How to Gigantamax: Pokemon Sword and Shield Guide

Pokemon Sword and Shield introduced two new battle mechanics to the Pokemon world: Dynamax and Gigantamax. On the one hand, Dynamax increases a Pokemon’s size and stats massively, making them more powerful. On the other, Gigantamax not only increases the Pokemon’s size and stats but also changes the character’s form and appearance.

Both are incredibly powerful elements, but Gigantamax naturally offers more powerful stats. It’s also worth noting that every Pokemon can Dynamax so long as you have the Dynamax band, but only certain Pokémon have the ability Gigantamax during battles. This guide looks to help you understand how to use Gigantamax Pokemon efficiently to bring out its fullest potential for a strong competitive edge.

Why You Want a Gigantamax Pokémon?

A Gigantamaxed Pokemon grows to almost stadium-size with incredibly devastating hit points. Furthermore, instead of Max Moves seen on Dynamaxed Pokemon, Gigantamax comes with its own unique and more powerful G-Max Moves.

Gigantamax vs. Dynamax Pokemon

A Dynamax Pokémon powers up, grows larger and has 1.5 times their normal stats. This cuts across all characters in the Pokémon Sword and Shield. However, only certain species can Gigantamax, which replaces Dynamax.

A Gigantamaxed Pokemon grows even bigger, powers up further and gets an even bigger stat boost. It also opens up G-Max moves- more explosive versions of their already enhanced (Dynamax) Max moves.

G-Max Moves Explained

G-Max Moves vary from one Pokemon to another. Each G-Max move has its own unique name, type and effect. This ranges from healing certain status conditions to changing the battlefield. For example:

Alcremie has G-Max Finale, a Fairy that restores 1/6 of an ally Pokemon’s health.Butterfree has G-Max Sweetness, a Bug that inflicts sleep, poison or paralysis status conditions on all opposing Pokemon.Charizard has G-Max Wildfire, a Fire that damages all non-fire-type opposing Pokemon equal to 1/6 max HP for 4 turns.

It’s pretty clear that using a Gigantamaxed Pokémon efficiently can easily tip the balance of power in battles. Needless to say, you obviously need one if you’re looking to rack up victories on all sides.

How to Find Out if a Pokemon Can Gigantamax

As previously mentioned, Gigantamax comes with clear visual changes, which is partly why not all Pokemon have the ability. Nevertheless, it’s almost impossible to tell whether or not a Pokemon can Gigantamax by just looking at it.

Here’s how to tell if a character has the ability in Pokémon Sword and Shield:

Press the X button to open Main Menu.Scroll till the Pokemon Menu, then press X again.Select the character you want to check and press X again. This should display the Pokemon’s summary.A red X symbol next to the Pokemon’s name means it can Gigantamax.

How to Use Gigantamax

Unfortunately, you can’t use a Gigantamax Pokemon everywhere, but only in special places in the Pokémon Shield. That said, when the chance comes up, here’s how you can use your new special character:

First, look for or start a Raid in Wild Area or start a Stadium Battle versus a gym leader. Alternatively, you can start an Online Battle facing other trainers.Choose a Pokemon with Gigantamax ability as you’re only allowed one character per battle.Once in battle mode, select Dynamax.Find the move that includes G-Max in the name, for example, G-Max Wildfire or G-Max Sweetness.Select the option to launch your extremely powerful G-Max moves and watch your Pokemon fire up to the limit!

While at it, it wouldn’t hurt to enjoy the epic music playing in the background.

Which Pokemon Can Use Gigantamax?

These are the players that have the new Gigantamax forms in Pokemon Sword and Shield:

Pokémon
Move Effect

Alcremie G-Max Finale Revives 1/6 of ally Pokémon’s health.

Appletun G-Max Sweetness Revives the status conditions of all ally Pokémon.

Butterfree G-Max Befuddle Wreaks poison, paralysis or sleep status conditions on all enemy Pokémon.

Centiskorch G-Max Centiferno Wreaks damage up to 1/8 of opponent’s max HP for 4 to 5 turns

*During these turns, opposing Pokemon can’t flee or be switched out battle.

Charizard G-Max Wildfire Destroys 1/6 max HP for 4 turns for all non-fire- type opponents.

Coalossal G-Max Volcalith Destroys 1/6 max HP for 4 turns for all non-rock- type opponents.

Copperajah G-Max Steelsurge Launches rocks that damage Pokémon released on the opponent’s side.
*Move depends on strengths and weaknesses of steel-type Pokémon.

Corviknight G-Max Wind Rage Nullifies, Aurora, Light Screen, Mist, Reflect, Safeguard and Veil on the opposing side.
– Neutralizes Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Stealth Rock and Sticky Web Toxic on both sides of the battlefield.

Drednaw G-Max Stonesurge Launches rocks that can damage Pokémon as released on the opposing side.
*Move depends on the strengths and weaknesses of rock-type Pokémon.

Duraludon G-Max Depletion Shrinks the PP of the moves used by all enemy Pokémon by 2.

