As a formidable 6-Star Raid boss making its debut in *Pokemon GO*, Gigantamax Kingler challenges Trainers to assemble the perfect raid party to exploit its vulnerabilities during its Max Battle Day on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM local time. As the first Gigantamax boss since Lapras, this colossal evolution of Krabby demands a strategic approach to conquer.

Gigantamax Kingler Weaknesses & Resistances in Pokemon GO

As a pure Water-type, Gigantamax Kingler shares the same type weaknesses and resistances as its base form. It's only susceptible to Grass- and Electric-type attacks, which deal 160% super-effective damage. Conversely, it resists Fire-, Water-, Steel-, and Ice-type moves, reducing their impact to just 39% damage. It's crucial to steer clear of these ineffective attack types to maximize your chances of success.

Best Counters Against Gigantamax Kingler in Pokemon GO

Image via Niantic/The Pokemon Company To effectively battle Gigantamax Kingler, Trainers should leverage Electric- and non-pure Grass-type counters. The limitation to only using Dynamax- or Gigantamax-capable Pokemon narrows down the options, but there are still several potent choices available:

While other counters like Rillaboom exist, be cautious of Gigantamax Kingler's diverse moveset, which includes Bubble, Mud Shot, Metal Claw, Vise Grip, Water Pulse, Crabhammer, Razor Shell, and the Bug-type attack X-Scissor. This Bug-type move is super-effective against pure Grass-types, but the dual Grass/Poison typing of Venusaur and Ivysaur neutralizes its impact.

Similarly, the Ground-type Mud Shot poses a threat to Electric/Poison types like Toxitricity, but Zapdos's Flying typing negates this vulnerability. Prioritizing counters that benefit from a 20% STAB (same-type attack bonus) is ideal. However, non-matching types like Greedent, Dubwool, and Cryogonal, which can still utilize Grass- or Electric-type moves, serve as excellent backups, receiving only neutral damage from Kingler's attacks.

In a pinch, neutral tanks such as Blastoise or Lapras can act as robust defenders if you're low on super-effective options.

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 confirmed by the game's announcement for its Max Battle Day event. Defeating this Raid boss offers a chance to encounter and catch a Shiny variant, although the exact odds haven't been officially disclosed. Based on similar 5-Star Raid bosses, the probability might be around 1 in 20.

Don’t Forget Max Mushrooms

If your raid party struggles against Gigantamax Kingler, consider using Max Mushrooms, available for purchase in *Pokemon GO*. These items temporarily double the damage dealt by your Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon for 30 seconds, though they come at a steep price of 400 PokeCoins each. When used strategically, Max Mushrooms can significantly boost your raid team's performance.

Now armed with comprehensive knowledge on defeating Gigantamax Kingler with optimal counters during its Max Battle Day, explore the *Pokemon GO* event schedule to discover what other exciting activities await you throughout February.