Last month, Pokémon Go introduced Dynamax Pokémon, and now the game is set to enhance the experience with the arrival of Gigantamax creatures.
Gigantamax Pokémon, which embody immense strength and size, will make their debut later this month alongside specially designed battle lobbies tailored to accommodate these giant foes. For the first time, up to 40 players can join forces in real-time to take down a single boss, a significant increase compared to the usual cap of 20 players in standard raids.
To explain briefly, Gigantamax Pokémon hail from the Nintendo Switch titles, Sword and Shield. Only select species possess Gigantamax forms, including fan favorites like the longcat-themed Gigantamax Meowth and a chubby Pikachu inspired by the character’s original design.
In honor of this exciting new feature, a trailer featuring music composed by Ramin Djawadi, known for his work on Game of Thrones, has been released.
Gigantamax battles will occur at Power Spots, newly established in-game locations designed specifically for Dynamax combat. As expected, only Dynamax Pokémon will be eligible for these encounters, and each battle against a Gigantamax opponent will require 800 Max Particles, which is notably more than what has been necessary for previous Dynamax fights.
Kathy Woo, the live operations producer for Pokémon Go, stated during a press briefing attended by Eurogamer, “Gigantamax Pokémon will present some of the most formidable challenges in Pokémon Go, and players may need a team of ten or more Trainers to triumph. We are optimistic that communities will unite to take on these challenges.”
Unlike traditional Dynamax battles, encounters with Gigantamax creatures will refresh multiple times each day, similar to regular raids.
Interestingly, Niantic does not classify Gigantamax battles as Tier 5 Dynamax occurrences. Woo clarified that Gigantamax is regarded as “beyond” Tier 5, reserving that tier for the upcoming releases of Legendary Dynamax Pokémon.
The first Gigantamax Pokémon to appear will include Venusaur, Blastoise, and Charizard, launching next weekend from October 26 at 10 a.m. to October 27 at 8 p.m. local time. Following that, Gigantamax Gengar will make its debut, coinciding with Halloween festivities from October 31 at 10 a.m. until November 3 at 8 p.m. local time. Niantic announced that all these Pokémon will also be available in their Shiny forms.
For players eager to understand the potential for using Dynamax Pokémon outside of Max Battles, which has generated considerable interest, Niantic provided a hopeful update.
“A lot of players have inquired about whether Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon will feature in other game aspects,” Woo mentioned. “We are in the early stages of this feature’s implementation, and a comprehensive roadmap is already in progress. The initial phase aims to ensure players can add these Pokémon to their collection and engage in battles. However, we fully anticipate that Dynamax and Gigantamax will remain vital components of Pokémon Go, and we are committed to further developing these features. Stay tuned for further updates.”
Woo also responded to queries regarding the inclusion of these Pokémon in raid battles, assuring players that the team is actively considering how to expand their involvement in various game modes.
Having engaged in battles against Dynamax Pokémon almost daily since their introduction, I previously noted that this feature seemed to lack a sense of closure or endgame. I remain hopeful that the introduction of Gigantamax battles will provide the depth and challenge many players seek.