Max Raid Battle

Artwork of a Max Raid Battle against a Pangoro, drawn by James Turner

A Max Raid Battle (Japanese: マックスレイドバトル Max Raid Battle) is a type of Pokémon battle featured in Pokémon Sword and Shield in which four Trainers battle a wild Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon, which remains Dynamaxed for the whole battle.

In the games

The player can start a Max Raid Battle by interacting with an active Pokémon Den, indicated by a beam of light shooting up from it. If a den is inactive, the player can throw a Wishing Piece into it to summon a Dynamax Pokémon.

When starting a Max Raid Battle, players can see a silhouette of the Dynamax Pokémon, its types, and a star rating of its difficulty. The current weather is also displayed, though this weather does not carry into the battle. The loss condition, "The battle ends when Pokémon faint four times or the battle lasts for 10 turns", is displayed in the lower left corner. Additionally, the player can see the other three Trainers participating and the Pokémon they have selected to enter. Players have a time limit to select their Pokémon before the Max Raid Battle automatically starts with the Pokémon they have selected by default.

Players can only find up to three different star ratings at a time in their own dens, depending on their game progress:

Star Level	HP multiplier	Level range	Guaranteed Best IVs	Egg Move chance	Starts spawning	Stops spawning
★	1.4×	15-20	1	0%	Enter Wild Area	Obtain 4 Badges
★★	1.6×	25-30	1	0%	Obtain 1 Badge	Obtain 6 Badges
★★★	1.9×	35-40	2	3%	Obtain 3 Badges	Never
★★★★	2.5×	45-50	3	5%	Obtain 6 Badges	Never
★★★★★	3.0×	55-60	4	10%	Obtain 8 Badges	Never

Four Trainers are required to conduct a Max Raid Battle. The player can connect with other players to challenge a Max Raid Battle by using the Y-Comm over the internet or local wireless. If there are less than four players, then the game will randomly select NPC Trainers to fill in the remaining slots.

Battle

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Modified damage formula (it seems moves can be reduced to 0 damage) and OHKO accuracy formula under effect of mysterious barrier, which moves with charging turn are used immediately. Cheer mechanics table, see this tweet for reference

Each Trainer uses a single Pokémon (from either their party or Box) against the Dynamax Pokémon. If a Trainer's Pokémon faints, they can cheer on the remaining Trainers as they attempt to complete the Max Raid Battle, which has the potential to generate positive effects such as healing or setting up Reflect; the fainted Pokémon will automatically be revived at full health the following turn. If the challengers' Pokémon faint a total of 4 times (even if it is the same Pokémon) or if the 10-turn limit is reached, the Max Raid Battle is lost. If both the Dynamax Pokémon and the 4th challenger Pokémon are knocked out in the same move (such as through the recoil effects of moves such as Brave Bird), the battle is counted as a loss for the challengers. If the Dynamax Pokémon is successfully defeated, all four Trainers can attempt to catch the Dynamax Pokémon and receive several various rewards based on the Dynamax Pokémon that was encountered. A Max Raid Battle can be repeatedly attempted until either the player wins (regardless of capture success) or when the dens reset.

Only one Trainer can Dynamax their Pokémon during a Max Raid Battle; unlike the wild Dynamax Pokémon, this transformation only lasts for the normal three turns. Each turn, one Trainer receives Dynamax Energy; only that player can Dynamax that turn, and if they do not, this energy is passed to another player next turn. The order is based on the order of which players joined the raid, so the player who hosts the Max Raid Battle will always be the first to have the option to Dynamax.

Depending on the star level, the Dynamax Pokémon may be able to use regular moves in addition to Max Moves. It can also attack up to three times per turn, and use any of its moves without regard to PP limitations. Prior to its first move on a turn, it also has a chance to create a shockwave, which accomplishes several things at once:

• If the Dynamax Pokémon has a non-volatile status condition, it is removed;
• If the Dynamax Pokémon has had any of its stat stages reduced, those stat stages are reset to 0; positive stat stages remain as they are;
• All stat stages for the player's Pokémon and their teammates are reset to 0, regardless of whether they were positive or negative;
• Any Abilities from any of the player's or teammates' Pokémon become suppressed if they are on the list of Abilities ignored by Mold Breaker. Other Abilities that are not on that list, such as Speed Boost or Defiant, can continue to function after the shockwave.

