Mega Starmie Pokémon GO Guide: Raids, Counters, Mega Energy, and Shiny

Mega Starmie is making its debut in Pokémon GO, giving trainers another powerful Water-type Mega Pokémon to add to their collection. Its first appearance comes through Super Mega Raids, which means this is not a normal Mega Raid and requires more preparation than usual.

For trainers planning to hunt Shiny Starmie, collect Mega Energy, or prepare for future Water-type raid battles, this event is worth understanding before spending your Raid Passes. Here is a complete Mega Starmie guide covering its debut, counters, shields, Mega Energy, and whether it is worth getting.

Mega Starmie Debut in Pokémon GO

Mega Starmie makes its Pokémon GO debut during the Ultra Unlock Star Me Super Mega Raid Day. The event takes place on Saturday, August 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time.

This is the first time trainers can encounter Starmie in its Mega form. The Shiny version is also available, giving collectors a reason to complete multiple raids during the event.

Mega Starmie is especially interesting because it combines Water and Psychic typing. It can therefore provide Mega bonuses for both types when used in the right situations.

During the Super Mega Raid event, trainers can take advantage of:

• Mega Starmie debut.
• Shiny Mega Starmie availability.
• Increased Shiny encounter chances.
• Up to six free Raid Passes.
• Extra XP from raids.
• Increased Rare Candy XL chances.
• Increased Remote Raid Pass limits.
• Mega Energy rewards.
• Mega Level progress for Starmie.

Is Mega Starmie Shiny Available?

Yes, Shiny Starmie is available during its debut Super Mega Raid event.

The expected Shiny rate for the Super Mega Raid is around 1 in 10, which is considerably better than the normal odds for many Shiny encounters. This makes the debut event a good opportunity for collectors who want Shiny Starmie.

Since Mega Evolution is temporary in Pokémon GO, the important Pokémon to keep is the Shiny Starmie you catch from the raid. Once you have enough Mega Energy, you can Mega Evolve it whenever needed.

How to Get Mega Starmie

You do not catch Mega Starmie directly after defeating it. Instead, you battle Starmie in a Super Mega Raid and receive a normal Starmie encounter afterward.

The basic process is:

• Find a Mega Starmie Super Raid.
• Join with enough trainers.
• Bring appropriate counters.
• Defeat Starmie.
• Catch the Starmie encounter.
• Collect Mega Energy from the raid.
• Mega Evolve Starmie after collecting enough energy.

You need 300 Mega Energy for the first Mega Evolution.

Previous Super Mega Raids have provided roughly 400 to 450 Mega Energy, so one successful raid may be enough to unlock Mega Starmie for your collection.

Mega Starmie Super Mega Raid Mechanics

Super Mega Raids are more complicated than normal raids because the boss uses shields during the battle.

Mega Starmie is expected to use eight shields. Trainers need Mega Pokémon in the raid party to break these shields, making team coordination extremely important.

The recommended strategy is to keep your Mega Pokémon protected until the shields appear.

A useful setup is:

• Place your Mega Pokémon toward the end of your battle party.
• Use regular counters first.
• Wait until the raid boss reaches the shield phase.
• Bring your Mega Pokémon onto the field.
• Use a Charged Attack to break the shield.
• Repeat as needed with the remaining Mega Pokémon.
• Return to normal raid attacking after the shields are removed.

If your Mega Pokémon faints before it breaks a shield, return to the lobby, revive it, and re-enter the raid. This is particularly important when your group is close to defeating the boss but still has shields remaining.

How Many Players Are Needed?

Super Mega Raids require considerably more coordination than regular raids.

You should aim for at least eight trainers, with each player bringing a Mega Pokémon capable of participating in the shield-breaking mechanic.

Having the minimum number of players is not necessarily the safest strategy. A larger group gives you more room for mistakes, especially if several players lose their Mega Pokémon at the wrong time.

Before starting the raid, make sure everyone understands when the shields appear and how to use their Mega Pokémon.

Best Mega Starmie Counters

Mega Starmie is a Water/Psychic-type Pokémon, so choosing strong counters is important.

One of the strongest choices is Dawn Wings Necrozma. It provides excellent damage and is particularly useful when fighting a Psychic-type target.

Other strong Mega and powerful counter options include:

• Dawn Wings Necrozma.
• Mega Tyranitar.
• Mega Mewtwo Y.
• Mega Sceptile.
• Shadow Hydreigon.
• Shadow Giratina Origin Forme.
• Shadow Tyranitar.
• Kartana.
• Zarude.
• Zeraora.
• Hydreigon.
• Tyranitar.
• Rillaboom.

The exact ranking of counters can change as Pokémon GO updates moves, stats, and raid mechanics, but these Pokémon provide strong options for building your team.

