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Dynamax and Gigantamax in Pokémon GO: What They Are and How Max Battles Work

Dynamax and Gigantamax are temporary Max Battle forms in Pokémon GO. Learn the key differences, Gigantamax acquisition routes, Max Particle basics, and battle strategy.
Length5 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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In Pokémon GO, Dynamax and Gigantamax are temporary transformations used in Max Battles. Both let Pokémon use Max Moves without changing their type; Gigantamax also changes a Pokémon’s appearance and gives it an exclusive G-Max Move. You can obtain Gigantamax Pokémon by defeating them in six-star Max Battles or through Special Trades, according to Pokémon’s July 2025 guide.

How Dynamax and Gigantamax differ

These are two forms of the same Max Battle system, not permanent evolutions. Pokémon’s October 2024 announcement describes Gigantamax as a temporary transformation that makes a Pokémon appear larger, changes its appearance, and gives it access to an exclusive G-Max Move. Pokémon retain their type in either form; Gigantamax does not change a Pokémon’s typing.

Feature Dynamax Gigantamax
Transformation Temporary form used in Max Battles. Temporary form used in Max Battles; appearance changes and the Pokémon appears larger.
Exclusive move No G-Max Move is described for Dynamax. Has a Pokémon-specific G-Max Move.
Type Does not change. Does not change.
Other Max Moves Can use an attack, Max Guard and Max Spirit, subject to unlocking and leveling rules in Pokémon’s July 2025 guide. Can use its G-Max Attack and can also learn Max Guard and Max Spirit, according to the July 2025 guide.

Pokémon’s official overview of the Gigantamax debut explains the form and its distinction from Mega Evolution: Pokémon’s October 2024 Gigantamax announcement.

How to get Gigantamax Pokémon

Win a six-star Max Battle

Pokémon’s guide lists defeating a Gigantamax Pokémon in a six-star Max Battle as one way to obtain it. These battles take place at Power Spots and require Max Particles to enter. A Gigantamax battle restricts your battle roster to Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon, rather than allowing any Pokémon you own as a typical Raid Battle does.

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Complete a Special Trade

A Special Trade is the other route identified in the guide. It costs more Stardust than a regular trade and is limited to one per day, as stated in Pokémon’s July 2025 guide. Check the in-game trade screen for the cost and eligibility that apply to your trade.

Where Max Battles happen and how Max Particles work

Max Battles take place at Power Spots. Pokémon describes these as purple platforms marked by a Gigantamax symbol. Max Particles are required to participate. The collection and holding rules have changed across dated official material, so older figures should not be treated as guaranteed current limits.

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  • July 2025 guide: Max Particles could be collected at Power Spots or by walking 2 km through the Power Spot tab; the guide reported a holding cap of 1,500.
  • October 2024 debut announcement: In the context of the launch event, the announcement described collecting up to 800 Max Particles per day and being unable to acquire more while holding over 1,000.

Those figures refer to different publications and contexts, not a single combined rule. For the current cap, collection rate, and battle cost, check the Power Spot tab and in-game battle prompt.

Prepare your team before a Gigantamax Battle

Bring Max Pokémon and cover the boss’s weaknesses

You cannot use an ordinary, non-Max Pokémon in a Gigantamax battle. Build around eligible Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon, then choose attacks that are effective or super effective against the boss. Pokémon’s July 2025 guide says G-Max attacks deal more damage than Dynamax attacks, but that does not make type advantage or a durable team irrelevant.

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Invest selectively in Max Moves

Dynamax Pokémon have an attack Max Move matching their type, plus Max Guard and Max Spirit. In the July 2025 guide’s description, the attack begins at level 1; upgrading moves costs Max Particles and Candy, and level 3 also requires Candy XL. Max Guard and Max Spirit must first be unlocked. Gigantamax Pokémon can also learn those two support moves alongside their unique G-Max Attack. Since these costs and levels come from a July 2025 guide, confirm current requirements in-game before spending resources. Pokémon advises investing selectively instead of trying to maximize every move on every team member.

Coordinate damage, healing, and defense

For a four-Trainer group, the guide recommends assigning two damage dealers, one healer, and one tank. Damage dealers focus on attacks; the healer uses Max Spirit to restore the user’s Pokémon and allies; and the tank uses Max Guard to reduce damage to its own Pokémon. Choose a tank with high HP that resists the boss’s damage. Max Guard protects the user’s Pokémon, not the whole group.

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How a Max Battle works

  1. Enter at a Power Spot: Select an available Max Battle and spend the required Max Particles. The exact current cost is shown in-game.
  2. Build the Max Meter: Use Fast and Charged Attacks and collect battlefield symbols. Pokémon’s July 2025 guide says Fast Attacks fill the meter faster than Charged Attacks.
  3. Use the Max phase: When the meter fills, your Pokémon transforms and you get three moves. Use the attack, Max Guard, or Max Spirit according to the team’s needs; Gigantamax Pokémon also have their G-Max Attack.
  4. React to incoming attacks: Watch the battle log. For an attack aimed at your Pokémon, move left or right to dodge and reduce the damage. The guide says the large attack aimed at the group cannot be dodged.
  5. Keep contributing if your Pokémon are knocked out: Cheer to help charge the team’s Max Meter.
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Lobby size and coordination

Pokémon’s July 2025 guide says a Gigantamax Battle lobby can hold up to 40 Trainers, compared with 20 in a typical Raid Battle, and that up to 10 friends can be invited. Its October 2024 debut announcement described six-star battles as requiring 10 to 40 Trainers. These are dated official descriptions rather than a guarantee of today’s limits; check the lobby shown in your game before organizing a group.

For the detailed official mechanics and team guidance, see Pokémon’s July 2025 Max Battle guide.

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  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)

Checking which Gigantamax Pokémon are available now

The active roster and event bonuses are time-sensitive. Pokémon announced that Gigantamax Pikachu would debut in a Max Battle Day on March 28, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. local time; that was a past event, not evidence of current availability. The announcement also said Gigantamax Pikachu does not evolve in Pokémon GO. Check the current in-game event listings or official Pokémon GO announcements for the live roster and schedule: the March 2026 Gigantamax Pikachu announcement.

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