Shiny Dynamax Lugia Battle Guide: Moves, Weakness & Counters

by Jerry Cook Updated on 2025-11-25 18:59:30 / Update for Pokemon iOS

Niantic has dedicated the upcoming Max Battle weekend to the debut of Dynamax Lugia. Speaking of which, Lugia in Pokémon Go is known as the Guardian of the Seas and, in terms of its bulk, is one of the strongest Pokémons ever to exist.

As such, if you haven’t caught it already, now’s your perfect opportunity. This guide on Dynamax Lugia in Pokémon Go is all you need to efficiently catch this legendary Pokémon during the upcoming Max Battle weekend!

shiny dynamax pokemon go 2025

Part 1. Is Dynamax Lugia Coming to Pokémon Go?

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dynamax lugia pokemon go

As told above, the legendary Pokémon known as Lugia is making its Dynamax debut in Pokémon Go. According to official announcements by Niantic, Dynamax Lugia will appear in five-star Max Battles. Here are the full details:

Debut Date & Time

Dynamax Lugia will make its first appearance during a special Max Battle Weekend from Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. local time through Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 9:00 p.m. local time.

Event Bonuses

During the weekend event, you’ll receive several bonuses that will make the Dynamax Lugia hunt much smoother:

  • Max Particle collection limit is increased to 1,600.
  • Adventuring distance for Max Particles is reduced to ¼ of the usual.
  • Power Spots refresh more quickly and give 8× Max Particles.

How to Get Dynamax Lugia?

To get Dynamax Lugia, there are specific procedures you need to follow, and the following points will detail the exact steps for your reference:

  • You’ll face Dynamax Lugia in a five-star Max Battle during the event.
  • Show up at a 5-star Power Spot, join a group of trainers, and win the battle to get the chance to catch it.

Is It Possible to Get a Shiny Dynamax Lugia?

Luckily, you might encounter one! If you do, you’ll immediately notice striking differences in its appearance and rarity. Let’s explore both.

Shiny Dynamax Lugia Appearance

The Shiny Dynamax Lugia features a red and white body color. This is in stark contrast to the regular one, which is blue and white.

shiny dynamx lugia

Shiny Dynamax Lugia Rarity

Like most legendary Pokémon, the odds for encountering Shiny Lugia in Pokémon Go are extremely low. While the exact shiny odds aren’t publicly available, special event occurrences, like in the upcoming Max Battle weekend, boost shiny Dynamax Lugia odds.

Does Dynamax Lugia Evolve?

No, Lugia in Pokémon Go doesn’t evolve into any higher form, and its Dynamax form is simply a special appearance for this event.

The standard Lugia that you may or may not already have remains the same, and the Dynamax version is a limited-time battle variant.

Part 2. Solo Dynamax Lugia in Pokémon Go! Weakness & Counters

dynamax lugia counters pokemon go

Taking on Dynamax Lugia alone is no child’s play. But with the right counters, strategy, and prep, you can make it happen!

In this Lugia raid guide section, you’ll find what type weaknesses to exploit, the top Pokémon to bring, and how to approach the battle.

What's Dynamax Lugia's Type Weakness?

Dynamax Lugia’s typing is Psychic and Flying. This gives rise to several key Lugia Pokémon Go weaknesses that you can exploit, namely:

  • Rock
  • Ghost
  • Electric
  • Ice
  • Dark

Dynamax Lugia takes 160% damage from these type moves.

5 Best Pokémon to Beat Lugia(Dynamax Form)

To defeat Dynamax Lugia, you must use strong counters that can break through its high bulk and defenses. Ghost, Dark, and Electric attackers work best. The table below shows the top Pokémon and movesets for beating Lugia effectively.

  • Appearance
  • Pokémon
  • Type
  • Best Moveset
  • gigantamax gengar
  • Gigantamax Gengar
  • Ghost / Poison
  • Sucker Punch + G-Max Terror
  • shadow tyranitar
  • Shadow Tyranitar
  • Dark / Rock
  • Bite + Brutal Swing
  • rampardos pokemon go
  • Rampardos
  • Rock
  • Smack Down + Rock Slide
  • black kyurem
  • Black Kyurem
  • Dragon / Ice
  • Shadow Claw + Freeze Shock
  • zekrom pokemon
  • Zekrom
  • Dragon / Electric
  • Charge Beam + Fusion Bolt

Dynamax Lugia's Solo Strategies

Maximize the Meter

  • In Max Battles, you build up your “Max Meter” by making fast moves.
  • Use fast moves early on so you can enter the Dynamax phase quickly.

Use Shields Strategically

  • Don’t waste shields early on when the boss charges with weak hits.
  • Use shields to keep your strongest Pokémon alive until the Max Phase.

Prioritize Dodging

  • When Lugia uses big charged moves, dodge whenever possible.
  • Dodging big hits lets you survive longer without sacrificing HP.

Consider Using Max Guard

  • When a Pokémon is shielded with Max Guard, the boss’s charged attack will be directed at that shielded Pokémon, sparing teammates from the hit.
  • Maximize Your Attacks

    • Unleash your best charged moves that exploit Lugia’s weak types effectively.
    • When the Max Phase hits, go all in and aim to finish the fight asap.

Part 3. Is Dynamax Lugia Good in Pokémon Go?

dynamax pokemon 2025

When it comes to deciding whether is Lugia good in Pokémon Go or not, we need to look at several layers, such as its raw stats, best movesets for different modes (PvE & PvP), and how it performs in real battles.

Let’s break it down in simple terms.

Dynamax Lugia's Stats & Max CP

In its standard form, Lugia has a Max CP of 4186 at level 50. Its base stats are:

  • Attack: 193
  • Defense: 310
  • Stamina: 235

These numbers show a heavy bias toward defense. Lugia in Pokémon Go is built to survive and not to hit extremely hard.

Dynamax Lugia's Best Movesets in PvE & PvE

Best Movesets in PvE

  • Extrasensory (Fast) + Fly (Charged)
  • Fly gives decent flying-type damage and benefits from STAB (same-type bonus) thanks to Lugia’s Psychic/Flying typing.

Best Movesets in PvP

  • Dragon Tail (Fast) + Aeroblast (Charged)
  • Dragon Tail helps because it deals good damage while charging energy moderately. Fly or Aeroblast finish things off.

Dynamax Lugia's Battle Performance Analysis

Battle Performance for PvE

  • In PvE, Dynamax Lugia’s major strength is its bulk. High defense and stamina let it stay in the fight.
  • However, its low attack stat means it doesn’t dish out damage as rapidly as other legendary attackers.
  • So, despite its okay bulk, Lugia in Pokémon Go is underwhelming as a raid attacker.

Battle Performance for PvP

  • In PvP, Dynamax Lugia is better suited as a shield-absorber or switch-in tank rather than a heavy hitter.
  • Its bulk lets it soak up big damage, but slower moves and many weaknesses hold it back.
  • Currently, it’s more of a specialist (niche) pick rather than an automatic “best” pick.

No Movement Needed! Join Max Battle and Defeat Dynamax Lugia!

catch dynamax pokemon go

Dynamax Lugia is available for two days during the Max Battle event from 6:00 a.m. Nov 29 to 9:00 p.m. Nov 30. If you miss this weekend, you can’t get it. How to catch it remotely in Pokémon Go? Use “PoGoskill”.

PoGoskill is a top-notch GPS spoofer app that can alter your device’s GPS coordinates to any location on the world map. It can successfully trick Pokémon Go into thinking that you’re out there hunting for Dynamax Lugia when, in fact, you’re just relaxing in your home!

Key Features of Pokémon

  • 1-Click Teleport: With just a tap, you can spoof your GPS coordinates to any location on the world map.
  • Raid Scan: Scans up to 2000 nearby gyms/raids, giving useful insights such as the raid boss and gym tier.
  • Auto-Catch Pokémons: PoGoskill automatically catches Pokémons for you with great accuracy.

How To Use PoGoskill

  • Step 1Click on the Download button above and install PoGoskill.

    install PoGoskill
  • Step 2Connect your device and choose “Game Mode”.

    pokemon go festival of lights 2025 location changer
  • Step 3Find a location with many Power Spots nearby on the PoGo map, start participating in Max Battles to catch Dynamax Lugia.

    pokemon go festival of lights 2025 location changer

FAQs about Dynamax Lugia Pokémon Go.

dynamax lugia debut pokemon go

What Is The 100 IV For Lugia?

A perfect 100 IV Lugia reaches 4186 CP at level 50, representing maximum stats in Attack, Defense, and Stamina. This ideal version offers peak performance in raids and PvP, giving Lugia excellent bulk and long-term value for competitive and collector-focused players.

How Rare Is a Shiny Lugia?

Shiny Lugia is considered rare, generally appearing at 1 in 20 shiny odds during raid events. Since Lugia rotates in and out of raids, opportunities to catch its shiny form are limited, making it a desirable target for collectors when available.

What Is Apex Lugia in Pokémon Go?

Apex Lugia is a more powerful special form from the Apex Shadow line, released through exclusive research. It features an enhanced Aeroblast attack and superior performance compared to regular Shadow Lugia, making it a valuable and rare addition for high-level players.

How Does Lugia Compare to Ho-Oh?

Lugia is bulkier and highly defensive, allowing it to survive longer in battles. Ho-Oh focuses more on offensive power but relies on slower, riskier moves. Lugia excels at endurance-based strategies, while Ho-Oh is better suited for burst damage and niche roles.

Can You Solo Raid Lugia?

No. Lugia cannot be soloed due to its very high bulk and defensive stats. Most players need multiple trainers with strong Electric, Rock, Ghost, or Dark counters to finish the raid efficiently, especially without weather boosts or Mega support.

How To Beat Giovanni Shadow Lugia Below 1300 CP In Pokémon Go?

Use strong Electric, Rock, Dark, Ice, or Ghost attackers, avoid charged moves, and save shields for final hits.

Final Thoughts

Now, to wrap things up, Dynamax Lugia brings a fresh and exciting challenge to Pokémon Go, giving trainers a rare chance to capture one of the game’s strongest legendary Pokémon. With the right counters, strategies, and timing, you can beat and catch this powerful form before the event ends.

However, if life gets in the way and commitments hold you back, use PoGoskill Location Changer to play Pokémon Go and participate in Max Battles regardless of where you are!

pogoskill location changer PoGoskill

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