It is officially a Raichu month in the Pokémon universe. Hot on the heels of Pokémon Champions landing on mobile today with a free Raichu giveaway, Niantic has announced that Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y will make their Pokémon GO debut during a Raichu Super Mega Raid Day on Saturday, 18 July 2026.

Two GO-Exclusive Mega Evolutions, One Day

These are not forms you will find in the mainline Pokémon games — Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y are Pokémon GO’s own creations, introduced via the Super Mega Raid system. Both will be available in Super Mega Raids during the three-hour window, and there is a boosted chance of encountering a Shiny Raichu for any Trainer who wins a raid. Better still, every Raichu caught from a Super Mega Raid comes with Mega Level 1 already unlocked, so you can Mega Evolve immediately after catching it — no Mega Energy grind required.

Event Details: Date, Time and Free Bonuses

The event runs from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time on 18 July 2026 — so Singapore Trainers should be ready at 2pm SGT. Here is what everyone gets for free:

• Up to six free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs during the event.
• Remote Raid Pass limit raised to 20 from the evening of 17 July through to 8:00 p.m. PDT on 18 July (that is 11:00 a.m. SGT on 19 July).
• Timed Research with a Premium Battle Pass and a Steelix encounter as rewards (note: Timed Research expires when the event ends, so complete it during the window).

Paid Ticket: Worth It for Hardcore Trainers?

A paid event ticket is available for $4.99 USD (local pricing may vary) and upgrades your experience significantly:

• Up to 14 Raid Passes from Gym Photo Discs (instead of six).
• Increased Rare Candy XL drop rates from raids.
• Bonus 5,000 XP and 5,000 Stardust for each Super Mega Raid completed.

If you are planning to raid hard to land a Shiny or get both Mega forms at high Mega Level, the ticket pays for itself fairly quickly on Stardust and Rare Candy XL alone.

Finding a Raid Near You

Niantic has launched a new web-based map at pokemongo.com/map to help Trainers locate nearby Super Mega Raids and community meetups in real time. For Singapore players, popular raiding spots around town — MRT hubs, parks and community centres that typically host strong Gym clusters — are the best bet for finding groups quickly. Check local Pokémon GO Singapore Telegram groups and Discord servers for community raid trains forming on the day.

Last Words

Between Pokémon Champions giving away Raichu on mobile today and now two brand-new Mega Raichu forms coming to Pokémon GO next month, The Pokémon Company has clearly decided Raichu deserves its moment in the sun. Mark 18 July on your calendar, save your free Raid Passes, and keep an eye on our Pokémon GO coverage as we get closer to the event. Gotta mega evolve ’em all.