Gigantamax Charizard is among the very first Gigantamax Raid Bosses to show up in Pokémon GO, presenting a formidable challenge for Trainers in the mobile game. These oversized Pokémon come with powerful moves and impressively high CP levels, making them quite a task to defeat. To stand a chance, you’ll need the right counters and a solid group of Trainers ready to battle alongside you.
Celebrating the GO Bigger event, which runs from Saturday, October 26, at 10 AM local time until Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 8 PM local time, three beloved Pokémon will be showcased in their Gigantamax forms: Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise. You can take them on at designated Power Spots during the event, but be prepared to team up with at least 10 other Trainers to increase your odds of success.
Gigantamax Charizard: Weaknesses & Resistances
Target These Attack Types Whenever Possible
As a Fire/Flying-type Pokémon, Gigantamax Charizard is weak against Rock, Electric, and Water-type moves. Rock-type moves are particularly effective, but since there are currently no Dynamax Pokémon that can use them, your best bet will be Water-type attacks.
Conversely, Gigantamax Charizard offers resistance to Bug, Fairy, Grass, Fighting, Fire, Ground, and Steel-type moves. Therefore, it’s advisable to steer clear of using Pokémon or moves from these types, as they won’t inflict significant damage.
Only Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon can participate in battles against Gigantamax Charizard, restricting your options to those already available in Pokémon GO. As of now, this selection is rather limited, which leaves you with only a few viable candidates for taking on Gigantamax Charizard.
Top Counters for Gigantamax Charizard
Water-Type Dynamax Pokémon are Your Best Bet
Your top choices for countering Gigantamax Charizard are Dynamax Inteleon and Dynamax Blastoise. These are the only Dynamax Pokémon that can directly exploit Gigantamax Charizard’s vulnerabilities through both their Fast and Charged Attacks. For maximum effectiveness, Dynamax Inteleon should use Water Gun and Surf, while Dynamax Blastoise should utilize Water Gun and Hydro Cannon.
Beyond these two, it’s challenging to suggest additional Pokémon to include on your team, as they are your best suited counters. If you lack these options, focus on using your strongest Dynamax-capable Pokémon, especially those that are fully evolved and boast a high CP. Dynamax Gengar could be a suitable substitute since it does not have any weaknesses that Gigantamax Charizard can exploit.
How to Participate in Gigantamax Charizard Raids
Gather Your Max Particles & Team Up with Other Trainers
Gigantamax Charizard Raids will occur over the weekend of October 26 to October 27, 2024. These raids will be available frequently at Power Spots located throughout the game world. Power Spots are distinctive purple tower-like structures that differ from PokéStops and Gyms. You can easily locate them by tapping the ‘Nearby’ button in the bottom right corner of the map and navigating to the ‘Power Spot’ tracker tab.
As of now, it is uncertain when Gigantamax Charizard will return to Max Raid Battles after this event, so make sure to participate while you have the chance.
Entering a Gigantamax Raid Battle costs 800 Max Particles (MP), which will only be deducted if you win. If you lose, you can use the 800 MPs to try again. If you find yourself running low on MP, visit Power Spots to collect more, or you can earn 300 MP for every 3km you walk as tracked in the ‘Power Spot’ section.
Once you have enough MP, search for a raid with plenty of participating Trainers. Niantic recommends that at least 10 Trainers join in on Gigantamax Raid Battles, with a maximum limit of 40 Trainers, so the more, the merrier. Unfortunately, Gigantamax Raid Battles cannot be entered remotely.
Finding this number of Trainers in the wild can be tricky, so consider checking the Campfire app for local Pokémon GO gatherings to join. If you manage to defeat Gigantamax Charizard, you’ll have a chance to capture it, though it’s not guaranteed. Make sure you’re using Golden Razz Berries and aim for Excellent Curveball Throws to increase your chances!