Dynamax & Gigantamax, Deep-Dive Reference
Dynamax debuted in Gen 8 Sword/Shield as the once-per-battle ability that doubled HP for 3 turns. Every move converted into a Max Move with boosted base power and a guaranteed secondary effect (weather, terrain, stat boost, hazard). 33 Pokémon had unique Gigantamax forms, cosmetically distinct, with a custom signature G-Max Move. Banned in Smogon OU pre-launch but legal in VGC 2020.
Generations
8 only, Sword/Shield (2019)
Per-battle limit
Once per team, lasts 3 turns
HP boost
× 2 max HP for the 3 Dynamax turns
Banned in
Smogon OU (Dynamax Clause); legal in VGC 2020
Dynamax took the "once-per-battle" mechanic and gave every Pokémon a 3-turn power phase: doubled HP, boosted moves, guaranteed secondary effects. Smogon banned it pre-launch. VGC kept it. The format split that resulted echoed across all of Gen 8.
At a glance
Dynamax is a 3-turn buff that doubles a Pokémon's HP and converts every move into a Max Move (or G-Max Move for the 33 Gigantamax-capable Pokémon). The buff is universal, any Pokémon can Dynamax once per battle.
- Generations activeGen 8 only, Sword/Shield (2019), Crown Tundra DLC (2020)
- Per-battle limitOnce per team. The 3-turn duration is fixed.
- HP boostMax HP × 2 for the 3 Dynamax turns. Healing recalculates against doubled HP.
- Move conversionEvery move becomes a Max Move (or G-Max Move for G-Max forms)
- Status movesBecome Max Guard, protect-tier move that blocks ALL incoming damage including Max Moves
- Smogon OU statusBanned via Dynamax Clause from launch. No suspect testing.
- VGC 2020 statusLegal. Format defined by Dynamax interaction.
- Removed inGen 9, no Dynamax in Scarlet/Violet
How Dynamax works
Activation is instant at start of turn, costs no turn, and the buff lasts exactly 3 turns. After 3 turns, the Pokémon reverts to base form and the team has used its single Dynamax allowance.
Mechanically
- Activation: instant at start-of-turn. Pokémon Dynamaxes BEFORE its move resolves.
- HP boost: Max HP × 2 immediately. Current HP is also × 2 (so a 100% HP Pokémon becomes 100% of new max). Damage taken pre-Dynamax is preserved as a percentage.
- Duration: exactly 3 turns. After the 3rd Max Move, the Pokémon reverts.
- Item slot free: unlike Mega/Z, Dynamax doesn't require holding an item. Pokémon can hold Choice Scarf, Life Orb, etc.
- Status: existing status conditions persist. New status conditions can be applied during Dynamax.
- Stat boosts: existing stat boosts persist. New stat boosts (from Max Move secondaries) accumulate.
- Switch out: switching out reverts the Pokémon to base form AND uses the Dynamax allowance for the team. You don't get to keep Dynamax for the next time it's in.
Key rule
Max Moves, the secondary effects
Every move type has a corresponding Max Move with a guaranteed secondary effect. The secondary applies on hit (no RNG roll), and effects stack across the 3 Dynamax turns.
Max Moves by type
| Type | Max Move | Secondary effect |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Max Strike | Lower target Speed by 1 stage |
| Fire | Max Flare | Set Sun for 5 turns |
| Water | Max Geyser | Set Rain for 5 turns |
| Electric | Max Lightning | Set Electric Terrain for 5 turns |
| Grass | Max Overgrowth | Set Grassy Terrain for 5 turns |
| Ice | Max Hailstorm | Set Hail for 5 turns |
| Fighting | Max Knuckle | +1 Attack to ENTIRE team |
| Poison | Max Ooze | +1 Sp.Atk to ENTIRE team |
| Ground | Max Quake | +1 Sp.Def to ENTIRE team |
| Flying | Max Airstream | +1 Speed to ENTIRE team |
| Psychic | Max Mindstorm | Set Psychic Terrain for 5 turns |
| Bug | Max Flutterby | Lower target Sp.Atk by 1 stage |
| Rock | Max Rockfall | Set Sandstorm for 5 turns |
| Ghost | Max Phantasm | Lower target Defense by 1 stage |
| Dragon | Max Wyrmwind | Lower target Attack by 1 stage |
| Dark | Max Darkness | Lower target Sp.Def by 1 stage |
| Steel | Max Steelspike | +1 Defense to ENTIRE team |
| Fairy | Max Starfall | Set Misty Terrain for 5 turns |
Status move conversion → Max Guard
- Max Guard: every status move converts to Max Guard during Dynamax, a Protect-tier move that blocks ALL incoming damage and effects, INCLUDING other Max Moves.
