Gigantamax Pokemon: Full List and Pokémon GO Guide

Gigantamax Pokemon are some of the most eye-catching forms in the Pokémon series. They become enormous in battle, gain special appearances, and use unique G-Max Moves that regular Dynamax Pokemon cannot use. For Pokémon GO players, Gigantamax has also become one of the biggest event-based battle features, especially through Power Spots and Max Battles.

The confusing part is that Gigantamax does not work exactly the same way in every Pokémon game. In Pokémon Sword and Shield, it is tied to the Gigantamax Factor, Max Raid Battles, and Max Soup. In Pokémon GO, it is connected to Power Spots, Max Particles, Max Battles, and limited-time event availability. This guide explains the difference clearly, lists all Gigantamax Pokemon, and shows how to prepare for Gigantamax Pokemon GO battles.

What Are Gigantamax Pokemon?

Gigantamax is a special form of Dynamax first introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield. A Dynamax Pokemon becomes huge and uses Max Moves, while a Gigantamax Pokemon also changes appearance and gains access to a species-exclusive G-Max Move. Only certain Pokémon species can Gigantamax, and in the mainline games, only specific individuals have the Gigantamax Factor.

The key point is that Gigantamax is not simply “Dynamax but stronger in every way.” In Sword and Shield, Gigantamax works almost the same as Dynamax outside of its unique G-Max Move. The Pokémon’s HP increases based on Dynamax Level, while its other stats and Ability stay the same.

That makes Gigantamax more about battle effects, appearance, and special move utility than raw stat dominance. A Gigantamax Charizard, Gigantamax Gengar, or Gigantamax Lapras feels special because of its form and G-Max Move, not because every stat becomes higher than a normal Dynamax version.

Gigantamax vs Dynamax: What’s the Difference?

The easiest way to understand the difference is this:

Dynamax is the broader mechanic. Gigantamax is the rarer version that gives certain Pokémon a unique battle identity. In Pokémon GO, Max Pokémon can use Max Moves in Max Battles, while Gigantamax Pokémon may feature special G-Max-style attacks and can also use Max Spirit and Max Guard in Max Battle situations.

If you only need one sentence: Dynamax changes battle size and Max Moves, while Gigantamax changes size, appearance, and gives the Pokémon a special G-Max Move.

How Gigantamax Pokemon Work in Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, Gigantamax Pokemon appear through Max Battles at Power Spots. Power Spots are temporary map locations that contain Max Particles and may host Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon. They can appear and disappear over time, so checking the map and Nearby Menu is part of the gameplay loop.

To challenge these battles, you need at least one Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon in your battle party. After entering a Power Spot, you can use Max Particles to join the lobby, battle the Power Spot Boss, and catch the Max Pokémon if your group wins. Max Particles are only spent after successfully defeating the boss, which makes preparation especially important for difficult Gigantamax Battles.

Gigantamax Battles are larger and more demanding than regular encounters. A 2025 update changed the battle scale so that up to 100 Trainers, split into groups of four or fewer, can join the same Gigantamax Battle, and that update remains in effect globally after Pokémon GO Fest 2025: Max Finale.

How to Get Gigantamax Pokemon in Pokémon GO

Getting Gigantamax Pokemon in Pokémon GO usually depends on event timing. You cannot treat them like normal wild spawns, and you should not assume every Charizard, Gengar, Snorlax, or Machamp in your storage can become Gigantamax whenever you want. In Pokémon GO, Gigantamax forms are mainly obtained by defeating them in Max Battles and catching them afterward.

Step 1 Find an Active Gigantamax Max Battle

Open Pokémon GO and check your local map for Power Spots. You can also use the Nearby Menu to see Power Spot details, including the Pokémon species, Max Battle difficulty, time remaining, distance, and whether other Trainers are waiting. Since Power Spots are temporary, timing matters more than it does for regular Gyms or PokéStops.

