Dynamax
Dynamax (Japanese: ダイマックス Daimax) is a temporary transformation affecting Pokémon that was introduced in Generation VIII. Trainers who obtain a Dynamax Band are able to Dynamax their Pokémon. According to Professor Magnolia, the Pokémon distorts space to change its size while affecting the world around them. This transformation has another special variant known as Gigantamax.
History
After its defeat thousands of years ago by Zacian and Zamazenta, Eternatus's energy leaked out during its slumber in the form of Galar particles. This resulted in the creation of Power Spots, where Trainers can trigger the Dynamax transformation. Some Power Spots had Gym Stadiums built over them, and others in the Wild Area became Pokémon Dens, where Max Raid Battles take place. Parts of Eternatus's body, known as Wishing Stars, rained across Galar, allowing whoever found them to Dynamax their Pokémon when at a Power Spot. Dynamax Bands were later created by Oleana to help anyone fully utilize the transformation there. Dynamax was later implemented into the Galar League's Gym Battles by Rose who had most of the Gyms built atop of the Power Spots[1]. On the Isle of Armor, Max Mushrooms and Max Honey are grown and created exclusively on the island due to the Dynamax phenomenon affecting the flora and Vespiquen producing it.
Effects
Dynamaxing increases a Pokémon's size drastically, as well as changing the moves of the Pokémon and increasing their HP in battle (except for Shedinja), but can only be used once during a battle, and ends after three turns or if the user is switched out. In addition, it can only be performed in areas known to have Power Spots, such as Galar's Gym Stadiums, Battle Court, and Battle Tower. When Dynamaxed, all of the Pokémon's moves will turn into Max Moves that correspond to those moves' types and categories. Like with Mega Evolution, Dynamax is activated at the start of the turn before all other moves are executed. If a Dynamax Pokémon runs out of PP of one move, it still can be selected but fails; if it is unable to use any moves (e.g., running out of PP), it will use Struggle.
In a Max Raid Battle, the wild Pokémon is a Dynamax Pokémon for the entire duration of the battle. Only one of the Trainers' Pokémon can Dynamax during a Max Raid Battle, and only for the standard three turns. The first Trainer with the chance to Dynamax is the host, with the chance passing to the next player who joined until it returns to the first player.
Zacian, Zamazenta, and Eternatus, including Pokémon transformed into one of these, cannot Dynamax.
Gigantamax
- Main article: Gigantamax
If a Pokémon has the Gigantamax Factor, it can undergo Gigantamax, a special kind of Dynamax that results in a different appearance to its regular form in addition to being larger. Only specific individual members of a select group of species can Gigantamax. Each Gigantamax Pokémon has an exclusive Max Move known as a G-Max Move. Other than having a G-Max Move, Gigantamax is functionally identical to a Dynamax.
Dynamax Level and HP
Dynamaxing provides Pokémon with an increase to its maximum and current HP (with the exception of Shedinja) by the same factor. The amount of HP gained depends on the Pokémon's Dynamax Level, which can be increased with Dynamax Candy. At Dynamax Level 0, a Pokémon will gain 50% more HP. For every Dynamax Level above that, the Pokémon will gain 5% more HP, up to a 100% HP increase at Dynamax Level 10. All other stats, as well as its Ability and held item, remain the same.
Whenever a Pokémon enters into or reverts from Dynamax, its current HP is adjusted to retain the same percentage of HP remaining (rounded up). For instance, if a Pokémon at Dynamax Level 10 has 100/200 HP remaining, then upon Dynamaxing, its HP will be adjusted to 200/400. Conversely, if the same Pokémon has 101/400 HP in Dynamax form, then its HP will be adjusted down to 51/200 when its Dynamax expires.
HP-based effects
When calculating changes in HP (damage or restoration) based on the percentage of a Pokémon's maximum HP, the Dynamax Pokémon's non-Dynamax HP is used. For example:
- Super Fang inflicts damage to a Dynamax Pokémon equal to 50% of its non-Dynamax HP.
- A held Figy Berry will restore HP equal to 1/3 of the Dynamax Pokémon's non-Dynamax maximum HP.
- Endeavor inflicts damage equal to the amount that the target's non-Dynamax HP exceeds the user's non-Dynamax HP.
- Pain Split averages the two Pokémon's non-Dynamax HP, calculates the signed difference between that average and each Pokémon's non-Dynamax HP, then changes each Pokémon's HP by that signed difference.
Effects that vary based on the percentage of HP a Pokémon has remaining use the Dynamax Pokémon's Dynamax HP. For example:
- Emergency Exit activates when the Dynamax Pokémon's current Dynamax HP falls to 50% or less of its maximum Dynamax HP.
- A Pokémon will consume its held Figy Berry when its HP falls to 25% or less of its maximum Dynamax HP.
- Brine's power is increased if a target Dynamax Pokémon's current Dynamax HP is 50% or less of its maximum Dynamax HP.
The moves Dynamax Cannon, Behemoth Blade, and Behemoth Bash do double damage against a Dynamax Pokémon.
Immunities
Dynamax Pokémon are immune to flinching. Fake Out can still damage a Dynamax Pokémon, but will have no secondary effect.
Dynamax Pokémon are unaffected by moves affected by weight (such as Low Kick and Heavy Slam), one-hit knockout moves, and Destiny Bond.
Moves and Abilities that replace the target's Ability with the user's (such as Skill Swap, Entrainment, and Wandering Spirit) have no effect on Dynamax Pokémon. However, moves that change or suppress the Dynamax Pokémon's Ability altogether (such as Gastro Acid and Worry Seed) still work.
