Quick facts
Species: Venusaur (Gigantamax)
Types: Grass / Poison
Primary weaknesses: Fire, Flying, Ice, Psychic
Recommended lobby: 15-20 trainers
Gigantamax Venusaur is a Grass/Poison-type raid boss in Pokémon GO, towering over the battlefield with massive petals and vines ready to strike. Its high HP and versatile moves make it a tricky opponent for unprepared trainers. This guide will help you choose the best counters, movesets, and strategies to defeat it efficiently.
Table of Contents
Weakness Best Pokemon Best Gigantamax Counters Dynamax & Support Picks Moveset Weather Effects Size Rewards FAQsOverview
Gigantamax Venusaur keeps Grass as its core identity but with boosted bulk and longevity. Its Poison typing adds coverage and changes some resistances — notably it resists Fighting and Fairy, and is vulnerable to Fire, Psychic, Ice and Flying. In raid form it often uses charged Grass moves (e.g., Frenzy Plant variants) and may include Sludge Bomb or Earthquake depending on the release pattern. Expect a fight that rewards fast, high-DPS Fire and Flying attackers, and a few reliable Psychic options against Poison coverage.
Pro tip: Gigantamax bosses have higher HP pools — prioritize sustained DPS and durability rather than glass-cannon swings that faint too quickly.
Weakness & Typing
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weak to |
 Fire •
 Flying •
 Ice •
 Psychic
|
| Resists |
 Water •
 Electric •
 Grass •
 Fighting •
 Fairy •
 Poison
|
| Notes | Poison resists some Fighting damage but the boss can still threaten bulky counters when paired with Grass STAB moves. G-Max Vine Lash deals initial burst plus a lingering damage field. That residual damage punishes full-glass DPS teams — include a high-TDO tank or plan short DPS windows with swaps. |
Pro tip: Use Fire, Ice, Flying, or Psychic Pokémon to exploit its weaknesses and maximize raid efficiency.
Best Pokemon
Gigantamax-type Counters
- Cinderace (Tackle / G-Max Fireball)
- Charizard (Wing Attack / G-Max Wildfire)
- Centiskorch (Ember / G-Max Centiferno)
Dynamax-type Counters
- Latios (Zen Headbutt / Max Mindstorm)
- Darmanitan (Incinerate / Max Flare)
- Espeon (Zen Headbutt / Max Mindstorm)
- Metagross (Zen Headbutt / Max Mindstorm)
Best Gigantamax Counters
Gigantamax Pokémon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Gigantamax counters with short notes on why they excel vs G-Max Venusaur.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Gigantamax Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigantamax Charizard | Air Slash, Fire Spin | G-Max Wildfire | Overheat, Fire Blast, Dragon Claw | Dragon Breath, Ember, Wing Attack, Flamethrower, Blast Burn | Fire Spin(13) and G-Max Wildfire(350) |
| Gigantamax Cinderace | Tackle, Fire Spin | G-Max Fireball | Flamethrower, Flame Charge, Focus Blast | - | Fire Spin(13) and G-Max Fireball(350) |
| Gigantamax Centiskorch | Bug Bite, Ember | G-Max Centiferno | Crunch, Lunge, Heat Wave, Bug Buzz | - | Ember(10) and G-Max Centiferno(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) |
| Gigantamax Copperajah | Tackle, Rock Smash | G-Max Steelsurge | Dig, Iron Head, Play Rough. Heavy Slam | - | Rock Smash(17) and G-Max Steelsurge(350) |
| Gigantamax Melmetal | Thunder Shock | G-Max Meltdown | Hyper Beam, Flash Cannon, Rock Slide, Thunderbolt, Superpower | Double Iron Bash | Thunder Shock(4) and G-Max Meltdown(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 Grimmsnarl | Bite, Sucker Punch, Low Kick | G-Max Snooze | Dark Pulse, Play Rough, Foul Play, Power Up Punch | - | Bite(6) and G-Max Snooze(350) |
| Gigantamax Corviknight | Steel Wing, Air Slash, Sand Attack | G-Max Wind Rage | Sky Attack, Payback | Iron Head, Air Cutter | Steel Wing(14) and G-Max Wind Rage(350) |
| Gigantamax Orbeetle | Confusion, Struggle Bug | G-Max Gravitas | Bug Buzz, Psychic | - | Confusion(19) and G-Max Gravitas(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) |
Dynamax & Support Picks
Not every raid group will have multiple Gigantamax picks. Dynamax Pokémon make excellent support, either by adding burst damage or soaking time during G-Max residual windows.
