Pokémon GO Dynamax/Gigantamax Power-Up Strategy: CP Power-Up vs. Max Move Upgrade, Which Comes First?

Pokemon Go Gigantamax Image (From Official Pokemon Go Blog)

 

 With the arrival of the Pokémon GO 'Max Finale' event, the Eternatus Max Battle has ignited the competitive spirit of many trainers. A key to success is leveraging powerful Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon. This brings up a critical question: Should you prioritize powering up your Pokémon's CP, or should you unlock and upgrade its Max Moves first? This article provides an in-depth analysis of both strategies and suggests the most effective power-up order for tackling Eternatus.

1. Pokémon CP Power-Up: Laying a Solid Foundation

Powering up a Pokémon's CP is the fundamental process of increasing its base stats—Attack, Defense, and HP—to match your trainer level. Here’s why prioritizing CP power-ups is crucial:

• The Importance of Base Stats: A Pokémon with higher CP deals more damage in battle and can withstand opponent attacks for longer. Think of it as building a sturdy foundation for a house. No matter how great the interior (Max Moves) is, the house (Pokémon) will easily collapse if the foundation is weak.
• Ensuring Consistent Damage and Survival: While Max Moves have a cooldown, regular attacks are constant. High CP maximizes the damage of these regular attacks and provides the durability needed to survive long Max Battles.

2. Max Move Upgrades: A Powerful Weapon to Turn the Tide

Max Moves are special attacks used by Dynamax Pokémon that go beyond simple damage, offering strategic capabilities that can change the course of a battle.

• Maximizing Tactical Effects: Max Guard significantly reduces incoming damage by 50%, boosting your team's survival rate, while Max Revive can heal allies, dramatically improving the team's longevity. When the entire team is on the verge of being defeated by Eternatus's powerful attacks, Max Guard can be your only lifeline.
• Creating Team Synergy: A tank's Max Revive allows dealers to survive longer and continue attacking, while a dealer's Max Mindstorm or Max Hailstorm can inflict devastating damage on Eternatus.

3. The Most Effective Strategy: CP First, Max Moves Second!

In conclusion, the most efficient power-up sequence for the Eternatus Max Battle is to prioritize CP power-ups, followed by Max Move upgrades.

1. Prioritize CP Power-Ups: Choose a tank or dealer Pokémon that is super-effective against Eternatus and power it up to the highest CP possible. Aim for Level 40 or higher. A solid foundation is necessary to even have a chance to use your Max Moves effectively.
2. Upgrade Max Moves When You Have Resources to Spare: Once your Pokémon's CP is high enough to be stable in Max Battles, use your extra Max Particles and Candy to upgrade key moves like Max Guard or Max Revive to levels 2 or 3.

By understanding this power-up order and making strategic decisions, you'll find the Eternatus Max Battle much more manageable. We hope this guide is a great help on your Pokémon GO journey!