- This means: your Tornadus can't Tailwind during Dynamax. Your Wash Rotom can't Will-O-Wisp. Setup, status, and utility all become Max Guard.
- Tradeoff: a Pokémon can Dynamax to defensively wall a turn, then revert and resume normal moveset.
- Max Guard is even more reliable than Protect, no consecutive-use accuracy penalty.
Worth knowing
Max Move base power table
Max Move base power is determined by the original move's BP, similar to Z-Moves but with a different table. Higher-BP moves get less proportional boost.
Special-case base powers
| Original BP | Max Move BP (most types) |
|---|---|
| 1-40 | 90 |
| 41-50 | 100 |
| 51-60 | 110 |
| 61-70 | 120 |
| 71-80 | 130 |
| 81-90 | 140 |
| 91-100 | 150 |
| 101-110 | 150 (capped) |
| 111+ | 150 (capped) |
Fighting + Poison-type Max Moves are weaker: Max Knuckle and Max Ooze use a different BP table that caps lower (typically 95 max), to compensate for their team-wide stat boosts.
Max Move idiosyncrasies
- Multi-hit moves: a single hit. Bullet Seed (5 hits) becomes one big Max Overgrowth hit, not multi-hit.
- OHKO moves: cannot be Dynamax'd into. Sheer Cold, Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, all blocked.
- Counter / Mirror Coat: cannot be Dynamax'd.
- Multi-turn moves (Solar Beam, Sky Attack): become single-turn Max Moves.
- Z-Moves cannot be combined with Dynamax: a Pokémon either Dynamaxes or Z-Moves, not both. Only relevant in events where both mechanics co-existed (none in standard Gen 8).
Gigantamax, signature G-Max forms
33 Pokémon have a Gigantamax form, a cosmetic G-Max forme triggered by a special factor (Gigantamax Factor) that gives them a unique signature G-Max Move replacing one of their regular Max Moves.
G-Max Factor mechanics
- Gigantamax Factor: a hidden flag on a specific Pokémon, set in lore through Max Raid Battles or specific gift Pokémon. Toggle: yes/no.
- Required: a Pokémon needs the G-Max Factor AND must Dynamax to G-Max. Without the factor, a normally-G-Max-capable Pokémon Dynamaxes normally with regular Max Moves.
- Cosmetic + signature move: G-Max Pokémon look visually distinct (Gigantamax Charizard has a fiery scarf, Gigantamax Lapras has a cloud-like halo) and replace ONE of their regular Max Moves with their signature G-Max Move.
- Other Max Moves preserved: a G-Max Charizard still uses Max Flare for Fire moves, Max Wyrmwind for Dragon moves, only the type matching its G-Max Move (Fire for Charizard) is replaced by the signature.
