Max Raid Battles & Dynamax Adventures

Welcome, Trainer! This section will guide you through the thrilling world of Max Raid Battles in the Wild Area and the challenging Dynamax Adventures found within the Crown Tundra's Max Lair. Mastering these features is crucial for obtaining rare Pokémon, valuable items, and powerful Gigantamax forms.

Max Raid Battles: Dominating the Wild Area

Max Raid Battles are cooperative battles against powerful Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon found in glowing Pokémon Dens across the Wild Area. These dens emit a beam of red light (or purple for rarer encounters). Successfully completing these raids yields excellent rewards.

Finding and Starting a Max Raid Battle

Locate a Pokémon Den: Look for red or purple beams of light shooting into the sky in the Wild Area. These indicate an active Pokémon Den.
Interact with the Den: Approach the den and press 'A' to interact. You'll see information about the Pokémon inside, including its type and star rating (difficulty).
Choose Your Allies: You have two options:
- Invite Others: Select "Invite Others" to open your raid to online players or local friends. This is often the best strategy for higher-star raids.
- Challenge with NPCs: Select "Challenge with NPCs" if you prefer to battle with AI-controlled partners. Be warned, NPC trainers can sometimes make questionable moves!
Select Your Pokémon: Choose a Pokémon from your party that has a type advantage against the raid boss. Consider moves that can inflict status conditions or lower the opponent's stats.

Max Raid Battle Strategy

Type Matchups are Key: Always prioritize Pokémon with super-effective moves against the raid boss. Check its type before entering.
Dynamax at the Right Time: Each trainer can Dynamax once per battle for three turns. Save your Dynamax for when the raid boss's shield is up, or to deliver a powerful finishing blow.
Break the Shields: Raid bosses will erect a protective shield. Using Dynamax moves is the most effective way to break these shields, allowing you to deal direct damage.
Support Your Team: If playing with others, consider bringing Pokémon that can heal (e.g., using Life Dew or Heal Pulse) or boost your allies' stats (e.g., Light Screen, Reflect).
Catching the Pokémon: After defeating the raid boss, you'll have a chance to catch it. The catch rate is usually high, but for rare Gigantamax forms, it's not guaranteed. Use a Dusk Ball if it's night, or an Ultra Ball for general reliability.

Rewards from Max Raid Battles

Successful raids grant several valuable items:

Exp. Candies: Essential for quickly leveling up your Pokémon (e.g., Exp. Candy XS, S, M, L, XL).
Dynamax Candies: Used to increase a Pokémon's Dynamax Level, boosting its HP during Dynamax.
TRs (Technical Records): Single-use items that teach powerful moves.
Watts: Currency used at Watt Traders in the Wild Area for various items like wishing pieces, Poké Balls, and even rare treasures.
Rare Candies: Instantly level up a Pokémon by one level.
Ability Capsules: Change a Pokémon's standard ability to its other standard ability.

Dynamax Adventures: Delving into the Max Lair

Dynamax Adventures are a unique cooperative mode introduced in The Crown Tundra DLC. Located within the Max Lair, these adventures involve exploring a series of dens with rental Pokémon, culminating in a battle against a Legendary Pokémon.

Accessing the Max Lair

To begin Dynamax Adventures, you must first travel to the Crown Tundra. Once there, head to the Max Lair, which is prominently located in the center of the area, just north of the Freezington village.

The Dynamax Adventure Flow

Choose Rental Pokémon: At the start of each adventure, you'll be offered a selection of four random rental Pokémon. You cannot use your own Pokémon. Choose wisely, considering type coverage and potential synergies with your teammates.
Navigate the Lair: You and three other trainers (online or NPCs) will traverse a series of interconnected dens. Each path leads to a Dynamax Pokémon battle.
Battle Dynamax Pokémon: Engage in standard Max Raid Battles. After defeating a Pokémon, you'll have the option to swap your current rental Pokémon for the one you just defeated. This is crucial for building a strong team.
Encountering Scientists: Occasionally, you'll find a scientist who can offer a choice of items like Berries, Potions, or even a Revive. These can be lifesavers!
The Legendary Showdown: At the end of the adventure, you'll face a Legendary Pokémon. This is a guaranteed encounter, and if you defeat it, you'll have a chance to catch it.

Key Strategies for Dynamax Adventures

Type Coverage is Paramount: Since you're using rental Pokémon, focus on building a team with diverse types to cover as many weaknesses as possible.
Communicate (Online): If playing with online trainers, try to use the in-game stickers to suggest paths or indicate preferred Pokémon swaps.
Strategic Swapping: Don't just swap for stronger Pokémon. Consider what types you need for upcoming battles or for the final Legendary. If you already have a good counter for the Legendary, prioritize keeping that Pokémon.
Conserve HP and PP: There are no Pokémon Centers within the Max Lair. Your Pokémon's HP and PP carry over between battles. Look for scientists offering healing items.
The Legendary Catch: If you defeat the Legendary Pokémon, you are guaranteed to catch it with any Poké Ball. However, you can only catch each specific Legendary once per save file. If you fail to catch it, you can re-challenge it in future adventures until you succeed.
Shiny Hunting: Legendary Pokémon in Dynamax Adventures have an increased shiny rate (1/300 without Shiny Charm, 1/100 with Shiny Charm). You won't know if it's shiny until the post-adventure summary screen, so always catch the Legendary if you're hunting for a shiny!

Rewards from Dynamax Adventures

Beyond the chance to catch Legendary Pokémon, Dynamax Adventures offer:

Dynite Ore: A unique currency used at the Max Lair's shop. You can exchange Dynite Ore for rare items like Ability Patches (changes a Pokémon's ability to its Hidden Ability), Beast Balls, and various Exp. Candies.
Rare Pokémon: Many non-Legendary Pokémon encountered in the Max Lair are rare or difficult to find elsewhere.

While Dynamax Adventures focus on cooperative gauntlets, they serve a similar purpose to the Ultra Wormholes in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon by providing access to legendary encounters.