| Pokémon | Dynamax Moves | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamax Unfezant | Max Airstream, Max Steelspike | Air Slash, Steel Wing | Heat Wave, Hyper Beam, Sky Attack | - |
| Dynamax Articuno | Max HailStorm | Frost Breath, Ice Shard | Blizzard, Ice Beam, Icy Wind, Ancient Power, Triple Axel | Hurricane |
| Dynamax Cryogonal | Max Hailstorm | Ice Shard, Frost Breath | Aurora Beam, Night Slash, Solar Beam, Water Pulse, Triple Axel | - |
| Dynamax Raboot | Max Strike, Max Flare | Tackle, Ember | Flame Charge, Flamethrower | - |
| Zacian | Behemoth Blade | Metal Claw, Air Slash | Play Rough, Giga Impact, Close Combat | - |
| Dynamax Moltres | Max Flare, Max Airstream | Fire Spin, Wing Attack | Fire Blast, Overheat, Heat Wave, Ancient Power | Sky Attack |
| Dynamax Latios | Max Wyrmwind, Max Mindstorm | Dragon Breath, Zen Headbutt | Psychic, Solar Beam, Dragon Claw, Aura Sphere | Luster Purge |
| Dynamax Metagross | Max Mindstorm, Max Flutterby, Max Steelspike | Zen Headbutt, Bullet Punch, Fury Cutter | Flash Cannon, Psychic, Earthquake | Meteor Mash |
| Dynamax Darmanitan | Max Strike, Max Flare | Tackle, Fire Fang, Incinerate | Overheat, Focus Blast, Psychic, Rock Slide | - |
| Dynamax Hatterene | Max Starfall, Max MindStorm | Confusion, Charm, Psycho Cut | Psyshock, Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, Power Whip | - |
| Dynamax Entei | Max Flare | Fire Spin, Fire Fang | Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Overheat, Iron Head, Flame Charge, Scorching Sands | - |
| Dynamax Latias | Max Wyrmwind, Max Mindstorm, Max Starfall | Dragon Breath, Zen Headbutt, Charm | Psychic, Thunder, Outrage, Aura Sphere | Mist Ball |
| Eternatus | Dynamax Cannon | Dragon Tail, Poison Jab | Sludge Bomb, Dragon Pulse, Flamethrower | - |
| Dynamax Charizard | Max Flare, Max Airstream, Max Wyrmwind | Fire Spin, Air Slash | Dragon Claw, Fire Blast, Overheat, Air Cutter | Ember, Wing Attack, Dragon Breath, Blast Burn, Flamethrower |
| Dynamax Espeon | Max Mindstorm | Confusion, Zen Headbutt | Psybeam, Psychic, Future Sight, Psychic Fangs | Last Resort, Shadow Ball |
| Dynamax Flareon | Max Flare | Ember, Fire Spin | Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Overheat | Last resort, Superpower, Heat Wave |
| Dynamax Glaceon | Max Hailstorm | Ice Shard, Frost Breath | Avalanche, Icy Wind, Ice Beam | Last Resort, Water Pulse |
| Dynamax Cinderace | Max Flare, Max Strike | Tackle, Fire Spin | Flame Charge, Flamethrower, Focus Blast | - |
| Dynamax Lugia | Max MindStorm | Extrasensory, Dragon Tail | Fly, Hydro Pump, Future Sight, Sky Attack | Aeroblast |
Moves & Threats
Common fast moves: Razor Leaf or Vine Whip. Charged moves include G-Max Vine Lash (signature), Petal Blizzard, Sludge Bomb, and occasional Solar Beam. G-Max Vine Lash 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.
