Max Moves need Max Energy, which you earn by battling in raids or Gyms

A Max Move is a powered-up attack that a Pokémon can use during Dynamax battles — the three-minute battles where your Pokémon grows giant-sized. To use a Max Move, your Pokémon needs Max Energy, a separate resource from the regular Stardust and Candy you use to power up a Pokémon's level.

You get Max Energy by battling in raids (the group battles against legendary or rare Pokémon) or by defending Gyms. Each raid or Gym battle you win gives you Max Energy for the Pokémon type you used in that battle. For example, if you use a Water-type Pokémon in a raid, you earn Water-type Max Energy. You cannot buy Max Energy with real money, and there is no shortcut — you have to battle to earn it.

The amount of Max Energy you earn per battle varies. Raid battles typically give more Max Energy than Gym battles, and harder raids give more than easier ones. Once you have enough Max Energy for a specific Pokémon, you can unlock its Max Move in the battle screen right before a Dynamax battle starts.

Key Takeaways

  • Max Energy is earned only through raid battles or Gym battles, not through regular gameplay or purchases.
  • The Max Energy you earn is tied to the Pokémon type you battled with, so using a Water-type Pokémon earns Water-type Max Energy.
  • You unlock a Max Move by spending Max Energy on a specific Pokémon before entering a Dynamax battle.
  • Raid battles reward more Max Energy than Gym battles, so raids are the faster way to gather it if you have access to them.

Where to find raids and Gyms to earn Max Energy

Raids appear at Pokémon GO Gyms, which are real-world locations marked on your map — usually landmarks, parks, or public buildings. You can see which Gyms near you have active raids by opening the map and looking for the egg icon above a Gym. Raids rotate throughout the day, and each one lasts between 45 minutes and an hour.

Gym battles are available at any Gym, any time. You can battle the Pokémon defending the Gym once per day for free, and you earn Max Energy even if you lose. If you want to battle more than once per day, you need a Raid Pass, which you get one free per day from spinning a Gym's photo disc or by purchasing them with Pokécoins (the in-game currency).

If you live in an area with few Gyms or raids, you can use the in-game Nearby feature to see which Gyms are closest to you. Some players also use community Discord servers or the Pokémon GO subreddit to find raid groups in their area.

How much Max Energy you need and how long it takes

The amount of Max Energy required to unlock a Max Move depends on the Pokémon and the move. Most Pokémon need between 75 and 150 Max Energy to unlock their first Max Move. Once you unlock one Max Move for a Pokémon, unlocking additional Max Moves for that same Pokémon usually costs less — often 25 to 50 Max Energy.

How long it takes to gather that energy depends on how often you raid or battle Gyms. A single raid might give you 10 to 30 Max Energy, depending on the raid's difficulty and whether you win. A Gym battle gives roughly 5 to 10 Max Energy. If you do one raid per day, you could unlock a Max Move in one to two weeks. If you raid several times per week or battle Gyms daily, you could do it in a few days.

The difference between Max Energy and regular Stardust

Max Energy and Stardust are two completely separate resources. Stardust is what you use to increase a Pokémon's level and make it stronger in all battles. Max Energy is only used to unlock Max Moves, which you can only use during Dynamax battles in raids.

You earn Stardust by catching Pokémon, hatching eggs, and walking with your buddy Pokémon. You earn Max Energy only by battling in raids or Gyms. You cannot convert one into the other, and you do not need Stardust to unlock a Max Move — only Max Energy.

Why you might want to unlock Max Moves

Max Moves are useful if you raid frequently, because they deal extra damage during Dynamax battles and can give your team a strategic advantage. Some Max Moves also explore effects — for example, a Max Move might lower an opponent's defense or boost your team's attack. In Gym battles, however, Max Moves are not available, so unlocking them does not help you defend or take over a Gym.

If you are a casual player who rarely raids, unlocking Max Moves is not necessary. The game is fully playable without them. But if you join raid groups or compete in raid battles regularly, having Max Moves unlocked on your strongest Pokémon can make those battles faster and easier.

What happens if you do not unlock a Max Move

If you enter a Dynamax battle without unlocking a Max Move for that Pokémon, your Pokémon will still be able to use its regular moves during the battle. You just will not have access to the powered-up Max Move version. Your Pokémon will still deal damage and can still win the raid — you just lose the extra damage and special effects that a Max Move provides.

You can unlock Max Moves at any time, even after you have already battled with that Pokémon many times. There is no penalty for waiting, and no benefit to unlocking them early other than having them available for future raids.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same Max Energy for different Pokémon?

No. Max Energy is type-specific, so Water-type Max Energy can only be used on Water-type Pokémon. If you earn Max Energy from a raid using a Fire-type Pokémon, that energy goes into your Fire-type Max Energy pool and cannot be spent on a Water-type Pokémon.

Do I lose Max Energy if I use a Max Move in battle?

No. Once you unlock a Max Move for a Pokémon, you can use it in every Dynamax battle without spending Max Energy again. Max Energy is only spent once, at the moment you unlock the move.

What if I do not have any friends to raid with?

You can raid alone if the raid is low-difficulty (one-star or two-star raids), though you will earn less Max Energy than in a group. For harder raids, you can find raid groups through community Discord servers, the Pokémon GO subreddit, or by asking in local Pokémon GO Facebook groups.

Can I earn Max Energy without spending money?

Yes. You get one free Raid Pass per day by spinning a Gym's photo disc, which is enough to earn Max Energy without paying. Gym battles are also free and give Max Energy, though less per battle than raids do.