Pokemon Sword and Shield: You Can Now Battle Gigantamax Snorlax

You can now do battle against and, if you're victorious, perhaps even catch Gigantamax Snorlax in Pokemon Sword

and Shield's Max Raid Battles. This is part of a limited-time event that will run until January 5, 2020.

If you want to fight against Gigantamax Snorlax, make sure your game is fully updated, and then check out the Pokémon Dens that dot the Wild Area. You need to be connected to the internet to enter a Max Raid Battle.

"Players can also achieve the same results manually by opening the X menu in their game, selecting Mystery Gift, and then selecting Get the Wild Area News," The Pokémon Company revealed.

Gigantamax Snorlax will be available in Max Raid Battles until January 5, 2020 and is said to be one of the strongest Dynamax Pokémon discovered so far. Not surprising given that it's 114 feet and 10 inches in height and is covered in "thick fat."

The Gigantamax version appears in the game as Snorlax always does: lying on its back, lazily doing a whole lot of nothing. However, the official description tells us that "thanks to the power of Gigantamax, the Berry seeds and small rocks that were tangled in Snorlax's belly fur have undergone explosive growth."

Not only does Gigantamax Snorlax resemble a mountain, it's said to move as much as one too. When it's time for battle, however, it "lifts its upper body by just a tiny amount and attacks by flailing with its arms and legs - actions that actually pack a tremendous punch."

While Snorlax usually has Normal-type attacks, the Gigantamaxed version can also transform those attacks into G-Max Replenish. This deals damage to enemies but also restores any berries that its allies have eaten during the battle.

Every New Gen 8 Pokemon in Sword and Shield

Gigantamax Snorlax is the second Pokémon to be available through Mystery Gifts, with the first one being Gigantamax Meowth - which is available until January 15, 2020.

If you haven't picked the game up yet, you'll want to check out Pokémon Sword and Shield review, in which we described it as "a complete joy to play."

Chris Priestman is a freelancer who writes news for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.