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Pokémon: Sword & Shield

Max Raids

By
Ben Chard
&
Vincent Lau

Den A

From Brawlers’ Cave entrance, turn right. At the end of the path, past some tall grass.

Common Den

Name Type Encounter Rate
"Chansey" IconChansey Normal ☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆ - 5%
"Mienfoo" IconMienfoo Fighting ☆ - 60%, ☆☆ - 30%
"Clobbopus" IconClobbopus Fighting ☆ - 40%, ☆☆ - 25%
"Mienfoo" IconMienfoo Fighting ☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆ - 30%
"Scraggy" IconScraggy [Sword] Dark/Fighting ☆☆ - 20%, ☆☆☆ - 25%
"Croagunk" IconCroagunk [Shield] Poison/Fighting ☆☆ - 20%, ☆☆☆ - 25%
"Passimian" IconPassimian [Sword] Fighting ☆☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆☆ - 25%
"Scrafty" IconScrafty [Sword] Dark/Fighting ☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆ - 40%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Toxicroak" IconToxicroak [Shield] Poison/Fighting ☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆ - 40%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Mienshao" IconMienshao Fighting ☆☆☆☆ - 30%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 60%
"Grapploct" IconGrapploct Fighting ☆☆☆ - 25% [Shield], ☆☆☆☆ - 25% [Shield], ☆☆☆☆☆ - 15%

Rare Den

Name Type Encounter Rate
"Blissey" IconBlissey Normal ☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆ - 5%
"Mienfoo" IconMienfoo Fighting ☆ - 60%, ☆☆ - 30%
"Scraggy" IconScraggy [Sword] Dark/Fighting ☆ - 40%, ☆☆ - 25%
"Croagunk" IconCroagunk [Shield] Poison/Fighting ☆ - 40%, ☆☆ - 25%
"Sawk" IconSawk [Sword] Fighting ☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆ - 30%, ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Throh" IconThroh [Shield] Fighting ☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆ - 30%, ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Mienshao" IconMienshao Fighting ☆☆ - 20%, ☆☆☆ - 25%
"Falinks" IconFalinks Fighting ☆☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 15% [Shield]
"Passimian" IconPassimian [Sword] Fighting ☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆ - 25%
"Mienshao" IconMienshao Fighting ☆☆☆ - 15% [Shield], ☆☆☆☆ - 15% [Sword], ☆☆☆☆ - 40% [Shield] , ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Scrafty" IconScrafty [Sword] Dark/Fighting ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Toxicroak" IconToxicroak [Shield] Poison/Fighting ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Grapploct" IconGrapploct Fighting ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Sirfetch'd" IconSirfetch’d [Sword] Fighting ☆☆☆☆☆ - 15%

Den B

At the first crossroad, while facing the tower ahead, turn right. At the end of the path, through a long stretch of tall grass. Behind a boulder.

Common Den

Name Type Encounter Rate
"Chansey" IconChansey Normal ☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆ - 5%
"Rockruff" IconRockruff Rock ☆ - 100%, ☆☆ - 100%, ☆☆☆ - 90%, ☆☆☆☆ - 40%
"Rockruff" IconRockruff (Own Tempo) Rock ☆☆☆ - 5%, ☆☆☆☆ - 5%
"Lycanroc" IconLycanroc (Midday) [Sword] Rock ☆☆☆☆ - 40%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 70%
"Lycanroc" IconLycanroc (Midnight) [Shield] Rock ☆☆☆☆ - 40%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 70%
"Lycanroc" IconLycanroc (Midnight) [Sword] Rock ☆☆☆☆ - 10%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Lycanroc" IconLycanroc (Midday) [Shield] Rock ☆☆☆☆ - 10%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Lycanroc" IconLycanroc (Dusk) Rock ☆☆☆☆☆ - 5%

Rare Den

Name Type Encounter Rate
"Blissey" IconBlissey Normal ☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆ - 5%
"Rockruff" IconRockruff Rock ☆ - 100%, ☆☆ - 100%, ☆☆☆ - 80%, ☆☆☆☆ - 30%
"Rockruff" IconRockruff (Own Tempo) Rock ☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆ - 15%
"Lycanroc" IconLycanroc (Midday) [Sword] Rock ☆☆☆☆ - 30%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 40%
"Lycanroc" IconLycanroc (Midnight) [Shield] Rock ☆☆☆☆ - 30%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 40%
"Lycanroc" IconLycanroc (Midnight) [Sword] Rock ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 35%
"Lycanroc" IconLycanroc (Midday) [Shield] Rock ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 35%
"Lycanroc" IconLycanroc (Dusk) Rock ☆☆☆☆ - 5%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%

Den C

At the second crossroad, turn right while facing the stairs to the tower. At the edge of the plateau, overlooking the ocean. There are pebbles nearby.

