When a Pokemon Dynamaxes, all of its base moves are replaced with Max Moves. The specific Max Moves the Pokemon's moves convert into depends on the type of the original move. In this subsection, I'll go over everything related to Max Moves as well as other move data related to Dynamax.
PBS Data
Upon installing the plugin for the first time, you must recompile your game. This is not an optional step. This will update all of your relevant PBS files with the necessary data. If you're unaware of how to recompile your game, simply hold down the CTRL key while the game is loading in debug mode and the game window is in focus.
Installation Details
If done correctly, your game should recompile. However, you will also notice lines of yellow text above the recompiled files, like this:
This indicates that the appropriate data have been added to the following PBS files:
map_metadata.txt
moves.txt
pokemon.txt
pokemon_forms.txt
pokemon_metrics.txt
pokemon_metrics_Gen_9_Pack.txt (if the Gen 9 Pack is installed)
Most of these changes will only occur the first time you install the plugin. If you for whatever reason ever need to re-apply the data this plugin adds to these PBS files, you can force this to happen again by holding the SHIFT key while loading your game in debug mode. This will recompile all your plugins, and the data will be re-added by this plugin as if it was your first time installing.
In addition to the changes made to existing files, this plugin adds several new PBS files.
items_dynamax.txt
moves_dynamax.txt
pokemon_forms_gmax.txt
pokemon_metrics_gmax.txt
The moves_dynamax.txt file is where all of the Max Moves introduced by this plugin are stored. If you're adding any of your own custom Max Moves, you may do so there.
Max Moves
When a Pokemon is Dynamaxed, all of their base moves that deal damage are converted into Max Moves based on the type of each move. Any of the user's status moves are instead converted into the move Max Guard.
If the Pokemon is Gigantamaxed however, then moves of a specific type may be converted into a G-Max Move instead. G-Max Moves are functionally identical to a Max Move, except they often have unique effects instead of the typical Max Move of that type.
Below, I'll go over each kind of Max Move and how they are set up.
Max Moves
Each of the 18 base types in the game have their own corresponding generic Max Move that any offensive move of that type will be converted into when Dynamaxed. For example, when a Pokemon is Dynamaxed, all of its damaging-dealing Normal-type moves will be converted into the Max Move known as Max Strike.
Here's an example of how Max Strike is set up in the moves_dynamax.txt PBS file. This is mostly set up like any other move, but there are a few key things to note:
The Category you set for any Max Move doesn't matter. By default, all of them are set to Physical. However, in practice, what you set doesn't make any difference since the category will always be inherited from the base move.
Generic Max Moves must have a Power of 1. This is what allows the move's power to scale depending on what the base move was. For example, if converting a high base power move like Hyper Beam into this Max Move, it'll have a much higher power than if the base move was Tackle.
All Max Moves must have an Accuracy of 0. This allows it to ignore Accuracy checks.
The TotalPP set for any Max Move doesn't matter. This is because the PP for each Max Move will always be inherited from the base move.
All Max Moves must have the CannotMetronome flag.
Generic Max Moves must have the DynamaxMove_TYPE flag, where TYPE is the ID of the specific type of move this Max Move will replace. This type should always be the same type as the Max Move's type.
Max Guard
Instead of converting into a generic Max Move when Dynamaxed, all of the user's status moves will instead be converted into the move Max Guard. This is a unique Max Move that functions as a Protect move. However, unlike other Protect variants, this move will even block the effects of other Max Moves, which other Protect moves cannot fully negate.
However, there is a small list of moves that may bypass Max Guard. Any status move with the function code TrapTargetInBattle will not be blocked by Max Guard. By default, these moves include:
Mean Look
Block
Spider Web
In addition, any move with the function code RemoveProtections will hit through Max Guard. However, this will not remove the protection effect of Max Guard, unlike when used on other protection moves. Similarly, any move with the function code IgnoreProtections will also bypass Max Guard entirely. By default, these moves include:
Feint
G-Max One Blow
G-Max Rapid Flow
Finally, any move that is given the flag IgnoresMaxGuard will be able to fully ignore Max Guard's protection, too. Here's a list of all moves that are given this flag by default:
Decorate
Role Play
Perish Song
Any other move not listed above as exceptions will be fully negated by Max Guard, even if they would normally hit through Protect, such as Hyper Drill or Mighty Cleave. If you want to allow a move to bypass Max Guard, you simply have to give it the IgnoresMaxGuard flag.
G-Max Moves
Some Max Moves are exclusive to certain species that are only available when that species is in Gigantamax form. This variant of Max Moves are known as G-Max Moves. For example, when a Rillaboom with G-Max Factor uses Dynamax, it will instead enter its Gigantamax form and its damage-dealing Grass-type moves will all be converted to the the exclusive G-Max Move known as G-Max Drum Solo.
[GMAXDRUMSOLO]
Name = G-Max Drum Solo
Type = GRASS
Category = Physical
Power = 160
Accuracy = 0
TotalPP = 1
Target = NearFoe
FunctionCode = IgnoreTargetAbility
Flags = GmaxMove,CannotMetronome
Description = A G-Max Move used by G-Max Rillaboom. Ignores opponent's Abilities that would reduce damage.
Here's an example of how G-Max Drum Solo is set up in the moves_dynamax.txt PBS file. This is mostly set up like a generic Max Move, but there are a few key things to note:
Unlike generic Max Moves, exclusive G-Max Moves can have a set Power, if you wish. Certain G-Max Moves such as this one have a set power regardless of what the base move's power was. If you set it to 1 however, its power will scale like generic Max Moves do.
