Gigantamax is a special form of Dynamax. Both temporarily enlarge an eligible Pokémon during a Pokémon GO Max Battle, but Gigantamax also gives that individual Pokémon a species-specific appearance and a fixed G-Max attack. A regular Dynamax Pokémon uses an offensive Max Move whose type follows its Fast Attack. Gigantamax eligibility belongs to particular specimens of certain species, so owning a Pokémon from an eligible species does not automatically make it Gigantamax-capable. Neither transformation changes the Pokémon’s underlying type.
This distinction affects which Pokémon you catch, how you train Max Moves, how many Trainers you may need, and what you can do with the Pokémon afterward.
At a glance
| Feature | Dynamax | Gigantamax |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | The familiar enlarged version of the same species | An enlarged form plus a species-specific visual redesign |
| Eligible specimens | Any Pokémon that is Max-capable | Only particular specimens of certain Gigantamax-capable species |
| Offensive Max attack | Its type follows the Pokémon’s Fast Attack | A fixed, species-specific G-Max attack; its type can differ from the Fast Attack |
| Support moves | Max Guard and Max Spirit | Max Guard and Max Spirit |
| How you obtain one | Catch a Max-capable Pokémon | Catch one from an eligible Gigantamax Max Battle or receive one in a Special Trade |
| Typical battle format | Up to four Trainers in the standard presentation | Event lobbies can support up to 40 Trainers, in groups of four or fewer |
Checked: October 2026. Power Spot locations, bosses, event rules and bonuses rotate, so an individual event notice always takes precedence.
What is the difference between Dynamax and Gigantamax in Pokémon GO?
Dynamax is the basic temporary enlargement mechanic. Gigantamax is a variant of Dynamax that only certain specimens can use. The official Pokémon GO guide describes it as “a kind of Dynamaxing that certain Pokémon can undergo.”
In a Max Battle, the Max meter fills while your team fights. When it is full, the active Pokémon transforms for three turns. A Dynamax Pokémon becomes larger and uses the normal Max effects. A Gigantamax Pokémon becomes larger, changes its silhouette and details, and uses its species-specific G-Max attack. The Pokémon does not become a new elemental type in either case.
That means Gigantamax is not a universal upgrade button. You cannot turn every Dynamax specimen of an eligible species into Gigantamax, and changing a move does not create Gigantamax eligibility.
How do their appearances and eligibility differ?
Dynamax: the enlarged version of the same Pokémon
Dynamax applies the familiar Max visual treatment: the Pokémon grows dramatically while retaining its normal species design. Its eligibility is determined by whether the Pokémon is Max-capable and can enter a Max Battle.
Gigantamax: a redesigned individual form
Gigantamax adds a species-specific visual redesign. The change is more than scale: the body shape, markings or surrounding effects can differ from the standard Dynamax presentation. Only certain species have a Gigantamax form, and even among those species, only eligible specimens can use it.
Check the individual Pokémon rather than assuming that a species name is enough. A regular specimen of an eligible species remains regular unless it was obtained with Gigantamax capability. There is no stated conversion item, level threshold or TM that turns a normal specimen into a Gigantamax one.
Neither form changes Pokémon type
The official Max gameplay guidance states that Max Pokémon do not change Pokémon type when transformed. A Fire Pokémon remains Fire, for example, even if its G-Max attack is a different type from its Fast Attack. Treat the move’s type and the Pokémon’s type as separate pieces of battle information.
How are Max Moves and G-Max attacks different?
Regular Dynamax offensive move
A Dynamax Pokémon’s offensive Max Move follows the type of its Fast Attack. If you change the Fast Attack with a Fast TM or Elite Fast TM, the corresponding offensive Max Move can change as well. That gives a regular Dynamax specimen some flexibility when you build it for a particular matchup.
This interaction changes the move associated with Dynamax; it does not grant Gigantamax status, alter the Pokémon’s species-specific eligibility or create a G-Max attack. Before using a valuable Elite Fast TM, confirm that the resulting Fast Attack helps the boss you expect to fight.
