Is Soloing Gigantamax Meowth in Pokémon GO Possible? A Deep Dive into Theorycrafting
The Challenge:
The Pokémon GO community has been buzzing with the idea of soloing a Gigantamax battle, but is it truly possible? With the announcement of Gigantamax Meowth, the stage is set for an epic showdown. Can one trainer take on this formidable foe without any assistance? Let's explore the mechanics and strategies that could make this dream a reality.
The Stats and Mechanics:
Gigantamax Meowth, with its puny 92 ATK and 78 DEF, is the weakest Gigantamax Pokémon in the game. However, this very weakness presents an intriguing opportunity. Compared to Gigantamax Butterfree, Meowth's attack and defense are significantly lower, making it roughly 4 times easier to defeat. But the real challenge lies in its HP and attack frequency.
Gigantamax bosses have an absurdly high HP pool, typically around 100,000, which is 4-5 times more than a 5-star Dynamax boss. This means that even the most powerful G-Max moves will barely scratch the surface. Additionally, Meowth attacks far more frequently, firing Large Attacks every 3 seconds and Single-Target Attacks every 5 seconds.
The Enrage Timer:
The enrage timer is the key to understanding why soloing Gigantamax battles has been impossible. In 5-star or lower Dynamax battles, bosses enter a desperate state after 6 minutes and enrage after 7 minutes. However, Gigantamax bosses become desperate after just 2.5 minutes and enrage after 30 seconds. This accelerated enrage timer is the biggest hurdle for solo trainers.
The Strategy:
Despite the challenges, a theorycrafting strategy emerges. With the right team and buffs, it might be possible to take down Gigantamax Meowth in 6 turns. The team consists of 2 Crowned Shield Zamazenta and 1 Gigantamax Machamp. Zamazenta builds up the Max and Charged Attack meters with Metal Claw, while Machamp uses G-Max Chi Strike in every Max Phase.
The Numbers:
The expected damage output is calculated, showing that Metal Claw deals 0.03% HP per hit, Close Combat deals 0.82% HP per hit, and G-Max Chi Strike deals 4.03% HP per hit. With careful planning and near-perfect execution, this strategy could work. However, the absolute G-Max battle time limit and Meowth's HP value remain unknown variables.
The Conclusion:
While this theorycrafting provides a glimmer of hope, it is important to note that it is purely theoretical. The biggest question mark is the battle time limit, and a higher HP value for Meowth would likely invalidate the attempt. Nevertheless, for trainers willing to push the limits, this might be the first and only real shot at making Pokémon GO history by soloing a Gigantamax battle. Good luck – you'll need it!
