Can the sword and shield starters naturally gigantimax without the dlc?

Question

I have started sword recently and got my Grookey to Rillaboom, but every time I'm in a gym battle trying to gigantimaxing it just dynamaxes. So it's been confused if he can naturally gigantimax but that's before the champion or, the dlc is needed to gigantmax him.

Answer 1

No, the Sword/Shield starters cannot gigantamax without the DLC. The Gigantamax Factor is necessary for a Pokémon to Gigantamax, which the starters do not have at the beginning of the game. They'll need to drink the Max Soup, introduced in the Isle of Armor, to gain the Gigantamax Factor.