Gigantamax species attack
A Gigantamax specimen uses its named G-Max attack instead of the ordinary Dynamax offensive attack. The G-Max attack is tied to that Gigantamax form, and its type does not have to match the Fast Attack. Changing the Fast Attack therefore should not be treated as a way to replace a fixed G-Max attack.
Because the move can have a different type, read the attack description rather than inferring its type from the Pokémon’s Fast Attack. The underlying Pokémon type remains unchanged, so calculate weaknesses from the Pokémon’s type and damage planning from the attack you are actually selecting.
Shared defensive and support moves
Both forms can train and use the same supporting Max tools:
- Max Guard limits damage taken during the Max phase.
- Max Spirit restores health for your team.
- Max Particles and Candy are used to train Max Moves.
These shared tools are why a well-trained Dynamax Pokémon can still be valuable even when a Gigantamax encounter is the headline event. A support-focused Pokémon can contribute through Guard or Spirit even when its offensive type is not ideal.
How do Max Battles work for both forms?
Max Battles take place at Power Spots. Power Spots move and expire, so the location available to you may not remain open indefinitely. Only Max-capable Pokémon may enter, and the Help Center describes selecting a party of up to three Pokémon.
- Find an active Power Spot. Check the map for a location that has not expired and has the boss you want. Confirm the event’s date, region and lobby rules before traveling.
- Prepare up to three Max-capable Pokémon. Consider their survivability, Fast Attacks and trained Max Moves rather than choosing only by combat power. For Gigantamax, verify that the individual specimen has the capability; species name alone is insufficient.
- Join the lobby and fill the Max meter. Your Pokémon transforms when the meter fills, and the transformation lasts three turns. You are not permanently changing the Pokémon in storage.
- Use the Max phase deliberately. Choose the offensive move when damage is needed, Max Guard when incoming damage is the immediate problem, and Max Spirit when healing can keep the party in the fight.
- Spend Particles only when the result is clear. Max Particles are deducted when the boss is defeated successfully. If the attempt fails, you can retry before that Power Spot closes.
A failed attempt is therefore not the same as losing the Particle cost immediately. The practical limitation is the Power Spot’s remaining availability and your supply of Pokémon, items and other Trainers. A successful clear consumes the stated Particle cost even if you do not plan to catch or keep another copy.
How many Trainers do Dynamax and Gigantamax battles support?
Standard Dynamax encounters are presented as battles for up to four Trainers. Gigantamax events can use a much larger lobby: current broad Pokémon GO guidance and The Pokémon Company’s July 8, 2025 guide specify up to 40 Trainers, arranged in groups of four or fewer.
Forty is a lobby capacity, not a requirement. A smaller group can win an easier boss with trained Max Moves, while a stronger Gigantamax boss may justify bringing more people and coordinating counters. The official Help Center still contains a comparison sentence referring to 20 Trainers for Gigantamax battles, so check the rules for the individual event when a live notice gives a different limit. For a current general comparison, the better-supported figure is 40.
What the event labels do—and do not—mean
Event notices can use different star ratings for different bosses. A Pokémon GO notice for the October 3, 2026 Gigantamax Cinderace event labeled that encounter six-star. A separate October 24, 2026 notice labeled Dynamax Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf five-star and assigned them to different world regions.
Those labels describe those specific events. They are not a permanent rule that every Gigantamax boss is six-star or every Dynamax boss is five-star, and they do not by themselves state a universal damage multiplier or win rate. Treat the star value as the event’s label, then read the current notice for lobby size, availability and recommended preparation.
How do you get a Gigantamax Pokémon?
The reliable routes described for Pokémon GO are catching one from an eligible Gigantamax Max Battle or receiving one through a Special Trade. A normal Dynamax catch does not become Gigantamax simply because it belongs to a species that has a G-Max form.
Catch one from a Gigantamax Max Battle
Watch the in-game event notice for the species, dates, regions and lobby rules. Because Power Spots rotate and expire, the encounter may be available only during a defined window. Read the notice for that event rather than assuming that a previous boss or star rating is still active.
