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Pokémon: Sword & Shield

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Introduction

By
Ben Chard
&
Vincent Lau

The Wild Area in the Isle of Armor is more fleshed out compared to the base game.

In the base version of Sword and Shield, the Wild Area is a vast landscape that occupies most of southern Galar, accessible after leaving the town of Wedgehurst. Unlike the traditional routes and dungeons, the Wild Area is open-world in design and players have more freedom to explore. The Wild Area itself is divided into multiple seamless zones and is home to a large variety of Pokémon.

The Wild Area makes a return in the Isle of Armor DLC, but with a twist. Whereas in the base game, the Wild Area was just one part of the game, the Isle of Armor is more or less one giant Wild Area. So there are no routes or dungeons in the traditional sense, but some zones fulfil the same role. Also, exploration is completely seamless, although there are buildings with loading zones.

Here are some features of the Wild Area:

Weather

Similar to real life, the weather in the Wild Area is ever-changing. At the start of each new day, the weather in each of the individual zones may change. Possible weather conditions include: Clear, Overcast, Rain, Thunder, Sunny, Sandstorm and Fog. The weather can affect battles and also the wild Pokémon that you encounter in that zone.

Strong Pokémon

Strong Pokémon are often fully evolved. They can also change depending on the weather.

Every now and again, you may spot wild Pokémon roaming around the middle of nowhere, who seem different from the rest of the crowd. For instance, there could be a "Lopunny" IconLopunny hanging around by itself, overlooking the sea. These Pokémon are usually higher Level than others in the same zone and, depending on your progress, may be too high Level to catch. We call these “Strong Pokémon”.

Pokémon Dens

Scattered all over the Wild Area are these odd, hexagonal rock structures on the ground or in the sea. Usually, they’re glowing orange and some of them may have an orange or, rarely, purple beam coming from within. These are Pokémon Dens, where extremely powerful Pokémon lurk. When there’s a beam present, you can challenge the Pokémon in a Max Raid Battle.

Berry Trees

Similarly, you’re likely to find these cartoonish trees, with berries among their leaves. If you give them a good shake, you can obtain all sorts of useful berries–and also Apricorns that can be combined using the Cram-o-matic. But be wary, because if you shake them too much, you may get ambushed by a Pokémon! Each new day, it’ll be possible to shake the trees again.

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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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