To unlock a Max Move in Pokémon GO, you must first have a Dynamax Pokémon, which are special oversized Pokémon obtained by defeating Power Spot Bosses or Max Battles. Only these Dynamax Pokémon can use Max Moves in battle
. Here is the step-by-step process to unlock a Max Move:
- Open the Pokémon's stats screen and tap the Dynamax or Gigantamax icon to access the Max Moves menu
- Initially, your Dynamax Pokémon will have only one Max Move unlocked called Max Strike, which is an offensive attack.
- To unlock the other two Max Moves-Max Guard (a defensive shield) and Max Spirit (a healing move)-you need to spend resources: 400 Max Particles and 50 of that Pokémon’s Candy per move
- Max Particles are earned by interacting with Power Spots in the game, and Candy is obtained by catching or transferring Pokémon of the same species
- Once you have the required resources, select the locked Max Move and choose "Train" to unlock it at Level 1
- After unlocking, you can further upgrade each Max Move up to Level 3 to increase its effectiveness. Upgrading requires more Max Particles, Candy, and XL Candy depending on the level
Important notes:
- Unlocking a new Max Move means teaching your Dynamax Pokémon a move it did not have before; simply upgrading an existing Max Move does not count as unlocking
- Trading a Dynamax Pokémon resets its Max Move levels to Level 1, though the moves remain unlocked
In summary, unlocking a Max Move involves collecting enough Max Particles and Candy, accessing the Dynamax menu on your Pokémon, and training the locked Max Move to Level 1 to activate it for battle use
