What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Gigantamax is a special kind of Dynamax. Both temporarily enlarge an eligible Pokémon during a Pokémon GO Max Battle, but only Gigantamax specimens gain a species-specific appearance and a fixed G-Max attack. Ordinary Dynamax Pokémon use a Max Move whose type follows the Pokémon’s Fast Attack. Neither form changes the Pokémon’s underlying type, and not every specimen of a species associated with Gigantamax can use it.
The practical choice is therefore about availability and battle role: Dynamax is the more common Max form, while Gigantamax is rarer and tied to particular catches, special trades and event encounters. This guide explains the visual, move, eligibility, battle-size and acquisition differences without confusing Pokémon GO with the Sword and Shield games or the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamax | General Max Battles and building a flexible Max team | Ordinary Max Move follows the Fast Attack type; three-turn transformation | Pokémon GO on iOS and Android | Oct 2026 |
| Gigantamax | Species-specific G-Max attacks and high-coordination event battles | Unique appearance and fixed G-Max attack; only certain specimens qualify | Pokémon GO on iOS and Android | Oct 2026 |
Both forms use Max Guard and Max Spirit, consume Max Particles after a successful boss defeat, and can be trained with Candy and Max Particles. The main differences are appearance, offensive move behavior, which individual Pokémon qualify, and the size of the encounters in which they commonly appear.
What is the difference between Dynamax and Gigantamax?
Dynamax is the general temporary enlargement mechanic. Gigantamax is a variant available only to certain Pokémon specimens. The Pokémon GO team describes it as “a kind of Dynamaxing that certain Pokémon can undergo.”
Popular on Amazon
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Appearance
A Dynamax Pokémon becomes dramatically larger and displays the standard Max effects. A Gigantamax Pokémon also receives a species-specific visual redesign, so its silhouette and details can differ from the ordinary form of that species. The redesign is the clearest visual way to distinguish the two during a battle.
Offensive attack
An ordinary Dynamax Pokémon’s offensive Max Move is tied to the type of its Fast Attack. If you change that Fast Attack with a Fast TM or Elite Fast TM, the corresponding ordinary Max attack can change type. That adjustment does not turn the Pokémon into a Gigantamax specimen.
Recommended Free Tools
A Gigantamax Pokémon uses its species-specific G-Max attack instead. The G-Max attack can have a different type from the Pokémon’s Fast Attack. That difference affects the move, not the Pokémon’s own typing: transforming does not add, remove or replace any of the Pokémon’s normal types.
What does not change
Both forms temporarily transform after the Max meter fills in a Max Battle. The transformation lasts for three turns. Both can use Max Guard to reduce incoming damage and Max Spirit to heal allies, and both rely on Candy and Max Particles to train their Max Moves.
Can any Pokémon become Gigantamax?
No. Gigantamax eligibility belongs to particular specimens of certain species; it is not an upgrade that can be applied to every Pokémon of an eligible species. A normal Dynamax catch cannot be converted into Gigantamax simply by powering it up, changing its Fast Attack or leveling its Max Moves.
How to obtain a Gigantamax specimen
- Find an eligible Max Battle. Gigantamax bosses appear at Power Spots during designated encounters and events. Power Spots move and expire, so a listing is not a permanent location.
- Bring Max-capable Pokémon. The game lets you select up to three Pokémon for a Max Battle party. Check that each chosen Pokémon can participate in Max Battles before entering.
- Defeat the boss. A successful defeat lets you attempt the encounter and deducts the required Max Particles. If the attempt fails, the particles are not deducted, allowing another try before that Power Spot closes.
- Catch the resulting Pokémon. A captured Gigantamax boss becomes a Gigantamax-capable specimen. You can also receive one through a Special Trade.
Captured Max Pokémon appear ordinary in storage until you use them in a Max Battle. That storage appearance does not remove their Max eligibility.
Evolution restrictions
Some Gigantamax Pokémon cannot evolve because the evolved form does not have a Gigantamax design. Treat the specimen as a distinct collection and battle asset rather than assuming it follows the normal evolution path.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
How do Max Battles work for both forms?
Max Battles take place at Power Spots rather than ordinary raid locations. The same basic sequence applies to Dynamax and Gigantamax encounters.
- Locate a Power Spot and read its boss information. Power Spots are temporary and can move, so check the current in-game listing before traveling.
- Assemble a party of up to three Max-capable Pokémon. Choose coverage and survivability appropriate to the displayed boss; a Pokémon that cannot use Max mechanics cannot enter this battle type.
