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. 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 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 Centiskorch | Max Flutterby | File:Doug Maru-chan Max Flutterby.png | Sword and Shield: Slumbering Weald! | |
Goh's Raboot | Max Flare | JN043 | ||
Subordinate's Garbodor | Max Steelspike | JN044 | ||
Goh's Raboot | Max Knuckle | JN044 |
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
List of Max Moves used in the Pokémon Adventures manga
Pokémon | Max Move | Image | Debut | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Milo's Eldegoss | Max Overgrowth | PASS06 | ||
Sōdo's Ransun | Max Knuckle | File:Soudo Ransun Max Knuckle.png | PASS07 | |
Milo's Eldegoss | Max Strike | PASS07 | ||
Nessa's Drednaw | Max Strike | PASS09 | ||
Allister's Gengar | Max Ooze | Sword & Shield arc | ||
Sōdo's Gunbain | Max Guard | File:Soudo Gunbain Max Guard.png | Sword & Shield arc | |
Sōdo's Gunbain | Max Darkness | File:Soudo Gunbain Max Darkness.png | Sword & Shield arc |
In other languages
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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. |