When are Dynamax and Gigantamax coming to Pokémon Go?

Niantic, the Pokémon Go developer, has been teasing the arrival of Galar region Pokémon from Pokémon Sword and Shield for quite some time. Fans have been wondering when they might see more Galar Pokémon in the mobile game and when Dynamax and Gigantamax raids are being added.

Following an update, we have our first peek at when Pokémon Go players can expect to participate in Dynamax and Gigantamax raids. These activities encourage players to work together to defeat a powerful foe, but this feature might work differently from the main game. Here’s what we know so far about when we can expect to see Dynamax and Gigantamax raids in Pokémon Go.

Dynamax and Gigantamax raids in Pokémon Go, explained

We do not have a clear, official date for Dynamax or Gigantamax activities in the mobile game yet. The team behind Pokémon Go has not confirmed anything, but a recent update has added the Dynamax and Gigantamax raid symbols to the search bar. Players can find these symbols when searching in their Pokémon collection, which would identify the Pokémon that can undergo these transformations. Many players speculate Dynamax and Gigantamax raids could be added during the Pokémon World Championship from Aug. 14 to 16.

What’s also unclear is how the Dynamax and Gigantamax raids will work in Pokémon Go. In Sword and Shield, the system is similar to how the mobile game’s raiding system already operates. Players visit a location where a Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon has made its home, challenge it to a battle, and invite various other players to assist them. Outside of making these a Dynamax or Gigantamax encounter, we don’t know how Niantic will make the experience distinct.

The Dynamax raid encounters could likely be easier, where only a handful of Pokémon Go players need to team up to defeat them. The Gigantamax raids could feature the more challenging Pokémon, with many players using their strongest Pokémon to take them down.

The one thing that differentiates the Pokémon Go raids is that players use six Pokémon, whereas the Dynamax and Gigantamax raids in Sword and Shield only allow one Pokémon. This could be how they differ from the existing raids in the mobile game, forcing players to optimize their plans by only using one choice rather than a full team. We’ll have to wait to see when we get official word from the Pokémon Go team. We know these raids are on the way, though, and we’ll likely see them before the end of August 2024.