Since Pokémon X and Y, the Pokémon franchise has been introducing a new gimmick in each new generation of games. Usually, these gimmicks involve giving older Pokémon new moves or giving them new forms to help them be more relevant. In X and Y, Mega Evolutions were introduced, which were unique kinds of evolutions that boost the stats of fully evolved Pokémon. Unlike regular evolutions, Mega Evolutions were only temporary, and only last until the end of the match or when the mega evolved Pokémon fainted.
In Sun and Moon, Z-Moves were introduced. The trainer has to perform a particular pose, and it gives their Pokémon unspeakable strength, which they then unleash in one mighty move.
The gimmick in Sword and Shield are Dynamax and Gigantamax forms. Dynamaxing is when a Pokémon grows enormous, becoming as tall as a Kaiju. Their stats are increased, and strong Max Moves replace their moves. Gigantamax is the same thing, except the Pokémon’s appearance changes as well. Every Gigantamax form has its exclusive G-Max move.
All Gigantamax Pokémon Ranked
All Pokémon can Dynamax, players need to capture Gigantamax Pokémon in specific Max Raid battles found in dens all around the Wild Area in Sword and Shield. In general, I like most of the Gigantamax forms; some G-Max moves are more useful than others. There are 26 confirmed Gigantamax Pokémon in Sword and Shield, and we’re going to rank them based on their designs, how significant their G-Max moves are, and how good the Pokémon is in general. Special thanks to Serebii for compiling all the information on Gigantamax on their website.
Kingler
Shockingly, Game Freak decided to give Kingler a Gigantamax form. I like Kingler, but it’s never been one of the most iconic Pokémon to originate from the original 151. Gigantamax Kingler is a giant crab with a beard and mustache made up of foam, which is cool, I guess. Its G-Max is considerably less impressive; G-Max Foam Burst is a water attack that lowers the speed of opponents. Lowering the stats of enemies is always crucial in strategizing against enemies that are much stronger than you, however comparatively this G-Max move is boring.
Gengar
Gengar already had a Mega Evolution, so it was kind of odd that they gave him a Gigantamax form as well. His Gigantamax form is just a giant Gengar face phasing through the floor, with its vast tongue sticking out. Its G-Max move, G-Max Terror, is also useless. It’s a ghost-type move that prevents opposing Pokémon from escaping. You can only use Dynamax at specific locations in the game, mostly in Max Raids in the Wild Area. In Max Raids, the Dynamax Pokémon you face will most likely not run away from you (if ever), making the ability to prevent enemy Pokémon from escaping pointless. There may be some use for this move in competitive, but in casual gameplay, it isn’t beneficial.
Sandaconda
Sandaconda has probably one of the sillier Gigantamax designs. It turns into a giant snake, coiled up on the tip of its tail, surrounded by a rotating dirt cloud right below its head. Its G-Max move, G-Max Sandblast, causes a Sandstorm to appear for four to five turns. Sandstorm is a weather effect that hurts all Pokémon on the field that isn’t rock, ground, or steel-type. Sandblast isn’t anything special since there are normal moves and Pokémon abilities that cause Sandstorms. Sandaconda is also not the most amazing Pokémon in terms of stats anyways.
Eevee
Gigantamax Eevee looks like regular Eevee, except with a more prominent mane. That is the only significant difference between the two, outside the stat boost that Gigantamax Eevee gains. G-Max Cuddle, Eevee’s exclusive G-Max move, infatuates all opposing Pokémon on the field. Being infatuate means that a Pokémon may purposely refuse to attack a Pokémon because they become in love with it. It’s a pretty good status effect to give your enemies, making G-Max Cuddle a reasonably good move to use, especially in team matches. Eevee, however, doesn’t have good stats, making it one of the weaker Gigantamax forms.
Meowth
Who would have thought that Meowth would have one of the better G-Max moves? G-Max Gold Rush confuses all opposing Pokémon on the field, and in trainer battles, you earn extra money if you win the match. If you want to grind to get some additional cash, take Meowth to the Champion Cup and use Gold Rush at least once every match. Confusion is also a beneficial addition; there’s always a possibility that a confused Pokémon will hurt itself at the end of every turn. Gigantamax Meowth also has a very creepy design, having an absurdly tall torso. Too bad Meowth isn’t the strongest Pokémon out there, yet with the right stats, it can be pretty handy.
