Mega Staraptor is making its Pokémon GO debut as part of the Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day, giving trainers their first opportunity to battle the powerful Mega Evolution.
Unlike regular Staraptor, Mega Staraptor changes its typing and becomes a Fighting/Flying-type Pokémon, opening it up to several powerful counters.
Here’s everything you need to know before heading into Mega Staraptor raids, including its weaknesses, best counters, raid requirements, CP ranges, moves, and Shiny availability.
Mega Staraptor Raid Date and Time
Mega Staraptor will make its Pokémon GO debut during Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time.
This is a Super Mega Raid, meaning the battle has additional requirements compared with a standard Mega Raid. You will need Mega Pokémon in your teams to help break the boss’s shields.
Mega Staraptor will appear at eligible Gyms throughout the event window, so you should be ready with multiple raid teams if you plan to complete several raids.
Mega Staraptor Type and Weaknesses
Mega Staraptor is a Fighting/Flying-type Pokémon. This is different from regular Staraptor, which is a Normal/Flying-type Pokémon.
Mega Staraptor has five weaknesses: Electric, Fairy, Flying, Ice, and Psychic.
All five attack types deal super-effective damage, making it possible to build teams around several different strategies.
Psychic and Electric attackers are particularly useful options, while powerful Flying-type attackers such as Mega Rayquaza can also deal tremendous damage.
You should generally avoid relying on Ground, Bug, Grass, Fighting, or Dark-type attacks, as Mega Staraptor has resistances to these types.
Best Mega Staraptor Counters
The strongest counters available for Mega Staraptor include several Mega Evolutions, Shadow Pokémon, and Legendary Pokémon.
| Pokémon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Mewtwo Y | Psycho Cut | Future Sight+ |
| Mega Rayquaza | Air Slash | Dragon Ascent |
| Mega Mewtwo X | Psycho Cut/Confusion | Psystrike |
| Shadow Mewtwo | Psycho Cut/Confusion | Psystrike |
| Mega Raichu Y | Thunder Shock | Zap Cannon+ |
| Mega Raichu X | Thunder Shock | Volt Tackle+ |
| Mega Alakazam | Confusion | Psychic |
| Mega Latios | Zen Headbutt | Psychic |
| White Kyurem | Ice Fang | Ice Burn |
| Shadow Raikou | Thunder Shock | Wild Charge |
Current raid simulations put Mega Mewtwo Y, Mega Rayquaza, and Mega Mewtwo X among the strongest overall choices against Mega Staraptor.
Best Psychic-Type Counters
Psychic attackers are an excellent choice against Mega Staraptor. If you have them powered up, Mega Mewtwo Y, Mega Mewtwo X, Shadow Mewtwo, and Mega Alakazam can deliver huge amounts of damage.
Mega Mewtwo Y in particular is currently the top counter in several Mega Staraptor raid simulations, thanks to its enormous damage output with Psycho Cut and Future Sight+.
Best Electric-Type Counters
Electric Pokémon give trainers another strong way to exploit Mega Staraptor’s weakness.
Mega Raichu Y, Mega Raichu X, Shadow Raikou, Zekrom, Xurkitree, and Mega Manectric are useful choices, with their Electric-type attacks hitting Mega Staraptor for super-effective damage.
Mega Raichu variants are useful for the Super Mega Raid mechanics because Mega Pokémon play an important role in breaking the boss’s shields.
Best Flying-Type Counters
Flying-type attackers can also perform extremely well against Mega Staraptor.
Mega Rayquaza is the best option, with Air Slash and Dragon Ascent. Other options include Mega Skarmory, Mega Pidgeot, Yveltal, and Therian Forme Tornadus.
Mega Rayquaza is also one of the highest-damage options overall, and an excellent choice for trainers who already have one powered up.
Mega Staraptor Super Mega Raid Requirements
The biggest thing you need to remember is that this isn’t an ordinary Mega Raid.
Mega Staraptor is a Super Mega Raid, and you need Mega Pokémon to help break the boss’s shields.
It’s recommended to have at least seven trainers, with each trainer bringing a Mega Pokémon. You can even use eight Mega-capable trainers for a more comfortable attempt.
Primal Pokémon cannot be used to break the shields, so you should not rely on Primal Groudon or Primal Kyogre for this particular mechanic.
Because of these requirements, Mega Staraptor is not a raid you should approach like a normal lower-level raid. Having enough players with suitable Mega Pokémon is important.
Mega Staraptor CP and Catch CP
Although you’re battling Mega Staraptor during the raid, the Pokémon you encounter after winning the battle is regular Staraptor.
The current catch CP ranges are: 1538-1614 CP without a weather boost and 1922-2018 CP with a Partly Cloudy or Windy weather boost
The maximum CP for Mega Staraptor itself is listed at 4498 CP at Level 50.
For the best possible catch, you should keep an eye on the CP after completing the raid, particularly when the encounter is weather boosted.
Mega Staraptor Moves
Mega Staraptor can use several different Fast and Charged Attacks during raids.
Its Fast Moves include Wing Attack, Sand Attack, Gust, and Quick Attack.
Its Charged Move pool includes Close Combat, Heat Wave, Brave Bird, and Fly, while its Super Max Mega form can gain access to Brave Bird+.
Brave Bird+ is particularly important because it has 150 power in Raid Battles, with its power increasing as Mega Staraptor’s Mega Level increases.
Can Mega Staraptor Be Shiny?
Yes. Shiny Staraptor is available from Mega Staraptor raids.
The official Pokémon GO announcement confirms that you can encounter a Shiny Staraptor after participating in the Super Mega Raids, with the event also featuring increased Shiny encounter odds.
This makes the event worthwhile if you are looking to add Shiny Staraptor to your collection.
Mega Staraptor Raid Tips
The easiest way to prepare for Mega Staraptor is to build a team around its five weaknesses. Psychic, Electric, and Flying attackers offer especially strong options, while Fairy and Ice attackers can also be effective.
Make sure your team includes at least one suitable Mega Pokémon because of the Super Mega Raid shield mechanic.
If you have Mega Mewtwo Y, Mega Rayquaza, Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Raichu, or Mega Alakazam, these are excellent choices to bring into the fight.
For players without the top counters, don’t worry about having a perfect team. Strong Pokémon with the correct super-effective moves can still contribute significant damage, provided they are sufficiently powered up.