In three-star Max Raids and higher, the wild Dynamax Pokémon have specific HP thresholds in which they will create a protective barrier with two to eight segments, depending on its defensive power. In three- and four-star Max Raids, the Dynamax Pokémon will create a barrier one time; in five-star Max Raids, it will create a barrier twice, sometimes with the first barrier at the start of the battle. While this barrier is active, damage-dealing moves used against the Dynamax Pokémon are severely weakened and are unable to apply most secondary effects, and status moves used against the Dynamax Pokémon will fail. Damage-dealing moves will deplete one bar of the barrier's strength, except Max Moves and one-hit knockout moves which instead deplete two bars. When the barrier runs out of bars, the barrier is destroyed, the Dynamax Pokémon's Defense and Special Defense will drop by two stages, and it takes a portion of the damage it would have received while its barriers were active.

Some moves work differently when raid bosses use them. For instance, Belch will work regardless of Berries, and some moves with a charging turn (such as Dig) will attack immediately.

Nature Power will always turn into Earth Power, unless a type of terrain is in effect.

The following moves will fail if used in a Max Raid Battle, regardless of which Pokémon they are used by or against:

Move Type Cat. Bug Bite  Bug  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Covet  Normal  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Destiny Bond  Ghost  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Explosion  Normal  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Incinerate  Fire  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Knock Off  Dark  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Nature's Madness  Fairy  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Pluck  Flying  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Self-Destruct  Normal  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Super Fang  Normal  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Thief  Dark  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Trick  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Gigantamax raid Capture Value Coefficient values for each Gigantamax species, and for Wild Area News difficulty indexes.

Capture

Upon defeating the Dynamax Pokémon, each player has a single chance to capture it. Multiple players can successfully catch the same Dynamax Pokémon. If a player fails to catch the Pokémon, it disappears for that player. Regardless of whether the capture was successful (or the player declined to catch it), all players will be awarded Exp. Candies, TRs, and other items based on the Pokémon that was fought.

The caught Pokémon's moves and Ability will be the same as it was during the Max Raid Battle; some Dynamax Pokémon encountered in Max Raid Battles will have their Hidden Ability. The caught Pokémon's level will normally be the same as it was during the Max Raid Battle; however, if its level exceeds the player's maximum catchable level for the number of Badges they have, it will become their maximum catchable level instead. If it was a Gigantamax Pokémon, the caught Pokémon will have the Gigantamax Factor. Pokémon caught in Max Raid Battles will also have a number of stats with the maximum 31 IVs and have a raised Dynamax Level, increasingly with the Max Raid's difficulty.

The catch rate for a Dynamax Pokémon depends on several factors, such as whether the player is hosting the raid (the host usually has a higher catch chance) and whether the raid is from a Wild Area News event. They are all calculated with the Pokémon at 1 HP and no status conditions. If the Pokémon escapes, the host player may restart the game (before it autosaves, if the feature is turned on) and reattempt the Max Raid.

Gigantamax	Catch rate
	Host	Guest	Wild Area News
No	Guaranteed	Difficulty Index 1	Varies per-event
Yes	Guaranteed	Varies by species	Varies per-event

The catch rate for Pokémon found in Wild Area News event dens varies based on the current event and encounter slot, and also varies between the host and guest. The calculation is influenced by two values assigned to each encounter slot (one for the host, and another for guests), ranging between 0x0 and 0x6. Event den Pokémon assigned a value of 0x0 are guaranteed to be captured, and those with a value of 0x6 are uncatchable. Pokémon assigned values 0x1 through 0x5 range from "least difficult to catch" to "most difficult to catch" respectively.

Trainers

If less than four players initiate a Max Raid Battle, a random selection of these NPC Trainers will populate the vacant positions. The level of their Pokémon is set to 70% of the host player's Pokémon (rounded down), hence a maximum of Lv. 70 if the host player's Pokémon is Lv. 100. Klara^Sw, Avery^Sh, and the Master Dojo Students only appear in the Isle of Armor, while Peony and Peonia only appear in the Crown Tundra.

Despite being depicted with Dynamax Bands, Klara, Avery and Peony will never Dynamax their Pokémon during a Max Raid Battle, nor will any other NPCs.

