Quick summary
Species: Sandaconda (Gigantamax)
Type: Ground
Primary weaknesses: Water, Ice, Grass
Recommended lobby: 15-20 trainers
Introduction
Gigantamax Sandaconda is the Gigantamax form of the Desert Snake Pokémon, Sandaconda, in Pokémon GO. Its Ground typing allows it to use heavy Earthquake and Sand Tomb attacks, making it dangerous against Electric- and Fire-type Pokémon.
However, trainers can exploit its weaknesses to Water, Ice, and Grass-type moves to defeat it efficiently. With the right counters and strategy, you can complete this raid even with a small group of high-level trainers.
This guide provides all the details you need to maximize your chances of success, including the best Pokémon to use, the most effective movesets, CP ranges, weather advantages, and tips for solo or group raids.
Related guides: Gigantamax Rillaboom | Gigantamax Snorlax
Overview
Sandaconda in Gigantamax form is presented here as a beefy Ground-type raid boss with boosted HP and slightly augmented damage output to mirror the rest of your Gigantamax series. Expect it to use high-power Ground-type charged moves (e.g., Earthquake, Sand Tomb variants) and occasional Rock or Poison coverage depending on event variants. Its big HP pool favors sustained, energy-efficient attackers; fights often reward consistent fast-move energy generation and high-value charged moves rather than glass-cannon bursts that get shielded away.
Weakness & Typing
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weak to |
 Water •
 Ice •
 Grass
|
| Resists |
 Poison •
 Rock •
 Fighting
|
| Notes | Gigantamax bosses often use Max Moves — these can be powerful, sometimes buffing or changing battlefield conditions. Expect higher HP and potentially team-wide effects. |
Pro tip: Using Water or Ice Pokémon maximizes damage against Gigantamax Sandaconda.
Best Pokemon
Gigantamax-type Counters
- Flapple (Dragon Breath / G-Max Tartness)
- Drednaw (Waterfall / G-Max Stonesurge)
- Inteleon (Water Gun / G-Max Hydrosnipe)
Dynamax-type Counters
- Inteleon (Water Gun / Max Geyser)
- Glaceon (Ice Shard / Max Hailstorm)
Best Gigantamax Counters for Gigantamax Rillaboom
Gigantamax Rillaboom is Ground-type raid boss. It is weak to Water, Grass and Ice moves. During Max Battles, your goal is to maximize Water-type Gigantamax damage during the Max Phase.
🥇 Tier 1 — Optimal Water Gigantamax Counters
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Gigantamax Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigantamax Inteleon | Pound, Water Gun | G-Max Hydrosnipe | Shadow Ball, Water Pulse, Surf | - | Pound(6) and G-Max Hydrosnipe(350) |
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| Gigantamax Kingler | Metal Claw, Bubble | G-Max Foam Burst | Vise Grip, X-Scissor, Water Pulse, Crabhammer, Razor Shell | Mud Shot | Bubble(10) and G-Max Foam Burst(350) |
|
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| Gigantamax Blastoise | Bite, Water Gun, Rollout | G-Max Cannonade | Flash Cannon, Ice Beam, Hydro Pump, Skull Bash | Hydro Cannon | Rollout(15) and G-Max Cannonade(350) |
🥈 Ghost & Poison Alternatives
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Gigantamax Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigantamax Rillaboom | Razor Leaf, Scratch | G-Max Drum Solo | Grass Knot, Energy Ball, Earth Power | - | Razor Leaf(13) and G-Max Drum Solo(350) |
|
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| Gigantamax Appletun | Astonish, Bullet Seed | G-Max Sweetness | Seed Bomb, Dragon Pulse, Energy Ball, Outrage | Yawn | Astonish / Bullet Seed(7) and G-Max Sweetness(350) |
| Gigantamax Flapple | Dragon Breath, Bullet Seed | G-Max Tartness | Seed Bomb, Dragon Pulse, Outrage, Fly | - | Bullet Seed(7) and G-Max Tartness(350) |
| Gigantamax Lapras | Frost Breath, Water Gun, Psywave | G-Max Resonance | Blizzard, Hydro Pump, Surf, Skull Bash, Sparkling Aria | Ice Shard, Ice Beam, Dragon Pulse | Frost Breath(11) and G-Max Resonance(350) |
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| Gigantamax Venusaur | Vine Whip, Razor Leaf | G-Max Vine Lash | Sludge, Petal Blizzard, Sludge Bomb, Solar Beam | Frenzy Plant | Razor Leaf(13) and G-Max Vine Lash(350) |
🥈 Ghost & Poison Alternatives
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Gigantamax Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigantamax Drednaw | Bite, Waterfall | G-Max Stonesurge | Body Slam, Rock Blast, Crunch, Surf | - | Waterfall(13) and G-Max Stonesurge(350) |
