Those who have been playing Pokémon Sword & Shield since release probably consider themselves old hands at Max Raid Battles. They’ve nabbed all the best Gigantamax Pokémon, acquired the most-wanted Hidden Abilities, picked up the TRs they wanted and… well, probably failed far too many raids on account of that silly NPC with their useless Magikarp.
When the Crown Tundra expansion arrived, though, it added a real curveball that completely changed the way Max Raids play out. Max Lair Raids or Dynamax Adventures are an entirely different beast, not to be underestimated. If you’re just getting started venturing into these dens, here are some important things to bear in mind.
10 Firstly, Know What You’re Getting Yourself Into
Max Raids in the main game aren’t that daunting a prospect. Everyone in the party can see which enormous Pokémon they’re about to face, after all, and can simply choose the super-strong Galar critter from their boxes that’s best equipped to deal with it.
This is not the case with Max Lair Raids. Endurance is the name of the game, as four separate Pokémon are faced one after the other. The final one will be a Legendary Pokemon, the primary aim of the raid and the most difficult fight in most cases. When Endless Dynamax Adventure mode is unlocked, the true meaning of ‘endurance’ is revealed! Those limited ‘lives’ you have for a standard Max Raid? You have the same number, but they don’t regenerate and your team must last all four battles. Good luck!
9 Accept That You Won’t Be Using Your Own Pokémon
That fact alone already cranks up the difficulty by several notches (at least three of them), but there’s more. Battlers may think that they’ll be fine with their competitive powerhouses, fully EV’d with perfect IVs at level 100, but here’s the thing about that: players’ own Pokémon aren’t eligible at all.
At the beginning of a Max Lair Raid run, each participant will choose a Pokémon from a randomized, limited pool to borrow for that run. It might have just the right moveset for the challenges ahead, or, more likely, it may absolutely not. There are four Pokemon the size of the Chrysler Building ahead, and there’s really no saying which critter they’ll be forced to face them with. Better get used to it.
8 Identify Which Pokemon The Silhouettes Are
Veterans of the classic Who’s That Pokémon game will be glad to see that their skills will come in handy here too. Max Lair Raids are very open-ended, allowing the team to vote on which route they take to that final encounter with the Dynamax Legendary Pokémon.
Opposing Dynamax Pokémon are shown on the map, albeit as faint silhouettes in a cloud of energy. Their primary typing is revealed, but to know more about them and inform your choice, you’ll need to be able to make out exactly which species you’re looking at.
7 Plan Ahead And Play To Your Strengths
How to decide which route to take to that final encounter? Well, if your team’s Pokémon have a lot of power Water-type attacks and there’s a Fire Pokémon in the first row, it’ll be tempting to go straight for that option. Be careful, though, because there might be a Grass-type or two waiting on that route to bring a swift end to your fun.
Take a look at each path in full and plot the route that seems most manageable. This is especially important if your team has a lot of weaknesses (if you have multiples of the unfortunate Ice or Bug typing, for instance).
6 Incorporate NPCs And Items In Your Runs If You Can
Sadly, then, the player has no access to their own Pokémon during a Dynamax Adventure. This is nice as a leveler when players of different experience levels are teaming up, but nobody can use their own held items or medicine either.
This isn’t to say that these things are completely inaccessible, though. As players plot out a route, they might notice an NPC or a pile of berries on the path between battles. These can be hugely helpful, depending on the team’s status. The berry pile will heal the team’s Pokémon for a modest amount, while the Scientist offers a switch for another rental Pokémon and the Backpacker offers the team a choice of a held item each. Some of those items are incredibly useful, meaning that it can sometimes be worth taking on a less-than-favorable encounter for these chances.
5 Don’t Be Afraid To Switch Pokémon If It Could Offer An Advantage
Speaking of the NPCs, there’s something very important to note about the Scientist: they won’t offer you a choice of Pokémon to switch to. It’s entirely randomized. You might get the perfect critter to finish off that run with, or you might entirely ruin your chances.
With each Pokémon caught, however, you can see exactly what they’d add to your party if you chose to swap your active fighter for them. Some players are reluctant to make the switch if said Pokémon had been performing well, but it’s vital to weigh up the situation and the battles ahead and determine whether your line-up could be improved or not (and who should switch).
4 Play With Friends
As anyone who’s suffered from NPCs’ terrible Pokémon and AI in single-player Max Raids will tell you, the mode is most definitely at its best with friends.
Solo players are on a much more even keel here, thanks to the rental system, but they’re still at the mercy of three AI allies and their random decisions. From awful move choices to ill-advised Pokémon switches, they just can’t be relied on. For a less frustrating time with Max Lair Raids, team up with like-minded friends whenever you can.
3 Try To Synergize Your Moves With Allies Where Possible
Once you’ve assembled your team of Pokémon-hunting powerhouses, you might find that these battles are still tougher than you were expecting. After all, there’s a strict limitation on the number of times an allied Pokémon can faint.
As such, strategies won’t always boil down to simply choosing a super effective move each turn and whittling your Dynamax foes’ HP down. Certain status moves to heal allies (such as Life Dew) or to debuff the opponent (such as Snarl) can also be game-winners in protracted battles. Against the last tough Legendary, you may find that some team members focus on a supportive role while the others deal the brunt of the damage.
2 Remember That Peonia Can Allow You To ‘Choose’ Which Legendary Pokémon You’ll Face
Naturally, the big draw of Max Lair Raids for many players is the Legendary Pokémon that awaits at the end. They have 100% catch rates, so players are free to use any Poké Ball they like on them after winning the battle.
Before long, however, the same few Legendaries will continue appearing, and they can only be caught during the first encounter. To acquire different ones, speak to Peonia inside the Max Lair. She’ll mention having seen a certain Legendary in the lair and, for 5 Dynite Ore, she’ll share their location with you. What this effectively means is that, on your next run, that specific Legendary will be the final encounter.
1 If Friends Are Missing Certain Legendary Pokémon, Peonie Can Help With That Too
The Crown Tundra DLC added a dizzying amount of new Legendary Pokémon, so it’s unlikely that Peonie’s offerings will always match up perfectly with the ones that a team of four all need. Luckily, there’s a further sneaky trick that can resolve this.
Players have discovered that, on speaking to Peonie with a Legendary (that is available through Dynamax Adventures) in the first slot of their party, that’s the one she’ll always offer the location of. If a group of Raid partners co-ordinate their efforts, then, they’ll soon have a full set!
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