Pokemon Go Mega September Week 3: Buddy Challenges, New Timed Research, And More

Pokemon Go is holding a variety of events in September 2020, but the biggest is Mega September--three weeks of activities revolving around the newly introduced Mega Evolutions. Each week will have its own focus, and if players can collectively hit certain milestones before the week ends, Niantic will add additional Mega-Evolved Pokemon to the mobile game as a reward.

While the first two weeks of Mega September have ended, Week 3 is just around the corner, and it'll bring a new set of challenges to complete. The final week of the event kicks off today, September 22, and will be all about building up your friendship level with your Mega-Evolved Pokemon.

Although Mega-Evolved Pokemon are the primary focus of the event, there will be plenty of other rewards available during each week as well, including a couple of new Shiny Pokemon to catch. You can see a full, week-by-week breakdown of the Mega September event below. Niantic has also outlined some Mega Evolution changes it will implement soon, which should make it easier to collect Mega Energy and Mega Evolve your own Pokemon.

Week 1: Mega Raids

• September 1 (8 AM local) - September 7 (10 PM local)

The first leg of the Mega September event revolves around Mega Raids, a new tier of Raid Battles that pits players against a Mega-Evolved Pokemon. Throughout the week, Mega Raids will occur at Gyms more frequently than usual, and you'll get an increased attack bonus if you raid alongside friends. If players around the world can clear two million Mega Raids before the week ends, Niantic will introduce Mega Pidgeot as a Mega Raid boss.

In addition to increased Mega Raids, Niantic will offer limited-time Field Research tasks during Mega September. Completing these tasks will net you additional Mega Energy for Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. There will also be increased spawns of the following Pokemon:

• Abra
• Magnemite
• Exeggcute
• Rhyhorn
• Tangela
• Electabuzz
• Omanyte
• Aerodactyl
• Murkrow
• Treecko
• Torchic
• Lotad
• Roselia

Finally, you'll have a chance of finding Shiny Lotad in the wild during Week 1 of Mega September.

Week 2: Mega-Evolved Battles

• September 11 (8 AM local) - September 17 (10 PM local)

The second week of Mega September challenges players to use Mega-Evolved Pokemon in Gym battles, PvP battles (excluding the Go Battle League), or against Team Go Rocket. If players can win 275 million battles using Mega-Evolved Pokemon, Niantic will introduce Mega Houndoom to Mega Raids.

In addition, there will be another event-exclusive set of Field Research tasks to complete, this time revolving around Mega Beedrill, which you can obtain by completing the "A Mega Discovery" Special Research questline. You'll get additional Beedrill Mega Energy for completing the new Field Research tasks. Mega Beedrill will also receive a CP boost when used in battles.

On top of that, Bug-type Pokemon will be appearing much more often than usual during Week 2 of Mega September. You'll be more likely to run into the following monsters in the wild:

• Caterpie
• Weedle
• Paras
• Venonat
• Scyther
• Pinsir
• Ledyba
• Spinarak
• Wurmple
• Kricketot
• Burmy

Week 2 will also introduce a new Shiny Pokemon to the game. This time, you'll have a chance to encounter Shiny Ledyba. Niantic also teases that there will be event-exclusive Timed Research tasks during Week 2, while Team Go Rocket will have new Shadow Pokemon on their teams for the event.

Week 3: Mega-Evolved Buddies

• September 22 (8 AM local) - September 28 (10 PM local)

The final week of the Mega September event is all about improving your friendship level with your Mega-Evolved Pokemon. Your pocket monsters will stay in their Mega-Evolved forms for 12 hours instead of the usual four during Week 3, giving you much more time to use them in battle, take snapshots with them, and other activities. Poffins will also last for twice as long during the event.

On top of that, large Pokemon like Snorlax, Doduo, Lapras, Alolan Exeggutor, and others will appear in the wild and as Raid bosses more often during Week 3, and you'll have a chance to encounter Shiny Doduo. You'll receive more Beedrill Mega Energy from Field Research tasks that you complete during the event, as well.

Finally, Niantic is offering Timed Research quests during Week 3 of Mega September. Complete these and Niantic says there's a chance there will be an exclusive Timed Research for Pokemon Go's Halloween 2020 event. That has not yet been dated, but it will feature another new Mega-Evolved Pokemon: Mega Gengar.