In the ever-evolving world of Pokémon Go, trainers are continually presented with new challenges and features to enhance their gameplay. One such feature is the introduction of Max Moves, powerful attacks exclusive to Dynamax Pokémon. Understanding how to unlock and level up these moves can significantly bolster your battle strategies. This guide will walk you through the process in a clear and concise manner.

Understanding Max Moves
Max Moves are special attacks that Dynamax Pokémon can perform during battles. These moves are not only more potent than regular attacks but also come with unique effects that can turn the tide of a battle in your favor. However, to fully harness their power, trainers must unlock and subsequently level up these moves.
Unlocking Max Moves
To begin, it’s essential to have a Dynamax Pokémon in your collection. Once you have one, follow these steps to unlock a Max Move:
- Gather Necessary Resources: You’ll need two primary resources:
- Candy: Specific to the Pokémon species.
- Max Particles (MP): A special currency introduced alongside Dynamax features.
- Access the Pokémon’s Profile: Navigate to your Dynamax Pokémon’s profile within the game.
- Select the Max Move Slot: Here, you’ll see available Max Moves, some of which may be locked.
- Unlock the Desired Max Move: Choose the move you wish to unlock and confirm your selection. The resource requirements can vary depending on the Pokémon. For instance, unlocking a Max Move for a Wooloo might require 50 Wooloo Candy and 400 Max Particles. More powerful Pokémon could demand higher amounts.
Leveling Up Max Moves
Once a Max Move is unlocked, enhancing its power involves leveling it up. Each Max Move can be upgraded from Level 1 to Level 3, with each level increasing the move’s effectiveness. Here’s how to proceed:
- Gather Additional Resources: As you progress to higher levels, the resource requirements will increase. For example:
- Level 1 to Level 2:
- 600 Max Particles
- 100 Pokémon-specific Candy
- Level 2 to Level 3:
- 800 Max Particles
- 40 Pokémon-specific XL Candy
- Level 1 to Level 2:
- Upgrade the Move: Within the Pokémon’s profile, select the Max Move you wish to level up and confirm the upgrade, provided you have the necessary resources.
Acquiring Max Particles and Candy
Efficiently collecting Max Particles and Candy is crucial for unlocking and leveling up Max Moves:
- Max Particles:
- Power Spots: These are special locations similar to PokéStops. Spinning a Power Spot can yield Max Particles. Each Power Spot grants 120 MP once daily.
- Walking: Engaging in regular walking can also earn you Max Particles. For every 2 km walked, you can earn up to 300 MP, with a daily cap of 800 MP and a storage limit of 1,000 MP.
- Candy and XL Candy:
- Catching Pokémon: Capturing multiple Pokémon of the same species increases your Candy count.
- Walking with a Buddy: Assigning a Pokémon as your buddy and walking certain distances can yield Candy.
- Transferring Pokémon: Sending extra Pokémon to Professor Willow provides additional Candy.
- Rare Candy: This versatile item can be converted into any Pokémon’s Candy.
- Candy XL: Primarily obtained by catching high-level Pokémon, transferring Pokémon, or through specific in-game events.
Strategic Considerations
When deciding which Max Moves to unlock and level up, consider the following:
- Battle Relevance: Focus on moves that offer advantages in current or upcoming events and raids.
- Resource Availability: Prioritize moves for Pokémon whose resources are more readily available to you.
- Long-Term Utility: Invest in moves that will remain useful across various battle scenarios.