Dynamax in Pokémon GO is the Max Battle system that arrived in September 2024: up to four Trainers team up at Power Spots to fight giant Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon, using their own Dynamax-capable Pokémon and spending Max Particles to enter. As of November 2026 the feature is getting its biggest month yet, with the Dynamax Trails event from November 16 to 23 bringing back every non-Legendary Dynamax Pokémon and Eternamax Eternatus taking over Power Spots on November 21. Here is how the system works, what it costs, and how to make the most of this month.
We built this from Serebii's Max Battles page, the official Pokémon GO posts for Dynamax Trails, Into the Wild and the October Max Battle Day, and the live Web Store, all checked in November 2026.
How Dynamax and Max Battles Work
Max Battles happen at Power Spots, which are separate from Gyms and PokéStops on the map and stay in place for several days. Only Dynamax-capable Pokémon can take part, and you get those from Special Research or by winning Max Battles. Serebii notes you cannot transfer your last Dynamax-capable Pokémon, which stops new players from locking themselves out.
The battle itself is turn-based rather than tap-based. There is no time limit: the fight continues until the boss is defeated or every player has lost their Pokémon. You attack normally to fill an energy meter, then Dynamax, which lasts three turns. While you are not Dynamaxed you can dodge the boss's regular attacks, but not its Max Moves. Up to four Trainers can battle together, which makes Max Battles feel closer to a co-op puzzle than a raid.
That difference matters when choosing a team. A raid rewards pure damage, while a Max Battle rewards surviving several rounds and timing your Dynamax phase, so the Pokémon you rely on for raids are not automatically your best picks here. If you want the raid side of the picture, our best raid attackers guide covers it separately.
Max Moves: Attack, Guard and Spirit
Once Dynamaxed, each Pokémon gets three Max Moves:
- A Max attack such as Max Strike, whose type follows your Pokémon's Fast Attack.
- Max Guard, which reduces damage taken.
- Max Spirit, which heals you and your allies.
All three can be upgraded using Max Particles, Species Candy and Species Candy XL until they reach their maximum level. That upgrade path is the real long-term cost of the system: a Pokémon with leveled Max Moves can contribute more than a higher-CP one with none. Spread upgrades across a few roles rather than leveling one move on everything. A sensible starting group is one attacker with an upgraded Max attack and one support Pokémon with Max Guard and Max Spirit leveled, so your team can both deal damage and survive.
Because the attack's type follows the Fast Attack, check moves before you invest. A Dynamax Pokémon with a Fast Attack that does not match the boss's weakness will waste its best turns.
Max Particles and Power Spots
Max Particles are the currency of the whole system. Serebii's page explains that visiting a Power Spot gives 100 Max Particles per day, plus a 20-particle bonus the first time, and that you can earn up to 800 a day for free from Power Spots or by walking. Pokémon placed at Power Spots after battles also earn particles and Candy.
Entry costs and XP rewards scale with the boss's star tier:
| Tier | Max Particles | XP |
|---|---|---|
| One-star | 250 | 5,000 |
| Two-star | 400 | 7,500 |
| Three-star | 400 | 7,500 |
| Five-star | 800 | 25,000 |
| Six-star (Gigantamax) | 800 | 25,000 |
Events raise the ceiling. The October 24 Max Battle Day lifted the collection limit to 1,600 and gave 8x Max Particles from Power Spots, and the Eternatus period on November 21 raises it to 2,400 with the same 8x multiplier. If you cannot get outside enough, the Web Store sells Max Particle Packs and bundles that pair them with Remote Raid Passes; our Pokémon GO Web Store guide explains how to buy and how delivery is confirmed.
Gigantamax and Eternamax
Six-star Max Battles are against Gigantamax Pokémon, which use special G-Max Moves. Serebii notes that Gigantamax Pokémon cannot be sent to Pokémon HOME, so decide where you want to keep one before you catch it.
Eternamax Eternatus is a special case. During the Dynamax Trails event, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time on November 21, it takes over most Power Spots in Max Battles worldwide. You cannot catch Eternamax Eternatus after defeating it; instead, each win gives a large amount of Eternatus Candy and Candy XL. The catchable Eternatus, a Poison- and Dragon-type Legendary, comes from a Max Battle adventure through the GO Pass and can be caught only once during the event. Trainers who already own one can keep using it and still collect Candy.
Eternatus is worth the effort. Pokémon GO Hub ranks it fifth among all raid attackers as of November 2026, and Dittobase lists it as the top Dragon-type attacker, so the Candy from those three hours has value well beyond Max Battles.
