Gigantamax Rillaboom Max Battle Day starts August 1

Gigantamax Rillaboom takes over six-star Max Battles on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time. This event also brings the first chance to catch Shiny Gigantamax Rillaboom in Pokémon GO.

This is a group battle. A strong attacker helps, but the safest team also needs a defender that can stay alive while the Max Meter fills. Prepare both roles before the event starts.

For the rest of the month's schedule, check the Pokemon GO August 2026 events guide.

Gigantamax Rillaboom weaknesses

Rillaboom is a pure Grass-type Pokémon, so it is weak to:

  • Bug
  • Fire
  • Flying
  • Ice
  • Poison

Fire is the easiest type to build around because several of the strongest eligible Max attackers use Max Flare or a Fire-type G-Max move. Remember that regular Pokémon cannot enter Max Battles. Your team must use Dynamax, Gigantamax, or another form allowed in the Max Battle system.

Best Gigantamax Rillaboom attackers

These are the strongest practical attackers for the Max phase:

  1. Gigantamax Cinderace with Fire Spin and G-Max Fireball
  2. Gigantamax Charizard with Fire Spin and G-Max Wildfire
  3. Dynamax Darmanitan with Incinerate and Max Flare
  4. Dynamax Moltres with Fire Spin and Max Flare
  5. Dynamax Flareon with Fire Spin and Max Flare
  6. Dynamax Ho-Oh with Incinerate and Max Flare
  7. Dynamax Cinderace with Fire Spin and Max Flare

Gigantamax Cinderace is the best pure damage option in current simulations, with Gigantamax Charizard close behind. Darmanitan, Moltres, and Flareon give more players useful alternatives if the two G-Max starters are unavailable.

Do not spend all your resources just to copy the top line of a ranking. A powered-up counter with a levelled Max Attack will usually help more than an underbuilt Pokémon that happens to sit slightly higher on the list.

Best defenders and tanks

A defender stays on the field outside the Max phase, absorbs attacks, and helps charge the Max Meter. Good options include:

  • Dynamax Corviknight
  • Dynamax Venusaur
  • Crowned Shield Zamazenta
  • Dynamax Registeel
  • Dynamax Charizard
  • Dynamax Duraludon
  • Dynamax Blissey
  • Dynamax Latias

Corviknight is especially useful because its Flying and Steel typing gives it strong resistance to Grass attacks. The exact safest defender may change with Rillaboom's move set, so watch the battle and dodge targeted attacks instead of relying on resistance alone.

Level Max Guard and Max Spirit on at least one support Pokémon if your group needs more survival. Damage matters, but a team that faints before enough Max phases will not finish the battle.

How to build your three-Pokémon team

A simple setup is:

  • Slot 1: defender for charging the Max Meter
  • Slot 2: main Fire attacker for the Max phase
  • Slot 3: backup attacker or support in case the battle runs long

Start with the defender. Use quick Fast Attacks, collect any Max Energy that appears, and dodge when Rillaboom targets your Pokémon. When the Max phase begins, switch to your best attacker and use three powered-up Max Attacks.

If your group is taking heavy damage, one player can use Max Guard or Max Spirit while the other players attack. Talk about roles before entering the lobby so everyone does not bring three fragile damage dealers.

New to group battles? The Pokemon GO raids guide explains the basic preparation habits that also help with large coordinated fights.

Event bonuses

During Max Battle Day, players receive:

  • A Max Particle collection limit increased to 1,600
  • Gigantamax Battles at every Power Spot
  • More active Power Spots and faster refreshes
  • Eight times the usual Max Particles from Power Spots
  • Up to three Special Trades that day
  • A Remote Raid limit increased to 20 during the announced global window

From midnight until 5:00 p.m. local time on August 1, exploring gives twice the Max Particles and requires one-quarter of the normal walking distance. You must collect the available particles in the Nearby menu before the walking bonuses can apply correctly.

Use the morning to collect particles and prepare. The actual Gigantamax battles only run from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time.

Is the paid ticket worth it?

The event ticket costs US$4.99, or the equivalent local price. Its Timed Research gives:

  • One Max Mushroom
  • 25,000 XP
  • 6,400 Max Particles
  • Double XP from Max Battles during the event

The ticket is most useful for players planning to complete several battles and needing more particles. Casual players who only want one or two Rillaboom encounters can still use the free event bonuses.

Timed Research must be completed during the event window, and the ticket cannot be bought with PokéCoins.

Can Gigantamax Rillaboom be Shiny?

Yes. Shiny Gigantamax Rillaboom makes its Pokémon GO debut during this Max Battle Day. A Shiny encounter is not guaranteed, so players hunting it should plan for multiple successful battles.

The official announcement does not publish a Shiny rate. Treat any unofficial number as an estimate unless Pokémon GO confirms it directly.

Final preparation checklist

Before 2:00 p.m. local time:

  • Build at least one defender and one Fire attacker
  • Level the Max Attack on your main damage dealer
  • Add Max Guard or Max Spirit to a support option if needed
  • Collect Max Particles and claim available walking particles
  • Find a local group through the official event map or community tools
  • Clear Pokémon storage and item space
  • Charge your phone and bring a portable battery if possible

Do not expect to clear a six-star Gigantamax battle with an unprepared small group. A larger group with clear attacker and defender roles is the safer choice.

Players still learning the core systems can use the Pokemon GO beginner guide before joining the event.