Max Move
A Max Move (Japanese: ダイマックスわざ Daimax Move) is a special type of move introduced in Generation VIII. While Dynamaxed, all of a Dynamax Pokémon's moves are replaced by their corresponding Max Moves. For Gigantamax Pokémon some moves become G-Max Move instead. Max Moves are often more powerful than regular moves and all have secondary effects.
Effects
Similar to Z-Moves, the type, damage category and base power of Max Moves that a Dynamax Pokémon knows depend on the moves it knew before Dynamaxing. The exception to this are status moves, which instead all become the Normal-type Max Guard. If the base move's type is changed either by a move's effect or an Ability (e.g. Pixilate, Electrify, or Weather Ball), then the Max Move will also be converted to that of the new type with the same power; however, the move selection screen will still display the Max Move of the original type. For instance, if a Fighting-type Silvally knows Multi-Attack, the Max Move will still display as Max Strike, but when executed it becomes Max Knuckle.
Damaging Max Moves deal 25% of their total damage against targets that use protection moves (such as Protect and Spiky Shield), and secondary effects are still applied. Only the Max Move Max Guard fully protects against Max Moves. Secondary effects of Max Moves may also affect targets and their allies behind a Substitute. Max Moves also never miss, unless the target is semi-invulnerable.
For Gigantamax Pokémon, damaging moves of a certain type become its exclusive G-Max Move instead of the normal corresponding Max Move; the type of moves affected depends on the Gigantamax Pokémon's species. Eternamax Eternatus can also use Max Moves, but this form cannot be obtained by the player.
List of Max Moves
Max Move | Type | Additional effect | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Max Strike | Normal | Decreases the Speed of the target and its allies by one stage | |
Max Knuckle | Fighting | Increases the Attack of the user and its allies by one stage | |
Max Airstream | Flying | Increases the Speed of the user and its allies by one stage | |
Max Ooze | Poison | Increases the Special Attack of the user and its allies by one stage | |
Max Quake | Ground | Increases the Special Defense of the user and its allies by one stage | |
Max Rockfall | Rock | Creates a sandstorm for five turns. | |
Max Flutterby | Bug | Decreases the Special Attack of the target and its allies by one stage | |
Max Phantasm | Ghost | Decreases the Defense of the target and its allies by one stage | |
Max Steelspike | Steel | Increases the Defense of the user and its allies by one stage | |
Max Flare | Fire | Creates harsh sunlight for five turns. | |
Max Geyser | Water | Creates rain for five turns. | |
Max Overgrowth | Grass | Creates Grassy Terrain for five turns. | |
Max Lightning | Electric | Creates Electric Terrain for five turns. | |
Max Mindstorm | Psychic | Creates Psychic Terrain for five turns. | |
Max Hailstorm | Ice | Creates hail for five turns. | |
Max Wyrmwind | Dragon | Decreases the Attack of the target and its allies by one stage | |
Max Darkness | Dark | Decreases the Special Defense of the target and its allies by one stage | |
Max Starfall | Fairy | Creates Misty Terrain for five turns. | |
Max Guard | Normal | Protects from all moves, including Max Moves |
Power
The following table shows the power of a Max Move based on its respective base move. The same power values are also used for most G-Max Moves.
In other games
Pokémon Masters EX
Certain sync pairs are capable of Dynamaxing, including some Trainers that do not have Dynamax Bands in the core series. All attacking max moves have 400-480 power range. The max move can be used once per battle
List of Max Moves
Max Move | Type | Additional effect | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Max Knuckle | Fighting | Raises the Attack of all allied sync pairs by two stat ranks. | |
Max Airstream | Flying | Raises the Speed of all allied sync pairs by two stat ranks. | |
Max Ooze | Poison | Raises the Sp. Atk of all allied sync pairs by two stat ranks. | |
Max Quake | Ground | Raises the Sp. Def of all allied sync pairs by two stat ranks. | |
Max Steelspike | Steel | Raises the Defense of all allied sync pairs by two stat ranks. | |
Max Flare | Fire | Makes the weather sunny. * | |
Max Lightning | Electric | Turns the field of play's terrain into Electric Terrain.* | |
Max Mindstorm | Psychic | Turns the field of play's terrain into Psychic Terrain.* | |
Max Wyrmwind | Dragon | Lowers the Attack of all opposing sync pairs by two stat ranks. | |
Max Guard | Normal | Applies the Damage Guard Next effect to an ally.* |
In the anime
Max Moves were first featured in the anime in the World Coronation Series finals match between Lance and Leon in Flash of the Titans!.
