Pokémon GO November 2026 Mega Raid Schedule: Dates, Bosses, and Top Counters

Niantic has finalized the competitive raid schedule for November 2026, rotating the four-star and Mega Raid tiers across three distinct seasonal windows. With the late-autumn calendar bridging the gap between spooky Halloween rotations and late-year competitive formats, trainers face a diverse group of raid targets: two fragile Ghost-type utility anchors and one of the highest-rated Steel/Psychic heavy hitters in the franchise.

All three featured Mega Bosses carry confirmed Shiny eligibility upon defeating the raid encounter. Below is the complete schedule breakdown, rotation windows, and tactical counter analysis for each featured boss.

November 2026 Mega Raid Schedule

The Mega Raid tier operates on a staggered timetable throughout late October and November:

• October 28 to November 8, 2026: Mega Sableye*

• November 16 to November 24, 2026: Mega Banette*

• November 25 to December 1, 2026: Mega Metagross*

(Asterisk indicates that the defeated encounter holds a chance to be Shiny.)

Boss Breakdown and Tactical Counters

1. Mega Sableye (October 28 – November 8)

• Typing: Dark / Ghost

• Base Weaknesses: Fairy (Sole weakness)

Mega Sableye features a unique defensive typing that completely removes the standard Ghost-type weakness to Dark attacks and the Dark-type weakness to Fighting. It is vulnerable strictly to Fairy-type attacks.

While its individual raid DPS output is low, Mega Sableye is primarily farmed for its Mega Energy and unique Mega Evolution perk: boosting candy and XL candy drop rates for both Ghost and Dark catches simultaneously.

• Top Counters:

  • Mega Gardevoir / Shadow Gardevoir (Charm + Dazzling Gleam): The undisputed fastest counter on the board, melting Sableye's HP bar before defensive foul plays land.

  • Togekiss / Primarina (Charm + Dazzling Gleam / Moonblast): Sturdy alternatives that comfortably tank Sableye's Shadow Claw fast attacks.

  • Zacian (Hero Form) (Snarl + Play Rough): High raw base attack stat delivering heavy neutral and super-effective pressure.

2. Mega Banette (November 16 – November 24)

• Typing: Pure Ghost

• Base Weaknesses: Dark, Ghost

Unlike Sableye, Mega Banette is a pure offensive glass cannon. It hits with massive attack power, making its Shadow Ball lethal if dodges are missed, but its low defensive durability means small raid parties can take it down quickly.

• Top Counters:

  • Mega Tyranitar / Shadow Tyranitar (Bite + Brutal Swing): The premier counter. Its Rock/Dark typing heavily resists incoming Ghost attacks while dealing relentless fast and charged damage.

  • Hydreigon (Bite + Brutal Swing): Massive energy generation with quick charged-move cycles.

  • Mega Gengar (Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball): Outpaces Banette in pure Ghost damage output, though trainers must watch for mutual super-effective incoming hits.

3. Mega Metagross (November 25 – December 1)

• Typing: Steel / Psychic

• Base Weaknesses: Fire, Ground, Dark, Ghost

Closing out the month is the crown jewel of the November lineup: Mega Metagross. As a tier-one Steel and Psychic offensive attacker, Mega Metagross stands as a cornerstone PvE asset for defeating Fairy, Rock, and Ice-type Legendary Raid Bosses.

Raid groups should field a minimum of three to four high-level trainers, exploiting its four core elemental weaknesses:

• Top Counters:

  • Primal Groudon / Shadow Excadrill (Mud-Shot + Precipice Blades / Drill Run): Ground-type assault that deals massive damage while shrugging off Steel-type moves like Flash Cannon and Meteor Mash.

  • Mega Charizard Y / Reshiram (Fire Spin + Blast Burn / Fusion Flare): Exploits Metagross's Fire vulnerability with heavy continuous burst damage under clear weather boosts.

  • Mega Tyranitar / Darkrai (Snarl + Dark Pulse / Brutal Swing): Reliable Dark-type anchors that exploit Metagross's Psychic typing.

Resource and Energy Planning

Collecting sufficient Mega Energy during these designated windows allows trainers to maintain active high-level Mega tiers without spending resources later:

1. Initial Mega Energy Cost: Unlocking the initial Mega Evolution typically costs 200 to 300 Mega Energy. Defeating bosses quickly within the first two minutes awards maximum energy bundles per raid pass.

2. Free Rest Cycles: Once unlocked, walking a previously Mega-Evolved species as your active buddy earns additional Mega Energy alongside standard species candy.

3. Mega Level 3 Perks: Prioritize maxing out the Mega levels of both Mega Sableye and Mega Metagross to secure the maximum +2 Candy and 25% increased XL Candy chance on future seasonal events.