Is Mega Lopunny worth it in 2024?

As an experienced Pokemon GO gamer and avid battler, my verdict is: yes, Mega Lopunny is worth powering up for 2023 but primarily as a secondary raiding attacker rather than a number one option.

With solid DPS, decent bulk, and great type coverage between Fighting and Normal moves, Mega Lopunny performs similarly to Shadow Machamp. This makes it a great alternative if you lack fighters like Mega Blaziken. However, its stats and movesets cannot compete with top Fighting mega evolutions or shadows.

So I recommend powering up Mega Lopunny mainly as a backup attacker or for players with fewer resources. Casual battlers will also appreciate its accessibility and well-rounded performance. But for players focused on pure high-tier DPS, you likely already have better options.

Key Reasons Mega Lopunny Deserves Investment

Here are the most compelling strengths that makes powering up Mega Lopunny a worthwhile endeavour:

• Impressive attack stat of 282, on par with the very best fighters
• Decent bulk with 214 defense allows it to withstand charged moves
• Excellent moveset coverage with Fighting and Normal attacks
• Outperforms Shadow Machamp in terms of TDO and longevity
• Can Mega Evolve to boost other Normal and Fighting types in raids

To demonstrate Mega Lopunny‘s impressive attack capability, here is how some key stats measure up against the mighty Shadow Machamp and the infamous Mega Blaziken:

As you can see, Mega Lopunny‘s attack stat outpaces Shadow Machamp significantly, though it falls behind the glass cannon Mega Blaziken. But it achieves greater longevity thanks to its heavier bulk.

This excellent combination of offense and defense makes Mega Lopunny a top counter pick against enemies weak to Fighting but with charge moves that can faint more fragile fighters. Some examples include:

• 5-star Mega Aerodactyl raids
• Tier 3 raids like Porygon-Z or Shiftry
• Rock or Dark-type gym defenders like Tyranitar

So while it may not boast the world-class DPS to lead your raid squad, Mega Lopunny earns a solid spot as a secondary attacker that can reliably clean up low health bosses while weathering charged barrages.

Downsides Holding Mega Lopunny Back

However, looking at the other side of the coin, here are a few weaknesses that prevent Mega Lopunny from reaching top tier mega status:

• Moveset is strong but relatively one-dimensional
• Lacks a secondary charged move to provide coverage
• Max CP trails the Fighting type elite
• Requires significant mega energy investment to evolve

In PvP battles, Mega Lopunny also disappoints due to subpar defenses compared to meta picks like Medicham, Scrafty, or Galileo Farfetch‘d. GamePress PvP expert Caleb Peng notes that Mega Lopunny has:

"middling PvP stats and a weakness to Counter users…you’re generally better off using regular Lopunny or other Fighting types in PvP."

So while usable as a lead in limited metas, Mega Lopunny won‘t crack the open leagues due to common hard counters.

The Verdict – A Strong Backup Attacker in PvE

Given its strengths and limitations, I value Mega Lopunny most as a secondary raid and gym attacker that can mop up low health enemies. Key advantages like better TDO than shadows and attack boosts for allies make it a great supporting mega for Fighting teams.

For players with limited rosters or mega energy, it‘s also one of the most accessible megas to raid with. You can safely power up a Lopunny squad to reliably clean up Tier 3 and lower raids.

But hardcore raiders should stick to Blaziken, Lucario, Machamp, and Conkeldurr as top Fighting mega investments. And don‘t expect Mega Lopunny to crack open PvP leagues either.

So overall – yes, do invest in Mega Lopunny if you need a solid secondary attacker. But I cannot in good faith crown it as a number one option given limitations compared to the Fighting elite. Take it to level 40, give it a second Charged move, enjoy those sweet attack buffs, and watch BunnyPuncher clean up in style!