Updated at: 29-03-2023 - By: Leo Hall
Here is a helpful guide for capturing the Gigantamax Pokémon. If you frequently play Pokémon Sword and Shield, you should definitely check out this guide.

There are a lot of new systems and terms to learn in Pokémon Sword and Shield, the latest games in the Pokémon series.

There are a few notable ones, the most notable being the two new temporary Pokémon evolutions, Dynamax and Gigantamax. There are some similarities between the ways in which Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon operate and are obtained, but there are also some important distinctions.

Find out what the difference is between a regular Pokémon and a Dynamax or Gigamax Pokémon, and where you can go to catch them.

Check out our Beginner’s Guide to the Galar Region if you’re new to Sword & Shield and want some more general advice on how to get started.

Dynamax vs Gigantamax Pokémon

From the moment they receive the Dynamax band from Professor Magnolia at the start of the game, players will have the ability to temporarily trigger Dynamax and Gigantamax evolutions in their Pokémon. One key distinction separates the two, though. Dynamaxing is a skill that all Pokémon in Sword and Shield have, but only a few have the ability to Gigantamax.

How to Gigantamax Pokemon in Sword and Shield (spoiler warning) - YouTube

What Is Dynamaxing?

Dynamism can be used by Pokémon in the gym, during Max Raid Battles, and in the Wild. Dynamax evolutions can be triggered at any time during Gym battles and last for three turns before reverting the Pokémon back to its normal state.

During this time, the Pokémon will grow in size, gain HP, and learn Max Moves that are more powerful than the original moves because they share the same elemental types. There are a total of 19 Max Moves, each of which can have secondary effects like altering the weather conditions on the field.

A Pokémon’s Dynamax Level, which can be raised by feeding it Dynamax Candy obtained from Max Raid Battles, determines the amount of HP it gains when Dynamaxing.

The Dynamax evolution of Pokémon has rendered them completely unflinching in the face of danger. They are also protected from moves that have secondary effects and attacks based on weight, including Heavy Slam, Grass Knot, Autotomize, Heat Crash, Sky Drop, and Low Kick.

Finally, while a Pokémon is Dynamaxed, the effects of held items like Choice Band and Choice Scarf that restrict a Pokémon’s ability to use a certain move are nullified. The same holds true for Max Raid Battles, except that instead of using Dynamax at your leisure, you’ll take it in turns with other players. There is still a three-turn duration to the effect.

What Is Gigantamaxing?

Gigantamaxing is identical to using Dynamax, except it has some added advantages. Compared to their Dynamax counterparts, Gigantamax Pokémon are even larger in size and have an entirely new appearance. Pokemon with the Gigantamax evolution have access to the game’s strongest attacks, the G-Max Moves, which also give them significantly higher HP than regular Pokémon.

Gigantamax Pokémon are far more powerful than Dynamax Pokémon, but only the following species can evolve into Gigantamax forms:

Pokemon that can evolve into Giga forms

  • Charizard
  • Pikachu
  • Eevee
  • Butterfree
  • Meowth
  • Corviknight
  • Alcremie
  • Drednaw
  • Gengar
  • Sandaconda
  • Centiskorch
  • Machamp
  • Coalossal
  • Grimmsnarl
  • Duraludon
  • Hatterene
  • Copperajah
  • Appletun
  • Flapple
  • Orbeetle
  • Kingler
  • Lapras
  • Garbodor

Never forget that it’s still possible to run into regular, non-Gigantamax forms of each of these Pokémon. To see if your Pokémon can Gigantamax, look for the Gigantamax icon to the left of the Pokémon’s name on the summary page.

Where To Find Gigantamax Pokémon

Gigamax Pokémon such as Eevee, Pikachu, and Meowth can currently only be obtained through Max Raid Battles, Mystery Gifts, and limited-time events. Although Gigantamax-capable Pokémon are extremely rare, you will not find any in the overworld or the Wild Area.

Game Freak plans to increase the encounter rate for Gigantamax Pokémon, including Gigantamax Butterfree, for a limited time until early next year.