Flapple
Flapple, which is one of two evolutions for the Pokémon Applin, has a pretty good Gigantamax form. The normal Flapple looks like a lizard that is using an outer layer of an apple as wings. In Gigantamax form, it becomes a giant serpent inside a huge apple that is filled with some honey-like substance. Sadly, its G-Max move, G-Max Tartness, isn’t the most exciting of all time. It reduces enemy Pokémon’s evasiveness after being hit. Lowering evasiveness means the opponent is less likely to avoid your attacks, including attacks that have a low hit ratio. It’s a valuable move to have, but comes off as being uninspiring. The attack animation shows giant apples growing out of seeds, which is a nice touch admittedly.
Grimmsnarl
Grimmsnarl has an elegant and intimidating Gigantamax form. Usually a buff troll-like Pokémon, Gigantamax Grimmsnarl becomes a slender, demon-looking Pokémon. His G-Move is disappointing, as it’s just a better version of the Yawn move. G-Max Snooze forces all Pokémon from the opposing side to fall asleep in the next turn. The only thing that makes Snooze a better move than Yawn is the fact that it hits every Pokémon on an enemy’s side, making it very useful in team battles. It’s not a bad G-Max move; it just feels pedestrian compared to other G-Max moves. It also doesn’t match Gigantamax Grimmsnarl’s frightening appearance.
Butterfree
Butterfree’s G-Max move has a random element to it. G-Max Befuddle will either cause poisoning, paralyzing, or sleep to Pokémon. In team battles, not every Pokémon hit by Befuddle get the same status effects either. One could be poison, while the other one falls asleep. You’ll never know what you’ll get. The surprise factor makes a move more unpredictable than the average attack, which may become a hindrance for players who need to know what moves do what.
Pikachu
Lovingly dubbed as a fat Pikachu by fans, this Gigantamax form is based on Pikachu’s initial design in the early days of the Pokémon franchise. He was rounder and stubbier, which is a stark contrast to its taller and thin design that we are all used to. Honestly, I love this design, and its G-Max move is pretty great too. G-Max Volt Crash paralyzes every enemy on the field. They only real issue with this Gigantamax form is that Pikachu isn’t the strongest Pokémon ever, even with the fantastic stat boost in Gigantamax form. There are more powerful Gigantamax Pokémon in the game.
Machamp
Gigantamax Machamp has the misfortune of being kind of good looking. Its small head and broad torso make this Pokémon seem ridiculous than threatening. The glowing orange fists are a nice touch, though in general, it’s hard to take this Pokémon serious. Machamp’s G-Max Chi Strike raises the chance of critical hits. Critical hits are always right, and having a higher chance of landing one is plus. Nonetheless, that doesn’t make Chi Strike a particularly fantastic move.
Melmetal
Three new Gigantamax forms for Sword and Shield were discovered in the data. These Gigantamax forms are not available in the game, and while gameplay for all three can be found online, they can’t be caught by reasonable means. You’ll probably need to hack the game to get them, at least until the Pokémon Company officially releases them. Serebii lists Melmetal’s G-Max move as being G-Max Meltdown, which is a move that makes opponents incapable of using the same move twice in a row. Pretty great honestly, wish Gigantamax Melmetal is available for the game already.
Snorlax
The Pokémon Company has announced that Gigantamax Snorlax will become available in Max Raid battles for a limited time starting in Dec. 4. Snorlax will become the first Gigantamax Pokémon found in the game’s files that will be available to players. Snorlax’s G-Max Move, G-Max Replenish, restores all Berries that have been eaten. The move can be useful if a player uses Berries a lot in battles. The real draw for Gigantamax Snorlax would be stats, which should be amazing considering Snorlax’s usually good stats.