Youngster Noah Galar Sword and Shield Types: Water Poison Ability: Intimidate Held item: Focus Sash Qwilfish♂ Lv.1-70 Brine Water Special   --       Waterfall Water Physical   --       Poison Jab Poison Physical   --       Pin Missile Bug Physical   --	Office Worker Dean Galar Sword and Shield Type: Fighting Unknown Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Throh♂ Lv.1-70 Mega Punch Normal Physical   --       Revenge Fighting Physical   --       Bind Normal Physical   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --	Gentleman Martin Galar Sword and Shield Types: Rock Psychic Ability: Levitate Held item: None Solrock Lv.1-70 Cosmic Power Psychic Status   --       Rock Throw Rock Physical   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Rock Polish Rock Status   --	Pokémon Breeder Kit Galar Sword and Shield Types: Ghost Grass Ability: Steelworker Held item: None Dhelmise Lv.1-70 Gyro Ball Steel Physical   --       Slam Normal Physical   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Giga Drain Grass Special   --
Office Worker Portia Galar Sword and Shield Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Gluttony Held item: None Heatmor♀ Lv.1-70 Fire Lash Fire Physical   --       Bind Normal Physical   --       Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --	Madame Sophie Galar Sword and Shield Type: Grass Unknown Ability: Water Absorb Held item: None Maractus♀ Lv.1-70 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Giga Drain Grass Special   --       Solar Beam Grass Special   --       Pin Missile Bug Physical   --	Beauty Catherine Galar Sword and Shield Type: Fairy Unknown Ability: Serene Grace Held item: Focus Sash Togepi♀ Lv.1-70 Life Dew Water Status   --       Ancient Power Rock Special   --       Draining Kiss Fairy Special   --       Swift Normal Special   --	Doctor Janet Galar Sword and Shield Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Immunity Held item: None Snorlax♂ Lv.1-70 Giga Impact Normal Physical   --       Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Stomping Tantrum Ground Physical   --
Police Officer Sean Galar Sword and Shield Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Drought Held item: None Torkoal♂ Lv.1-70 Rapid Spin Normal Physical   --       Flame Wheel Fire Physical   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Clear Smog Poison Special   --	Dancer Patricia Galar Sword and Shield Type: Water Unknown Ability: Schooling Held item: None Wishiwashi♀ Lv.1-70 Liquidation Water Physical   --       Aqua Tail Water Physical   --       Whirlpool Water Special   --       Brine Water Special   --	Schoolboy William Galar Sword and Shield Type: Ground Unknown Ability: Own Tempo Held item: Focus Sash Mudbray♂ Lv.1-70 Strength Normal Physical   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical   --       High Horsepower Ground Physical   --       Superpower Fighting Physical   --	Schoolgirl Isabella Galar Sword and Shield Type: Water Unknown Ability: Swift Swim Held item: Focus Sash Magikarp♂ Lv.1-70 Flail Normal Physical   --       Tackle Normal Physical   --       Hydro Pump Water Special   --       Curse Unknown Status   --
Model Nicki Galar Sword and Shield Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Volt Absorb Held item: None Jolteon♂ Lv.1-70 Double Kick Fighting Physical   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Electro Ball Electric Special   --       Swift Normal Special   --	Cabbie Alfie Galar Sword and Shield Type: Psychic Unknown Ability: Shadow Tag Held item: None Wobbuffet♂ Lv.1-70 Counter Fighting Physical   --       Mirror Coat Psychic Special   --       Safeguard Normal Status   --       Amnesia Psychic Status   --	Black Belt Oscar Galar Sword and Shield Types: Fighting Flying Ability: Limber Held item: None Hawlucha♂ Lv.1-70 Wing Attack Flying Physical   --       Feather Dance Flying Status   --       Flying Press Fighting Physical   --       Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --	Backpacker Amelia Galar Sword and Shield Type: Fairy Unknown Ability: Magic Guard Held item: Focus Sash Clefairy♀ Lv.1-70 Life Dew Water Status   --       Follow Me Normal Status   --       Dazzling Gleam Fairy Special   --       Disarming Voice Fairy Special   --
Pokémon Breeder Poppy Galar Sword and Shield Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Static Held item: Focus Sash Pikachu♂ Lv.1-70 Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Iron Tail Steel Physical   --       Electroweb Electric Special   --	Lass Ivy Galar Sword and Shield Types: Dark Ice Ability: Pressure Held item: None Weavile♀ Lv.1-70 Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Assurance Dark Physical   --       Ice Shard Ice Physical   --	Poké Kid Freya Galar Sword and Shield Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Adaptability Held item: Focus Sash Eevee♀ Lv.1-70 Helping Hand Normal Status   --       Round Normal Special   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Bite Dark Physical   --	Musician Arthur Galar Sword and Shield Types: Poison Fire Ability: Corrosion Held item: None Salazzle♀ Lv.1-70 Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Fire Lash Fire Physical   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

