Gigantamax has officially changed the scale of combat in Pokémon GO. These massive Pokémon do more than grow in size—they transform their appearance, unlock exclusive G-Max Moves, and turn Max Battles into some of the toughest PvE content the game has ever seen. If you want to survive six-star Max Battles and add these giants to your collection, you need preparation, coordination, and the right strategy.
Gigantamax debuted in Pokémon GO during the GO Bigger event in October 2024, introducing six-star Max Battles that require large, coordinated groups of Trainers. Since then, Gigantamax Pokémon have rolled out slowly through special events, making each appearance a true endgame challenge.
What Is Gigantamax in Pokémon GO?
Gigantamax is a special form of Dynamax available only to specific Pokémon. When a Pokémon Gigantamaxes, it:
- Changes its physical appearance
- Gains access to a unique G-Max Move
- Becomes eligible for Gigantamax Max Battles
Unlike Mega Evolution, Gigantamax does not change a Pokémon’s typing. It also does not trigger automatically. Only Pokémon caught directly as Gigantamax can use this form—you cannot evolve or convert a Dynamax Pokémon into Gigantamax later.
How to Get Gigantamax Pokémon
To obtain a Gigantamax Pokémon, you must defeat it in a Gigantamax Max Battle at a Power Spot.
Step-by-step process:
- Visit a Power Spot showing a Gigantamax boss
- Spend 800 Max Particles to enter the battle
- Defeat the six-star boss with other Trainers
- Catch the Gigantamax Pokémon using Premier Balls
If you fail the catch, you must win the battle again. The game does not allow retries without another victory.
Remote Raid Passes do not work here. You must battle in person.
Max Particles Explained (How You Get Them & Why They Need)
Max Particles are the energy required to enter Max Battles, including Gigantamax Max Battles. Trainers can collect Max Particles by visiting Power Spots, interacting with them daily, and by exploring with Adventure Sync enabled.
The game limits how many Max Particles you can store and collect per day, which makes planning ahead essential. Max Particles are only consumed after you successfully defeat a Power Spot Boss, so failed attempts do not waste resources.
Gigantamax Max Battles Explained
Gigantamax Max Battles follow standard Max Battle rules, but they push difficulty much higher.
Key differences you must know:
- Up to 100 Trainers can participate at once
- Trainers are divided into groups of four or fewer
- All damage contributes to a shared boss HP pool
- Bosses are ranked as six-star difficulty
These battles test coordination more than raw CP. Walking in unprepared usually ends in a wipe.
G-Max Moves: Why Gigantamax Hits Harder
Every Gigantamax Pokemon comes with a G-Max Move, a species-exclusive Max Move that replaces the standard Dynamax attack.
Why G-Max Moves matter:
- Each species has a fixed, unique move
- The move’s type may differ from the Pokémon’s Fast Attack
- G-Max Moves deal significantly higher damage
- You can level them up using Max Particles + Candy
Gigantamax Pokémon can also use:
- Max Guard – reduces incoming damage
- Max Spirit – heals your Pokémon and allies
You must unlock and upgrade these moves manually, so plan your resource usage carefully.
Best Strategy for Gigantamax Battles
Winning Gigantamax fights depends on roles, not button-mashing.
Recommended 4-Trainer setup:
- 2 Attackers – focus on G-Max damage
- 1 Healer – use Max Spirit to keep the team alive
- 1 Tank – draw attacks with Max Guard and high-HP Pokémon
Battle tips that actually help:
- Use Fast Attacks frequently, as they charge the Max Meter faster than Charged Attacks and allow your Pokémon to Gigantamax sooner
- Dodge targeted attacks whenever possible
- Watch the battle log for incoming boss moves
- If your team faints, cheer to boost allies’ meters
Max Particles only get consumed after a win, so failed attempts cost nothing. Learn the patterns and retry.
Currently Released Gigantamax Pokémon in Pokémon GO
While the Pokémon universe includes over 30 Gigantamax-capable species, only a limited selection is currently available in Pokémon GO. Niantic releases them through special Max Battle Days, Wild Area events, and seasonal rotations.
| Gigantamax Pokémon | Type | G-Max Move | Primary Role | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigantamax Venusaur | Grass / Poison | G-Max Vine Lash | Sustained DPS | Damage-over-time pressure |
| Gigantamax Charizard | Fire / Flying | G-Max Wildfire | Burst DPS | Strong offensive output |
| Gigantamax Blastoise | Water | G-Max Cannonade | Balanced DPS | Good bulk and steady damage |
| Gigantamax Gengar | Ghost / Poison | G-Max Terror | Glass Cannon | Extremely high damage |
| Gigantamax Toxtricity | Electric / Poison | G-Max Stun Shock | Debuffer DPS | Status pressure and damage |
| Gigantamax Lapras | Water / Ice | G-Max Resonance | Defensive Support | Survivability and team value |
| Gigantamax Kingler | Water | G-Max Foam Burst | Physical DPS | Strong single-target damage |
| Gigantamax Snorlax | Normal | G-Max Replenish | Tank / Support | Massive HP and sustain |
| Gigantamax Machamp | Fighting | G-Max Chi Strike | Physical DPS | High Fighting-type damage |
| Gigantamax Rillaboom | Grass | G-Max Drum Solo | Sustained DPS | Consistent Grass pressure |
| Gigantamax Cinderace | Fire | G-Max Fireball | Burst DPS | Fast, aggressive damage |
| Gigantamax Inteleon | Water | G-Max Hydrosnipe | Precision DPS | High Water-type burst |
| Gigantamax Butterfree | Bug / Flying | G-Max Befuddle | Utility DPS | Status effects and coverage |
| Gigantamax Garbodor | Poison | G-Max Malodor | Debuffer | Weakens boss over time |
| Gigantamax Grimmsnarl | Dark / Fairy | G-Max Snooze | Control / Support | Disruption-focused play |
What Happens When You Place a Pokémon at a Power Spot?
After defeating a Gigantamax Pokémon, Trainers can place one of their Pokémon at the Power Spot. Pokémon placed there can provide bonuses for future Max Battles and may trigger special wild encounters around that Power Spot.
This system encourages community cooperation and rewards repeat participation.
Can You Trade or Transfer Gigantamax Pokémon?
Yes, but with limits:
- Gigantamax Pokémon count as Special Trades
- You can perform one Special Trade per day
- They cannot transfer to Pokémon HOME (as of now)
Choose your trades wisely.
FAQs
Q. Can you evolve a Dynamax Pokémon into Gigantamax?
No. Only Pokémon caught directly from Gigantamax Max Battles can Gigantamax.
Q. Do Gigantamax Pokémon change type?
No. Gigantamax does not alter a Pokémon’s typing.
Q. Are Max Particles lost if you lose a battle?
No. Max Particles are only consumed after a successful win.
Gigantamax Pokémon sit at the top of Pokémon GO’s PvE ladder. They hit harder, survive longer, and demand real teamwork—something standard raids rarely require. If you enjoy large-scale battles, coordinated play, and endgame challenges, Gigantamax content delivers exactly that.
Prepare your team, know your role, and go big. Play Now!
