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Pokémon: Sword & Shield

Route 10

By
Ben Chard
&
Vincent Lau

This route is the closest thing to Victory Road in previous games.

Wild Pokémon - Overworld

Pokémon Type Encounter Rate
"Abomasnow" IconAbomasnow Grass/Ice Fixed
Beatric Ice Fixed
"Mr. Mime" IconMr. Mime Ice/Psychic 40%
"Snover" IconSnover Grass/Ice 30%
"Cubchoo" IconCubchoo Ice 15%
"Sneasel" IconSneasel Dark/Ice 14%
"Glalie" IconGlalie Ice 10% (Before the slope only)
"Duraludon" IconDuraludon Steel/Dragon 1%

Wild Pokémon - Random Encounters

Pokémon Type Encounter Rate
"Vanillish" IconVanillish Ice 30% (Sword), 35% (Shield)
"Abomasnow" IconAbomasnow Grass/Ice 28%
Beatric Ice 25%
"Snom" IconSnom Ice/Bug 10%
"Darumaka" IconDarumaka (Sword only) Ice 5%
"Stonjourner" IconStonjourner (Sword only) Rock 2%
"Eiscue" IconEiscue (Shield only) Ice 2%

Hop will run off ahead. Before following him, quickly go over to the left. Inspect the wagon at the end to find 2 X Attacks. Afterwards, go back and head east from the train station. Over here, there’s some tall grass by the corner. Step into the grass and grab the Max Revive in the space with no grass. Then head north to face the first trainer.

Doctor Graham

Pokémon Level Type
"Gardevoir" IconGardevoir 45 Psychic/Fairy

This elegant Pokémon is the final evolved form of "Ralts" IconRalts; it’s weak to Poison, Ghost and Steel. Hit it hard and fast or it may use Calm Mind to boost its special stats.

After defeating Graham, keep heading north up the long slope. At the top of the slope, there’s a trainer slowly looking left from right. You can run past him when he’s looking in the other direction–you might need to bike it.

Hiker Douglas

Pokémon Level Type
"Steelix" IconSteelix 45 Steel/Ground
"Mudsdale" IconMudsdale 45 Ground

"Steelix" IconSteelix is an evolved "Onix" IconOnix that has swapped from Rock to Steel-type. It’s weak to Fire, Water, Ground and Fighting. Try to blast it with special attackers because it has terrible Special Defence. Also, it can use Curse to boost its Attack and Defence at the cost of its already poor Speed.

Next up is "Mudsdale" IconMudsdale, an evolved "Mudbray" IconMudbray. Special attackers are again recommended, not because of its Stamina ability (which this one doesn’t have), but because it may use Counter.

Either way, if you want to catch some Pokémon, head west from the top of the slope. You’ll find a stretch of tall grass. At the end, there’s a wild Level 55 "Abomasnow" IconAbomasnow (Grass/Ice). When you’re ready to continue, travel north-east from the slope. Around here, there’s a businessman. If you want to bypass him, wait till he’s standing in the middle of the path, looking at his phone.

Office Worker Ronald

Pokémon Level Type
"Weavile" IconWeavile 45 Dark/Ice
"Claydol" IconClaydol 45 Ground/Psychic

First into the ring is "Weavile" IconWeavile, an evolved "Sneasel" IconSneasel. It takes 4x damage from Fighting and 2x damage from Fire, Rock, Bug, Steel and Fairy. Ouch, being an Ice-type is miserable. Next up is "Claydol" IconClaydol, which is an evolved "Baltoy" IconBaltoy. It’s weak to Grass, Water, Ice, Bug, Ghost and Dark.

Comet Shards are treasures that you can sell.

Further north, there’s a large boulder with tall grass on its right. To its left is a trainer itching for a fight. You can go around through the tall grass to avoid this trainer, but you’ll run into a second trainer as you’re about to leave the boulder. So, pick your poison (or have both)! In any case, search the half-buried rock in the middle of the grass path for a Comet Shard.

Cabbie Geoffrey

Pokémon Level Type
"Corviknight" IconCorviknight 45 Flying/Steel
"Flygon" IconFlygon 46 Ground/Dragon

"Corviknight" IconCorviknight is a fully evolved "Rookidee" IconRookidee. It’s gained the Steel-type and is thus weak to Fire and Electric only. Watch out for Swagger. As for "Flygon" IconFlygon, you also fought one of these in Hammerlocke. But if you forgot, it takes 4x damage from Ice and 2x damage from Dragon and Fairy.

Postman Harper

Pokémon Level Type
"Pelipper" IconPelipper 46 Water/Flying
"Noctowl" IconNoctowl 46 Normal/Flying

Do you remember "Pelipper" IconPelipper from the Hammerlocke Gym mission? This one also has Drizzle, which summons rain. Better than hail, if you ask us! Anyway, it takes 4x damage from Electric and 2x damage from Rock. "Noctowl" IconNoctowl is an evolved "Hoothoot" IconHoothoot. Like its earlier form, it’s weak to Electric, Ice and Rock. If you have Thunder, this battle is as good as won.

Once you’ve got past the boulder, make your way west. There will be a stretch of tall grass that starts at the top of the path, but then overlaps with the bottom. As you’re traveling, keep an eye out below. Before the tall grass stops, there’s a path below leading south-east, which can be easy to miss. Follow this narrow path to find a Power Herb at the end.

(1 of 2) A Pokémon holding this does not need to charge up certain moves like Solar Beam. But the item will disappear afterwards.

A Pokémon holding this does not need to charge up certain moves like Solar Beam. But the item will disappear afterwards. (left), Use one of these to permanently increase the PP of a move. (right)

Afterwards, go back and continue west from the end of the tall grass. Beware of a Level 55 "Beartic" IconBeartic around here. You’ll reach a camp site, which acts as a landmark for the Flying Taxi. So if you need to return to get more supplies, now’s your chance! Also, go left from the tent and search the snow near the end to discover a hidden PP Up.

When you’re ready to proceed, begin heading north up the nearby slope. This is the final gauntlet; up here are a string of powerful trainers that you must defeat to reach the exit.

Hiker Donald

Pokémon Level Type
"Gigalith" IconGigalith 46 Rock
"Rhydon" IconRhydon 46 Ground/Rock

"Gigalith" IconGigalith is another Pokémon you battled during Raihan’s Gym mission. This one also has the Sand Stream ability, which changes the weather condition to sandstorm. On top of that, it has Stealth Rock to damage switch ins. "Rhydon" IconRhydon is an evolved "Rhyhorn" IconRhyhorn; it takes 4x damage from Grass and Rock and 2x damage from Ice, Fighting and Steel.

Gentleman Glenn

Pokémon Level Type
"Darmanitan" IconDarmanitan (Galarian) 46 Ice
"Falinks" IconFalinks 46 Fighting
"Grapploct" IconGrapploct 46 Fighting

Glenn’s first Pokémon is a Galarian "Darmanitan" IconDarmanitan, which is evolved from Galarian Daramuka. When it drops below 50% HP, it will change into Zen Mode and gain the Fire-type. Its weaknesses will then become Rock (4x damage), Water, Ground and Fighting.

His next two Pokémon are both pure Fighting, although we don’t blame you if you mistake them for Bug and Water. "Falinks" IconFalinks can use First Impressions to attack first and deal big damage, but this only works once. As for "Grapploct" IconGrapploct, its Octolock will steadily lower your Pokémon’s defensive stats and stop them escaping.

Interviewers Gillian and Cam

Pokémon Level Type
"Heliolisk" IconHeliolisk 46 Electric/Normal
"Noivern" IconNoivern 47 Dragon/Flying
"Klinklang" IconKlinklang 46 Steel
"Togedemaru" IconTogedemaru 47 Electric/Steel

Double Battle time! Gillian uses "Heliolisk" IconHeliolisk and "Noivern" IconNoivern, while Cam uses "Klinklang" IconKlinklang and "Togedemaru" IconTogedemaru.

Heliolisk is an evolved "Helioptile" IconHelioptile; it’s weak to Ground and Fighting. It can use Parabolic Charge to hit all Pokémon in battle (including its ally), stealing their HP, and Eerie Impulse to greatly lower a Pokémon’s Special Attack.

Klinklang is the final evolved form of "Klink" IconKlink. It can use Shift Gear to boost its Attack and greatly boost its Speed, plus Zap Cannon to cause damage and paralysis if it hits (50/50 chance).

Next, we’ve got Noivern, an evolved "Noibat" IconNoibat. It has the same weaknesses: Ice (4x damage), Rock, Dragon and Fairy. Of note, it can use Tailwind to raise its party’s Speed and Super Fang to reduce a Pokémon’s HP by 50%.

There’s also Togedemaru, which is weak to Ground (4x damage), Fire and Fighting. Pretty much the worst it can do is Nuzzle, which deals low damage, but inflicts paralysis. If you’re slower (thanks to paralysis or Tailwind), it would joyfully spam Zing Zap to try and cause flinching.

After showing off your skills to the interviewers, you’ll reach the top of the slope. From here, make your way north to reach Wyndon, your next destination.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Pokemon Company International
  • Platforms,
    Switch
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    15 November 2019
  • Last Updated
    21 March 2024
    Version History
  • Guide Author

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Welcome to our comprehensive strategy guide for Pokémon: Sword and Shield, the latest entries in the Pokémon video game franchise. Our guide also incorporates all the DLC, including the Isle of Armor and brand new Crown Tundra DLC.

In Sword and Shield, you explore the Galar region, based on the United Kingdom, alongside rivals Hop, Bede and Marnie, with the aim to dethrone the Pokémon League Champion.

The games introduce several new features such as Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing, functions that increase size and change forms of certain Pokémon; the Wild Area, a large open world with free camera movement; and raids with co-op battling. They also reintroduce features previously seen in Sun and Moon and Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, such as regional variants and roaming Pokémon depicted in the overworld.

Brand New October 2020:

Version 1.2

  • A Complete Walkthrough of the Isle of Armor.
  • Details of all 16 new Wild Areas, including Pokémon encounter rates.
  • All the new Max Raid Dens: Locations and Featured Pokémon.
  • Images and Locations of All 150 of the Missing Diglett.
  • The Isle of Armor Pokédex (featuring 100 Returning Pokémon).
  • Recipes for the Cram-o-matic.
  • A Full Walkthrough featuring Pokémon encounter rates.
  • All Gym Encounters and Strategies.
  • New Items: Mints & Natures Explained.
  • Post Game content including Champion Cup.
  • Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing.
  • The Galar Region Pokédex (featuring 400 Pokemon).

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