Gigantamax Battles often appear during special events, Max Battle Days, GO Fest-style events, or larger seasonal features. For example, Pokémon GO Fest 2025: Max Finale featured the return of every Gigantamax Pokémon that had appeared in Pokémon GO up to that event.

Step 2 Prepare Max Particles and Max Pokémon

Max Particles are the resource used to enter Max Battles and train Max Moves. You can collect them from Power Spots and through exploration, and they are also used with Candy to unlock or strengthen Max Moves. Because higher-tier Gigantamax Battles can be difficult, it is better to collect resources before the event window begins rather than scrambling during the event.

Your team should include Pokémon that can survive long enough to use Max Moves effectively. Max Guard reduces incoming damage, while Max Spirit restores HP for the user and allies. In difficult Gigantamax Battles, a group that mixes attackers, defenders, and healing support is often more reliable than a group using only damage dealers.

Step 3 Battle with Enough Trainers

Gigantamax Battles are designed for cooperation. Even though the current cap allows up to 100 Trainers in the same Gigantamax Battle, the battle still splits participants into groups of four or fewer. Larger turnout improves the chance of success, especially against six-star Gigantamax bosses.

Try to join active community meetups, Campfire groups, local Discord servers, or in-game RSVP planning when available. Pokémon GO Fest 2025: Max Finale specifically highlighted Gigantamax Battle coordination and community participation as part of the event experience.

Step 4 Catch the Gigantamax Pokemon After Winning

After your group defeats the Max Battle boss, you get a chance to catch the Max Pokémon. Once caught, it returns to its standard size in your Pokémon storage, but it can Dynamax or Gigantamax again in certain situations such as Max Battles.

Gigantamax Pokémon can also have special restrictions. For example, the Pokémon GO Help Center notes that trading Gigantamax Pokémon counts as a Special Trade, and Gigantamax Pokémon cannot be sent to Pokémon HOME.

Gigantamax Pokemon GO List: Forms That Have Appeared

Pokémon GO availability changes through events, so the safest way to present the list is as Gigantamax Pokémon that have appeared or been officially featured so far. Pokémon GO Fest 2025: Max Finale included a large Gigantamax rotation with Lapras, Rillaboom, Snorlax, Charizard, Gengar, Butterfree, Inteleon, Kingler, Venusaur, Blastoise, Machamp, Cinderace, and both Amped and Low Key Toxtricity appearing more frequently during scheduled six-star Max Battle hours.

Other official event pages later featured additional Gigantamax debuts or Max Battle Days. Gigantamax Grimmsnarl made its global Pokémon GO debut during Pokémon GO Wild Area: Global, while Gigantamax Pikachu and Gigantamax Meowth each received Max Battle Day event treatment in 2026.

Best Gigantamax Pokemon in Pokémon GO

The best Gigantamax Pokemon depends on what battle you are preparing for. A useful Gigantamax Pokémon should have good typing for the boss, a strong Max/G-Max attack role, and enough survivability to contribute across multiple Max phases. For team play, a Pokémon that can use Max Guard or Max Spirit effectively may be just as valuable as one with high damage.

For general priority, these are usually worth watching:

Do not build your team only around popularity. Check the boss’s weakness first, then prepare Max Pokémon that can deal effective damage and survive. For the hardest Gigantamax Battles, coordination, Max Move levels, and group size often matter more than owning one famous Gigantamax form.

Use PoKeep Location Changer to Explore Pokémon GO Event Areas More Flexibly

Gigantamax Battles are location-based, so event success often depends on where Power Spots appear, how active nearby players are, and whether you can move between useful areas efficiently. PoKeep Location Changer is designed for iOS and Android GPS location control, with Pokémon GO support, 360° joystick movement, teleport-style movement, two-point routes, multi-point routes, jump teleport, cooldown timer support, and no jailbreak/root requirement shown in its product page.

Try It Free

Try It Free

For Gigantamax Pokemon GO events, the most natural use case is route and location planning. You can use joystick movement to explore nearby Power Spots, route modes to simulate walking through dense areas, or teleport-style movement to check different event zones. The cooldown timer is especially useful when changing locations over longer distances, because unrealistic movement can create gameplay issues.

