Pokémon GO: In-Depth Gigantamax Kingler Max Battle Guide

Note

  • This guide is based on the Sustainable Group strategy (2 dedicated attackers, 1 dedicated defender, 1 dedicated healer per subgroup of 4 Trainers; swapping not used).
  • Not the Tank-and-Swap strategy (2 regular battle phase defenders / Max Energy chargers, 1 Max Phase attacker per Trainer; swapping used).
  • The strategy used will influence the relative rankings of the counter Pokémon.

Introduction

Gigantamax Kingler will make its Pokémon GO debut during the Gigantamax Kingler Max Battle Day event on Saturday, 1 February 2025, from 14:00 to 17:00 local time.

It will be a Tier 6 Max Battle with a cost of 800 Max Particles. Gigantamax Kingler can be encountered and caught as a shiny Pokémon after it has been defeated, if you are lucky.

Read on to learn more about Gigantamax Kingler and which counter Pokémon to use in order to defeat it, as well as some Gigantamax Battle details and strategy!

Gigantamax Kingler

Type

  • Pokémon: Water
  • Weak To (1.6×): Electric, Grass
  • Resistant To (0.625×): Fire, Ice, Steel, Water

Base Stats

  • Attack: 240
  • Defense: 181
  • Stamina: 146

Moves

Discussion

Gigantamax Kingler's strongest moveset is Crabhammer as the area-of-effect attack and Water Pulse as the focused attack. Its weakest moveset is Vise Grip as the area-of-effect attack and X-Scissor as the focused attack. However, type-matchups against the counter Pokémon, as well as the Max Boss's move durations, might change which movesets are the most difficult or easiest to go up against.

Against Electric-type counters, Gigantamax Kingler will deal neutral damage with its Water-type STAB, Bug-type and Normal-type moves.

(STAB stands for Same-Type Attack Bonus, which is a 1.2× damage multiplier applied when a Pokémon's type is of the same type as the move it uses).

Against Grass-type counters, Gigantamax Kingler will deal super-effective damage with its Bug-type moves, neutral damage with its Normal-type moves or not-very-effective damage with its Water-type STAB moves.

Keep in mind that if the counter Pokémon are dual-typed, the additional type could change these type-matchups.

Recommended Counter Pokémon per Role

Attackers

Discussion

Attackers focus on using levelled-up Max Attacks.

Attackers are recommended based primarily on their attack stat and ability to deal super-effective STAB damage to the Max Boss. Thereafter, other factors (like their speed and survivability) are considered.

List

  1. Gigantamax Venusaur (Grass / Poison) with Vine Whip (Grass, 0.5 s).
  2. Gigantamax Toxtricity (Electric / Poison) with Spark (Electric, 0.5 s).
  3. Dynamax Venusaur (Grass / Poison) with Vine Whip (Grass, 0.5 s).
  4. Dynamax Toxtricity (Electric / Poison) with Spark (Electric, 0.5 s).
  5. Dynamax Rillaboom (Grass) with Razor Leaf (Grass, 1.0 s).
  6. Dynamax Zapdos (Electric / Flying) with Charge Beam (Electric, 1.0 s).
  7. Gigantamax Gengar (Ghost / Poison) with Shadow Claw (Ghost, 0.5 s).
  8. Dynamax Gengar (Ghost / Poison) with Shadow Claw (Ghost, 0.5 s).
  9. Dynamax Metagross (Steel / Psychic) with Zen Headbutt (Psychic, 1.0 s).
  10. Dynamax Machamp (Fighting) with Counter (Fighting, 1.0 s).

Defenders

Discussion

Defenders focus on using levelled-up Max Guard.

Defenders are recommended based primarily on a combination of their defense and stamina stats, as well as their type being resistant to the moves of the Max Boss. Thereafter, other factors (like their speed and damage-dealing capacity) are considered.

List

  1. Gigantamax Venusaur (Grass / Poison) with Vine Whip (Grass, 0.5 s).
  2. Dynamax Venusaur (Grass / Poison) with Vine Whip (Grass, 0.5 s).
  3. Dynamax Rillaboom (Grass) with Razor Leaf (Grass, 1.0 s).
  4. Gigantamax Lapras (Water / Ice) with Water Gun (Water, 0.5 s).
  5. Dynamax Blastoise (Water) with Bite (Dark, 0.5 s).
  6. Gigantamax Blastoise (Water) with Bite (Dark, 0.5 s).
  7. Dynamax Inteleon (Water) with Pound (Normal, 0.5 s).
  8. Dynamax Kingler (Water) with Metal Claw (Steel, 0.5 s).
  9. Gigantamax Gengar (Ghost / Poison) with Shadow Claw (Ghost, 0.5 s).
  10. Dynamax Gengar (Ghost / Poison) with Shadow Claw (Ghost, 0.5 s).

Healers

Discussion

Healers focus on using levelled-up Max Spirit.

Healers are recommended based primarily on their stamina stat. Thereafter, other factors (like their survivability, speed and damage-dealing capacity) are considered.

List

  1. Gigantamax Venusaur (Grass / Poison) with Vine Whip (Grass, 0.5 s).
  2. Dynamax Venusaur (Grass / Poison) with Vine Whip (Grass, 0.5 s).
  3. Dynamax Rillaboom (Grass) with Razor Leaf (Grass, 1.0 s).
  4. Gigantamax Lapras (Water / Ice) with Water Gun (Water, 0.5 s).
  5. Dynamax Greedent (Normal) with Tackle (Normal, 0.5 s).
  6. Dynamax Blastoise (Water) with Bite (Dark, 0.5 s).
  7. Gigantamax Blastoise (Water) with Bite (Dark, 0.5 s).
  8. Dynamax Articuno (Ice / Flying) with Frost Breath (Ice, 1.0 s).
  9. Dynamax Zapdos (Electric / Flying) with Charge Beam (Electric, 1.0 s).
  10. Dynamax Machamp (Fighting) with Counter (Fighting, 1.0 s).

Additional Notes

Recommended Moves

Exclusive moves are not considered for these suggestions, as they might not be obtainable during the preparation timeframe leading up to the Gigantamax Battle. Also, Trainers might not have Elite TMs to use or might simply prefer not to use them, since they are rare items.

For attackers, moves are generally recommended based on, in order of importance: super-effective damage, STAB, execution speed (in seconds) and base DPS (Damage Per Second). This is so that attackers will be able to deal as much damage as quickly as possible.

For defenders and healers, moves are generally recommended based on, in order of importance: execution speed, super-effective damage, STAB and base DPS. This is so that they can charge up the Max Meter and get to the Max Phase faster, in order to protect and support their allies by shielding and healing. In these roles, dealing damage is secondary.

More Notes

For more additional notes, please see this guide.

Parting Words

There you have it. I hope that this guide has assisted you on your road to victory.

Now gather your fellow Trainers, communicate with them and prepare your Pokémon for battle.

Good luck, Trainers!

Guide written by Jeighdus, a Team Mystic Pokémon Trainer.

References & Extra Information

  1. Official Event Announcement
  2. Simulation Results
  3. Official Pokémon GO Type Chart
  4. Pokémon GO Type Effectiveness Multipliers
  5. Pokémon GO STAB
  6. Dynamax Tier List

Related Guides

  1. General Gigantamax
  2. Quickest Fast Moves for Max Battles

Guide last updated on 2025-02-10.