Read this Pokemon Sword and Shield guide for essential beginner tips when starting the game. Learn more about Pokemon training, catching, battle, gym leaders, Wild Area!!!
Story & Features
Tips For Adventure
- Customize Your Character
- Explore To Pick Up Items
- Use Flying Taxi To Fast Travel
- Stock Up Before Leaving
- Fight Trainers In Route
- Catch Pokemon In Wild Area
- Breed Powerful Pokemons
- Access Multiplayer Features
Tips For Battle & Training
Tip #1 - Know Game's Story
Become Best Trainer In Galar Region
Like most Pokemon games, players will take on the role of an aspiring Pokemon trainer based in the Galar Region. The goal is to become the best Pokemon trainer and participate and win in the Champions Cup.
Check Out Game's Story Here!Contend With Several Rivals
You have several rivals that you need to face - Hop (your childhood friend), Leon (the current champion & Hop's brother), Bede & Marnie (other aspiring trainers with their own motives), & Team Yell (Marnie's fan club).
Check Out New Characters In The Game!Tip #2 - Battle New Gym Leaders
Battle Gym Leaders In Every Major City
As you go on your travels, you will enter major cities with gyms. These house powerful Pokemon trainers called Gym leaders that will challenge and test you and your team's skills and abilities.
Check Out All Gym Leader List Here!Gym Leaders Dynamax Their Pokemon
Gym leaders will use Pokemon that they can Dynamax during the battle. It is best to know which leader Dynamaxes which Pokemon so you can be prepared for battle.
Check Out What Is Dynamax Here!Tip #3 - Customize Your Character
Pick Your Character's Appearance!
Before heading out, pick your character's appearance! Remember that gender and skin color cannot be changed once picked, but everything else is customizable.
How To Customize Your CharacterPick Up New Outfits & Hairstyle
Go to the Boutique and Salons in the game to get new outfits & hairstyle, then change into them! Can you make an eye-catching character?
All Clothes & Hairstyles ListSet Up League Cards
League Cards showcase your trainer's appearance. You can pick backgrounds, poses and other settings to make a fully special name card.
League Card - How To Make & UseTip #4 - Explore To Pick Up Items
Check For Poke Balls & Shiny Spots
When exploring the different towns, cities, and routes, make sure to check every nook and cranny. Always keep an eye out for Poke Balls and shiny spots on the ground to get items.
Shake Trees To Get Berries For Curry
When you come across any trees in your adventure, go near them and shake them. This can sometimes drop berries that you can use to cook curry in Pokemon Camp.
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Tip #5 - Use Flying Taxi To Fast Travel
Access Flying Taxi From Chairman Rose
Right after you meet Chairman Rose, you'll leave the gym and will be gifted with access to the Flying Taxi. This allows you to fast travel from where you are to almost any point in the Galar Region.
Only Fast Travel To Areas You've Been To
The catch with the Flying Taxi is that you can only use it to fast travel to places you've already been to. If you're going to another city or town, you have to walk the way there.
Tip #6 - Stock Up & Heal Before Leaving Towns
Always Use Poke Centers Before Leaving
Poke Centers will be hard to find once you leave town and adventure onto routes or Wild Areas. Make sure to heal your Pokemon party before leaving by visiting the city's Pokemon Center.
Check Out Pokemon Centers Here!Stock Up On Poke Balls At Poke Marts
You never know what kind of Pokemon you will encounter when you're traveling between routes and Wild Areas. Be sure to stop by a Poke Mart to purchase Poke Balls, Potions, and more!
All Pokeball Guide & Location ListTip #7 - Fight Trainers In Route
Fight Trainers In Route For EXP & Money
A great way to earn experience points and some cash is by facing off other Pokemon trainers you encounter along your route. This will help you level up Pokemon while boosting your monetary stash.
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Tip #8 - Catch Pokemon In Wild Area
Has Wide Variety Of Pokemon To Catch
The Wild Area is a vast expanse of land between towns and cities. These areas have all kinds of Pokemon and they're often the best places to catch Pokemon & fill up your Pokedex.
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Check Out Wild Area Guide Here!Weather & Area Changes Appearing Pokemon
The Pokemon you spot in the Wild Area will change depending on the area's location and weather forecast. Make sure to come back often & catch as many different Pokemon as you can.
Check Out How Weather Affects Pokemon Here!Daytime And Nighttime Pokemon
Time cycles inside the Wild Area and it affects which Pokemon appear. Also, some Pokemon can only evolve at a certain time of the day.