List of Max Moves used in the anime
Pokémon | Max Move | Image | Debut | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lance's Gyarados | Max Geyser | Flash of the Titans! | ||
Leon's Charizard | Max Lightning | |
Flash of the Titans! | |
Lance's Gyarados | Max Strike | |
Flash of the Titans! | |
Leon's Charizard | Max Airstream | Flash of the Titans! | ||
Lance's Gyarados | Max Guard | Flash of the Titans! | ||
Ash's Pikachu | Max Steelspike | The Climb to Be the Very Best! | ||
Drednaw | Max Rockfall | The Climb to Be the Very Best! | ||
Ash's Pikachu | Max Strike | The Climb to Be the Very Best! | ||
Raihan's Duraludon | Max Rockfall | Toughing It Out! | ||
Leon's Charizard | Max Knuckle | Toughing It Out! | ||
Raihan's Duraludon | Max Steelspike | Toughing It Out! | ||
Doug's Centy | Max Flutterby | Sword and Shield, Slumbering Weald! | ||
Goh's Raboot | Max Flare | Sword and Shield: The Darkest Day! | ||
Subordinate's Garbodor | Max Steelspike | Sword and Shield: "From Here to Eternatus!" | ||
Goh's Raboot | Max Knuckle | Sword and Shield: "From Here to Eternatus!" | ||
Bea's Machamp | Max Steelspike | A Battle of Mega Versus Max! | ||
Bea's Machamp | Max Strike | A Battle of Mega Versus Max! | ||
Marnie's Grimmsnarl | Max Quake | Battling Turned Up to Eleven! | ||
Ash's Gengar | Max Ooze | Battling Turned Up to Eleven! | ||
Marnie's Grimmsnarl | Max Starfall | Battling Turned Up to Eleven! | ||
Ash's Gengar | Max Hailstorm | Battling Turned Up to Eleven! | ||
Ash's Gengar | Max Starfall | Aim For The Eight! | ||
Leon's Rillaboom | Max Airstream | Curtain Up! Fight the Fights! | ||
Leon's Rillaboom | Max Quake | Curtain Up! Fight the Fights! | ||
Lance's Dragonite | Max Hailstorm | Pride of a Champion! | ||
Lance's Dragonite | Max Strike | Pride of a Champion! | ||
Lance's Dragonite | Max Wyrmwind | Pride of a Champion! | ||
Cynthia's Togekiss | Max Airstream | Whittle While You Work! | ||
Leon's Charizard | Max Rockfall | Paring Pokémon While Parrying! | ||
Leon's Charizard | Max Wyrmwind | Paring Pokémon While Parrying! |
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
List of Max Moves used
Pokémon | Max Move | Image | Debut | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Milo's Eldegoss | Max Overgrowth | Watch Out!! Strong Rivals | ||
Henry's Lancelot | Max Knuckle | Blinding!! The End of the Battle | ||
Milo's Eldegoss | Max Strike | Blinding!! The End of the Battle | ||
Nessa's Drednaw | Max Strike | Splish Splash!! Gigantamax Battle | ||
Allister's Gengar | Max Ooze | Teary!! The Voice of the Master | ||
Henry's Fanguru | Max Guard | Teary!! The Voice of the Master | ||
Henry's Fanguru | Max Darkness | Teary!! The Voice of the Master | ||
Henry's Lancelot | Max Steelspike | PASS17 |
In other languages
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See also
Max Moves | |
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G-Max Moves | |
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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. |