The Best Way to Take Down Gigantamax Rillaboom in Pokémon GO

Gigantamax Rillaboom is a Tier 6 Max Battle boss in Pokémon GO. The encounter requires 800 Max Particles, but the cost is only consumed when the group defeats Rillaboom.

Rillaboom is a pure Grass-type Pokémon, leaving it vulnerable to Bug, Flying, Fire, Ice, and Poison attacks. After the battle, the encounter can produce Rillaboom between 1817 CP and 1899 CP.

A successful clear can include anywhere from 10 to 40 Trainers, so team organization matters just as much as individual damage. Bring powered-up Pokémon with their Max Moves upgraded whenever possible, and make room for attackers, a defender, and a healer.

Best Gigantamax Rillaboom Counters

Gigantamax Cinderace is the top attacker for this matchup. Its G-Max Fireball deals super-effective Fire damage and gives the group a strong way to cut through Rillaboom’s health during the Dynamax phase.

Vespiquen is the preferred defender because its typing helps it withstand Rillaboom’s attacks while it builds Max Energy. Blissey can keep the group healthy with Max Spirit, while Gigantamax Cinderace handles the main damage work.

Other strong attackers

Fire attackers are the safest focus, with Gigantamax Cinderace and Gigantamax Charizard leading the group. Ice, Flying, Bug, and Poison options can also work because Rillaboom takes super-effective damage from those attack types.

Best Defenders

The defender’s job is to survive, charge the Max Meter, and draw Rillaboom’s focused attacks away from the rest of the group. Vespiquen is the strongest choice, while Corviknight is another useful option.

1. Vespiquen — Bug Bite, Fury Cutter, or Poison Sting
2. Corviknight — Sand Attack
3. Dynamax Charizard — Dragon Breath*
4. Dynamax Venusaur — Vine Whip
5. Crowned Shield Zamazenta — Metal Claw
6. Dynamax Registeel — Lock On or Metal Claw

*Dragon Breath requires an Elite TM.

Rillaboom can use Grass, Ground, and Normal attacks. Vespiquen and Corviknight are useful defenders because they can reduce the pressure from much of the boss’s possible moveset while building energy for the next Dynamax phase.

Best Healers

Dynamax Blissey is the first choice for the healer role. Dynamax Wailord, Dynamax Snorlax, and Gigantamax Lapras are strong alternatives. Dynamax Vaporeon and Eternatus can also fill the role when the preferred options are unavailable.

• Dynamax Blissey
• Dynamax Wailord
• Dynamax Snorlax
• Gigantamax Lapras
• Dynamax Vaporeon
• Eternatus

Healers should invest in Max Spirit. The move restores health for the user and other active Pokémon in the same group of four, which can keep attackers in the battle longer.

How to Build the Team

Up to 40 Trainers can enter a Gigantamax Battle, divided into groups of four. The recommended setup for each group is:

• Two attackers
• One defender
• One healer

Each Trainer brings a team of three Pokémon. Start with a fast-charging Pokémon that has a 0.5-second Fast Move, followed by two strong attackers. When the Max Meter fills, switch to the attacker that matches the group’s role. After the Dynamax phase ends, switch back to the charger if more energy is needed.

Fast Moves determine the typing of your Max Move. That makes the Fast Move more important than the Charged Move in this battle, especially when trying to produce Fire-, Flying-, Bug-, Ice-, or Poison-type Max attacks.

Battle Tips for Gigantamax Rillaboom

Use Fast Moves instead of Charged Moves

Fast Moves build Max Energy more efficiently in Gigantamax Battles. Bosses have very high HP, so Charged Moves generate no more than 1 Max Energy per use while taking longer to animate. Keep tapping Fast Moves to fill the Max Meter sooner.

Once the meter is full, use the correct attacker during the three-turn Dynamax phase. Repeat the process whenever the meter fills again.

Use Max Guard and Max Spirit

One defender in each group should focus on Max Guard. The move can stack up to three shields and draws Rillaboom’s focused attacks toward the protected Pokémon. Other Trainers can keep attacking while the defender absorbs the pressure.

The healer should use Max Spirit when the group’s health starts to fall. Max Spirit affects the active Pokémon in the whole group of four, so timing it well can prevent multiple knockouts.

Dodge focused attacks

Three lines above a Pokémon indicate that Rillaboom is targeting it with a focused attack. Swipe left or right to dodge the hit. The targeted attack deals double the boss’s regular damage, so avoiding it can save both health and shields.

Gigantamax Rillaboom’s Moves

Rillaboom uses two Charged Moves from its movepool during the battle. One attack hits every active Pokémon and cannot be dodged. The other targets one Pokémon, deals double damage, and can be avoided with a well-timed swipe.

Most of Rillaboom’s attacks are Grass-type, but Earth Power and Scratch add Ground- and Normal-type coverage. A defender with high Defense and Stamina can help the group manage those attacks while the attackers focus on super-effective damage.

With Gigantamax Cinderace leading the damage lineup, Vespiquen handling defense, and Blissey supporting the group, Gigantamax Rillaboom becomes much easier to manage. Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.

Pokémon Go

Developed by Niantic Labs, The Pokémon Company

Pokémon Go is an augmented reality mobile game that uses GPS to let players locate, capture, train, and battle Pokémon in real-world locations. Players explore their physical surroundings to find PokéStops for items, battle at Gyms for team control, participate in Raid Battles cooperatively, and compete in the Go Battle League's player-versus-player format. The game is free-to-play with in-app purchases and features Pokémon from across multiple generations of the franchise.

• Genre: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator
• Platforms: Android, iOS
• Perspective: Third person, Bird view / Isometric, Side view
• Modes: Single player, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
• Release: 2016-07-06
• Publisher: Niantic Labs
• Age Rating:
• IGDB Rating: 66.4/100

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