Common Den

Name Type Encounter Rate
"Chansey" IconChansey Normal ☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆ - 5%
"Fletchling" IconFletchling Normal/Flying ☆ - 60%, ☆☆ - 30%
"Woobat" IconWoobat Psychic/Flying ☆ - 40%, ☆☆ - 25%
"Rufflet" IconRufflet [Sword] Normal/Flying ☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆ - 30%
"Vullaby" IconVullaby [Shield] Dark/Flying ☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆ - 30%
"Emolga" IconEmolga Electric/Flying ☆☆ - 20%, ☆☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Fletchinder" IconFletchinder Fire/Flying ☆☆☆ - 40%, ☆☆☆☆ - 50%
"Braviary" IconBraviary [Sword] Normal/Flying ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 40%
"Mandibuzz" IconMandibuzz [Shield] Dark/Flying ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 40%
"Swoobat" IconSwoobat Psychic/Flying ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Talonflame" IconTalonflame Fire/Flying ☆☆☆☆☆ - 15%

Rare Den

Name Type Encounter Rate
"Blissey" IconBlissey Normal ☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆ - 5%
"Hoothoot" IconHoothoot Normal/Flying ☆ - 60%, ☆☆ - 30%
"Pidove" IconPidove Normal/Flying ☆ - 40%, ☆☆ - 25%
"Rufflet" IconRufflet [Sword] Normal/Flying ☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆ - 30%
"Vullaby" IconVullaby [Shield] Dark/Flying ☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆ - 30%
"Tranquill" IconTranquill Normal/Flying ☆☆ - 20%, ☆☆☆ - 25%
"Swoobat" IconSwoobat Psychic/Flying ☆☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆☆ - 25%
"Noctowl" IconNoctowl Normal/Flying ☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆ - 25%
"Unfezant" IconUnfezant Normal/Flying ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Talonflame" IconTalonflame Fire/Flying ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 35%
"Emolga" IconEmolga Electric/Flying ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Braviary" IconBraviary [Sword] Normal/Flying ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Mandibuzz" IconMandibuzz [Shield] Dark/Flying ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%

Den D

Behind the Tower of Darkness.

Common Den

Name Type Encounter Rate
"Chansey" IconChansey Normal ☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆ - 5%
"Carvanha" IconCarvanha Water/Dark ☆ - 60%, ☆☆ - 55%, ☆☆☆ - 30%
"Pawniard" IconPawniard Dark/Steel ☆ - 40%, ☆☆ - 25%
"Zorua" IconZorua Dark ☆☆ - 20%, ☆☆☆ - 25%
"Sharpedo" IconSharpedo Water/Dark ☆☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 15%
"Malamar" IconMalamar Dark/Psychic ☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆ - 40%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Drapion" IconDrapion Poison/Dark ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 25%
"Bisharp" IconBisharp Dark/Steel ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Zoroark" IconZoroark Dark ☆☆☆☆☆ - 15%

Rare Den

Name Type Encounter Rate
"Blissey" IconBlissey Normal ☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆ - 5%
"Zorua" IconZorua Dark ☆ - 60%, ☆☆ - 55%, ☆☆☆ - 30%
"Carvanha" IconCarvanha Water/Dark ☆ - 40%, ☆☆ - 25%
"Inkay" IconInkay Dark/Psychic ☆☆ - 20%, ☆☆☆ - 25%
"Krokorok" IconKrokorok Ground/Dark ☆☆☆ - 25%, ☆☆☆☆ - 25%
"Malamar" IconMalamar Dark/Psychic ☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆ - 25%
"Thievul" IconThievul Dark ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Zoroark" IconZoroark Dark ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Sharpedo" IconSharpedo Water/Dark ☆☆☆☆ - 15%, ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Liepard" IconLiepard Dark ☆☆☆☆☆ - 20%
"Krookodile" IconKrookodile Ground/Dark ☆☆☆☆☆ - 15%
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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

Share this free guide:

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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