Threat: Frenzy Plant can deal massive Grass-type damage, while Sludge Bomb can poison your Pokémon.
Tip: Lead with Fire-types like Charizard or Blaziken or Flying-types like Staraptor to hit super effectively.
Weather Effects & Battle Flow
Sunny / Clear: Great for Fire Gigantamax (Charizard), but note Sunny also boosts Grass moves — bring more Fire to offset. Windy: benefits Flying counters; Snow / Hail: boosts Ice (Lapras / Articuno). Plan your lead to open a fast DPS window, then swap in a bulky Dynamax or Gigantamax unit if you see G-Max Vine Lash gearing up.
Battle flow tip: When you anticipate a G-Max charged move, avoid committing all glassy DPS at once — use a short burst, pull in a tank to soak the residual, then finish with DPS re-entry.
Battle Tips
- Avoid Grass and Poison-types—they’ll be ineffective.
- Dodge charged moves for faster raid clear.
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 Grass / Poison attacker, shiny chance, and XL Candy farming.
Catch Tips
- Rewards typically include Rare Candy, Dynamax resources, and a chance to catch Venusaur (shiny availability depends on event).
- Use Golden Razz for high-IV or shiny attempts, Pinap when farming candy en masse.
- Weather-boosted catches (Sunny, etc.) yield higher CP; plan catch attempts accordingly.
Avoid
Avoid small lobbies if many players rely on fragile glass DPS and there are no tanks. Also be cautious on weather that sharply buffs Grass damage (e.g., Sunny) unless your group brings enough Fire/Flame coverage. Avoid Grass and Water attackers — they take neutral or super effective damage from Venusaur's Poison moves. Bulky Pokémon with high survivability can work if they resist Sludge Bomb.
Raid Strategy & Catch Tips
If Venusaur uses Sludge Bomb, be conservative with shields — prioritize swapping out a fainting Pokémon to reduce wasted shields. After the raid, use Golden Razz to secure the catch and aim for weather-boosted encounters to increase CP and IV potential
FAQ
What is Gigantamax Venusaur type and weakness?
Venusaur is a Grass / Poison type. It is weak to Fire, Flying, Ice, Psychic type moves.
What are good counters for G-Max Vine Lash?
Strong ground and psychic attackers such as Gigantamax Charizard, Gigantamax Cinderace, Gigantamax Centiskorch, Dynamax Latios, Dynamax Metagross, Dynamax Darmanitan.
Can Gigantamax Venusaur be shiny?
Yes, but in certain events.
Is Gigantamax Venusaur catchable after the raid?
Yes — standard raid catch mechanics apply.
Does weather change move sets?
Weather affects charge rate and CP but not which moves the boss will use in most cases.
What does G-Max Vine Lash do?
G-Max Vine Lash is a charged attack that deals immediate damage and creates a short lingering damage field affecting trainers’ Pokémon. It favors teams with at least one bulky support or planned swap windows.
Conclusion
Gigantamax Venusaur is a mechanically interesting raid boss: its Grass/Poison combo is predictable, but the G-Max residual damage forces teams to plan for survivability, not just pure DPS. Prioritize Ground and Psychic 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 Venusaur efficiently and maximize your rewards.
Related Guides
Looking for more counters? Check out our Gigantamax Charizard Raid Guide, Gigantamax Centiskorch Raid Guide, Gigantamax Cinderace Raid Guide
Summary
- Fire, Flying, Ice, and Psychic-types are most effective
- Avoid using Grass- and Poison-types
- Dodge Frenzy Plant and Sludge Bomb
- Use sunny or windy weather boosts when possible