Gigantamax Kingler in Pokemon GO: Top Counters and Strategies

Get ready, Trainers! As a formidable 6-Star Raid boss making its debut in *Pokemon GO*, Gigantamax Kingler will challenge players during its Max Battle Day on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM local time. To take down this giant evolution of Krabby, you'll need a well-coordinated raid party equipped with the perfect counters to exploit its vulnerabilities.

Gigantamax Kingler Weaknesses & Resistances in Pokemon GO

As a pure Water-type, Gigantamax Kingler shares the same weaknesses and resistances as its regular form. It's only vulnerable to Grass- and Electric-type attacks, which deal a whopping 160% super-effective damage. On the flip side, Kingler resists Fire-, Water-, Steel-, and Ice-type moves, with these inflicting only 39% damage. Avoid using these types of moves at all costs to maximize your effectiveness.

Best Counters Against Gigantamax Kingler in Pokemon GO

To successfully defeat Gigantamax Kingler, you'll need to leverage Electric- and non-pure Grass-type counters such as **Venusaur, Ivysaur, and Zapdos**. Remember, only Dynamax- or Gigantamax-capable Pokemon can participate in these Max Battles, narrowing your choices, but there are still plenty of 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
Crygonal	Ice	Frost Breath	Solar Beam

While other Grass-types like Rillaboom can also be effective, be cautious as Gigantamax Kingler's potential moveset includes X-Scissor, a Bug-type attack that's super-effective against pure Grass-types. Fortunately, Venusaur and Ivysaur's Poison typing neutralizes this threat. Similarly, Zapdos' Flying type mitigates the risk from Ground-type attacks like Mud Shot, which could otherwise be devastating to Electric-types like Toxitricity.

Prioritize counters with moves that match their types to benefit from the 20% STAB (same-type attack bonus). However, non-matching types like Greedent, Dubwool, and Cryogonal, which can learn Grass- or Electric-type moves, serve as excellent backups due to their resistance to Kingler's moves. In a pinch, 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 by the game’s official event post. Defeating it during the Max Battle Day event gives you a chance to encounter and catch a Shiny version. While the exact odds aren't confirmed, we estimate them to be around 1 in 20, consistent with other 5-Star Raid bosses.

Don’t Forget Max Mushrooms

If you find yourself struggling against Gigantamax Kingler, consider using Max Mushrooms available for purchase in *Pokemon GO*. These boost your Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon's damage output for 30 seconds, although they're pricey at 400 PokeCoins each. Using them could be the key to turning the battle in your favor.

Now that you're armed with all the knowledge on how to defeat Gigantamax Kingler during its Max Battle Day, don't forget to check out the *Pokemon GO* event schedule for more exciting events happening throughout February.