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Pokémon Sword and Shield Gigantamax Snorlax - release date, how to get Gigantamax Snorlax and exclusive G-Max Move explained

Everything you need to know about the Gigantamax Snorlax in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Gigantamax Snorlax joins Gigantamax Meowth in being one of the first limited-release Gigantamax Pokémon in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

When Snorlax Dynamaxes, it truly becomes a mountain, towering over its opponents. It even has a tree growing on its belly.

This Pokémon would be a great addition to any team, not just because of how cool it looks, but thanks to its exclusive G-Max Move.

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Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield - Overview trailerWatch on YouTube

Release date for Gigantamax Snorlax in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Gigantamax Snorlax will be available in Max Raid battles from Wednesday 4th December to early January 2020.

Nintendo hasn't noticed an official end date for Gigantamax Snorlax Max Raids yet, but we'll update this page when its announced.

How to get Gigantamax Snorlax in Pokémon Sword and Shield

If you want to battle Gigantamax Snorlax, then you need to connect your Nintendo Switch to the Internet during its release window to update the spawn table for your Wild Area.

You can also do this by getting the latest Wild Area News using the Mystery Gift function found in the X menu.

Once you're spawn tables have been updated, it's time to hunt down Gigantamax Snorlax.

Gigantamax Snorlax will appear in the Pokémon Dens scattered across the Wild Area. You'll know if a Pokémon Den has a visitor, because it will be shining a red or purple light.

Thankfully Gigantamax Snorlax can visit both red and purple light Pokémon Dens. It also doesn't require you having earned the eighth gym badge - no matter your progress, you can battle Gigantamax Snorlax!

If you're having trouble finding Gigantamax Snorlax, then you can use a Wishing Piece on a Pokémon Den.

This will reset the Pokémon hiding inside, meaning that you could end up with a Gigantamax Snorlax. Be warned, however, if you don't battle the Pokémon already infesting the Pokémon Den before using the Wishing Piece, you will lose your chance to battle it in this Den.

You can also raise your chances of encountering a Gigantamax Snorlax by completing all the currently available Max Raids. This will cause the Wild Area to refresh, bringing you a new collection of Max Raids to complete.

It also raises your chances of finding rare Gigantamax Pokémon, like Snorlax.


With it finally in the wild, here's how to start the Crown Tundra DLC and our full Pokémon Crown Tundra walkthrough. Plus, here's how to catch Calyrex, Glastrier and Spectrier, the Regieleki and Regidrago puzzle solution and Regirock, Regice, Registeel locations, details on how to catch Legendary Birds Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres in the Crown Tundra, the Ultra Beasts and Necrozma adventure, Dynamax Adventures, including the legendries you can catch on these adventures, and the new Crown Tundra Pokédex and returning Pokémon explained. For Isle of Armor players, here's how to find the Slowpoke, where to find Max Mushroom locations, and how to get Kubfu, become best friends and evolve it, plus all Diglett locations too! For the base game, here's info on the ability to transfer Pokémon to Pokémon Home, the Wild Area, lists of all TM locations and TRs, all Galarian forms and finally our main Pokémon Sword and Shield walkthrough for the whole game.


Gigantamax Snorlax's Exclusive G-Max Move explained in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Not only does Gigantamax Snorlax's size allows it to dominate the battlefield, but its G-Max move allows it to change the course of a battle.

Gigantamax Snorlax's G-Max move is called G-Max Replenish. This move allows Giganatamax Snorlax to restore any berries that have been consumed by Snorlax or its allies during the battle.

This means that, depending on which berry you used, Gigantmax Snorlax either bring a quick healing boost or save a Pokémon from a status condition just at the right moment. A little action like this is all you need to change the course of a Pokémon battle and destroy your opponent's strategy.

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