Dynamax Pokémon cannot be switched out by the effects of moves that switch the target out (like Roar and Whirlwind). Circle Throw and Dragon Tail will still damage Dynamax Pokémon without switching it out. Red Card also fails to switch out a Dynamax Pokémon, but is still activated and consumed. Dynamax Pokémon can still be forced out by their own Abilities or items, such as Emergency Exit or an Eject Button. If a Dynamax Pokémon has Magic Bounce and is targeted by Parting Shot, the move will be reflected and force the Dynamax Pokémon to switch out (the owner of the Dynamax Pokémon is still able to choose the Pokémon that it is replaced with).
Dynamax Pokémon cannot be affected by Disable or Cursed Body. A Max Move or G-Max Move can still be used if its base move was disabled prior to Dynamax. Dynamax Pokémon are also immune to Encore, Torment, and Instruct. Choice Band, Choice Scarf, Choice Specs, Gorilla Tactics, and Sheer Force temporarily stop working (including the stat boosts) if the holder is Dynamaxed. However, Assault Vest still works accordingly and prevents the holder from using Max Guard.
In addition to the above, there are certain moves that will fail if used during a Max Raid Battle, but will work against a Dynamax Pokémon otherwise.
- See also: Max Raid Battle → Battle
Effects on Transformed Pokémon
If Transform or Imposter is used against a Dynamax Pokémon, only its base form and base moves will be copied, and the user can Dynamax separately. The Gigantamax Factor, however, is not copied at all; instead, the user can only achieve the standard Dynamax form. Additionally, if a Pokémon incapable of Dynamax (e.g., Zacian) is copied, then the user will not be able to Dynamax afterwards. If a Pokémon attempts to copy a Max Move (e.g., using Copycat), it will copy the base move of that Max Move.
Move animations
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Unless Behemoth Blade, Behemoth Bash or Dynamax Cannon, or a Max Move is used, all moves used on Dynamax Pokémon have generic animations. These depend on type if the move is a damaging move, but all status moves use one of two different animations: either when the move targets the user (which is only possible for bosses in Max Raid Battles), or when the move targets another Pokémon.
In the anime
Dynamaxing was first featured in Flash of the Titans!, where Lance's Gyarados was shown Dynamaxing during his battle against Leon and his Charizard at the finals of the World Coronation Series, which was held at Wyndon Stadium. Leon Gigantamaxed his Charizard in response to Lance's Dynamax.
In Sword and Shield, Slumbering Weald!, Ash and Leon headed to battle a Pangoro that had started rampaging after spontaneously Dynamaxing, and successfully defeated it in the next episode. Later in the same episode, Goh Dynamaxed his Raboot to battle Oleana's subordinate, who had sent out a Gigantamax Garbodor in an attempt to stop Sonia and Goh's investigation into the kings of Galar.
In Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken!, many Pokémon across Galar had Dynamaxed due to the Darkest Day. Once the event was stopped by Ash and Goh, the Dynamaxed Pokémon returned to normal.
Gallery
Dynamax Shiny Gyarados
Dynamax Galarian Yamask
Dynamax Pangoro
Dynamax Raboot
Dynamax Wooloo
In the manga
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
In JNM04, Lance's Gyarados Dynamaxed during a battle against Leon's Charizard.
Pokémon Adventures
Sword & Shield arc
A Dynamax Pokémon first appeared in PASS04, where Sōdo, Shirudomiria, and a pair of Team Yell Grunts battled a Dynamax Gurdurr in a Max Raid Battle. After defeating him, Sōdo was able to catch him, add him to his party, and nickname him Tekkotsun.
Dynamax appeared again PASS06 during Sōdo's Gym battle against Milo, where the Grass-type Gym Leader Dynamaxed his Eldegoss. Sōdo responded by doing the same with his Sirfetch'd.
In PASS09, Sōdo Dynamaxed his Thwackey during his Gym battle against Nessa.
In PASS11, Shirudomiria Dynamaxed her Arrokuda during her Gym battle against Kabu.
In PASS13, Sōdo Dynamaxed his Oranguru during his Gym battle against Allister.
In PASS17, a Dynamaxed Dracovish was shown in a news article.
Gallery
Dynamax Eldegoss
Dynamax Gurdurr
- Soudo Ransun Dynamax.png
Dynamax Sirfetch'd
- Soudo Sutikkun Thwackey Dynamax.png
Dynamax Thwackey
- Shirudomiria Kilo Dynamax.png
Dynamax Arrokuda
- Soudo Gunbain Dynamax.png
Dynamax Oranguru
Dynamax Dracovish
In the TCG
Dynamax is featured in the Pokémon Trading Card Game as 
. It was added as a new mechanic to the game in the Sword & Shield expansion (the Sword and Shield sets in Japan).
Released along with the first Pokémon V cards, Pokémon VMAX introduce the Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics into the Trading Card Game. Pokémon VMAX evolve from their respective Pokémon V, giving them boosted Hit Points (so far, the biggest HPs in a Pokémon card) and more powerful attacks. When a VMAX Pokémon is knocked out, the opponent takes three Prize cards instead of one.
So far, all released VMAX Pokémon have one or two attacks and no abilities. While keeping the same layout of Pokémon V, VMAX Pokémon cards have a rainbow background and details on the card's bottom, as well its illustration also fading into the top-most area and having the visual aura of Dynamaxing/Gigantamaxing on the Pokémon.
Trivia
- Dynamax Battles were inspired by the Giant's Causeway.[2]
- Zacian, Zamazenta, and Eternatus are the only Pokémon to be unable to Dynamax.
- When Calyrex Dynamaxes, instead of the usual red aura that would surround a Dynamaxed or Gigantamaxed Pokémon, it yields off a blue aura. Calyrex is the only Pokémon to do this.
In other languages
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References
See also
| Pokémon transformations | ||
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |