Dynamax Guide For Newer Players

[billybobwell]

Dynamax Guide for Newer Players
by billybobwell

Many players struggle with Dynamax raids because they don't understand why certain Pokemon or items are used. This guide explains the reasoning behind each choice so you can learn team-building logic, not just copy recipes.

Core Principles of Dynamax Battles

1. Debuff the Boss – Use moves like Tickle, Mud-Slap, Growl, Apple Acid to cut its damage and survivability.
2. Target the Weaker Stat – Every boss has lopsided defenses. Bring attackers that exploit the lower one (Defense vs. Sp.Def).
3. Respect Typing – Dynamax STAB moves are extremely punishing. Always bring attackers that resist or at least won't get OHKO'd.
4. Crit & Item Loops – Focus Energy ensures crits, Metronome rewards move repetition, and Choice Band/Specs maximize damage if you don't need to switch.
5. Control Setups – Many bosses use Swords Dance or Quiver Dance. Force them to self-reset by dropping their stats.
6. Double Check Speed Tiers, and EV Train Your Pokemon, A lot of these strategies won't work, if you blindly follow them without making sure your pokemon are faster than a Level 85 Dynamax Boss With 252 Speed Evs, Use an Online Calculator, Debuffs like Bulldoze matter.

Boss Strategies

Kingler – Lake Verity

Why this works: Kingler's Sp.Def is paper-thin compared to its Defense. Cacturne's Grass typing shrugs off most coverage, while Sun boosts Solar Beam for guaranteed massive damage.

Team Setup:
• Appletun @ Focus Sash (Support) – Sweet Scent to force Haze, Apple Acid for Sp.Def drops, Bulldoze to slow it.
• Vileplume @ Terrain Extender (Support) – Tickle (-1Def,-1Atk), Grassy Terrain, Reflect for team survival.
• Torkoal @ Heat Rock (Support) – Sets Sun with Drought, then Mud-Slaps for accuracy drop.
• Cacturne @ Choice Specs x3 (Attackers) – Water Absorb + Choice Specs Solar Beam deals devastating damage.

Flow: Vileplume sets Grassy Terrain → Reflect → Torkoal activates Sun → Cacturne spams Solar Beam.

Butterfree – Eterna Forest

Why this works: Force Butterfree to haze, Debuff it's stats, Butterfree is x4 Weak to Rock Moves, Arcanine-Hisui has a really High BP Rock Move with little to no drawbacks.

Team Setup:
• Charizard @ Sitrus Berry (Lead) – Smokescreen x2, Butterfree Haze, Confide (-1 Sp.Atk), Defog (-1 EVA), Rock Tomb (-1 Speed).
• Arcanine-Hisui @ Metronome (Attacker) – Leer to lower defenses once, then spam Head Smash x8. Switch to Stone Edge x8 if needed.

Centiskorch – Amberwick

Why this works: Centiskorch is 4× weak to Rock. Debuffing and lowering its Defense allows Tyrantrum to deal massive DPS with Head Smash, enabling fast and easy damage with minimal effort.

Team Setup:
• Gliscor @ Toxic Orb (Support) – Breaking Swipe (-Atk), Defog, Sand Attack (-Accuracy).
• Tyrantrum @ Metronome (Attacker) – With the Rock Head ability, start with Bulldoze, use Tail Whip to lower Defense, then spam Head Smash for high damage.

Coalossal – LanSoil

Why this works: Coalossal is 4× weak to Ground, making it highly vulnerable. Reflect boosts team defense, Tickle lowers the boss's Attack and Defense, and Mud-Slap reduces accuracy. Once these debuffs are in place, you can spam Earthquake for fast, high damage.

Team Setup:
• Vaporeon @ Light Clay (Support) – Reflect, Tickle (-Atk,-Def), Mud-Slap (-Accuracy).
• Garchomp(x5) @ Metronome(Attacker) – Earthquake spam with Metronome for escalating damage. Double-Edge to faint if reset needed.

Copperajah – Oreburgh

Why this works: Weakness Policy + Electric Terrain synergy allows explosive retaliation.

Team Setup:
• Luxray @ Terrain Extender (Support) – Electric Terrain + Leer, Intimidate preferred.
• Golem-Alola @ Weakness Policy (Nuke) – Survives one hit, triggers Weakness Policy, then Explodes.

Drednaw – Lake Verity

Why this works: Drednaw is x4 Weak to Grass, Vaporeon being Water Absorb, and Vileplume being able to set Grassy Terrain makes this team perfect, As you Use a Technician Boosted Breloom, With a Multi-Hit Move, under grassy terrain.

Team Setup:
• Vaporeon @ Light Clay (Support) – Use Reflect for team protection, Mud-Slap to trigger Weakness Policy, Haze to remove buffs, then Tickle to apply -1 Atk / -1 Def. (Switch out afterward)
• Vileplume @ Terrain Extender (Support) – Set up Grassy Terrain and Reflect to support the team. (Switch out afterward)
• Breloom @ Metronome (Attacker) – Start with Rock Tomb to reduce enemy Speed by 1, then spam Bullet Seed. Technician and Metronome boost damage further.

Duraludon – Oreburgh

Why this works: Fast special attacker. Sheer Force, and Focus Energy w/ Reflect Support for Optimal Survivability and damage.

Team Setup:
• Alolan Marowak @ Thick Club (Lead) – Knock Off, Growl(-1Atk), Mud-Slap(-1Acc).
• Appletun @ Focus Sash (Support) – Bulldoze + Apple Acid.
• Primarina @ Light Clay (Support) – Reflect SWAP to Attacker.
• Nidoking @ Metronome (Attacker) – Focus Energy + Earth Power spam (Heal with Max Potion, If required)

Gengar – Eterna Forest

Why this works: Gengar Uses Will-O-Wisp, Hariyama is a Physical Attacker with Guts Ability (If this Pokemon is statused, its Attack is 1.5x; ignores burn halving physical damage.)

Team Setup:
• Blissey @ Light Clay (Support) – Light Screen, Leer (-1 Def), Teleport pivot.
• Hariyama(x5) (Attacker) – Confide(-1 Sp.Atk), Focus Energy, Spam Earthquake

Eevee / Meowth – Floaroma Town

Why this works: x2 Weak to Fighting, Lucario has access to Focus Energy, and High Jump Kick (130BP Move),

Team Setup:
• Whimsicott (Support) – Tickle(-1Atk,-1Def), Defog(-1Eva), Knock Off.
• Lucario @ Metronome (Attacker) – Focus Energy, THAN spam High Jump Kick

Lapras – Lehar

Why this works: Lapras is positioned near a Pokemon Center, allowing quick recovery. With a -1 Defense debuff on the target, Electric Terrain active, Galvanize boosting your moves, and Explosion dealing massive damage, this setup delivers extremely high DPS in very little time.

Team Setup:
• Luxray @ Terrain Extender (Support) – Intimidate(-1Atk), Leer(-1Def. Electric Terrain, Use Wild Charge to faint after setup.
• Alolan Golem @ Weakness Policy (Nuke)(Galvanize) – Use Explosion.

Sandaconda – LanSoil

Why this works: Defensive sand abuser. Grass nukes deal overwhelming damage.

Team Setup:
• Appletun (Support) – Apple Acid + Bulldoze.
• Tangrowth (Support) – Tickle, Reflect, Grassy Terrain.
• Hydrapple (Attacker) – Sunny Day + Choice Specs Solar Beam.

Machamp – Lehar

Why this works: Lowering Machamps Physical Capabilities, allows you to spam High Base Power moves repeadiently and quickly. Scyther has Base 110 Atk, Technician Ability, and a low BP move that is doubled (Dual-WingBeat)

Team Setup:
• Clefable @ Light Clay (Support) – Tickle, Mud-Slap, Reflect, Teleport.
• Scyther @ Metronome (Attacker) – Defog → Focus Energy → Dual Wingbeat spam.

Pikachu – Floaroma Town

Why this works: Fast Electric STAB. Weak to Ground.

Team Setup:
• Mandibuzz @ Sitrus Berry (Support) – Defog(-1EVA), Confide(-1Sp.atk), Rock Tomb(-1Speed).
• Diggersby @ Metroome (Attacker) – Rock Smash(50% Chance to -1Def) → Use Earthquake/High Horsepower w/ Metronome Held item equipped.

Toxtricity – Amberwick

Why this works: Toxtricity is Electric/Poison Using Excadrill who is Ground/Steel Effectively blocks both of it's High Damaging moves, allowing you to use Earthquake with little to no drawbacks.

Team Setup:
• Gliscor @ Sitrus Berry (Support) – Breaking Swipe (-Atk), Defog(-1 Eva).
• Excadrill @ Metronome (Attacker) – Mud-Slap (-1Acc) → Rock Smash(-1 Def) → Earthquake spam.

Core Principles Deep Dive

Spoiler

1. Debuff Strategy Explained

* Attack Debuffs (Tickle, Growl, Breaking Swipe, Intimidate): cut physical damage up to 33%
* Accuracy Debuffs (Mud-Slap, Sand Attack): force misses on dangerous moves
* Sp. Atk Debuffs (Confide): key vs. special bosses
* Sp. Def Debuffs (Apple Acid): 100% chance to lower Sp.Def by 1 stage
* Speed Debuffs (Rock Tomb, Bulldoze): enable setup turns

2. Stat Targeting Logic

* Physical Walls: high Defense, weaker Sp.Def → counter with special moves
* Special Walls: high Sp.Def, weaker Defense → counter with physical moves
* Mixed Walls: target 4× weaknesses instead of purely physical/special

3. Type Resistance Priority

* Immunity best (e.g., Ground blocked by Flying)
* Resistance second best
* Bulk Neutral when no immunity/resistance; must tank neutral hits

Advanced Mechanics Clarification

Spoiler

Critical Hit Strategy

* Focus Energy: +2 stages crit chance, ignores defensive boosts, deals 1.5× damage