Best Mega Counters

If you specifically need Mega Pokémon for the Super Mega Raid mechanic, several options stand out.

The strongest Mega choices include:

• Mega Tyranitar.
• Mega Mewtwo Y.
• Mega Sceptile.

Mega Tyranitar is particularly useful because of its strong Dark-type damage. Mega Mewtwo Y can also provide high damage, while Mega Sceptile is a strong Grass-type option against Water Pokémon.

Remember that your Mega Pokémon also needs to survive long enough to contribute during the shield phase. Raw damage is not the only thing that matters in a Super Mega Raid.

Best Shadow Counters

Shadow Pokémon can provide a major damage boost, making them excellent choices when you need to finish the raid quickly.

The recommended Shadow options include:

• Shadow Hydreigon.
• Shadow Giratina Origin Forme.
• Shadow Tyranitar.

Shadow Hydreigon is particularly useful if you have a strong Dark-type moveset. Shadow Tyranitar is another excellent choice thanks to its strong overall damage output.

Best Budget Mega Starmie Counters

Not every trainer has a full collection of Legendary and Shadow Pokémon. Fortunately, you can still prepare a useful team with more accessible Pokémon.

Some budget-friendly options include:

• Hydreigon.
• Tyranitar.
• Rillaboom.

These Pokémon may not always match the strongest Legendary or Mega options, but they can still contribute meaningful damage if powered up and equipped with the right moves.

For newer trainers, investing in a strong Tyranitar and Hydreigon can also provide value beyond this single raid.

Mega Starmie as a Water-Type Attacker

Mega Starmie’s biggest potential comes from its Water typing.

Current raid rankings place Mega Starmie behind some of the strongest Water attackers, meaning it is not immediately the best Water-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO.

However, future changes could make it significantly more interesting.

Data-mined information has suggested that Mega Pokémon could potentially receive stronger moves in the future. If Mega Starmie eventually receives a powerful boosted Water move, its performance could increase considerably.

Because data-mined content is not guaranteed to release, trainers should not invest solely because of unreleased moves. Treat those possibilities as future potential rather than confirmed features.

Mega Starmie as a Psychic-Type Attacker

Mega Starmie can also be used as a Psychic-type attacker because of its dual Water/Psychic typing.

However, its current Psychic-type performance is not nearly as impressive as its potential Water role. There are stronger Psychic attackers available, so trainers focused purely on raid damage have better alternatives.

Its real advantage is the combination of its two types and Mega bonuses.

Why Mega Starmie Is Useful for Candy Bonuses

Mega Starmie’s dual typing provides another reason to keep one available.

When you have an active Mega Pokémon that matches the type of a Pokémon you catch, you can receive additional Candy benefits. Since Starmie is both Water and Psychic, Mega Starmie can help with catches involving either type.

It is also the first Water/Psychic Pokémon to reach the Super Max Mega Level in this particular system, making it useful for trainers who want to maximize Mega bonuses.

How Much Mega Energy Does Starmie Need?

The first Mega Evolution requires 300 Mega Energy.

Super Mega Raids can provide around 400 to 450 Mega Energy, meaning you may only need one successful raid to obtain enough energy for your first Mega Evolution.

However, reaching the higher Mega Levels requires much more energy.

Moving from Mega Level 3 to Mega Level 4 can require approximately 5,000 Mega Energy. Trainers targeting that level should expect to complete many more raids rather than stopping after the first evolution.

You do not have to reach the highest Mega Level immediately. If your main goal is simply to unlock Mega Starmie, save your resources and use future events to collect additional energy.

Mega Starmie Will Return

If you cannot complete enough Super Mega Raids during the debut event, you are not permanently locked out of Mega Starmie.

Mega Starmie is scheduled to return during the Mega Finale as part of the transition to regular Mega Raids.

This is important because regular Mega Raids do not use the same Super Mega Raid shield requirements. Trainers who cannot gather a large enough group during the debut event will have another opportunity later.

The main difference is that Starmie obtained through the Super Mega Raid can have the relevant Mega Level progress already unlocked, while a regular raid encounter will not necessarily have the same progression.

Mega Starmie’s debut gives Pokémon GO players another reason to participate in Super Mega Raids. While it may not currently dominate the Water or Psychic raid rankings, its dual typing, Mega bonuses, Shiny availability, and future potential make it an interesting addition to the game.

The most important thing is to prepare a large raid group and coordinate the shield mechanic before entering. Get your Mega Pokémon ready, save your free Raid Passes, and collect enough Mega Energy to unlock the evolution.

If you cannot participate in the debut event, there is no need to panic. Mega Starmie will return in regular Mega Raids during the Mega Finale, giving more trainers a chance to add it to their collection.