Malamar Hypnotizes the Internet—and Now It’s a Mega

Mega Malamar is real—and it’s officially the 52nd Mega Evolution. The sinister cephalopod will make its in-game debut in Pokémon Legends: Z-A on October 16, 2025.

A Campaign Under Hypnosis

Last Thursday, The Pokémon Company kicked off a playful “My Friend Malamar” takeover, role-playing as if Malamar had bent social media to its will. The gag spilled onto Pokémon.com with a tongue-in-cheek list of the “top five cards of all time”—every single one a Malamar pick. Fans joined the bit across platforms, praising Malamar as the greatest Pokémon ever. It’s a perfect nod to the Pokédex: “It wields the most compelling hypnotic powers of any Pokémon, and it forces others to do whatever it wants.”

How Other Megas Have Dropped

So far, four new Mega Evolutions have arrived via distinct marketing stunts—each with its own vibe:

• Mega Dragonite — a classic reveal trailer followed by a Pokémon Horizons cameo.

• Mega Victreebel — a horror-flavored short set in an abandoned building.

• Mega Hawlucha — a flashy animated bout where it toppled Machamp.

• Mega Malamar — a meta social campaign that “hypnotized” the community.

The throughline? Each Mega gets a tailored spotlight that matches its personality.

What’s Next?

With Dragonite, Victreebel, Hawlucha, and now Malamar on the board, the question isn’t if another Mega is coming—it’s who and how. Another genre-bending short? An in-universe ARG? A surprise anime drop?

Tell us your picks and your dream reveal concepts in the comments—then mark your calendars for October 16 to meet Mega Malamar in Legends: Z-A.