Yes, You Can Get Gigantamax Pokémon without DLC
I‘ve seen a lot of confusion around whether players can add Gigantamax Pokémon to their collection in Pokémon Sword and Shield if they don‘t have the Isle of Armor expansion. So let me clear it up – yes, it is 100% possible to get Gigantamax Pokémon without any DLC purchases. While having the expansion makes it significantly easier, base game players still have options to capture these powerful dynamaxed forms.
In this guide from one long-time Pokémon gaming enthusiast to another, I‘ll break down everything you need to know to hunt down Gigantamax Pokémon with your base version of Sword and Shield. Let‘s dive in!
Unlocking Max Raid Battles with Gigantamax Pokémon
The most common way to have a shot at catching Gigantamax Pokémon is by participating in Max Raid Battles featuring them. Out of all normal Dynamax Raid spawns, roughly 5% will be Gigantamax capable according to data from PokéJungle.
However, these spawns won‘t show up right away. You first have to defeat all 8 Gyms in the game and challenge the Champion Cup at Wyndon Stadium. Once you‘ve completed this milestone in the story, 5 star Dynamax Raid spawns will start appearing which have a chance to feature Gigantamax Pokémon.
As far as locations go, 5 star raids only show up in Pokémon Dens scattered throughout the Wild Area. Each area like Dappled Grove, Giant‘s Mirror, etc has a set number of these high difficulty dens. So I recommend exploring and marking down where these raids can pop up to increase your hunting efficiency.
Here’s a quick table summarizing the key points:
| When Do They Unlock? | Where Do They Spawn? | Spawn Chance |
|---|---|---|
| After completing Champion Cup | 5 Star Max Raid Dens in Wild Area | ~5% |
Now let‘s talk about recommended Pokémon to use when challenging these 5 star Gigantamax battles…
Gift Events with Special Gigantamax Pokémon
In addition to Dynmax Raid Battles, players have also been gifted special Gigantamax capable Pokémon for free through official events and distributions. While fairly limited in scope, it‘s still possible to add them to your game without any DLC.
The most notable example was Leon gifting players a special Charmander after becoming Champion, which could evolve into a Gigantamax Charizard. Players could claim this by visiting Leon‘s room at his house after entering the Hall of Fame.
For time limited distributions, The Pokémon Company hosts Mystery Gift events which provide special Gigantamax forms. For example, in 2021 an event for Gigantamax Bulbasaur and Squirtle was held commemorating the franchise‘s 25th anniversary. By inputting a code, players could redeem these event mons through their Mystery Gift menu.
I‘ll update this section as more distributions inevitably arrive in the coming years. But it still proves that complete Gigantamax teams can be built through what the base games provide!
Trading with Other Players in the Community
If participating in Max Raid Battles proves too tedious, you can always trade with other players in the community who have managed to catch Gigantamax Pokémon.
According to Usage Stats on Serebii, several Gigantamax Pokémon like Charizard, Venusaur, and Butterfree consistently rank among the top picks in online competitive play. Trading for these won‘t be easy, but I wanted to highlight it‘s another possible option without buying the DLC yourself.
One key watchout I‘ll note around version exclusivity. There are specific Gigantamax forms like Gengar that can only spawn in Sword or Shield. So make sure to shop around at trusted leaders in the community when looking for version-specific creatures. You don‘t want to risk losing a battle and end up with nothing in return!
Encounter Rate Data and Analysis
Let’s now analyze the actual data around encountering Gigantamax Pokémon across the various options covered:
| Method | Gigantamax Encounter Rate |
|---|---|
| Randomly in Wild Area | 0% |
| Normal Max Raid Battle | 0% |
| Event Max Raid Battle | 10-50% |
| 5 Star Max Raid Battle | 5% |
| Mystery Gift | Varies |
| Trading | 100% (If Trusted) |
A few key takeaways:
- Normal gameplay will never present an opportunity to catch Gigantamax natively
- Max Raid Battles, despite being inconsistent, are still the most accessible way to find them
- Mystery Gifts provide guaranteed encounters but are very limited
- Trading circumvents luck but has risks around trust
So in summary – lots of patience and persistence is required, but the payoff of owning an elite Gigantamax Pokémon makes it worthwhile in my opinion!
My Recommendations as an Expert
Given the various pros and cons across each method, here is my personal advice for players trying to catch ‘em all:
- Actively hunt 5 Star Max Raid Dens between other gaming sessions
- Don‘t expect immediate success – have realistic expectations
- Leverage online communities to trade if needed
- Sit tight and await Mystery Gift distributions when possible
Stay positive and don‘t get discouraged! With the right mindset and understanding how the encounter mechanics work, you‘ll have your own Gigantamax Pokémon squad in no time without paying a single extra cent.
Let me know if this guide helps you on your path to finding these majestic beasts. I wish you the best of luck and have fun continuing your adventures in Galar!
