Becoming Galar’s Champion opens a new chapter: the Sordward and Shielbert affair, which leads to the capture of Zacian or Zamazenta, then the Battle Tower, rematches and daily battles. Here is everything left to do after the credits of Sword and Shield, expansions aside.
The new Champion’s gifts
- A Master Ball, given by Professor Magnolia.
- A Charmander with the Gigantamax factor, in Leon’s room in Postwick.
- A Type: Null at level 50, given by a League employee at the Battle Tower, along with all the ROMs that let you change the type of its evolution, Silvally.
The Sordward and Shielbert episode
Back to the Slumbering Weald
With Hop, you go to return the Rusted Sword and the Rusted Shield to the altar in the Slumbering Weald. Two brothers interrupt you: Sordward and Shielbert, who claim to be descendants of the kings of Galar and accuse Sonia’s book of lying about the legend. You face one, Hop faces the other: Sordward in Sword, Shielbert in Shield, both around level 60.
| Opponent | Version | Pokémon |
|---|---|---|
| Sordward | Sword | Sirfetch’d, Golisopod, Doublade, Bisharp |
| Shielbert | Shield | Sirfetch’d, Bronzong, Falinks, Klinklang |
The tour of the stadiums
The two brothers use the Wishing Stars to cause uncontrolled Dynamax in the stadiums of Galar. You have to calm these giant Pokémon in several towns, starting with Turffield, Hulbury and Hammerlocke. At the lab in Wedgehurst, you face the two brothers in a double battle alongside Hop, but this fight is only a diversion: Sonia’s assistant collects the Wishing Stars on their behalf.
The reactor room and the Hammerlocke tower
You catch up with one of the brothers in the reactor room of Hammerlocke Stadium, with his Slumbering Weald team raised to level 64. At the top of the tower, the other tries to subdue the legendary Pokémon of the version opposite to yours: you have to battle him. Once that fight is over, the legendary of your version appears and challenges you: Zacian in Sword, Zamazenta in Shield, at level 70, holding the Rusted Sword or the Rusted Shield. This is your chance to catch it.
Hop, for his part, bonds with the other legendary, which now accompanies him.
Battles to replay
| Activity | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Champion Cup | Wyndon Stadium | Start new tournaments by inviting Gym Leaders and rivals |
| Battle Tower | Former Rose Tower, Wyndon | Battles ranked by tiers (Poké Ball, Great Ball, Ultra Ball, Master Ball), in singles or doubles, at level 50 |
| Hop | Slumbering Weald | Battles with his starter Pokémon, then with Zacian or Zamazenta, up to level 70 |
| Marnie | Spikemuth | Once a day, near the Pokémon Center; she succeeded Piers |
| Morimoto, from GAME FREAK | Ionia Hotel, Circhester | Double battle once a day, level 65 Pokémon |
After the story, Bede becomes the Ballonlea Gym Leader in place of Opal, and Marnie becomes the Spikemuth Gym Leader in place of Piers.
The Battle Tower
Leon has turned the former Rose Tower into the Battle Tower. It works much like online ranked battles: you climb in rank by racking up wins, and a loss can drop you back down. As you approach each milestone, Leon himself awaits you with his Gigantamax Charizard. Each victory earns BP, to spend in the tower’s shops: battle items and Mints, which change the effect of a Pokémon’s Nature.
Completing the Pokédex and hunting Shiny Pokémon
The Galar Pokédex has 400 Pokémon. The Wild Area, now with no catch limit, and Max Raid Battles let you complete most species; the exclusives require trades. Once the Galar Pokédex is complete, the director of GAME FREAK, at the Ionia Hotel in Circhester, gives you the Shiny Charm. Our guide from the time, How to catch Shiny Pokémon, details the methods.
What about the expansions?
The Expansion Pass adds two new playable regions, accessible from Wedgehurst Station: the Isle of Armor, with Mustard’s dojo and Kubfu, and the Crown Tundra, with Calyrex, Dynamax Adventures and dozens of legendaries.
