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As a 6-Star Raid boss making its debut in *Pokemon GO*, Gigantamax Kingler demands strategic counters with precise movesets to exploit its vulnerabilities. This formidable giant, an evolution of Krabby, will challenge Trainers during its Max Battle Day on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM local time. As the first Gigantamax boss since Lapras, assembling a strong raid party is crucial to overcoming this aquatic titan.
Gigantamax Kingler Weaknesses & Resistances in Pokemon GO
Being a pure Water-type like its standard form in *Pokemon GO*, Gigantamax Kingler is vulnerable only to Grass- and Electric-type attacks, both dealing 160% super-effective damage. Conversely, Kingler resists Fire-, Water-, Steel-, and Ice-type moves, which only inflict 39% damage, making these types ineffective in battle.
Best Counters Against Gigantamax Kingler in Pokemon GO
Image via Niantic/The Pokemon Company To successfully defeat Gigantamax Kingler, Trainers should deploy Electric- and non-pure Grass-type counters such as **Venusaur, Ivysaur, and Zapdos**. Since only Dynamax- or Gigantamax-capable Pokemon can be used in these battles, the selection of counters is narrowed but still includes effective options:
| Gigantamax Kingler Counter | Type | Fast Attack | Charged Attack |
| Venusaur | Grass & Poison | Vine Whip | Frenzy Plant |
| Ivysaur | Grass & Poison | Vine Whip | Power Whip |
| Zapdos | Electric & Flying | Thunder Shock | Thunder |
| Greedent | Normal | Bullet Seed | Trailblaze |
| Dubwool | Normal | Tackle | Wild Charge |
| Cryogonal | Ice | Frost Breath | Solar Beam |
While other counters like the Grass-type Rillaboom are viable, Gigantamax Kingler's potential moveset, including Bubble, Mud Shot, Metal Claw, Vise Grip, Water Pulse, Crabhammer, and Razor Shell, also features the Bug-type attack X-Scissor, which is super-effective against pure Grass-types. Fortunately, Venusaur and Ivysaur's Poison typing neutralizes X-Scissor's damage. Similarly, Zapdos's Flying type mitigates the impact of Ground-type moves like Mud Shot.
Prioritizing counters that utilize moves of the same type benefits from a 20% STAB (same-type attack bonus). However, even counters like Greedent, Dubwool, and Cryogonal, which can learn Grass- or Electric-type moves, serve well as backups since they are immune to super-effective damage from Gigantamax Kingler’s arsenal. In cases where super-effective counters are scarce, neutral tanks such as Blastoise or Lapras can still be effective as durable defenders.
Related: Pokémon GO Shadow Regirock Raid Guide: Best Counters, Tips, and Tricks
Can Gigantamax Kingler be Shiny?
Yes, Gigantamax Kingler can be encountered in its Shiny form in *Pokemon GO*, as confirmed by the game's announcement for its Max Battle Day event. Defeating this Raid boss offers a chance to catch a Shiny version, though the odds are not guaranteed. While not officially confirmed, it's speculated that the Shiny encounter rate might be around 1 in 20, similar to other 5-Star Raid bosses.
Don’t Forget Max Mushrooms
If Gigantamax Kingler proves too challenging, consider using Max Mushrooms, available for purchase in *Pokemon GO*. These items double the damage of your Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon for 30 seconds, though they come at a high cost of 400 PokeCoins each. When used strategically, Max Mushrooms can significantly boost your chances of victory.
Now equipped with the knowledge on how to defeat Gigantamax Kingler with the best counters during its Max Battle Day, be sure to check out the *Pokemon GO* event schedule for more exciting events throughout February.