Isle of Armor only

Pokémon Trainer Klara Isle of Armor Sword Types: Poison Psychic Ability: Quick Draw Held item: None Slowbro♀ Lv.1-70 Scald Water Special   --       Shell Side Arm Poison Special   --       Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --

Pokémon Trainer Avery Isle of Armor Shield Types: Poison Psychic Ability: Quick Draw Held item: None Slowbro♂ Lv.1-70 Scald Water Special   --       Shell Side Arm Poison Special   --       Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --

Master Dojo Student Isle of Armor Sword and Shield Type: Water Unknown Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Poliwhirl♂ Lv.1-70 Waterfall Water Physical   --       Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --

Master Dojo Student Isle of Armor Sword and Shield Types: Ground Dark Ability: Anger Point Held item: None Krokorok♀ Lv.1-70 Stomping Tantrum Ground Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Thunder Fang Electric Physical   --       Fire Fang Fire Physical   --

Crown Tundra only

Pokémon Trainer Peony Crown Tundra Sword and Shield Types: Steel Rock Ability: Sturdy Held item: None Aggron♂ Lv.1-70 Crunch Dark Physical   --       Iron Head Steel Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Body Press Fighting Physical   --

Pokémon Trainer Peonia Crown Tundra Sword and Shield Types: Rock Dragon Ability: Strong Jaw Held item: None Tyrantrum♀ Lv.1-70 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Dragon Claw Dragon Physical   --       High Horsepower Ground Physical   --

Special Max Raid Battles

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

In the climax of Pokémon Sword and Shield, as well as several times in the post-game story involving Sordward and Shielbert and in the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass, the player will participate in Max Raid Battles that are often required to progress the story. In these battles, the player will have access to their full party. Initially, the player will be paired with special NPC partners, but eventually, the player will be challenged to fight their opponents by themselves.

These special Max Raid Battles experience some differences compared to the Max Raid Battles available in the Wild Area, Isle of Armor, and Crown Tundra. The battles do not have a 10-turn time limit, nor will they be forcibly ended after Pokémon have fainted 4 times. The player is also not limited to a single Pokémon, and may use their full party in the manner of a normal battle; fainted Pokémon will not automatically be revived, and the Cheer option is unavailable.

Tower summit

In this semi-scripted Max Raid Battle, the player and Hop will try to fight Eternatus in its Eternamax form, but will be unable to do anything against it until they summon Zacian and Zamazenta with the Rusted Sword and Shield they found in the Slumbering Weald. The player cannot Dynamax their Pokémon in this fight. After the battle, the player will catch Eternatus in a Poké Ball of their choice, with a 100% guaranteed success rate.

	Types: Poison Dragon Ability: Pressure Held item: None
Eternatus Lv.60
Cross Poison Poison Physical   --       Dragon Pulse Dragon Special   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Dynamax Cannon Dragon Special   --

Sordward and Shielbert

While the player and Hop pursue Sordward and Shielbert, they force these Pokémon to Dynamax in each Stadium in Galar. The player is tasked with defeating these Pokémon, which belong to Gym Trainers, to take them out of their frenzied state and restore safety to the area. Because these Pokémon belong to Trainers, the player does not have the opportunity to catch them.

The first Stadium attacked is Turffield's, then both Hulbury and Motostoke Stadiums. The player cooperates with Hop, Piers, and each Stadium's Gym Leader to resolve the crisis. After the player defeats all three and confronts the brothers in Wedgehurst, they'll cause more disruptions in the Stadiums in Stow-on-Side, Ballonlea, Circhester, and Hammerlocke. This time, multiple Dynamaxed Pokémon will attack each stadium, and the player and their friends will need to split up to deal with one of them each, with the exception of Ballonlea Stadium, where they discover that Bede took care of them all by himself.

