Starting Pokémon Sword or Shield? Here are the answers to the questions of the first few hours: which version to pick, which starter Pokémon to choose, and how to make the most of the Wild Area, Dynamax and Pokémon Camp.
Sword or Shield?
The story is the same. What changes are the cover legendaries, two Gyms, and 35 species exclusive to one version:
| Sword | Shield | |
|---|---|---|
| Legendary | Zacian | Zamazenta |
| 4th Gym (Stow-on-Side) | Bea, Fighting type | Allister, Ghost type |
| 6th Gym (Circhester) | Gordie, Rock type | Melony, Ice type |
| Examples of exclusives | Galarian Farfetch’d and Sirfetch’d, Galarian Darumaka, Larvitar | Galarian Ponyta, Cursola, Bagon |
Pick the version whose mascot you like best. Exclusives can then be obtained by trading. The full list is in our article Exclusive Pokémon.
Which starter Pokémon?
#0810GrookeyGrassGrass: Thwackey, then Rillaboom
#0813ScorbunnyFireFire: Raboot, then Cinderace
#0816SobbleWaterWater: Drizzile, then Inteleon
- Grookey evolves into Thwackey and then Rillaboom, pure Grass and strong on physical offense. It has the advantage against Nessa (Water) and Gordie (Rock).
- Scorbunny evolves into Raboot and then Cinderace, pure Fire and very fast. It has the advantage against Milo (Grass) and Melony (Ice).
- Sobble evolves into Drizzile and then Inteleon, pure Water, fast and offensive. It has the advantage against Kabu (Fire) and Gordie (Rock).
All three have a Gigantamax form, unlocked thanks to the Max Soup from the Isle of Armor. Your rival Hop will take the one that is at a disadvantage against yours; Leon will keep the one that has the advantage.
Tools to know
The Rotom Phone
Your phone, inhabited by a Rotom, serves as a Pokédex, a map and your access to online features.
Dynamax
The Dynamax Band lets you, once per battle and only in stadiums and Dens, make a Pokémon giant for three turns. Its HP increases greatly and its moves become Max Moves, with secondary effects (weather, terrain, stats). Some Pokémon can Gigantamax: they change appearance and gain an exclusive move.
Pokémon Camp
Pitch your tent in the Wild Area or on the routes to play with your Pokémon and cook curries. Curries heal your team, earn experience and strengthen friendship.
Pokémon Box Link anywhere
As soon as you receive it from Sonia, at the entrance to the Wild Area, you can access your Pokémon Box from the menu, wherever you are.
Eight tips for your adventure
- Explore the Wild Area early: with favorable weather, you can catch Pokémon you can’t find on the routes. Avoid Pokémon whose level is too high, which you can’t catch until you have enough badges.
- Collect Watts by touching Dens: they are used to buy TMs and upgrade your Rotom Bike.
- Take part in Max Raid Battles: they earn you Exp. Candies, TRs and TMs, and let you catch Gigantamax Pokémon.
- Save Dynamax for the last Pokémon of the Gym Leaders, who always Dynamax their last one.
- Prepare for Kabu, the third Gym Leader, reputed to be difficult: his Fire Pokémon burn your team with Will-O-Wisp.
- Do Poké Jobs to send your Pokémon to the Box to earn experience and items.
- Cook curries to heal your team for free outside of towns.
- Balance your team: the Exp. Share is always on, the adventure is easy, but the Ultimate Match against Leon calls for real type variety.
For what comes next, the complete walkthrough takes you through it chapter by chapter.