Receive one in a Special Trade
A Special Trade can transfer a Gigantamax Pokémon to another player. The recipient still gets the individual specimen’s Gigantamax capability; trading does not convert an ordinary specimen into one. The usual trade requirements and costs shown in Pokémon GO still apply, so check the trade screen before confirming.
What happens after you catch one?
Captured Max Pokémon appear ordinary in storage. Their Max transformation and Max Moves are for Max Battles; they cannot use those Max features in Trainer Battles. This storage appearance does not mean the capability was lost—it is simply not displayed as an active battle transformation outside Max Battles.
Evolution also requires care. Some Gigantamax Pokémon cannot evolve because their evolved form does not have a corresponding Gigantamax form. Do not spend Candy expecting every Gigantamax specimen to follow the normal evolution path. Check the individual’s available evolution action before committing resources.
Gigantamax Pokémon cannot be sent to Pokémon HOME. The Pokémon GO Help Center states: “Gigantamax Pokémon are not able to be sent to Pokémon HOME.” This restriction is separate from whether the Pokémon can be traded to another Pokémon GO player.
Can you buy Max Particles, and what limits apply?
Pokémon GO mentions purchasable Max Particle packs, but prices and availability are controlled in the live shop and can change. Buying a pack does not make an ordinary Pokémon Gigantamax-capable; it only addresses the resource used for Max activities. Check the in-game offer and event rules rather than relying on an old price or a third-party listing.
The Help Center describes a baseline of 800 Max Particles collected per day and 1,500 held at once. These are separate limits: the first concerns how much you collect during a day, while the second concerns storage.
Event bonuses can temporarily change collection rules. The October 3, 2026 Gigantamax Cinderace event raised its event collection limit to 1,600. That one-event allowance does not establish a permanent daily cap, and it should not be confused with the 1,500-particle holding capacity.
Because Particle costs and event bonuses can change, read the current event notice and the in-game counter before traveling to a Power Spot. An announced November 2026 event also excludes Max Particles from catches made with Pokémon GO Plus +, so do not assume an accessory catch will replace collecting particles manually during that event.
How should you build a Dynamax or Gigantamax team?
Use Dynamax for flexibility
Regular Dynamax is useful when you want to tune an offensive Max Move through the Fast Attack. A Fast TM or Elite Fast TM can change that relationship, provided the Pokémon remains a valid Max Battle participant. Prioritize species with dependable survivability and invest Max Particles and Candy into the support moves your group actually needs.
Use Gigantamax for its fixed identity
Gigantamax is valuable when the species-specific G-Max attack and redesign are relevant to the event. Build around the attack’s actual type, not the Fast Attack’s type, and remember that the Pokémon itself keeps its original typing. Do not spend resources trying to make the G-Max attack behave like an ordinary Dynamax attack; it is tied to the Gigantamax form.
Coordinate around the boss, not the label alone
The word “Gigantamax” signals a different form and usually a more demanding event format, but it does not replace matchup planning. Bring enough Trainers for the boss’s stated rules, train Max Guard or Max Spirit when survival is the bottleneck, and avoid assuming that a larger lobby guarantees a win. A four-person group with complementary support can be more useful than a larger group that has no trained Max Moves.
Are Gigantamax, Sword and Shield Max Raid Battles, and TCG VMAX cards the same thing?
No. Pokémon GO’s Max Battles are its own mobile-game system. Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield use the Galar games’ Max Raid Battles, while VMAX is a Pokémon Trading Card Game mechanic.
The Pokémon GO card expansion includes Melmetal VMAX in Gigantamax form, but a trading card does not unlock a transformation or Max Move in Pokémon GO. Likewise, owning or playing a Sword or Shield title does not change a Pokémon GO specimen’s eligibility. Treat the shared terminology as a reference to related Pokémon concepts, not as cross-game progression.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming every eligible species specimen can Gigantamax: eligibility belongs to particular Pokémon, not automatically to the whole species.
