Pokemon Go adds new game mechanics and features every year to keep the community engaged and give you different ways to enjoy the mobile game. Max Battles, based on the Dynamax gimmick from Pokemon Sword & Shield, were finally introduced in 2024 alongside the addition of some Gen 8 species, and you need to be prepared to face many powerful opponents in this mode.
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As it happens with other features and game modes, not all Pokemon are worth building for Max Battles, so it’s best to make smart investments of your resources to have the best possible creatures to Dynamax and, eventually, Gigantamax.
10
Rillaboom
- Weaknesses: Bug, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison.
The Grass-type Drummer Pokemon debuted in Pokemon Go shortly before Max Battles were introduced in the game, giving players the chance to get a popular species to Dynamax right off the bat.
Sadly, being a pure Grass-type Pokemon makes Rillaboom weak to lots of attacks from some of the best Max Battle bosses in the game. Of course, Rillaboom has its uses, mostly taking down Water-type Pokemon, but it’s best to wait for its Gigantamax form to unlock its maximum potential.
9
Inteleon
- Weaknesses: Electric, Grass.
The Water-type starter from Galar is another viable pick for Max Battles, although it’s still surpassed by Kanto Pokemon with Gigantamax forms. Until the Secret Agent Pokemon gets its own, it’s a good contender to face Fire and Ground-type bosses in this game mode.
That’s as much as Inteleon can do in Pokemon Go Max Battles since there are Grass-type bosses that can easily be defeated in a heartbeat. You should also keep it away from Toxtricity, but it comes in handy once more Pokemon are added to the mode.
8
Cinderace
- Weaknesses: Ground, Rock, Water.
The Galar starter trio that debuted alongside the Dynamax mechanic in Pokemon Sword & Shield is pretty decent for Max Battles, although they aren’t the best of the best. This is because there are better alternatives you can pick, but mostly because their Gigantamax forms haven’t debuted yet.
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Cinderace can’t compete with Charizard in Max Battles, so it’s best to wait until you can get its Gigantamax version in Pokemon Go. It’s still a good option to take down Steel types, though, so keep that in mind.
7
Toxtricity (Gigantamax)
- Weaknesses: Ground (256%), Psychic.
With no other Electric-type Pokemon that can Dynamax, Toxtricity has no competition as the top attacker of its type. While it’s not strong, it’s still your safest bet against Water-type Pokemon in Max Battles and can help against upcoming Flying-type species. Max Lightning is a must in Toxtricity moveset to take down Water types with ease.
The Gigantamax form of Toxtricity is way better for this format, but due to its weakness to Ground and Psychic-type moves, it’s also a fragile contender in the meta.
6
Lapras (Gigantamax)
- Weaknesses: Electric, Fighting, Grass, Rock.
Gigantamax Lapras is an easy Max Battle boss to take down in Pokemon Go as long as you have Venusaur or Toxtricity, so you shouldn’t have trouble capturing one for yourself. Then, as an attacker, Lapras is an interesting pick thanks to its unique type combination in this game mode in 2024.
You can use Lapras for Max Battles featuring Grass and Ground-type Pokemon and it’ll also be viable when Flying-type Pokemon are added to Max Battles, so it could be a good investment.
5
Venusaur (Gigantamax)
- Weaknesses: Fire, Flying, Ice, Psychic.
Kanto starters received the Dynamax treatment early in Pokemon Go, with their Gigantamax versions also released in October 2024. Venusaur packs a punch and is one of the top Grass-type contenders for Max Battles, although its weaknesses can mean trouble.
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Either way, it’s a great pick to face Water-type opponents, and thanks to its Poison type, it can also face Toxticitry with ease. Venusaur can be a top contender for Fairy-type Pokemon once Pokemon Go adds more species to Max Battles.
4
Blastoise (Gigantamax)
- Weaknesses: Electric, Grass.
The fan-favorite Blastoise is another great pick for Max Battles, especially to face Fire and Ground-type bosses. This is mostly due to the lack of a better alternative, as the other available species that can Dynamax are Lapras and Kingler, which haven’t much to show for it.
What’s more, the Gigantamax form of Blastoise overshadows Dynamax Blastoise in a heartbeat, so you might want to spend your TMs accordingly. Either way, you can always rely on Blastoise’s bulk in battle.
3
Charizard (Gigantamax)
- Weaknesses: Rock (256%), Electric, Water.
With very few Pokemon worth Dynamaxing, Charizard is one of the best thanks to its versatile moveset. Max Flare (Fire), Max Aistream (Flying), and Max Wyrmwind (Dragon) can help you get ahead in almost any Max Battle and make Charizard a top pick in the format.
Charizard is one of the few species with a Gigantamax form in Pokemon Go, which also provides a powerful bonus for your damage output. And considering Charmander’s availability in Pokemon Go, it’s not hard to build it exclusively for Max Battles.
- Weaknesses: Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ground.
The old and reliable Metagross is at the top of a Pokemon Go list once again. It’s the first pseudo-legendary to get a Dynamax form in the title, securing itself as one of the most popular picks for Max Battles.
You’ll only need an Elite TM to get Metagross into shape to dominate most encounters, so keep that in mind. This top Steel-type attacker has massive bulk, so even when facing Fire and Ghost-type opponents, it can hold its own to claim victory.
1
Gengar (Gigantamax)
- Weaknesses: Dark, Ghost, Ground, Psychic.
If a Pokemon is already a good choice for PvE, it’ll likely do great in Max Battles. That’s why Gengar is the best species you can Dynamax and Gigantamax in Pokemon Go. Since there aren’t any other Ghost-type Pokemon available in Max Battles, Gengar dominates with a powerful moveset.
You should keep Gengar away from the Metagross line due to its weakness in Psychic-type moves. Other than that, you’ll find little to no opposition in Max Battles, making Gengar the very best.
- Released
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July 6, 2016
- Developer(s)
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Niantic
, The Pokemon Company - Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
- Engine
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Unity
- ESRB
-
e
- Platforms
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ios, andriod
- Cross Save
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yes
- Cross-Platform Play
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ios, andriod