Check Out The Day Night Cycle Guide Here!Encounter Shiny Pokemon
Shiny Pokemon are variants of Pokemon that sport a different color scheme than their normal counterparts. These Pokemon are extremely rare and are highly sought after by trainers!
Check Out the Shiny Hunting Guide Here!Participate In Max Raid Battles
In Wild Areas, you can participate in Max Raid Battles for a chance to capture Gigantmax or Dynamax Pokemon. Be sure to bring real friends to help you capture these powerful Pokemon.
Check Out Max Raid Battles Guide!Camp Out & Meet Friends
You'll also be able to camp out in the Wild Area. Here you can restore HP, interact with Pokemon & build friendships with them. You can also visit other online players' camp sites to cook curry with them!
Check Out How To Use Pokemon Camp!Tip #9 - Breed Powerful Pokemon
Hatch Eggs To get Powerful Pokemon
Breeding is the method of getting new Pokemons through eggs. Eggs inherited the strongest stats of their parents, making it a powerful tool. Breeding is done at the Nursery.
Perfect Breeding Guide - Competitive Breeding & TrainingTip #10 - Access Multiplayer Features
Remember that you are not alone in this journey! Use the game's multitude of Multiplayer features to play with other trainers cooperatively or competitively!
Check Out the Multiplayer / Coop Guide Here!Trade Pokemon With Other Players
You can also opt to trade Pokemon with other players! Trading can be done locally or online, and has a multitude of benefits! These include greater experience gain, evolutions, and more!
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Play Multiplayer Online Or Locally
You can choose to play multiplayer via online or locally! Keep in mind that online multiplayer features require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription in order to use!
Check Out How to Sign Up For Nintendo Switch Online!Tip #11 - Learn Pokemon Strength & Weakness
Master Pokemon Elemental Chart
Like with every Pokemon game, it's best to learn your Pokemon's type & weaknesses. The more you know about each Pokemon, the better you'll be prepared to battle them.
Check Out Type Effectiveness Chart!Use Pokemon's Weakness Against Them
Always take note of the Pokemon type you're facing then you'll be able to use their weakness against them. Make sure to have strong Pokemon that can counter each type in your party or have Pokemon that have double element skills.
Tip #12 - Bring Full Pokemon Party
Pokemon Share EXP In One Party
In Pokemon Sword & Shield, Pokemon in the same party will receive the same experience points as the Pokemon used for battle. Bring a full party of Pokemon you want to strengthen to make use of this feature.
Check Out the Exp & Leveling Guide Here!Tip #13 - Send Pokemon To Do Jobs
Pokemon Earn EXP When Working
A new feature in Pokemon Sword & Shield, Pokemon can now be sent to do jobs via the Rotom Phone. Pokemon sent to a job will start working and earning experience points.
Check Out Pokemon Jobs!Access Jobs In Rotom Phone
You can find the list of jobs when you access the Rotom Phone in Pokemon Centers. Just interact with the phone to draw up the jobs menu.
Check Out Rotom Phone Guide!Choose Best Pokemon For Job
When sending Pokemon for jobs, make sure to fit the best Pokemon for the work. Pokemon that are best matched will earn more EXP than Pokemon that don't have an affinity for the job.
Tip #14 - Run If Pokemon Is Too Strong
Run Away To Avoid Party Knock Out
If you feel like you can't defeat the Pokemon you're facing, you have the option to run away. If your Pokemon don't have any status effect, you'll have a higher chance of running away.
Can't Run From Pokemon Trainer Battles
Once you initiate a Pokemon trainer battle, you won't be able to run away from it. Make sure you're prepared & have Pokemon with full HP before diving headfirst into Pokemon battles.
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Related Articles
Go Back To The Top PageMust Reads For Beginners
| Popular Beginner Tips | |
|---|---|
| Recommended Starters | Story Walkthrough List | Best Team For Story |
Breeding
| Popular Breeding Articles | |
|---|---|
| Step By Step Guide On How To Breed | |
| All Egg Group List | Useful Items For Breeding |
Post Game Content
| Must Read | |
|---|---|
| What To Do After Beating The Game | |
| Ranked Battle Tier List | Ranked Battle Builds List |
| Battle Tower Guide | Ranked Battle Guide |
Database
| Popular Databases | |
|---|---|
| Galar Pokedex | Base Stats Ranking | Clothes & Hairstyles List |