Unlike generic Max Moves, exclusive G-Max Moves must have the GmaxMove flag without a type ID attached.
Now that we have an example of an exclusive G-Max Move, we need to actually give this move to a Gigantamax form to allow that form to use it. This is done by entering this move ID in the PBS data in that form's entry by using the GmaxMove field.
[RILLABOOM,1]
FormName = Gigantamax
Height = 28.0
Pokedex = Gigantamax energy has caused Rillaboom's stump to grow into a drum set that resembles a forest.
GmaxMove = GMAXDRUMSOLO
As seen here, Rillaboom's G-Max form has the field GmaxMove = GMAXDRUMSOLO. This is what allows it to have this exclusive G-Max Move replace its other Grass-type moves when it enters Gigantamax form. More details on how to set up these forms can be found in the subsection "Dynamax: Form Data."
Max Move power scaling
All Max Moves that have a Power set to 1 in their PBS data will scale their damage based on the power of the base move that is being converted into that Max Move. This converted power can never be higher than 150, and never lower than 90.
However, there are exceptions to this. Certain types of Max Moves actually have their converted power reduced due to the fact that the effects of these moves would be too powerful if combined with a high-powered move. For example, Fighting-type moves converted into Max Knuckle would increase the Attack stat of the user and their allies after each use. If this was stacked on top of a high base power, this would be absurdly strong.
To address this, Game Freak implemented a feature where Fighting-type and Poison-type Max Moves will significantly tone down the way these types of Max Moves scale their power in comparison to other types. For these types of moves, the converted power can never be higher than 100, and never lower than 70.
This mechanic has been replicated by this plugin. However, you have the ability to completely customize which types of Max Moves will be scaled down, and which types won't. This is handled with the plugin setting DYNAMAX_TYPES_TO_WEAKEN.
This setting is an array which can contain any number of type ID's you'd like. Any type ID entered here will have their power scaling reduced when converted into a Max Move. By default, the only types entered here are :FIGHTING and :POISON, to mirror how this worked in Sword & Shield. But you're free to add or remove whichever types you want in this array if you'd like to customize the way certain types scale their power as Max Moves.
Coding custom Max Move effects
If you decide you want to create your own custom Max Move that have some sort of effect, this is done the same way you would code the move function for any other regular move. However, there is one key difference. A typical battle move is defined in the class Battle::Move. All Max Moves however use a subclass of this called Battle::DynamaxMove.
This means that when you are coding a move function, this is the class you need to use, rather than Battle::Move. For example, here's the move function for Max Guard:
You'll see that class Battle::DynamaxMove is what's used here prior to the move's function code. This is required for Max Moves. However, Max Moves can access everything from the normal Battle::Move class, so you can still use this as a subclass as needed.
Because of this, it's possible to just inherit all of the attributes of a regular move's function code. As shown in the above example, Max Guard uses the subclass Battle::Move::ProtectMove, allowing it to inherit all of the traits that all other Protect moves have.
Generic Max Move Classes
Many generic Max Moves share similar types of effects such as raising the stats for allies, lowering the stats of foes, or applying status effects. Because of this, it was much simpler to create generic move classes for these effects, rather than reinvent the wheel each time.
Below, I'll describe each generic move class that may be used as a subclass for Max Moves.
Base Class
Battle::DynamaxMove::Move
This class is the base class used for all Max Moves that are not inheriting its effects from another move (like the Max Guard example above), or not inheriting its effects from another generic Max Move class listed below. All this class is used for is making sure the effects of a Max Move should go off when def pbEffectAfterAllHits is used, which is the main method all Max Moves should be using to apply their effects.
Here's an example of this below, with the move Max Overgrowth.
Here, the line return if !super is used to make sure Max Overgrowth does not apply Grassy Terrain if it should not be able to. This super can only be used because the subclass Battle::DynamaxMove::Move is being used for this move.
Raising Stats on the User's Side
Battle::DynamaxMove::UserSideStatUpMove
This class handles all Max Moves that raises the stats of all Pokemon on the user's side of the field, such as the move Max Knuckle, which can be seen below.
Note that you can enter as many stat ID's in these arrays as you wish set the number of stages to whatever you wish. However, all default Max Moves that use this move class only increase a single stat by 1 stage.
Lowering Stats on the Target's Side
Battle::DynamaxMove::TargetSideStatDownMove
This class handles all Max Moves that lower the stats of all Pokemon on the target's side of the field, such as the move G-Max Foamburst, which can be seen below.
Note that you can enter as many stat ID's in these arrays as you wish set the number of stages to whatever you wish. However, all default Max Moves that use this move class only increase a single stat, and usually only by 1 stage.
Inflicting Status Conditions on the Target's Side
Battle::DynamaxMove::TargetSideStatusEffectMove
This class handles all Max Moves that inflict status conditions on all Pokemon on the target's side of the field, such as the move G-Max Volt Crash, which can be seen below.
Note that the array here can accept multiple status conditions. If so, a random status within that array will be chosen for each opposing Pokemon. You may also input the symbols :TOXIC, :CONFUSION, or :ATTRACT in these arrays to inflict those conditions as well.
Anti-Dynamax Moves
In Pokemon Sword & Shield, some moves had a unique property in that they would have their power doubled specifically when dealing damage to a Dynamaxed target. By default, the following moves have this property:
Behemoth Blade
Behemoth Bash
Dynamax Cannon
This plugin replicates this by giving these moves the function code DoubleDamageOnDynamaxTargets. If you have any moves that you'd like to have this property as well, you may do so by giving that move this function code. Note however that Pokemon in an Eternamax form ignore this property, and will not take double damage despite being Dynamaxed.