- Build the Max meter. Attacking fills the meter during the encounter.
- Transform when the meter is full. The active Pokémon becomes Dynamax or Gigantamax for three turns.
- Use the Max toolkit. The offensive move is the ordinary Max Move for Dynamax or the fixed G-Max attack for Gigantamax. Max Guard limits damage and Max Spirit restores health to allies.
- Retry if necessary. Max Particles are deducted when the boss is successfully defeated, not simply when you enter. A failed attempt can therefore be retried while the Power Spot remains available.
Max Move levels require Candy and Max Particles. Training is shared across the two forms, but it does not change a Dynamax specimen into Gigantamax or replace a Gigantamax species’ fixed G-Max attack.
How many Trainers can join a Max Battle?
Standard Dynamax battles are presented as encounters for up to four players. Gigantamax events can support up to 40 Trainers, arranged in groups of four or fewer. Forty is a lobby capacity, not a minimum team size or a guarantee that a boss will be defeated.
Because Gigantamax bosses are generally positioned as tougher encounters, a larger, coordinated group and trained Max Moves can matter more than simply filling the lobby. Read the individual event announcement for its actual rules, since event-specific limits and requirements can differ.
Do Gigantamax Pokémon have higher stats than Dynamax Pokémon?
The available official explanations establish Gigantamax’s visual redesign and G-Max attack, but do not provide a universal damage multiplier, catch-rate increase or win-rate advantage. It is therefore inaccurate to describe Gigantamax as merely a guaranteed stat upgrade.
Its practical advantages are the species-specific move and access to encounters designed around larger groups. A well-trained Dynamax Pokémon can still be the more useful option when its typing, Fast Attack and Max Move fit the boss better.
Can changing a Fast Attack affect Gigantamax?
Changing a Fast Attack can alter the type of an ordinary Dynamax Pokémon’s corresponding Max Move. It does not grant Gigantamax eligibility. A Gigantamax specimen’s G-Max attack is species-specific and should not be treated as a move that changes whenever you use a Fast TM.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchAlso popular on Amazon
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
For move planning, decide first whether the specimen is an ordinary Dynamax Pokémon or a Gigantamax one. Then invest Candy and Max Particles in the Max Moves you will actually use; do not spend resources expecting a TM to unlock a different transformation.
What are the current Max Particle limits?
The Help Center describes a baseline of 800 Max Particles collected per day and 1,500 held at one time. Those are separate limits: the first concerns daily collection, while the second concerns storage.
Event bonuses can temporarily change collection rules. For example, the October 3, 2026 Gigantamax Cinderace event raised its event collection limit to 1,600. That one-event allowance should not be presented as a permanent daily cap or as a new storage limit.
What did the 2026 events show about Dynamax and Gigantamax?
Event listings illustrate how the two forms can be scheduled differently, but they are not permanent rules for every boss.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Gigantamax Cinderace
The official Pokémon GO notice for October 3, 2026 labeled the featured Gigantamax Cinderace encounter as six-star and announced the temporary 1,600-particle event collection limit. Event details are archived at Pokémon GO’s Gigantamax Cinderace announcement.
Dynamax lake guardians
An October 24, 2026 notice presented Dynamax Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf as five-star encounters with different world regions assigned to the three Pokémon. The regional schedule demonstrates why players should check the current announcement rather than infer availability from an older event.
Star ratings and regional assignments describe those specific events. They are not a universal rule that every Gigantamax boss is six-star or every Dynamax boss is five-star.
Also popular on Amazon
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Widely Compatible: Transform any USB-C port into a USB-A port and USB-A port into a USB-C port, and connect up a wide range of USB-C(including MacBook, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, iPhone models with USB C ports, Samsung Galaxy series, and Google Pixel series. ) and USB A devices(including external hard drives, phones, mice, printers, and more)
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Where can I use a Gigantamax Pokémon?
Gigantamax and Dynamax transformations are Max Battle mechanics. Captured Max Pokémon cannot use their Max transformation or Max Moves in ordinary Trainer Battles, so a Gigantamax catch does not create a special option for Go Battle League or regular player-versus-player matches.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Gigantamax Pokémon also cannot be sent to Pokémon HOME, as stated in the Pokémon GO Help Center’s Max Pokémon explanation. Keep that restriction in mind before accepting a trade or organizing storage around cross-game transfers.
How is Pokémon GO different from Sword and Shield?
