Beat the adorable gargantuan Pikachu in Max Battles by learning its weaknesses and top counters!
On March 28, 2026, Pokémon GO will finally release Gigantamax Pikachu for a Max Battle Day, which will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. of everyone’s local time. Gigantamax Pikachu is the only pure Electric-type Gigantamax Pokémon in the franchise, with Gigantamax Toxtricity being the only other Gigantamax form that carries an Electric typing.
While it’s quite early to say how Gigantamax Pikachu will perform in Max Battles, its stats are unfortunately not enough to rival Gigantamax Toxtricity or any other strong Electric-type Max Battle Pokémon like Dynamax Zapdos and Dynamax Raikou.
With an Attack of 112, a Defense of 96, and a Stamina of 111, this cute and chonky giant falls behind most of the Gigantamax Pokémon and some Dynamax forms in Pokémon GO.
Still, with its debut, players will surely go after lots of Max Battles, either for the sake of adding Gigantamax Pikachu to their collection or for grinding XP.
What this guide contains:
- Minimum number of Trainers
- Weakness and counters for Gigantamax Pikachu
- Gigantamax Pikachu’s Hundo CP and Shiny variant
How many Trainers do I need to defeat Gigantamax Pikachu?
As a Six-Star Max Battle Pokémon and considering its stats, taking down Gigantamax Pikachu will require a minimum of seven Trainers with well-built parties that could deal super-effective moves.
For most Six-Star Max Battles, the safest approach is to have around 10 Trainers. Try connecting with local Pokémon GO communities to reliably reach that number.
Weakness and top counters against Gigantamax Pikachu in Pokémon GO
Since Gigantamax Pikachu is an Electric type, it’s only weak to Ground-type moves. On the other hand, it can resist damage from Steel-, Flying-, and Electric-type moves.
Here is a list of all the suggested counters that players can pick while building a party against Gigantamax Pikachu.
| Pokémon | Ideal Role | Suggested Moveset |
|---|---|---|
 Dynamax Excadrill | Attacker/Defender | Mud Shot and Earthquake |
 Gigantamax Rillaboom | Attacker | Scratch and Earth Power |
 Dynamax Rillaboom | Attacker | Scratch and Earth Power |
 Dynamax Latias | Defender | – |
 Dynamax Duraludon | Defender | – |
 Dynamax Latios | Defender | – |
 Dynamax Blissey | Healer | – |
 Gigantamax Snorlax | Healer | – |
 Eternatus | Healer | – |
If you’ve been to many Max Battles before, you’ll understand why Dynamax Excadrill is the top attacker against Gigantamax Pikachu. Its type combination reduces the damage of Electric-type moves by 60%, and its high Stamina stat (242) allows it to act as a secondary tank while dealing a lot of Ground-type damage.
You can actually bring three Dynamax Excadrill and steamroll your way to victory with this Max Battle. Still, if you and your fellow players don’t have the luxury of numbers, you’ll need a reliable defender and healer. In this case, you can bring almost any S-tier Pokémon in their respective roles, such as Dynamax Latias and Dynamax Blissey.
What is Gigantamax Pikachu’s Hundo CP?
After beating a Gigantamax Pikachu, you’ll encounter its regular version. The Hundo CP for this Pokémon is 536 CP.
Can I catch Pikachu’s Shiny variant?
Yes, it’s possible to encounter a Shiny Pikachu after clearing a Gigantamax Pikachu Max Battle. However, unlike many Shiny Pokémon, Shiny Pikachu does not look drastically different from its standard form, as the physical changes are limited to a slightly darker shade of yellow.
To get as many chances at finding a Shiny Pikachu, try to collect as many Max Particles as you can in Power Spots, especially during an event like its Max Battle Day.