- Calling Gigantamax a stat-only upgrade: the defining differences are the redesign and G-Max attack; no universal stat boost or damage multiplier is established here.
- Changing a Fast Attack to seek Gigantamax: a Fast TM can affect a regular Dynamax attack, but it cannot create a G-Max form.
- Reading the move type as the Pokémon’s type: a G-Max attack may differ from the Fast Attack type without changing the Pokémon’s typing.
- Treating lobby capacity as a required team size: up to 40 Trainers is a maximum for supported Gigantamax lobbies, not a minimum.
- Confusing Particle collection with storage: the daily collection allowance and the amount you can hold are different limits.
- Assuming a failed battle consumes Particles: the stated deduction occurs after a successful boss defeat; a failed attempt can be retried while the Power Spot remains open.
- Expecting Max moves in Trainer Battles: captured Max Pokémon cannot use their Max transformation or Max Moves there.
- Assuming a product unlocks GO content: TCG cards, Sword or Shield software and accessories do not grant Gigantamax eligibility.
Optional collectible context
Readers interested in physical merchandise can look for the official Pokémon GO Trading Card Game collection, whose expansion features Melmetal VMAX in Gigantamax form. Booster packs are offered through special collections rather than as separately sold packs, and no particular collection should be assumed to contain a specific Melmetal card without checking its current contents. This is a collecting option, not a way to unlock a Pokémon GO transformation.
Bottom line
Dynamax is the broad Max Battle enlargement system; Gigantamax is the rarer, specimen-specific variant with a redesigned appearance and a fixed G-Max attack. Both transform for three turns, use Max Guard and Max Spirit, and require planning around Power Spots, Max Particles and trained moves. Choose Dynamax when Fast Attack flexibility matters, choose Gigantamax when its form and G-Max attack fit the encounter, and always verify the individual Pokémon and the current event notice before spending resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a regular Dynamax Pokémon Gigantamax with a TM?
No. TMs can change a regular Dynamax Pokémon’s Fast Attack and therefore its corresponding offensive Max Move, but they do not add Gigantamax eligibility. The capability is tied to the individual Pokémon obtained from an eligible encounter or trade.
Does a G-Max attack change a Pokémon’s weaknesses?
No. Transformation does not change the Pokémon’s type, so its type-based strengths and weaknesses remain those of the species and individual. Only the attack’s own type can differ from the Fast Attack type.
Are six-star Max Battles always harder than five-star battles?
Star labels are assigned by individual event notices, so they should not be treated as a universal cross-event difficulty scale. Check the current notice for the boss, lobby rules, dates and regional availability.
Can I move a Gigantamax Pokémon into Pokémon HOME after trading it?
No. The Pokémon GO Help Center specifically says Gigantamax Pokémon cannot be sent to Pokémon HOME. Trading the specimen to another Pokémon GO player does not remove that restriction.
How many Pokémon can I bring into a Max Battle?
The Help Center describes choosing up to three Max-capable Pokémon for your party. Their roles can differ: one may provide offense while another is trained for Max Guard or Max Spirit.
Do I lose Max Particles when a battle attempt fails?
The stated deduction occurs after the boss is defeated successfully. If you fail, you can retry while that Power Spot remains open, subject to the live event’s rules and your available resources.
Can a Gigantamax Pokémon evolve normally?
Not always. Some cannot evolve because the evolved form lacks a corresponding Gigantamax form. Check the individual Pokémon’s evolution option before spending Candy.
Is a 40-Trainer Gigantamax lobby required to win?
No. Forty is a supported maximum lobby size, not a minimum. The number needed depends on the boss, your group’s counters and how well Max Moves are trained.
The Bottom Line
In short: Dynamax enlarges a Max-capable Pokémon and derives its offensive Max Move from the Fast Attack. Gigantamax does that while adding a species-specific redesign and fixed G-Max attack. Neither changes Pokémon typing, and neither lets you use Max transformations in Trainer Battles.