Toxtricity
Gigantamax Toxtricity is the last Pokémon on this ranking that is not in the main game at this moment. The normal Toxtricity is a good Pokémon as is, with a wide variety of electric and poison moves that can be very useful in average gameplay. Gigantamax Toxtricity’s G-Max move is G-Max Stun Shock, which is a move that will either poison or paralyze opponents. Giving opponents a status effect is always good to do in battle, and having a move that is almost guaranteed to provide one to an enemy is excellent. The purple lighting effect for Stun Shock looks breathtaking. Toxtricity using a guitar made out of electricity is also pretty awe-inspiring.
Alcremie
In challenging Max Raid battles in Sword and Shield, Gigantamax Alcremie can be a godsend. Its G-Max Move, G-Max Finale, heals a small sample of HP to all ally Pokémon. When facing a powerful Dynamax Pokémon in max raids, having a Pokémon that can cure all partners is incredibly helpful. Not only that, but Gigantamax Alcremie looks excellent. It’s a giant cake with a cute little Pokémon on top; what’s not to love?
Coalossal
I think Gigantamax Coalossal looks better than normal Coalossal. I kind of wish Gigantamax Coalossal was the default appearance of normal Coalossal since Dynamaxing will probably not appear in future Pokémon games, and Coalossal will be stuck with its current default look. Coalossal’s G-Max move, G-Max Volcalith, will continue to cause damage to opponents for the next four turns after the move hits. This move can cause significant damage to enemies, especially those weak against the rock.
Charizard
The Pokémon Company’s golden son, Charizard, is probably one of the Pokémon with the most significant representation in the entire franchise. It may be second to only to Pikachu in terms of appearances and overall importance. I know some fans are sick with how much love Charizard gets in the games. However, I can’t deny how cool his Gigantamax form looks. Its intense look on its face and the wings made out of flames are just so awesome looking. Its G-Max move is similar to that of Coalossal – G-Max Wildfire will continue to cause damage to opponents for the next four turns after hitting.
Centiskorch
Centiskorch is another really good Gigantamax design. A fire centipede, Gigantamax Centiskorch’s body, becomes impossibly long. It’s a nice touch and works with Centiskorch’s aesthetic. It makes it look almost like a Chinese long dragon, except it’s a centipede with a flaming mustache. G-Max Centiferno, Centiskorch’s exclusive G-Max move, traps enemies in the fire for four to five turns. It’s like a more powerful version of Fire Spin, catching opponents until the effects wear off.
Corviknight
Corviknight’s Gigantamax form have it controlling a series of metal feathers, and it sends the feather out to attack its opponents. It looks remarkable and makes Corviknight seem more imposing. Its G-Max move, G-Max Wind Rage, can also be beneficial against certain Pokémon. It removes the effects of Reflect and Light Screen, psychic-type usually that reduces the damage from physical and special moves, respectively. Using Reflect and Light Screen are common strategies used by trainers to reduce the damage taken. Getting rid of them with Wind Rage could potentially ruin opponents’ plans, and will save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
Appletun
Appletun, the other potential evolution for the Pokémon Applin, has a Gigantamax form that is almost precisely like Flapple’s. Appletun becomes a giant serpent in a giant apple, just like Flapple. The only real significant difference is that Appletun has a different G-Max move. The animation for Appleton’s G-Max Sweetness is the same as Flapple’s G-Max Tartness. However, G-Max Sweetness heals all allies’ status conditions, like poison or paralyze. The G-Max move can be a vital asset in battle, especially against Pokémon, who can cause a variety of status conditions towards you.
Hatterene
Hatterene is a psychic and Fairy-type Pokémon that looks like a mixture of a classical maiden and a witch. In Gigantamax form, Hatterene becomes a more sinister-looking creature, with bright red eyes, and an extremely tall body. Its exclusive G-Max move, G-Max Smite, is similar to Meowth’s Gold Rush. Smite confuses all enemy Pokémon when it hits. Confusion is always a good status condition to beat your opponents with, as any confused Pokémon has the potential to harm themselves at the end of every turn. Hatterene has overall pretty good stats, making it one of the better Gigantamax forms in the game.
Garbodor
Garbodor is the literal garbage Pokémon; it’s a sentient pile of garbage that can walk. Fans often criticize Garbodor, and its pre-evolved form Trubbish for their ridiculous concept and design. They are often described as some of the worst Pokémon in the entire series, which is why it is kind of odd that Garbodor got a Gigantamax form in Sword and Shield. Strange still, Garbodor has a pretty good Gigantamax form.