PoKeep should not be treated as a guaranteed way to catch any Gigantamax Pokemon. It is better used as a location-management tool: plan where to play, move more flexibly, check active areas, and avoid wasting limited event time in low-activity zones. Use it responsibly and always pay attention to Pokémon GO’s event rules, cooldown timing, and local safety.

All Gigantamax Pokemon List in Sword and Shield

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, there are 32 species capable of Gigantamaxing and 33 known Gigantamax forms. The extra form count comes from form differences, such as Urshifu’s two Gigantamax forms.

This list is useful for Pokémon Sword and Shield, but it should not be confused with the current Pokémon GO roster. Pokémon GO releases and re-features Gigantamax Pokémon through events, so the mobile game’s practical list changes over time.

How to Get Gigantamax Pokemon in Sword and Shield

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Gigantamax-capable Pokémon can be found in Max Raid Battles, but they were often rare or tied to specific dens, versions, or Wild Area News events. Only Pokémon with the Gigantamax Factor can Gigantamax, so a normal Pokémon of the same species does not automatically have access to its Gigantamax form.

The Isle of Armor made this easier with Max Soup. Max Soup can give compatible Pokémon the Gigantamax Factor, and it can also remove that factor if used on a Pokémon that already has it. Serebii’s Max Soup information lists many eligible Pokémon, including Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Butterfree, Pikachu, Meowth, Machamp, Gengar, Lapras, Snorlax, and others.

Some Pokémon have special rules. Pikachu, Meowth, and Eevee that can Gigantamax are notable because they are not final evolutions and cannot evolve when they have the Gigantamax Factor. Melmetal is also a special case in Sword and Shield availability.

Gigantamax Pokemon Cards Explained

Gigantamax Pokemon also appear in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, but the card game uses different terminology and mechanics. In the Sword & Shield TCG era, Pokémon VMAX cards represented Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon as oversized, powerful card forms.

This means “Gigantamax Pokemon cards” usually refers to VMAX-style cards featuring Gigantamax designs, not a separate card mechanic named exactly the same way as the video game feature. If you are collecting cards, focus on the card name, set, rarity, artwork, and whether the featured design is based on a Gigantamax form.

Gigantamax vs Mega Evolution: Which Is Better?

Gigantamax and Mega Evolution solve different problems. Mega Evolution usually boosts a Pokémon’s battle performance and activates bonuses while the Pokémon stays Mega Evolved. Pokémon GO also uses Mega Levels, which can improve bonuses such as Candy, XP, and Candy XL chances for catching Pokémon that share a type with the Mega-Evolved Pokémon.

Gigantamax is more specialized. It shines in Max Battle content, especially when unique G-Max attacks, Max Guard, and Max Spirit matter. In Pokémon GO, a Gigantamax Pokémon is valuable because it gives you access to Max-focused battle roles, not because it replaces Mega Evolution everywhere.

So the answer is not “Gigantamax is always better” or “Mega Evolution is always better.” Mega Evolution is often broader for raids, catching bonuses, and general event grinding. Gigantamax is more important when the content specifically revolves around Max Battles and Power Spots.

FAQ About Gigantamax Pokemon

Final Thoughts on Gigantamax Pokemon

Gigantamax Pokemon are popular because they combine visual impact, rare availability, and special battle mechanics. For Sword and Shield players, the main goal is collecting Gigantamax Factor Pokémon or using Max Soup to unlock compatible forms. For Pokémon GO players, the real challenge is finding active Power Spots, preparing Max Particles, building the right Max Battle team, and joining enough Trainers during limited event windows.

If your goal is Gigantamax Pokemon GO progress, focus less on random movement and more on event planning. Know the featured boss, prepare Max Pokémon in advance, coordinate with other Trainers, and explore Power Spot clusters efficiently. With the right preparation, Gigantamax Battles become much easier to approach—and much more rewarding when you finally catch the giant form you were aiming for.