Notable G-Max Moves
| Pokémon | G-Max Move | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Charizard-Gmax | G-Max Wildfire | Fire, sets sun + 1/6 max HP per turn for 4 turns to non-Fire-types |
| Lapras-Gmax | G-Max Resonance | Ice, sets Aurora Veil for 5 turns regardless of weather |
| Rillaboom-Gmax | G-Max Drum Solo | Grass, ignores ability of target (huge for breaking Magic Bounce, Disguise, etc.) |
| Inteleon-Gmax | G-Max Hydrosnipe | Water, ignores ability of target |
| Cinderace-Gmax | G-Max Fireball | Fire, ignores ability of target |
| Toxtricity-Gmax | G-Max Stun Shock | Electric, Toxic to grounded non-Steel targets |
| Hatterene-Gmax | G-Max Smite | Fairy, confuses target |
| Drednaw-Gmax | G-Max Stonesurge | Water, sets Stealth Rock on opponent's side |
| Stunfisk-Gmax | G-Max Stun Shock + G-Max Stunfisk | Steel, sets Stealth Rock equivalent |
| Coalossal-Gmax | G-Max Volcalith | Rock, sets sandstorm-like chip damage to non-Rock for 4 turns |
| Eevee-Gmax | G-Max Cuddle | Normal, infatuates all of opposite gender |
| Pikachu-Gmax | G-Max Volt Crash | Electric, paralyzes ALL targets |
Other G-Max forms include Gigantamax variants of: Butterfree, Meowth, Machamp, Gengar, Kingler, Lapras, Eevee, Snorlax, Garbodor, Melmetal, Corviknight, Orbeetle, Sandaconda, Centiskorch, Grimmsnarl, Alcremie, Copperajah, Duraludon, Urshifu (both forms), and others, 33 total.
Dynamax vs Gigantamax
Both mechanics share the 3-turn / × 2 HP / once-per-battle backbone. The difference is purely cosmetic + signature move.
Dynamax (any Pokémon)
Visual
Pokémon grows in size, glows red
Move conversion
Every move → Max Move (18 types)
Signature
None
Availability
Universal, every Pokémon can Dynamax
Gigantamax (33 Pokémon)
Visual
Unique cosmetic G-Max forme
Move conversion
Every move → Max Move, but ONE type replaced by signature G-Max Move
Signature
Custom move with a unique secondary effect
Availability
Only 33 specific Pokémon, requires G-Max Factor
Competitive impact & ban
Smogon banned Dynamax outright (Dynamax Clause) at the launch of Gen 8 OU. The official VGC kept it for VGC 2020, and it was also legal in VGC 2021 Series 12 (Crown Tundra). The split shaped the Gen 8 metagame.
Why Smogon banned Dynamax
- Game-ending power: a single Dynamax sweeper could clean up a team across 3 turns. The combination of doubled HP, boosted moves, and stacking secondary effects compressed into 3 turns was deemed unbalancable.
- Reduced strategic depth: every match revolved around "when does the opponent Dynamax?", turning teambuilding and play into reactive Dynamax-counter games.
- RNG amplification: status effects guaranteed via Max Move secondaries (e.g. Max Lightning + Max Lightning + Max Lightning = setup of Electric Terrain → +1 Speed → +1 Speed → +1 Speed) trivialized RNG into deterministic team-wide buffs.
- Pre-launch ban: Smogon banned Dynamax before Gen 8 launched, with no suspect test. The first time in Smogon history a mechanic was banned without testing.
VGC 2020 with Dynamax
- VGC 2020 was the first VGC season fully built around Dynamax. The format produced strategies that wouldn't have been possible without it.
- Top teams ran 1-2 Dynamax-priority Pokémon (Inteleon, Charizard, Kingdra, Inteleon-Gmax, Hatterene) plus 4 supporters, defining the "Dynamax Pivot" archetype.
- Max Airstream (+1 Speed for the team via Flying-type Max Move) was the format's core enabler. Tornadus, Inteleon, Cinderace, Dragapult, all carried Flying-type moves to enable team-wide Speed boosts on Dynamax.
Smogon NU/RU/UU experiments
Smogon's lower tiers, UU, RU, NU, PU, also banned Dynamax via the same clause. The mechanic was never tested in any Smogon Singles tier.