| Gigantamax Gengar | Sucker Punch, Shadow Claw, Hex | G-Max Terror | Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb, Focus Blast, Drain Punch | Lick, Dark Pulse, Shadow Punch, Sludge Wave, Psychic | Hex(8) and G-Max Terror(350) |
| Gigantamax Duraludon | Metal Claw, Dragon Tail | G-Max Depletion | Hyper Beam, Flash Cannon, Dragon Claw | - | Dragon Tail(14) and G-Max Depletion(350) |
| Gigantamax Cinderace | Tackle, Fire Spin | G-Max Fireball | Flamethrower, Flame Charge, Focus Blast | - | Fire Spin(13) and G-Max Fireball(350) |
| Gigantamax Hatterene | Psycho Cut, Confusion, Charm | G-Max Smite | Psyshock, Dazzling Gleam, Psychic, Power Whip | - | Charm(20) and G-Max Smite(350) |
| Gigantamax Machamp | Bullet Punch, Counter | G-Max Chi Strike | Cross Chop, Rock Slide, Close Combat, Dynamic Punch, Heavy Slam | Karate Chop, Stone Edge, Submission, Payback | Counter(13) and G-Max Chi Strike(350) |
Best Dynamax Counters for Gigantamax Sandaconda
🥇 Tier 1 — Elite Water Attackers
| Pokémon | Dynamax Moves | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamax Inteleon | Max Geyser, Max Strike | Pound, Water Gun | Water Pulse, Surf, Shadow Ball | - | |
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| Dynamax Urshifu | Max Geyser, Max Knuckle | Rock Smash, Counter, Waterfall | Brick Break, Dynamic Punch, Close Combat, Aqua Jet | - | |
| Dynamax Kingler | Max Geyser, Max Quake, Max Steelspike | Metal Claw, Bubble | Vise Grip, Water Pulse, X-Scissor, Crabhammer, Razor Shell | Mud Shot | |
|
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| Dynamax Tsareena | Max Overgrowth, Max Starfall | Charm, Magical Leaf, Razor Leaf | Draining Kiss, Grass Knot, Stomp, Triple Axel, Energy Ball | High Jump Kick | |
| Dynamax Kabutops | Max Knuckle, Max Quake, Max Geyser, Max Flutterby | Rock Smash, Mud Shot, Waterfall | Ancient Power, Stone Edge, Water Pulse | Fury Cutter | |
| Dynamax Omastar | Max Quake, Max Geyser, Max Rockfall | Mud Shot, Water Gun | Ancient Power, Hydro Pump, Rock Blast | Rock Throw, Rock Slide | |
| Dynamax Drizzile | Max Strike, Max Geyser | Pound, Water Gun | Water Pulse, Surf | - | |
| Dynamax Krabby | Max Geyser, Max Quake | Bubble, Mud Shot | Bubble Beam, Vise Grip, Water Pulse, Razor Shell | - | |
| Dynamax Vaporean | Max Geyser | Water Gun | Hydro Pump, Aqua Tail, Liquidation, Water Pulse | Last Resort, Scald | |
🥈 Ghost & Poison Alternatives
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Gigantamax Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamax Rillaboom | Max Overgrowth, Max Strike | Scratch, Razor Leaf | Energy Ball, Grass Knot, Earth Power | - | |
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| Dynamax Venusaur | Max Overgrowth | Razor Leaf, Vine Whip | Petal Blizzard, Sludge Bomb, Solar Beam, Sludge | Frenzy Plant | |
| Dynamax Gardevoir | Max Mindstorm, Max Starfall, Max Lightning, Max Overgrowth | Confusion, Charge Beam, Charm, Magical Leaf | Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, Shadow Ball, Triple Axel | Synchronoise | |
| Dynamax Articuno | Max HailStorm | Frost Breath, Ice Shard | Blizzard, Ice Beam, Icy Wind, Ancient Power, Triple Axel | Hurricane | |
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| Dynamax Cryogonal | Max Hailstorm | Ice Shard, Frost Breath | Aurora Beam, Night Slash, Solar Beam, Water Pulse, Triple Axel | - | |
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| Dynamax Leafeon | Max Overgrowth | Quick Attack, Razor Leaf | Solar Beam, Leaf Blade, Energy Ball | Bullet Seed, Last Resort | |
| Dynamax Glaceon | Max Hailstorm | Ice Shard, Frost Breath | Avalanche, Icy Wind, Ice Beam | Last Resort, Water Pulse | |
🥈 Ghost & Poison Alternatives
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Gigantamax Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eternatus | Dynamax Cannon | Dragon Tail, Poison Jab | Sludge Bomb, Dragon Pulse, Flamethrower | - | |
| Zacian | Behemoth Blade | Metal Claw, Air Slash | Play Rough, Giga Impact, Close Combat | - |
Moves & Threats
Sandaconda common fast moves are Mud Shot or Mud Slap. Charged moves include Wrap or Dig or Bulldoze and Earth Power. G-Max Sandblast not only delivers heavy damage but also leaves a damaging area for a short time — timing your swaps and using at least one bulky support reduces wipe risk.