Dynamax in November 2026
November is packed with Dynamax content. The confirmed schedule from official posts:
- Into the Wild (November 9 to 13): one-star Ralts, two-star Machop, and five-star Registeel on November 11, Dynamax Regidrago (debut) on November 12, and Latias and Latios on November 13, each in a 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. hour. Dynamax Meltan debuts through that event's GO Pass, and the Deluxe track's Rank 2 bonus cuts the Max Particle cost of Max Moves to three quarters.
- Dynamax Trails (November 16 at 10:00 a.m. to November 23 at 8:00 p.m. local): every Dynamax Pokémon seen in the game can return in Max Battles, excluding Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Catches of event-themed Pokémon can drop Max Particles, more Power Spots appear, and catches can carry a Special Background showing the catch date.
- Spotlight Hour (November 19, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.): Grookey, Scorbunny and Sobble with 2x catch Candy.
- Eternatus period (November 21, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.): Power Spots refresh more often, the particle cap rises to 2,400 with 8x particles from Power Spots, and the daily Remote Raid limit goes from 10 to 30 from November 20 at 1:00 p.m. to November 21 at 6:00 p.m. PST.
The free GO Pass: Dynamax Trails arrives automatically on November 16 and includes an Eternatus encounter, or 100 Eternatus Candy if you already caught one. Deluxe costs US$4.99, and its Rank 35 bonus halves the Candy and Stardust cost of the Dynamax Cannon Adventure Effect. Rewards you unlock expire on November 25 at 8:00 p.m. local time. One catch: Max Particles cannot come from catches made with the Explorer Gadget or a Pokémon GO Plus +.
If you want a preview of how a big Dynamax day plays out, look at the October 24 Max Battle Day. It ran from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. local time with regional five-star bosses: Dynamax Uxie in Asia-Pacific, Mesprit in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, and Azelf in the Americas and Greenland. Every Power Spot hosted Dynamax battles and refreshed more often, and an optional ticket added Timed Research with 6,400 Max Particles, 25,000 XP, a Max Mushroom and 2x XP from Max Battles. Eternatus day follows a similar pattern, so expect busy Power Spots and plan to battle with friends nearby.
Practical Tips for Max Battles
- Play locally when you can. Serebii notes that local play adds two Premier Balls and 2,500 XP, while remote play consumes a Remote Raid Pass as soon as you enter the lobby.
- Collect your free particles first. On event days, bonus exploring rewards often only apply after you claim the particles already waiting in the Nearby menu, as the October Max Battle Day post spelled out.
- Bring a balanced group of four: two damage dealers, one tank with Max Guard, and one healer with Max Spirit.
- Prioritize five-star and six-star battles for XP. At 25,000 XP each, a handful on Eternatus day is a serious boost, which our plan for leveling up fast builds on.
- Keep an eye on your Candy XL. Upgrading Max Moves uses it, so Community Day catches with Candy XL bonuses feed directly into Max Battles.
Max Battles have no equivalent in Trainer Battles, so the GO Battle League is a separate track entirely. If you split time between both, our Great League tier list shows where PvP stands this month.
Getting Into Max Battles With a Ready Roster
Max Battles reward players who already own a range of Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon with upgraded Max Moves, and building that takes many Power Spot visits. Some players compare the account listings on our Pokémon GO page, which third-party sellers post and which change daily. The Scopely Explore Terms of Service, last modified July 15, 2026, are direct about this: selling or trading accounts is listed as cheating.
If you are building your own, Dynamax Trails and Eternatus day are the best two dates on the November calendar to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get Dynamax Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
Through Special Research or by winning Max Battles at Power Spots. GO Pass tracks during events also include Dynamax encounters, such as Dynamax Meltan in Into the Wild.
How many players can join a Max Battle?
Up to four Trainers can battle together in a Max Battle.
How do I get more Max Particles?
Visit Power Spots and walk, for up to 800 a day for free. Events raise the cap, to 2,400 during the November 21 Eternatus period, and Max Particle Packs are sold on the Web Store.
Can you catch Eternamax Eternatus?
No. Defeating it gives Eternatus Candy and Candy XL. The catchable Eternatus comes from the GO Pass: Dynamax Trails Max Battle adventure, once per event.
When is Dynamax Trails in Pokémon GO?
From Monday, November 16 at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, November 23, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Can Gigantamax Pokémon go to Pokémon HOME?
No. Serebii notes that Gigantamax Pokémon cannot be sent to Pokémon HOME.