Item Synergies

* Metronome: consecutive move damage +20%
* Choice Items: +50% damage, locks move
* Weakness Policy: +2 Atk/Sp.Atk when hit by super-effective move

Terrain/Weather Interactions

* Electric Terrain + Galvanize: Normal moves become Electric +20% damage
* Grassy Terrain: Grass moves +30%, grounded allies heal each turn
* Sun + Solar Beam: Solar Beam fires full BP immediately

Team Building Logic Explained

Spoiler

Support Pokemon Roles

1. Stat Debuffer – weaken boss output
2. Screen Setter – reduce team damage
3. Terrain/Weather Control – empower attackers
4. Pivot – Teleport to bring attackers safely

Attacker Selection Criteria

1. Type Advantage – mandatory
2. Target weaker defense
3. Item synergy (Choice, Metronome, Weakness Policy)
4. Survivability – must tank 1 hit minimum

Common Confusions Clarified

Spoiler

"Why Use Weaker Pokemon Like Cacturne?"

* Type synergy > raw stats
* Specs Solar Beam in Sun = 270 BP STAB
* Water Absorb grants key survivability

"Why Explosion Strategies?"

* Explosion = 250 BP with synergy
* Weakness Policy → +2 Atk before Explosion
* Trading 1 mon for massive damage is worth it

"Why So Many Debuffs?"

* -1 Attack → ≈33% less physical damage
* Accuracy drops → free turns when bosses miss
* Stops snowballing → prevents boss stacking boosts

Final Thoughts
If you only remember one thing: identify the boss's weaker defense, punish it with typing, and back it with debuffing supports.

Additional Resources

* Pokemon Showdown Damage Calculator
* In-Depth Dynamax Guide & Rewards (PT-BR)
* JeanDeBoos Dynamax Guide
* Gotei PBO Guides Discord

Special thanks to Lucurryo and the Gotei PBO Crew for their contributions.

 

[JeanDeBoos]

I usually tell my new crew members to build the alolan golem team first, since it's fair against most & only requires a common & 5 rares

 

[Red98]

Dynamx Invasion Guide on why and how things work:

1. Always make sure to Debuff the Boss Monster to get more Damage and recieve less Damage
- make sure to use things like Growl, Tickle, Mud-Slap to help your Attacker stay alive longer
- things like Leer/Apple Acid will help you get more Damage out.

2. Check its Stats in Pokedex to find out if you want to go Physical or Special Attacker
- lesser Defense means Phyical Attacker, but not always. Sometimes it depends on what Typing has the best Attacking Moves.

3. Make Sure to keep an eye on its Typing. We dont want to get hit from the D-Max Move it will 2-3 Shot you depending on the Attacker youre using.
- make sure the Attacker doesnt get hit by the Attack meaning we need to make sure we either Resist the Typing or another Move from the Movepool of the Boss Monster hits us Super Effective, being still better than a 150 Base Damage STAB Move.

4. Things like Focus Energy to boost your Crit Rate and Max Potions to keep you alive and get the Full effect of Metronome will give you the highest Damage possible.


Here is an example on how one Team was Build and Why:

Kingler:

Most Dynamax Pokemon will Set up, keep that in mind either with Swords Dance, Quiver Dance etc, we need to make sure they lose that stat fast.

Kingler has less SDef than Defense meaning we want a Special Attacking Unit.

1. Kingler has access to Water, Ground, Dark Type Move, this one is a tricky one since the Dark Type Move is Knock Off, we dont want to get hit by it since we deal most of our Damage with Items we Hold like Choice Items or Metronomes.

2. Now we know what Moves it uses, we need to make sure we Resist the Water and the Dark Type Move
- the typing we want for that is Grass/Dark in this case.
- a good special Attacker Grass/Dark would be Cacturne with 115 Special Attack.
- now we need to find the strongest Grass Move, which in this case is Solar Beam
- The Item of our Choice here is Choice Specs, since we have to switch out to get Sun back on the Field something like Metronome just doesnt cut it.

3. Since we have an idea on what Attacker we are using, we need to make sure to bring the right Supports with us.
things we need:

- Something to get rid of the Stat Boost we mentioned above being Swords Dance in this example, so we need Haze or force it to Haze which it does once we have Positive Stat Boost like Iron Defense

- Vileplume is a great Support here since it has access to - Tickle, Grassy Terrain (to boost our Grass Move for 30% more Damage), Refelct (Helps us stay alive longer)

- Appletun currently is the only Pokemon in Game having the Option to -SDef something with (Apple Acid) + as stated above we need to force it to Haze so we either use Iron Defense to get x2 Defense on our side or Sweet Scent giving Kingler -2 Evasion also forcing it to Haze.

- Torkoal is also very good since is knows Mud-Slap also a Defensive Stat Drop and Drought as an Ability to get Sun out so we can get Solar Beam Damage every Turn without needing to wait for it.

Hope this insight helped on how and why things are chosen in Dynamax Teambuilding