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 or 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 and their secondary effects cannot be fully protected against by protection moves (such as Protect and Spiky Shield), except by the Max Move Max Guard. 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 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 by one stage
Max Phantasm	Ghost	Decreases the Defense of the target 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 by one stage
Max Darkness	Dark	Decreases the Special Defense of the target 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 G-Max Moves.

In the anime

Max Moves were first featured in the anime in the Pokémon World Championships finals match between Lance and Leon in SS012.

List of Max Moves used in the anime

Pokémon		Max Move	Image	Debut
	Lance's Gyarados	Max Geyser		SS012
	Leon's Charizard	Max Lightning		SS012
	Lance's Gyarados	Max Strike		SS012
	Leon's Charizard	Max Airstream		SS012
	Lance's Gyarados	Max Guard		SS012
	Ash's Pikachu	Max Steelspike		SS013
	Drednaw	Max Rockfall	File:Gigantamax Drednaw Max Rockfall.png	SS013
	Ash's Pikachu	Max Strike		SS013

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 極巨招式 Gihkgeuih Jīusīk Mandarin 極巨招式 / 极巨招式 Jíjù Zhāoshì French Capacité Dynamax German Dynamax-Attacke Italian Mossa Dynamax Korean 다이맥스기술 Daimax Gisul Russian Максимальные атака Maksimal'nyye ataka Spanish Movimiento Dinamax

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