Pokémon Go Max Battles explained, including how to Max Battle, how to win and Max Battle rewards

How to Max Battle in Pokémon Go: Joining a Max Battle

At first glance, Max Battles may seem similar to raids, but there are several unique aspects to consider when engaging in this feature. First and foremost, players cannot use Remote Raid Passes to join a Max Battle; you must visit a Power Spot in person. This can pose a challenge for those in rural areas where Power Spots are scarce.

To locate your nearest Power Spot Boss, use the Power Spot tab located in the bottom right corner of your Pokémon radar. This tab lists nearby Power Spots, the bosses available at each location, and their active duration.

Keep in mind that Power Spots are only active for a limited time, so if there’s a Dynamax Pokémon you want to catch, be sure to act quickly.

Additionally, you need a Dynamax Pokémon to participate in a Max Battle. Although this may seem counterintuitive since you obtain Dynamax Pokémon by defeating them in Max Battles, there are alternative methods to acquire them. Progressing through the ‘To the Max!’ quest can reward you with Dynamax Wooloo and Skwovet. Trading with friends is also an option, allowing you to obtain different Dynamax Pokémon.

Moreover, you must collect Max Particles to join a Max Battle. The number of Max Particles required varies based on the star rating of the Max Battle—one-star battles require 250 Max Particles. Fortunately, Max Particles are only consumed when you win the battle, allowing you to retry if you lose.

Lastly, only four players can participate in a Max Battle at once. Coordination among friends is key to ensure everyone has a chance to battle the Power Spot Boss. Depending on your Pokémon’s strength, you might even be able to defeat some weaker bosses solo.

To summarize, to join a Max Battle, you need:

• In-person visit to the Power Spot.
• A Dynamax Pokémon.
• A collection of Max Particles.
• A team of up to four players, including yourself.

How to Win a Max Battle in Pokémon Go

Max Battles share some similarities with raids but also have distinct mechanics that players should be aware of.

First, remember that you can only use Dynamax Pokémon in Max Battles, and your team can consist of only three Pokémon. Investing in your Dynamax Pokémon’s Max Move is essential, especially when facing tougher opponents.

When you arrive at a Power Spot, look for a trophy symbol in the top-right corner. Tapping this will display a list of Pokémon placed at the Power Spot by other trainers. These Pokémon provide an attack bonus during the battle, with the bonus increasing as more Pokémon are added. You can also contribute your own Pokémon to increase this bonus.

Before starting a Max Battle, you can check the attack bonus by tapping the fist icon while selecting your team.

During the battle, you can use Fast Attacks and Charged Attacks as usual. As you attack, the Max Meter at the top of the screen fills up. Collecting additional energy by swiping will further fill this meter. Once the Max Meter is full, you can Dynamax your Pokémon for three turns. You can switch which Pokémon to Dynamax before the countdown finishes.

While in Dynamax form, you will have access to your Pokémon’s Max Moves. Each Max Move counts as one turn, so you have three opportunities to make your moves. Keep an eye on the timer for your attack, as it will count down during this phase. After three turns, your Pokémon will revert to its original form, but you can Dynamax it again later.

Be vigilant during the battle for notifications indicating that the Power Spot Boss is targeting you. When this occurs, dodge to avoid taking damage. You must defeat the Boss before all your Pokémon faint. If your entire team faints, the battle ends, but you can reattempt without losing Max Particles as they are only consumed upon victory.

If you’re fighting a three-star or higher boss, and your Pokémon faint, you can cheer on your teammates. Cheering will fill their Dynamax meters faster, increasing their chances of success.

Max Battle Rewards in Pokémon Go

Winning a Max Battle primarily rewards you with the opportunity to catch a Dynamax Pokémon. The Pokémon you encounter will be the same as the Power Spot Boss you just defeated. For one-star battles, you typically receive 10 Premier Balls for the catch attempt. If you run out of Premier Balls, you’ll need to defeat the boss again to try catching it.

Good news for collectors: it is possible to encounter shiny Pokémon while attempting to catch a Dynamax Pokémon. The shiny effect is visible when the Pokémon appears, although the Dynamax form may obscure some colors.

In addition to catching the Dynamax Pokémon, winning a Max Battle earns you XP and items such as Rare Candy, Super Potions, Revives, and Golden Razz Berries. If you are Trainer Level 31 or higher, you may also receive Candy XL for the Pokémon you just defeated. For winning a one-star Max Battle, you typically earn 10,000 XP.

Players can spend 200 Poké Coins to enhance these rewards, which may include more XP, items, and Premier Balls.

After a victorious battle, you can choose to place a Pokémon from your winning team at the Power Spot, which will assist other trainers until the Power Spot closes or until it has participated in a set number of battles. You can skip this step if desired. If you place a Pokémon, you earn additional candy based on its contributions.

Lastly, players can keep track of the Pokémon they’ve placed at Power Spots through their Pokémon Storage. Each Power Spot has a limited capacity for Pokémon, so you may find that you cannot place one after defeating a Power Spot Boss.