Pokémon GO Adds $4.99 Rayquaza Research for July 25-26 Ozone Ascent

Q: Will the Meteorite needed for Mega Rayquaza become impossibly rare after this event ends?

Probably not permanently, but it is set to become unavailable through the announced method once the event ends. Niantic’s announcement says Meteorites for Mega Rayquaza are tied to the “Ozone Ascent” event’s Timed Research, which runs only from July 25 to July 26, 2026, and expires at 8:00 p.m. local time on the final day. Both the free research and the $4.99 paid research award Meteorites, and both must be completed and claimed before the deadline. That means players who miss the event, or fail to finish the research in time, will lose the only confirmed way to get a Meteorite. Based on the information released so far, no other acquisition method has been announced after the event. So the practical answer is that Meteorites will become very rare immediately after “Ozone Ascent,” because their only confirmed source disappears. But calling them “impossibly rare” goes too far. Pokémon GO regularly rotates exclusive items and mechanics back through later events, raids, or special research, and the official notice also says event details are subject to change. For now, the safest reading is this: if you want Mega Rayquaza soon, this event is the key window. After July 26, Meteorites are not confirmed to be obtainable again unless Niantic announces a future return.

3 articles · Updated · Pokémon GO · Jun 18

Free Timed Research during Ozone Ascent will let players earn a Meteorite, a Rayquaza encounter and other rewards from 10 a.m. July 25 to 8 p.m. July 26 local time.
A separate $4.99 paid research track adds another Meteorite, Rayquaza Mega Energy and a Rayquaza encounter, giving players a direct route toward Mega Rayquaza.
Rayquaza still cannot Mega Evolve with Mega Energy alone; it must first learn Dragon Ascent, a Charged Attack unlocked only by using a Meteorite.
Niantic said both research lines expire at 8 p.m. local time on July 26, while paid tickets can be gifted to Great Friends or higher but are non-refundable and cannot be bought with PokéCoins.