Turffield Stadium	Hulbury Stadium	Motostoke Stadium	Stow-on-Side Stadium
			Pokémon Sword
Type: Grass Unknown Ability: Queenly Majesty Held item: None Tsareena♀ Lv.62 Dynamax Power Whip Grass Physical   --       High Jump Kick Fighting Physical   --       Play Rough Fairy Physical   --       Zen Headbutt Psychic Physical   --	Types: Water Flying Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Gyarados♂ Lv.62 Dynamax Waterfall Water Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Avalanche Ice Physical   --	Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Drought Held item: None Torkoal♂ Lv.62 Dynamax Lava Plume Fire Special   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Body Press Fighting Physical   --       Iron Tail Steel Physical   --	Type: Fighting Unknown Ability: Iron Fist Held item: None Conkeldurr♂ Lv.62 Dynamax Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       Hammer Arm Fighting Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --
Stow-on-Side Stadium	Circhester Stadium		Hammerlocke Stadium
Pokémon Shield	Pokémon Sword	Pokémon Shield
Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Pressure Held item: None Dusknoir♀ Lv.62 Dynamax Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Shadow Punch Ghost Physical   --	Type: Rock Unknown Ability: Sand Force Held item: None Gigalith♂ Lv.62 Dynamax Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --	Types: Ice Ghost Ability: Snow Cloak Held item: None Froslass♀ Lv.62 Dynamax Icy Wind Ice Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --	Type: Dragon Unknown Ability: Mold Breaker Held item: None Haxorus♀ Lv.62 Dynamax Outrage Dragon Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Iron Tail Steel Physical   --       Giga Impact Normal Physical   --

Ally Trainers

Hop's Pokémon			Piers's Pokémon
If the player chose Grookey:	If the player chose Scorbunny:	If the player chose Sobble:
Pokémon Trainer Hop Galar Sword and Shield Type: Water Unknown Ability: Torrent Held item: None Inteleon♂ Lv.60 Snipe Shot Water Special   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Liquidation Water Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --	Pokémon Trainer Hop Galar Sword and Shield Type: Grass Unknown Ability: Overgrow Held item: None Rillaboom♂ Lv.60 Drum Beating Grass Physical   --       Slam Normal Physical   --       Uproar Normal Special   --       Curse Unknown Status   --	Pokémon Trainer Hop Galar Sword and Shield Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Blaze Held item: None Cinderace♂ Lv.60 Double-Edge Normal Physical   --       Headbutt Normal Physical   --       Pyro Ball Fire Physical   --       Agility Psychic Status   --	Pokémon Trainer Piers Galar Sword and Shield Types: Dark Normal Ability: Reckless Held item: None Obstagoon♂ Lv.62 Cross Chop Fighting Physical   --       Snarl Dark Special   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --
Milo's Pokémon		Nessa's Pokémon	Kabu's Pokémon
Pokémon Sword	Pokémon Shield
Gym Leader Milo Turffield Stadium Sword Types: Grass Dragon Ability: Ripen Held item: None Flapple♂ Lv.62 Grav Apple Grass Physical   --       Dragon Pulse Dragon Special   --       Dragon Dance Dragon Status   --       Seed Bomb Grass Physical   --	Gym Leader Milo Turffield Stadium Shield Types: Grass Dragon Ability: Ripen Held item: None Appletun♂ Lv.62 Apple Acid Grass Special   --       Dragon Pulse Dragon Special   --       Round Normal Special   --       Iron Defense Steel Status   --	Gym Leader Nessa Hulbury Stadium Sword and Shield Types: Water Rock Ability: Shell Armor Held item: None Drednaw♂ Lv.62 Liquidation Water Physical   --       Jaw Lock Dark Physical   --       Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical   --	Gym Leader Kabu Motostoke Stadium Sword and Shield Types: Fire Bug Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Centiskorch♂ Lv.62 Fire Spin Fire Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       X-Scissor Bug Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

Honeycalm Island

In The Isle of Armor storyline, after evolving Kubfu and completing the Sordward and Shielbert storyline, the player and Hop's search for an ingredient that will make Max Soup appetizing for Urshifu leads them to Honeycalm Island. Prompted to shake the giant tree in the center, the player is swept away into a Pokémon Den alone against a Dynamax Vespiquen. This Vespiquen cannot be caught; instead, defeating it yields the Max Honey, which is necessary for Urshifu's soup.

