Bill! As a contest star from Hoenn, I need to ask: how come when I went to Sinnoh for some Masters, how come my Mega Stone didn’t work? My Pinsir really wants to show off.

At the risk of sounding insensitive, it may have something to do with your key stone, your mega stone, or your bond with your pinsir. (Before anyone asks, mega evolution itself has been proven to work outside its regions of discovery, including in Sinnoh, thanks to data provided by Steven Stone.)

The first thing to consider is the possibility that either your key stone or sample of pinsirite is not pure. Samples with impurities are often unpredictable in nature and have been known to fail at catalyzing mega evolution the more frequently they’re used (or, in some cases, the further one gets to either Kalos’s Anistar Sundial or Hoenn’s Sky Tower). Take your stones to a reputable jeweler who has experience cutting evolution stones to determine whether or not this is the case.

Additionally, remember that your bond with your pinsir must be strong for mega evolution to work. Even minor disagreements can be enough to keep your pinsir from mega evolving. Consider taking a break to rest, relax, and build the relationship between the two of you to ensure you’re stable enough to trigger your mega and key stones.

Best of luck, anonymous!