage of Mega Staraptor's Flying weakness with Electric-type attacks.

5. Mega Raichu X

Recommended moves: Thunder Shock + Volt Tackle

Mega Raichu X is another strong Electric-type option for this Raid.

 

Best Non-Mega Counters

Two strong non-Mega options highlighted for the event are:

• Shadow Mewtwo: Confusion + Psystrike
• Shadow Thundurus Therian: Volt Switch + Wildbolt Storm

Your team should prioritize attackers that deal super-effective damage. You do not necessarily need the highest-ranked simulated team to contribute effectively, but avoid relying heavily on attackers that only deal neutral damage.

A practical team can use one strong Mega attacker as the lead and fill the remaining slots with your best Electric, Psychic, Flying, Ice, or Fairy attackers.

If you are raiding with friends, coordinating different Mega Pokémon can also help spread Mega bonuses across the group.

 

Super Max Staraptor Explained

Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day introduces a new Super Max progression path for Mega Staraptor.

Super Max does not replace the existing Mega Levels. Instead, it adds another progression layer on top of the standard Mega system.

Before unlocking Super Max, you must first raise Staraptor to Max Mega Level, which is the third standard Mega tier.

Repeatedly Mega Evolving Staraptor is not enough to unlock Super Max. You must spend Mega Energy to advance the Pokémon along the new progression path.

This makes the Super Mega Raid Day an important opportunity to collect a large amount of Staraptor Mega Energy.

There is also another useful reason to catch Staraptor from these Raids: every Staraptor caught from a Super Mega Raid already has Mega Level 1 unlocked.

Even a non-Shiny Staraptor can therefore be valuable if it has strong IVs and you plan to invest in its Mega progression.

 

What is Brave Bird+

Brave Bird+ is a new additional Charged Attack exclusive to Mega Staraptor while it is Mega Evolved.

It does not replace Mega Staraptor's original moveset. Instead, it adds an extra Charged Attack option.

Its power increases as Mega Staraptor's Mega Level increases.

Battle Type	Brave Bird+ Power / Effect
Trainer Battles	70 power and lowers the user's Defense by three stages
Raid Battles	150 power

Brave Bird+ can be used in GO Battle League while Staraptor is Mega Evolved.

However, the move cannot be used against Pokémon defending Gyms.

 

How to Get Shiny Staraptor

The best opportunity to hunt for Shiny Staraptor is during Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day.

All trainers receive an increased chance of encountering Shiny Staraptor after winning Super Mega Raids during the event.

The boosted Shiny chance is part of the free event, and the exact Shiny rate has not been released.

The paid ticket does not increase the base Shiny encounter rate.

Instead, ticket holders receive additional Raid Passes, allowing them to complete more Raids and therefore create more opportunities for Shiny encounters.

If you find a Shiny Staraptor during the event, it can Mega Evolve into Shiny Mega Staraptor and can access Brave Bird+ in the same way as a non-Shiny Mega Staraptor.

Do not automatically transfer non-Shiny catches, either. Every Staraptor caught from a Super Mega Raid starts with Mega Level 1 unlocked, so a high-IV specimen may still be useful for future Mega and Super Max progression.

 

Timed Research Rewards

Limited Timed Research will be available during Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day.

Completing the Timed Research rewards trainers with:

• 1 Premium Battle Pass
• A Gardevoir encounter

The Timed Research expires when the event ends.

Make sure to complete the required tasks and claim your rewards before the 2:00 PM–5:00 PM local event window closes.

 

Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day Strategy

The three-hour event window goes by quickly, so preparation is more important than constantly rebuilding your team during the event.

1. Use Your Free Raid Passes First

Start with the six free Gym Raid Passes available during the event.

This lets you take advantage of the free event value before relying on additional paid resources.

2. Prepare Your Raid Team Before 2 PM

Build your Mega Staraptor counter team before the event begins.

Prioritize your strongest Electric, Psychic, Flying, Ice, and Fairy attackers so you can move directly from one Raid to the next without wasting time changing your lineup.

3. Check Raid Locations Ahead of Time

Super Mega Raids only appear at selected Gyms.

If you plan to move between locations, check the in-game map and coordinate with your local Pokémon GO community before the event starts.

4. Decide Whether the Ticket Fits Your Schedule

The $4.99 ticket is most valuable when you can complete a large number of Super Mega Raids.

If you only have limited time during the three-hour window, the additional passes may not provide enough value to justify the purchase.

5. Catch Every Staraptor

Do not leave encounters behind just because the Pokémon is not Shiny.

Every Staraptor caught from a Super Mega Raid has Mega Level 1 unlocked, and high-IV specimens can be useful for Mega and Super Max progression.

6. Coordinate With Other Trainers

Super Mega Raids are group-focused content, so joining a local community or coordinating with friends can make it easier to rotate between available Raid locations.

If your group uses different Mega Pokémon, you can also spread Mega bonuses across the team.

 

FAQ

When is Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day?

Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day takes place on September 19, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time.

How much does the Staraptor Raid Day ticket cost?

The optional ticket costs $4.99, or the equivalent amount in your local currency.

Does the Staraptor ticket increase Shiny odds?

No. The boosted Shiny Staraptor chance is part of the free event. The paid ticket gives you additional Raid Passes and therefore more opportunities to encounter Staraptor.

How many free Raid Passes can I get?

Trainers can receive up to 6 free Raid Passes from Gym Photo Discs during the event.

Ticket holders can receive up to 14, providing up to 8 additional Raid attempts.

What is Mega Staraptor weak to?

Mega Staraptor is weak to Electric, Ice, Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type attacks.

Can Shiny Staraptor Mega Evolve?

Yes. A Shiny Staraptor caught during the event can Mega Evolve into Shiny Mega Staraptor and can access Brave Bird+ while Mega Evolved.

How do I unlock Super Max Staraptor?

You must first raise Staraptor to Max Mega Level, then spend Mega Energy to progress along the new Super Max upgrade path.

What does Brave Bird+ do?

Brave Bird+ has 70 power in Trainer Battles, where it lowers the user's Defense by three stages, and 150 power in Raid Battles. It is an additional Charged Attack for Mega Staraptor while Mega Evolved.