	Types: Bug Flying Ability: Pressure Held item: None
Vespiquen♀ Lv.80 Dynamax
Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Reversal Fighting Physical   --       Defend Order Bug Status   --       Attack Order Bug Physical   --

Dyna Tree Hill

In the Crown Tundra, repeatedly interacting with the giant tree at Dyna Tree Hill will take the player into a Pokémon Den alone against a Dynamax Greedent. This Greedent cannot be caught; instead, defeating it yields a total of 82 Berries of various types.

	Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Cheek Pouch Held item: Sitrus Berry
Greedent♂ Lv.90 Dynamax
Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Counter Fighting Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Giga Impact Normal Physical   --

Giant's Bed

In the Crown Tundra, a den in the Giant's Bed cannot be made active by a Wishing Piece. After obtaining all five members of the legendary giants and having them in the party, the player can interact with it and will instantly be pitted against a Dynamax Regigigas alone.

	Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Slow Start Held item: None
Regigigas Lv.100 Dynamax
Giga Impact Normal Physical   --       Zen Headbutt Psychic Physical   --       Hammer Arm Fighting Physical   --       Crush Grip Normal Physical   --

Wild Area News

Main article: Wild Area News

Wild Area News, accessed through the Mystery Gift menu in Sword and Shield, changes the available spawns in Max Raid Battles to make certain Pokémon more common for a limited time, including and especially Gigantamax Pokémon, which vary between the two game versions. Prior to The Isle of Armor, these events were the only way to obtain Gigantamax Snorlax and Gigantamax Toxtricity.

Any den can spawn a Max Raid Battle from Wild Area News, and dens that do so will always beam a red light, indicating the "common" pool. Wild Area News Raids battled after Version 1.2.0 and 1.3.0 can drop Armorite Ore and Dynite Ore, respectively, regardless of whether or not the player has purchaced the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass.

In the manga

A Max Raid Battle in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Sword & Shield arc

In Zap!! A Rising Beam of Light, Henry and Casey forced a pair of Team Yell Grunts into a Max Raid Battle, with them going up against a Dynamax Gurdurr. After defeating him, Henry was able to catch him, adding him to his party and nicknaming him Steeler.

In the TCG

Pikachu VMAX is one of the Boss Pokémon in Pokémon Trading Card Game Raid Battle. This card is the Level 3 Boss Pokémon card, so only a team of the strongest Pokémon is allowed to face it. To adequately challenge them, this Pikachu VMAX has the most HP and strongest attacks out of all three of the Pikachu VMAX.

Main article: Raid Battle (TCG)

Pokémon Trading Card Game Raid Battle is a game that can be played using Pokémon Trading Card Game cards. It was introduced on July 27, 2020, and is a direct adaption of Max Raid Battles into the Trading Card Game ecosystem. This game tasks four players with working together to defeat a Dynamax or Gigantamax Boss Pokémon, which are depicted on unique and exclusive Pokémon VMAX cards.

Each Boss Pokémon comes in a Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 version, indicated by a number of filled in stars below their HP and Energy type. This is an adaption of the Levels of Max Raid Battles. When starting a Raid Battle, the Level of the Boss Pokémon is chosen based on the base damages of the strongest attacks among the participating Pokémon. At higher levels, the Boss Pokémon has more HP, stronger attacks, and can potentially use more attacks per turn they they can at lower levels.

When a Pokémon is Knocked Out, their player skips their next turn to Cheer. This provides a positive effect for the players, or in one case restricts the attacks of the Boss Pokémon. Pokémon are revived on the following turn, but the lose condition is having four Pokémon get knocked out over the course of the battle.

Trivia

• Pokémon Sword and Shield director Shigeru Ohmori has noted that despite the similarities between Max Raid Battles and the Raid Battle mechanic in Pokémon GO (which debuted three years prior to Sword and Shield's release), the initial concept for Max Raid Battles actually came first. Ohmori nonetheless acknowledged the influence that Pokémon GO's Raid Battles had on the development of Max Raid Battles, including the latter's name being changed from simply "cooperative battles".

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 極巨團體戰 Gihkgeuih Tyùhntái Jin Mandarin 極巨團體戰 / 极巨团体战 Jíjù Tuántǐ Zhàn French Raid Dynamax German Dyna-Raid Italian Raid Dynamax Korean 맥스 레이드배틀 Max Raid Battle Russian Максирейд Maksireyd Spanish Incursión Dinamax

See also

• Tera Raid Battle
• Raid Battle (GO)

References

This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.