Iconic Dynamax users
Iconic VGC 2020 / 2021 Dynamax users, Pokémon whose entire build was centered on the 3-turn Dynamax window.
| Pokémon | Dynamax role | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Inteleon | Speed control + nuke | Max Airstream sets +1 Speed for team. G-Max Hydrosnipe ignores abilities. |
| Tornadus | Hurricane spam | Max Airstream + Hurricane = team Speed boost + 110 BP STAB. |
| Charizard | Sun setter | G-Max Wildfire sets sun + chip damage. Solar Power Charizard hits hard. |
| Hatterene | Trick Room + setup | G-Max Smite confuses + Magic Bounce makes hazard counter. |
| Cinderace | Libero coverage | Libero gives STAB on every move. Max Flare sets sun for boost. G-Max Fireball ignores ability. |
| Rillaboom | Grassy Terrain + nuke | G-Max Drum Solo ignores ability. Grassy Surge sets terrain on switch-in. |
| Dragapult | Speed sweeper | Max Airstream + Dragon Darts = Speed control + 80 BP × 2 hits. |
| Urshifu | Wallbreaker | Wicked Blow / Surging Strikes always crit. Max Knuckle for team Atk boost. |
"The Dynamax window is 3 turns. Make all 3 count.", every Dynamax pivot was a multi-turn setup window where you stacked stat boosts and won the game.
Removal in Gen 9
Dynamax was retired alongside Mega Evolution and Z-Moves at the launch of Gen 9 Scarlet/Violet (November 2022). No Dynamax in SV. No Dynamax-equivalent in any DLC. The mechanic is gen-locked to Gen 8.
Why Dynamax was removed
- Replaced by Tera: Game Freak chose Terastallization as Gen 9's once-per-battle mechanic. Tera is balanced (no doubled HP, no team-wide secondary effects), a learning from Dynamax's reception.
- Smogon ban precedent: Dynamax was banned in OU, raising friction. Tera keeps a base mechanic legal in OU while individual offenders (Ogerpon-W, Terapagos) get banned.
- Dynamax animation length: 6+ second cinematic + 3 turns of Max Move animations was a pacing issue for ranked online play.
- Storage / catalogue: Game Freak stopped maintaining the 33 G-Max forms across each new gen. Cleaner to retire entirely.
Where Dynamax exists today
Dynamax is in Pokémon HOME catalogues (G-Max forms are tracked) but cannot battle in Gen 9 games. Pokémon GO never adopted Dynamax. As of April 2026, Dynamax is gen-locked to Gen 8 with no path back.
Common misconceptions
- "Dynamax doubles all stats", wrong. Only HP is doubled. Other stats stay the same.
- "The HP boost stays after Dynamax ends", wrong. After the 3 turns, Max HP returns to base. If the Pokémon was at 100% HP at end of Dynamax, it's now at 50% (because the 100% was based on doubled HP).
- "Max Moves bypass Protect", wrong. Max Moves DO NOT bypass Protect. Only Max Guard blocks them.
- "G-Max Factor is a stat boost", wrong. G-Max Factor is a binary flag, yes/no. Doesn't boost stats; just enables the Gigantamax form.
- "You can hold an item with Dynamax", true! Unlike Mega Stones or Z-Crystals, Dynamax doesn't require a held item. Pokémon can carry Choice Scarf, Life Orb, etc.
- "Dynamax extends with Max Mushrooms", wrong. The 3-turn cap is hard. Max Mushrooms (in-lore items for catching G-Max Pokémon) don't affect battle duration.
- "Dynamax lasts forever in singles", wrong. Singles is bo1 typically; Dynamax is once per battle, so it ends with the battle. But within a battle, the 3-turn cap applies to all formats including doubles.
Where to go from here
Dynamax is gen-locked but its impact on Gen 8 VGC is foundational. Read the era guide for full historical context.
- Gen 8 Era, Gen 8 Sword/Shield Era for the complete Dynamax / VGC 2020-2021 history.
- Gen 8 OU, Gen 8 OU format guide for the format-specific banlist (Dynamax Clause).
- Mega Evolution, Mega Evolution Deep-Dive for the Gen 6-7 once-per-battle mechanic.
- Z-Moves, Z-Moves Deep-Dive for the Gen 7 once-per-battle mechanic.
- Tera (Gen 9 successor), Terastallization Deep-Dive for the modern equivalent.
- Glossary, every term used above is defined in the Competitive Glossary.