Eevee G-Max Cuddle All opponents become infatuated with Eevee, causing them to fail half (50%) of the time.

Flapple G-Max Tartness Reduces opponent’s evasiveness by 1 stage.

Garbodor G-Max Malodor Inflicts poison on all enemy Pokémon.

Gengar G-Max Terror Stops opponent Pokemon from fleeing or switching out during battle.

Grimmsnarl G-Max Snooze Inflicts sleep status on target by of the next turn, unless they switch out.

Hatterene G-Max Smite Confuses all opposing Pokémon.

Lapras G-Max Resonance Shortens damage from physical and special moves for five turns.

Kingler G-Max Foam Burst Reduces opponent’s speed by 2 stages.

Machamp G-Max Chi Strike Boosts the critical hit rates of ally Pokémon by 2 stages.

Meowth G-Max Gold Rush Confuses all opponents.
– Increases payout at the end of the battle, depending on the user’s level and the number of times the move was employed, up to three:
First use: £100 x level
Second use: £200 x level
Third use: £300 x level

Orbeetle G-Max Gravitas Inflicts all the following effects that last for five turns.
– Grounds airborne Pokémon.
– Ground-type moves are able to hit Pokémon, which are usually immune to them.
– Prevents using Bounce, Flying Press, Fly High Jump Kick, Magnet Rise and Splash.
– Improves accuracy of all Pokémon in battle.

Pikachu G-Max Volt Inflicts electric paralysis on all opponents Pokémon.

Sandaconda G-Max Sandblast Inflicts damage up to 1/8 of max HP to all opposing Pokemon when 4 to 5 turns end.
– Opponents can’t flee or be switched out during these turns.

Snorlax G-Max Replenish Restores all berries that Snorlax or its allies have exhausted in battle.

Toxtricity G-Max Stun Shock Damages opposing Pokemon by either either poisoning or paralyzing them

As you can see, Gaming Freak has truly gone to town to bring an extensive range of Gigantamax Pokemon to Pokemon Sword and Shield. So, now it’s time to have a bit of fun; enter Max Raid Battles.

Finding and Capturing Gigamantax Pokemon

Gigantamax Pokemon are incredibly rare, and you can only find them in 5-star Max Raids, which typically occur in the Wild Area. Furthermore, 5-star Max Raid battles only appear after earning the Dragon Badge, the eighth and final gym badge in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Unlike in previous games, getting a Gigantamax form isn’t an evolution that characters achieve using a particular token or leveling up. Instead, the player must defeat and capture the specific Gigantamax form in a Max Raid Battle. These are some of the most challenging but wild fun Raid Battles, hence the 5-star rating.

That means capture rates are pretty low in Pokémon Shield. Furthermore, finding these Gigantamax forms can be equally difficult since they randomly appear in certain battle spot dens. That said, you can use a Wishing Piece to increase your chances; it attracts a Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon to the den.

Here are the specific locations where you can find these rare Pokémon in dens of the Wild Area:

Gigantamax Alcremie: Bridge FieldGigantamax Appletun: Dappled Grove (Pokemon Shield Exclusive)Gigantamax Butterfree: Rolling FieldsGigantamax Centiskorch: Stony WildernessGigantamax Charizard: Lake of OutrageGigantamax Coalossal: Giant’s Seat (Pokemon Sword Exclusive)Gigantamax Copperajah: Stony WildernessGigantamax Corviknight: Giant’s CapGigantamax Duraludon: Giant’s SeatGigantamax Drednaw: Giant’s CapGigantamax Flapple: Dappled Grove (Pokémon Sword Exclusive)Gigantamax Garbodor: East Lake AxewellGigantamax Gengar: Stony Wilderness (Pokémon Shield Exclusive)Gigantamax Grimmsnarl: Dusty BowlGigantamax Hatterene: Bridge FieldGigantamax Kingler: West Lake Axewell, South Lake MilochGigantamax Lapras: Giant’s Seat (Pokémon Shield Exclusive)Gigantamax Machamp: Stony Wilderness (Pokémon Sword Exclusive)Gigantamax Orbeetle: Bridge Field, Dappled GroveGigantamax Sandaconda: Dusty Bowl

Players with the Isle of Armor can give max soup to any Pokemon with Gigantamax to activate their Gigantamax form.

Remember, not all Gigantamax Pokemon are available through battle raids. You’ll need to employ other methods, such as trading in or Special Events, to collect them all.

Special Event Gigantamax Forms in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Some Gigantamax forms are only available for a short window through special events. Game Freak usually shares in-game which Pokemon are spawning in the battle dens at that moment. To get them, players can either trade for the ones available or cross their fingers that Game Freak has another round offering the Gigantamax form you’re looking for.

Final Word

Pokemon Sword and Shield picked just the right things from its pretty successful predecessor, Pokemon Go, including adding raids. As this extremely popular and fun series evolves, battling grows alongside, and Gigantamax is possibly the biggest addition yet. You can rest assured the Galar region will continue to be a fan favorite playpen on the Nintendo Switch.

Featured Image Source: gamepur.com