Max Mondays are back in Pokémon GO, bringing a fresh round of Dynamax bosses to challenge trainers. Knowing the weaknesses of these bosses and selecting the right counters is crucial for securing victory. Since Dynamax Pokémon are only available through battles at Power Spots, Max Mondays provide an excellent opportunity to target specific bosses you may be hunting. During these events, each featured boss will occupy every Power Spot, making them easier to locate, especially if you reside in a smaller area.
Similar to the schedule of Raid bosses or the rotations for battling Rocket Leader Sierra, the lineup for Max Mondays refreshes each month. This means new challenges await every time! However, keep in mind that only Pokémon capable of Gigantamaxing or Dynamaxing can be used. This restriction may narrow down your options, but it also demands a bit more creativity, making your eventual victory that much sweeter.
Max Mondays Schedule for February 2025
More New Bosses
February features four Max Mondays in Pokémon GO, kicking off with Moltres on the 3rd and closing with Darumaka on the 24th. This marks the first appearance of Dynamax Darumaka in Pokémon GO, allowing you to evolve it into Dynamax Darmanitan. Below is the complete Max Monday schedule, detailing each boss’s type, weaknesses, and whether any can be Shiny.
| Date | Time | Pokémon | Type | Weaknesses | Counters | Shiny Available? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, February 3 | 6 PM – 7 PM (local time) | Moltres |
|
Yes | ||
| Monday, February 10 | 6 PM – 7 PM (local time) | Skwovet | Yes | |||
| Monday, February 17 | 6 PM – 7 PM (local time) | Pidove |
|
Yes | ||
| Monday, February 24 | 6 PM – 7 PM (local time) | Darumaka |
|
Yes |
Dynamax Moltres is likely to be the most challenging Max Battle boss on this list, being classified as a 5-Star Raid. Therefore, it’s crucial to assemble a team of counters that can exploit its weaknesses. Although you should ideally enter Max Battles with attackers that deal super-effective damage, you can also rely on a team that delivers neutral damage—especially if you have one or two players to support you.
How Do Max Mondays Work?
A Fun Weekly Event
Max Mondays in Pokémon GO follow a consistent format each month, occurring every Monday from 6 PM to 7 PM local time. During this hour, all Power Spots will host the featured Pokémon as the sole Max Battle boss. This setup resembles the Spotlight Hour events, but Max Mondays are more intense and provide a fantastic chance to catch multiple copies of each weekly boss, like Darumaka.
On the in-game map, Power Spots resemble Gyms but are distinguished by their tall purple towers topped with an “X.” A potential drawback is that players in remote or sparsely populated areas may find fewer Power Spots available, leading to fewer Max Battles and less opportunity to capture new Dynamax Pokémon. To participate in Max Battles, make sure you have at least one Dynamax Pokémon on your roster. You can team up with up to three other trainers, each capable of bringing four Dynamax Pokémon into battle.
How to Win Max Raid Battles
Use Max Attacks in Tougher Battles
Winning Max Battles in Pokémon GO involves tapping to execute Fast Attacks, with Charged Attacks coming into play once you accumulate enough energy. The twist is that you also gather Max Energy to fill your Max Meter, enabling your Pokémon to Dynamax. Each Dynamaxed Pokémon has access to three powerful Max Moves: Max Attack, Max Guard, and Max Spirit, all of which can level up in the Pokémon’s summary section.
You may only need one additional player in your raid team for weaker bosses like Pidove, but for tougher Max Battles like Dynamax Moltres, it’s advisable to utilize the max party size of four.
Max Attacks deal damage, Max Guard mitigates incoming damage, and Max Spirit heals both the user and their teammates. While understanding the strategy behind these moves might not be as critical when facing weaker bosses, it becomes essential for more formidable opponents like Moltres. Keep track of the dates and counter strategies for all the Dynamax bosses in the Max Monday schedule, from Darumaka to Skwovet, and enhance your Pokémon GO collection!
