With each new generation of Pokémon comes a curious new gimmick. In recent years, we’ve seen Mega Evolution and Z-Moves, both of which were powerful mechanics that changed the ways players built teams and approached matches. Both of which also appear to have been left behind, at least for the time being.
Will the Dynamax/Gigantamax mechanic stand the test of time, or will it be as short-lived as its three-turn span in battles? We don’t know yet, but one thing’s for sure: Snorlax boasts one of the best Gigantamax forms (of the select few Pokémon blessed with one so far) yet. Here’s how to get your hands on Gigantamax Snorlax, along with some more interesting details about it.
10 Rotating Events In The Wild Area
If you’re already used to hunting Gigantamax forms of Pokémon, you’ll already know the best way to get yourself a Gigantamax Snorlax: look out for its distinctive (and darn enormous) silhouette in Max Raids spread throughout the Wild Area, then take it down for your chance to catch it!
Since Pokémon Sword & Shield’s release, Game Freak has been rotating the Pokémon that appear more frequently in their Gigantamax forms. Snorlax events have already taken place, so keep a lookout for a chance to take on this 5-star behemoth.
9 It’s A Five-Star Fight For A Reason
In the earlier stages of the game, when the Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics are first introduced to the player, things start off rather easily. Lower-rated Max Raids don’t usually pose much of a threat, even with a trio of CPU Trainers by your side (although that guy with the Magikarp really doesn’t help matters much).
Later in the game, though, some real coordination is needed. Four- and five-star Max Raids can be truly challenging, with all those shields to break through and their powerful moves. You may not have known that Gigantamax Snorlax tends to be five-star, but you’ll certainly see why when you take it on!
8 It Can Be A Super Difficult Fight
At the best of times, the highest tier of Max Raid battles really is a cut above. Will all those shields, the sheer size of their health bar and every other factor to contend with, these are tough matches to complete without help from friends. The rewards, naturally, are the best in terms of the amount and quality of the items, so it’s worth persevering.
Gigantamax Snorlax was never going to be a pushover, but with its natural bulkiness and massive HP stat in its base form, it now shrugs off hits like Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator franchise. Does it sound like it’s going to go down easily? That’s because it isn’t. On top of all that, it only has one weakness to exploit.
7 It Has More Coverage Than A Normal-Type Really Should
Granted there’s nothing particularly unusual about this trait. Normal-types, especially those from Gen I, have all kinds of silly coverage moves they have no darn business learning. Why does Tauros learn Surf? Or Flamethrower? Even Arceus itself would be stumped on that one.
What this means is that very little is safe from Gigantamax Snorlax’s wrath. Between its G-Max Replenish (which we’ll get into later), Crunch to hit those Ghosts that are immune to it, Earthquake and Rock Slide, it’ll score a solid neutral hit on… everything, really. This means that there isn’t really a definitive Pokémon to bring along to ‘counter’ it.
6 It’s (Possibly) Corviknight’s Time To Shine
Of course, if you’re aiming to blast your way through this beast of a Snorlax with Fighting STAB, Zacian would be your best pick. Its damage output is monstrous, so if you can boost its Attack up, it’ll do the job nicely. It may not have the staying power, though, if it’s hit by Earthquake.
If you’re not at that point in the game, though, the already-iconic Corviknight would be an excellent pick. It doesn’t offer anywhere near the same damage potential, but in return, it resists G-Max Replenish, is immune to Earthquake and neutral to Rock Slide and Crunch. It can chip away and even heal itself, depending on the situation.
5 Its Gigantamax Move Is Super, Super Good
If you’re unfamiliar with this wild new world of Pokémon suddenly growing to 80 feet tall for no good reason, you might be wondering about the difference between Dynamax and Gigantamax. Put simply, just about any Pokémon can Dynamax, but only specific species have a Gigantamax form (and even then, they can’t all do it).
Stats-wise, they’re both the same, but Gigantamax Pokémon have an exclusive G-Max move. Each species has a different one, and they have a range of powerful effects. G-Max Replenish is Snorlax’s, a Normal-type move that deals hefty damage and restores all berries that had been eaten by battlers currently in the fray. Considering how strong berry effects can be, this is a huge game-changer.
4 It’s One Of The Strongest Gigantamax Pokémon So Far
At the time of Pokémon Sword & Shield’s release, only certain Gigantamax forms were available. Charizard’s, for instance, so as to allow Champion Leon to flex as much as humanly possible. Since then, new forms have steadily become available (most commonly via Wild Area events).
These forms’ exclusive moves set them apart. Snorlax is certainly one of the most effective and scariest Gigantamax battlers so far, as we’ll also see a little later.
3 Snorlax Has Always Been Powerful In Its Own Right
Mega Evolution took a lot of previously obscure Pokémon, such as Kangaskhan and Mawile, and pumped them up to absurd power levels. Other Megas were simply enhanced versions of Pokémon that were already darn good, such is the case with Gigantamax Snorlax.
Since its introduction in Gen I, Snorlax’s metagame performance has varied, but it’s always been a solid, physically strong critter with very high HP and Special Defense. These assets allow it to serve both an offensive and defensive role and it can still do so.
2 It’s Also Darn Tough To Catch
Veteran Pokémon fans will be familiar with how darn tough special critters can be to catch. As a general rule, Legendary Pokémon absolutely will not get into that ball, regardless of how expertly you’ve statused them and reduced their HP to a barely visible pixel of nothing. Fun times all around.
Gigantamax Pokémon, being the powerhouses they are, don’t tend to go down easily. Even when you do defeat them, that’s only half the battle. You’re then given just one Poké Ball throw to claim them as your own. Shenanigans means that the host of the Max Raid has a higher chance (depending on the Raid), but otherwise, your best bet is to throw a Dusk Ball (the dens count as caves, so they have a higher chance of success than an Ultra Ball) and hope.
1 It’s A Competitive Powerhouse
The VGC format (doubles) tends to be Nintendo’s official way to go when it comes to competitive Pokémon. We’ve already seen that Gigantamax Snorlax is a rock-solid Pokémon, but it truly shines in this format. With its Hidden Ability Gluttony (allowing its berries to activate at half HP rather than later), Belly Drum and that super-strong G-Max move, it can quickly become unstoppable.
Well, Snorlax isn’t about to do anything ‘quickly,’ but it’s a Gigantamax Pokémon that whole competitive teams can be built around. The mechanic is limited to once per battle, as we know, and others may fit the bill depending on the situation. Used well, though, this monster will rarely let you down.