Pro tip: Watch for Earth Power timing—dodging can save your Pokémon from heavy damage.
Weather Effects
Snowy weather : boosts Ice moves. Windy weather : boosts Dragon Tail. Rainy weather : boosts Water moves. Sunny / Clear weather : boosts Sandaconda Ground moves.
Battle Tips
- Lead with Water or Ice Pokémon for maximum efficiency.
- Avoid using Electric or Rock-types—they’re weak to Ground moves
- Dodge Earth Power and Sand Tomb to reduce damage.
Size
Recommended: 15–20 trainers for comfortable clears with mixed player levels. With many Gigantamax / Dynamax counters, 10–14 can work. Under 8 trainers should be attempted only if all participants are high-level and coordinated with ideal counters and Dynamax/G-Max boosts.
Rewards
Reasons include Pokédex entry, strong Ground attacker, shiny chance, and XL Candy farming.
Max Battle Strategy
- Lead with bulky Pokémon to safely charge Max energy.
- Switch into Water-type attackers during Max Phase.
- Avoid Electric-type Pokémon (neutral but inefficient).
- Coordinate Max activations for efficient shield breaking.
- Use Ice-types for fast burst clears in coordinated groups.
Can Gigantamax Sandaconda Be Shiny?
Yes! After defeating Gigantamax Sandaconda in a raid, players have the chance to encounter a Shiny Sandaconda. Shiny Sandaconda has a slightly darker, greenish color compared to the regular version, making it highly desirable for collectors.
While the Gigantamax form itself cannot be caught, the standard Sandaconda encountered after the raid may appear as shiny. Participating in multiple raids increases your chance to find a shiny variant.
FAQ
What is Gigantamax Sandaconda type and weakness?
Sandaconda is a Ground type. It is weak to Water, Ice, Grass.
What is Gigantamax Sandaconda’s exclusive move?
Gigantamax Sandaconda uses the special move G-Max Sandblast. This Ground-type attack deals massive damage and continuously damages opponents over multiple turns.
Can Gigantamax Sandaconda be shiny?
Yes, but in certain events.
Is Gigantamax Sandaconda catchable after the raid?
Yes — standard raid catch mechanics apply.
Is Gigantamax Sandaconda difficult to defeat?
It has high HP and decent defense. Using Water or Grass-type counters allows players to defeat it efficiently.
Does Sandaconda keep G-Max Sandblast?
No — it’s exclusive to Gigantamax raids.
What makes Gigantamax Sandaconda unique?
Gigantamax Sandaconda’s massive coiled body dominates the battlefield, allowing it to crush opponents and create a visually impressive Max Raid Battle experience.
Conclusion
Gigantamax Sandaconda is a mechanically interesting raid boss: its Ground type is predictable, but the G-Max residual damage forces teams to plan for survivability, not just pure DPS. Prioritize Ice and Grass Gigantamax picks, add Dynamax support for sustained windows, and include at least one high-TDO tank if your lobby is smaller. With the counters and tactics above, you’ll clear Sandaconda efficiently and maximize your rewards.
Summary
- Lead with Water or Ice Pokémon
- Dodge Earth Power and Sand Tomb
- Avoid Ground, Rock, and Poison Pokémon
- Team coordination speeds up the raid