How to Get All Gigantamax Pokémon in Pokémon Sword & Shield - YouTube

Max Raid Battles

At this time, your best bet for obtaining Gigantamax Pokémon is to participate in Max Raid Battles with as many as three other players, where you can battle and catch said Pokémon. Wishing Pieces can be used at any of the Pokémon dens in the Wild Area to initiate these more difficult battles. The following dens each have a 5% chance of producing a Gigantamax Pokémon:

Fields That Roll

  • Butterfree, Gigantamax (Den 1/2).

The Dappled Grove

  • Big-headed Orbeetle (Level 1)
  • A Gigantamax Flapple (Den Level 2 Sword).
  • Appletun, Gigantamax (Den 2 – Shield).

An Axewell in the West Lake

  • Kingler, Gigamax (Den 1)

King’s Bench

  • Colossal Gigantamax (Level 1 – Darkness, Weapon)
  • Position of the Gigantamax Lapras (Den 1 – Shield).
  • Gigantic Duro-Blaze (Level 2)

South Miloch Lake

  • Kingler, Gigamax (Den 1)

An Axewell from East Lake

  • Huge Garbodor (Level 1)

Rocky Wasteland

  • Copperajah Gigamax (Den 1)
  • The Gigantamax Machamp (Den Level 2 Sword).
  • Gengar at its Gigamax (Den Level 2 Shield)
  • Gigantic Centisecorch (Level 3)

Playing Field Over the Bridge

  • Gigamax Hatterene, Discreet Number One
  • Density 2 Gigantamax Orbeetle
  • Den 3 Gigantamax Alcremie

Dirty Dish

  • Gigamax Grimmsnarl (Den 1)
  • Giant Sandal (Density: 2/3)

Golden Goblet of the Gods

  • The Giant of Drednaw (Den 1 – Shield).
  • In the second dungeon, with the sword. Gigantamax Corviknight.

Fury Sea

  • Charizard, Giga-Sized (Den 1)

In order to catch a Gigantamax Pokémon, you must first fight it to a draw in a den and then reduce its health to zero. Since Gigantamax Pokémon are typically much stronger, it is recommended that you invite additional players to increase your chances of defeating the Pokémon. We suggest the following Pokéballs once the Pokémon is ready to be caught:

  • Ultra Ball, twice as effective as a regular Pokéball.
  • Premier Ball – Exclusive to Max Raid Battle hosts
  • The capture rate of a Dusk Ball is 3.5 times that of a regular Pokéball (although whether or not Max Raid dens qualify as caves is still up for debate).
  • If you’ve already caught that Pokémon, you can use a Repeat Ball to catch it three times as often as with a regular Pokéball.

What are limited release Gigantamax Pokémon in Pokémon Sword and Shield?

Released in strictly limited quantities Gigantamax Pokémon are rare Pokémon that only appear in the games on certain days.

You won’t be able to find them in the Wild Area unless and until they are added to the spawn table.

Simply connecting your Nintendo Switch to the internet or receiving the most recent Wild Area information via the Mystery Gift feature will automatically update your spawn table with the most recent occurrences.

If you want to battle these unique Gigantamax Pokémon, you don’t need the eighth gym badge because they aren’t locked behind any difficulty ranking.

Which Gigantamax Pokémon are available in Max Raids?

There’s only one Gigantmax Pokémon available in limited quantities right now, and it’s this one.

  • From February 6th through March 8th, Gigantamax Toxtricity will be in full swing.

Which Pokémon have the Gigantamax Factor in Pokémon Sword and Shield?

Listed below, in order of their national Pokédex numbers, are all of the Pokémon in Pokémon Sword and Shield that can Gigantamax at this time:

Pokédex ID Number Pokémon Gigamax Location
6 Charizard Pokémon Gyms and using the Charmander that Leon gives you at the end of the game to train more Pokémon.
12 Butterfree Pokémon Hideouts
25 Pikachu In the Wild Area train station is a reward for completing Let’s Go, Pikachu!
52 Meowth Free stuff Meowth obtained through Mystery Gift for early purchasers.
68 Machamp Spawn Points for Pokémon
94 Gengar Pokemon Hideouts
99 Kingler Gyms and Other Safe Havens for Pokémon
131 Lapras Pokémon Hideouts
133 Eevee Let’s Go, Eevee! reward can be claimed at the Wild Area train station.
143 Snorlax Pokémon Gigamax will have a very limited release from December 4th to early 2020.
569 Garbodor Pokemon Hideouts
823 Corviknight Pokemon Hideouts
826 Orbeetle Pokemon Hideouts
834 Drednaw gyms dedicated to Pokémon
839 Coalossal Pokemon Hideouts
841 Flapple A Network of Secret Pokémon Hides
842 Appletun A Network of Secret Pokémon Hides
844 Sandaconda Spots to Catch ‘Em All
849 Toxtricity Available only from Thursday, February 6th, through Sunday, March 8th, Gigamax Pokémon are a limited edition.
851 Centiskorch Pokemon Hideouts
858 Hatterene Pokémon Hideouts
861 Grimmsnarl Arenas Packed With Pokémon
869 Alcremie Pokémon Hideouts
879 Copperajah Spawn Points for Pokémon
884 Duraludon Arenas Packed With Pokémon

A new group of Gigantamax Pokémon was unveiled alongside the announcement of the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass. The DLC will include these Pokémon.

Upcoming Gigantamax Pokémon include the following:

  • G-Max’s Rillaboom: A Drum Solo
  • Cinderace, the G-Max Fireball
  • Intel Atom x5-Z87 Hydrosnipe-G Max
  • Urshifua

Gigantamax Pokémon locations in the Wild Area in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Each Gigantamax Pokémon is exclusive to a single Pokémon Gym in the Wild.

Pokémon Sword & Shield: Gigantamax Pokémon Location Guide

No matter how often you visit these Dens, you may never run into a Gigantamax Pokémon. However, if you are specifically looking for a certain Gigantamax Pokémon, it is helpful to know which Den they can appear in. In this way, you can aim your wishing pieces appropriately.

A complete list of Gigantamax Pokémon, along with the exact coordinates of their respective Pokémon Dens in the Wild is provided below.

Pokémon Pokemon Center’s Typical Surroundings
Alcremie Transportation Link Playing Field Bridge
Appletun In Pokémon Shield, you can visit Dappled Grove.
Butterfree There are two distinct areas known as Rolling Fields.
Centiskorch Rock-filled Nature
Charizard Sea of Indignation
Coalossal The Giant’s Seat (exclusive to Pokémon Sword)
Copperajah Hard Wilderness
Corviknight Cap of the Giant
Drednaw Top Hat of the Giants
Duraludon A Perch Fit for a Giant
Flapple Located exclusively in Pokémon Sword, the Dappled Grove is a rare and beautiful environment.
Garbodor Location: East Lake Axewell
Gengar Rock-filled Nature (in Pokémon Sword and Shield)
Grimmsnarl Dish That’s Been Sitting Around For A While And Has
Hatterene Playing Field Over the Bridge
Kingler Axewell Lake in the Western Part of the Lake
Geographical Location: South of Lake Miloch
Lapras Only found in Pokémon Shield, the Giant’s Seat
Machamp Pristine Nature (in Pokémon Sword)
Orbeetle A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Shaded Woods
Sandaconda There are two distinct locations known as Dusty Bowl.

Gigantamax Pokémon you can receive in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Some of the Pokémon you encounter in the Galar region will have the Gigantamax factor, and their presence will be celebrated by giving you a gift or two.

The first method necessitates that you have a previously saved game of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! Or, Let’s Go, Eevee!

If you go to the Wild Area’s Meetup Spot, you’ll run into two people who, depending on the game you have, will give you a Pikachu or an Eevee.

The Gigamax factor is present in both Pikachu and Eevee.

Once the game’s main storyline has been completed, you can visit Leon and Hop at their Postwick home.

Upstairs in Leon’s room, smack in the middle of the floor, you’ll find a Poké Ball containing a Charmander.

If you give this Charmander the proper training, it can evolve into a Charizard and then into a Gigamax Charizard.

As a final note, the Mystery Gift feature will allow you to occasionally download select Gigamax Pokémon.