Gigantamax Garbodor becomes so big that giant toys in its body start appearing all over it. It’s a cool idea; there’s even a small toy boat swimming in the middle of all the garbage. Its G-Max move, G-Max Malodor, poisons all opposing Pokémon. Poisoning is a status effect that takes away a portion of HP from a Pokémon at the end of every turn until cured. It’s an excellent status effect to hit foes with, especially those who can’t heal the poison.
Copperajah
I don’t like Copperajah’s Gigantamax form. Nevertheless, it does have one of the best G-Max moves in the game. One of the best non-Max moves in the game is Stealth Rock. Stealth Rock is when a Pokémon scatters a series of floating rocks above the battle. Every time the opposing team switches out their Pokémon, the new Pokémon that enters the battlefield takes damage from the rocks. Stealth Rock discourages opponents from switching out Pokémon in the middle of battle, and it’s a move difficult to get rid-off.
The reason why I bring this up is that Copperajah’s G-Max does the same thing as Stealth Rock. After Copperajah’s G-Max Steelsurge hits a Pokémon, metal spikes are scattered throughout the field. These spikes hurt enemy Pokémon who switch into the battlefield. Steelsurge inhibits your adversary from switching out Pokémon.
Drednaw
Drednaw essentially becomes Gamora, the turtle Kaiju from classical Japanese cinema, when it transforms into its Gigantamax form. It stands on two legs, its neck enlarges, and he grows a hug rock horn. Just like Copperajah, its G-Max move has a similar effect as Stealth Rocks. After Gigantamax Drednaw hits foes with its G-Max Stonesurge (which, despite the name, is a water-type move), sharp rocks are scattered throughout the battlefield. Now every time your adversary switches out their Pokémon, the scattered rocks will harm the Pokémon that enters the battlefield. As establish, these kinds of moves are some of the best to have in the Pokémon games. It dissuades competitors from switching out Pokémon, and it will hurt every Pokémon that comes onto the battle.
Duraludon
Duraludon starts as a weird, stapler-looking dragon Pokémon. When it turns into its Gigantamax form, however, it becomes a giant tower. It even has windows; it honestly looks ludicrous. At least its G-Max move is pretty good. G-Max Depletion reduces the PP of the last move that the enemy Pokémon used. PP is the number of times a Pokémon can use a particular move. For example, the move Flamethrower only has 15 PP, meaning it can only be used 15 times before a Pokémon needs to be healed at a Poké Center. Depletion will drain enemy Pokémon of their PP faster, potentially forcing them unable to use some of their moves in the middle of a fight.
Lapras
Lapras looks like the Loch Ness Monster with a giant shell on it. Its Gigantamax form looks mostly the same, except now it has musical notes magically floating around it. Its G-Max move, G-Max Resonance, reduces the damage received for five turns. Normal Lapras is a pretty decent powerhouse, and it has an average stat of 535. Its Gigantamax form is even more powerful, and its G-Max move further helps it take more hits during battle. It can endure battles far longer than the average Pokémon, which makes Lapras a very viable Pokémon to have, especially if it has a Gigantamax form.
Orbeetle
Orbeetle is a bug and psychic-type Pokémon that looks like a hovering ladybug. Its Gigantamax form has its wings look like a flying saucer, making it look more alien. Its G-Max move, G-Max Gravitas, changes gravity for five turns. What that means is that ground moves can now affect all Pokémon. In typical gameplay, flying-types and Pokémon with the Levitate ability were entirely immune for ground moves. Thanks to G-Max Gravitas, everything can be hit by ground moves. G-Max Gravitas also prevents a few other moves from being used, and Pokémon hit by it get their Evasion lowered.
While Orbeetle doesn’t learn any ground-type moves, G-Max Gravitas can be very useful in team battles. The ground Pokémon on your team can now damage those who were usually immune to it. The G-Max Gravitas can be very useful, particularly against Pokémon, who would usually be weak against ground moves if it wasn’t for the immunity.
