Gigantamax Meowth is one of the most unusual and rewarding Max Raid battles in Pokémon Sword and Shield. With its towering golden body and signature G-Max Gold Rush attack, this Normal-type Pokémon can overwhelm unprepared trainers. However, if you understand its weaknesses and build the right team, you can defeat it consistently and collect valuable rewards.
Gigantamax Meowth is a special form of Meowth introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Unlike standard Dynamax Pokémon, Gigantamax Meowth has access to a unique move called G-Max Gold Rush. This attack not only deals damage but also confuses all opposing Pokémon. Confusion can cause your Pokémon to hurt themselves, which makes the battle more difficult.
Since Meowth is a pure Normal-type Pokémon, it has only one weakness: Fighting-type moves. It is immune to Ghost-type moves and does not take super-effective damage from most other types. This means your strategy should focus heavily on strong Fighting-type attackers.
Best Pokémon To Counter Gigantamax Meowth
To win this Max Raid battle, you need Pokémon with high Attack stats and powerful Fighting-type moves. The goal is to break its shields quickly and deal heavy damage before it can knock out your team.
Here are some excellent choices:
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Conkeldurr with Drain Punch or Dynamic Punch
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Lucario with Close Combat
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Machamp with Dynamic Punch
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Hawlucha with High Jump Kick
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Sirfetch’d with Close Combat
These Pokémon have strong physical attacks and can exploit Meowth’s only weakness. If possible, choose Pokémon with high levels and strong IVs to maximize damage output.
Recommended Moves And Abilities
When facing Gigantamax Meowth, prioritize moves that deal consistent Fighting-type damage. Max Knuckle, the Dynamax version of Fighting-type moves, is extremely valuable. It not only damages the target but also raises your team’s Attack stat. This boost helps everyone in the raid deal more damage.
Helpful abilities include:
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Guts for increased Attack power
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Steadfast for Speed boosts after flinching
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Inner Focus to prevent flinching
Avoid relying on status conditions like sleep or paralysis. Raid bosses often clear status effects or reduce their effectiveness. Focus on direct damage instead.
Battle Strategy For Max Raid
Max Raid battles follow specific mechanics. Gigantamax Meowth will put up protective shields multiple times during the fight. These shields must be broken before you can deal significant damage again.
Follow this strategy:
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Use Dynamax early with a strong Fighting-type Pokémon.
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Spam Max Knuckle to boost team Attack.
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Break shields quickly with multi-hit or high-power moves.
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Heal when necessary to avoid fainting penalties.
If too many Pokémon faint, the raid will fail. Coordination matters, especially in online raids. If you are playing solo, NPC allies can sometimes be unreliable. This makes having a strong primary attacker even more important.
Managing G-Max Gold Rush
G-Max Gold Rush is Gigantamax Meowth’s signature move. It damages all opponents and causes confusion. Confusion can waste turns and reduce your damage output.
To manage this:
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Use Pokémon with high HP to survive the attack.
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Consider using items like Persim Berries to cure confusion.
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If confused, evaluate your HP before attacking to reduce risk.
Since the move hits all raid participants, staying healthy is critical. Support Pokémon with healing moves like Life Dew can also help in coordinated teams.
Level And Preparation Tips
Preparation is everything in a Gigantamax battle. Make sure your Pokémon are at least level 70 or higher, especially in higher-star raids. Lower-level Pokémon will struggle to survive and deal enough damage.
Before entering the raid:
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Max out your Pokémon’s Dynamax Level.
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Use Exp Candies to increase levels.
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Hyper Train important stats if possible.
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Equip helpful held items like Expert Belt or Black Belt for extra Fighting-type damage.
The more optimized your Pokémon is, the smoother the battle will go.
Rewards For Defeating Gigantamax Meowth
One reason trainers seek this battle is the reward potential. G-Max Gold Rush increases the amount of prize money earned after the battle. Additionally, Max Raid battles provide:
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Rare Candies
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Exp Candies
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TRs (Technical Records)
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Dynamax Candies
If you catch Gigantamax Meowth, you can also use it in your own battles to farm money efficiently.
Solo Vs Online Battles
Fighting Gigantamax Meowth online with real players is usually easier than battling with NPC allies. Human players often bring optimized Fighting-type counters, which speeds up shield breaking and reduces the risk of failure.
However, if you prefer solo play, focus on:
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One extremely strong Fighting-type Pokémon
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High survivability
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Consistent Max Knuckle usage
With the right preparation, solo victories are absolutely possible.