Pokémon GO’s Max Battles use Power Spots, Max Particles, three-turn transformations and a mobile party of up to three Pokémon. Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield use their own Galar-region Max Raid Battle systems, so instructions, encounter rules and progression from those games do not transfer directly to Pokémon GO.
The same distinction applies to the Pokémon Trading Card Game. VMAX is a card-game mechanic, not a Pokémon GO transformation. The Pokémon GO card expansion includes Melmetal VMAX artwork in Gigantamax form, but owning a card does not unlock a Max Battle form or a G-Max attack in the mobile game. Information about that expansion is available from the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s Pokémon GO expansion page.
Which form should you prioritize?
Prioritize Dynamax when you need reliable access to Max Battles, flexible move typing or a team you can build from available catches. Prioritize Gigantamax when you specifically want a species’ G-Max attack, are collecting eligible specimens or are preparing for an event that expects larger coordination.
- Choose Dynamax for flexibility: its offensive Max Move follows the Fast Attack, so Fast TM choices can affect the move’s type.
- Choose Gigantamax for specialization: the species-specific appearance and G-Max attack are fixed to eligible specimens.
- Plan around the event: verify the boss, star rating, regional availability, lobby rules, Power Spot duration and any temporary Max Particle bonus.
- Train before a difficult encounter: Max Guard, Max Spirit and the offensive move all use Candy and Max Particles, and stronger Gigantamax events may need coordinated teams.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming every member of an eligible species can Gigantamax. Eligibility belongs to particular specimens.
- Calling Gigantamax a new Pokémon type. The Pokémon’s type remains unchanged, even when its G-Max attack has a different type.
- Using a Fast TM to chase Gigantamax. Fast Attack changes can affect an ordinary Dynamax Max Move, not the transformation category.
- Treating a temporary event limit as permanent. The October 2026 1,600-particle allowance was event-specific.
- Planning to transfer the catch to HOME. Gigantamax Pokémon cannot be sent there.
- Confusing lobby capacity with a required team. Up to 40 Trainers may be allowed in a Gigantamax event, but that does not mean 40 are required.
- Using Sword and Shield or TCG terminology as a GO instruction. Max Raid Battles and VMAX cards are separate systems.
How we picked the comparison criteria
The comparison focuses on the distinctions that change a player’s decisions: visual form, specimen eligibility, offensive Max Move behavior, shared Max Guard and Max Spirit tools, acquisition route, battle capacity and restrictions after capture. It excludes unverified damage multipliers, catch-rate claims and win-rate statistics because no official figure establishes those values.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some guides say Gigantamax Battles allow 20 Trainers?
An older Help Center comparison sentence lists 20 Trainers, while the broader current Max overview and The Pokémon Company’s July 8, 2025 guide specify capacity of up to 40. Use 40 for the general current comparison, then check the announcement for the particular event you plan to attend.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Are six-star and five-star labels permanent categories?
No. The six-star Cinderace and five-star lake-guardian listings were labels for events held in October 2026. A future boss can use a different rating or format, so its own announcement is the authoritative schedule.
Can a Pokémon GO Gigantamax catch be moved into another game?
It cannot be sent to Pokémon HOME. A Special Trade within Pokémon GO is an acquisition route, but HOME transfer is specifically unavailable for Gigantamax Pokémon.
Does a Pokémon card unlock Gigantamax in Pokémon GO?
No. VMAX cards and Pokémon GO Max mechanics are separate. The card expansion can depict a Gigantamax Pokémon, but the card itself does not grant a transformation, move or encounter access in the mobile game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some guides say Gigantamax Battles allow 20 Trainers?
An older Help Center comparison sentence lists 20 Trainers, while the broader current Max overview and The Pokémon Company’s July 8, 2025 guide specify capacity of up to 40. Use 40 for the general current comparison, then check the announcement for the particular event you plan to attend.
Are six-star and five-star labels permanent categories?
No. The six-star Cinderace and five-star lake-guardian listings were labels for events held in October 2026. A future boss can use a different rating or format, so its own announcement is the authoritative schedule.
Can a Pokémon GO Gigantamax catch be moved into another game?
It cannot be sent to Pokémon HOME. A Special Trade within Pokémon GO is an acquisition route, but HOME transfer is specifically unavailable for Gigantamax Pokémon.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Does a Pokémon card unlock Gigantamax in Pokémon GO?
No. VMAX cards and Pokémon GO Max mechanics are separate. The card expansion can depict a Gigantamax Pokémon, but the card itself does not grant a transformation, move or encounter access in the mobile game.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
