Gigantamax Kingler in Pokemon GO: Top Counters and Strategies

As a formidable 6-Star Raid boss in *Pokemon GO*, the debut of Gigantamax Kingler marks a significant challenge for Trainers during its Max Battle Day on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM local time. This giant evolution of Krabby, being the first Gigantamax boss since Lapras, demands a well-prepared raid party to conquer it effectively.

Gigantamax Kingler Weaknesses & Resistances in Pokemon GO

As a pure Water-type, Gigantamax Kingler shares the same vulnerabilities and resistances as its standard form. It is exclusively weak to Grass- and Electric-type attacks, which deal 160% super-effective damage. Conversely, it resists Fire-, Water-, Steel-, and Ice-type moves, with these attacks only inflicting 39% damage. Trainers should avoid using these types of moves to maximize their chances of success.

Best Counters Against Gigantamax Kingler in Pokemon GO

To effectively counter Gigantamax Kingler in *Pokemon GO*, Trainers should utilize Electric- and non-pure Grass-type Pokemon such as **Venusaur, Ivysaur, and Zapdos**. Remember, only Dynamax- or Gigantamax-capable Pokemon can be used in these Max Battles, which limits your choices but still leaves you with several 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 pure Grass-type Rillaboom are viable, Gigantamax Kingler's potential moveset, including Bubble, Mud Shot, Metal Claw, Vise Grip, Water Pulse, Crabhammer, Razor Shell, and the Bug-type X-Scissor, poses a risk to pure Grass-types. Fortunately, Venusaur and Ivysaur's Poison typing neutralizes X-Scissor's effectiveness. Similarly, Zapdos' Flying type mitigates the threat from Ground-type Mud Shot, which would otherwise be super-effective against Electric types like Toxitricity.

It's advantageous to use Pokemon that can take advantage of the 20% STAB (same-type attack bonus). However, even non-matching types like Greedent, Dubwool, and Cryogonal, which can learn Grass- or Electric-type moves, serve as excellent backups since they can only take neutral damage from Gigantamax Kingler's attacks. In situations where super-effective counters are scarce, neutral tanks like Blastoise or Lapras can also be used as sturdy defenders.

Related: Pokémon GO Shadow Regirock Raid Guide: Best Counters, Tips, and Tricks

Can Gigantamax Kingler be Shiny?

Yes, Gigantamax Kingler can appear in its Shiny form in *Pokemon GO*, as announced for its Max Battle Day event. Defeating this Raid boss offers a chance to encounter a Shiny Gigantamax Kingler, though the exact odds are not specified. Based on typical 5-Star Raid boss Shiny rates, we estimate the odds to be around 1 in 20.

Don’t Forget Max Mushrooms

If your raid party struggles against Gigantamax Kingler, consider using Max Mushrooms, available for purchase in *Pokemon GO*. These items double the damage dealt by your Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon for 30 seconds, albeit at a cost of 400 PokeCoins each. Using Max Mushrooms can be a game-changer in tight battles.

Now that you're equipped with the knowledge to tackle Gigantamax Kingler using the best counters during its Max Battle Day, be sure to check out the *Pokemon GO* event schedule for more exciting events throughout February.