Pokemon Sword and Shield

How to Catch Legendary Pokemon

How to Catch Legendary Pokemon.png

This page explains how to catch each of the Legendary Pokemon in the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips and strategies for catching Zacian, Zamazenta, and Eternatus, as well as new Legendaries Kubfu and Urshifu in the Isle of Armor.

Legendary Pokemon Guides
SwSh Legendaries Icon.pngHow to Get All Legendaries Legendary Pokemon Icon.pngCrown Tundra Legendaries Shiny Hunting Icon 2.pngShiny Hunting Guide

List of Legendary Pokemon and How to Catch Them

Legendary Pokemon Available in the Base Game

The following Legendary Pokemon can be found in Pokemon Sword and Shield with no need for DLC or events. Unlike previous games in the series, there's no set of three Legendaries akin to the Legendary Birds or Legendary Dogs, marking the lowest in-game Legendary count of any generation.

Pokemon Type How to Catch
Eternatus ImageEternatus Dragon Type Poison Type Before the Champion
Eternatus - Locations and Learnable Moves
Zacian ImageZacian (Normal Form) Fairy Type
(Crowned Sword Form) Fairy Type Steel Type
After finishing the Story
Zacian - Locations and Learnable Moves

Only catchable in
Pokemon Sword
Zamazenta ImageZamazenta (Normal Form) Fighting Type
(Crowned Shield Form) Fighting Type Steel Type
After finishing the Story
Zamazenta - Locations and Learnable Moves

Only catchable in
Pokemon Shield

Legendary Pokemon Available only via Events

Zarude, the first Mythical Pokemon announced this generation, is obtainable starting August 7th only via the Japan release of Pokemon the Movie: Coco. We're expecting more events in other countries coming soon to make Zarude more easily available.

Pokemon Type How to Catch
Zarude ImageZarude Dark Type Grass Type Pokemon The Movie: Coco Ticket Preorder
How to Get Zarude

New Legendary Pokemon in The Isle of Armor

The Isle of Armor DLC features a brand-new set of Legendary Pokemon, Kubfu and Urshifu, one of the very few evolution chains among Legendaries.

Pokemon Type How to Catch
Kubfu ImageKubfu Fighting Type Complete three trials at the Master Dojo
How to Get Kubfu
Location: Fields of Honor
Urshifu Single-Strike Style ImageUrshifu Single-Strike Style Fighting Type Dark Type (Evolves from Kubfu)
Go through the Tower of Darkness with Kubfu
How to Get Urshifu
Location: Challenge Road
Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style ImageUrshifu Rapid-Strike Style Fighting Type Water Type (Evolves from Kubfu)
Go through the Tower of Waters with Kubfu
How to Get Urshifu
Location: Challenge Beach

Returning Legendary Pokemon in The Crown Tundra

The Crown Tundra expansion, availble on the Expansion Pass DLC, was revealed to contain all Legendary Pokemon from previous games. New Galarian forms of Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres were also announced.

Nat. No. Galar No. Pokemon Type
151 NatDex 151 Psychic Type
146 NatDex 146-1 Fire Type Flying Type
145 NatDex 145-1 Electric Type Flying Type
144 NatDex 144-1 Ice Type Flying Type
150 NatDex 150 Psychic Type
145.1 NatDex 145 Fighting Type Flying Type
144.1 NatDex 144 Psychic Type Flying Type
146.1 NatDex 146 Dark Type Flying Type
250 NatDex 250 Fire Type Flying Type
249 NatDex 249 Psychic Type Flying Type
243 NatDex 243 Electric Type
245 NatDex 245 Water Type
244 NatDex 244 Fire Type
251 NatDex 251 Psychic Type Grass Type
384 NatDex 384 Dragon Type Flying Type
382 NatDex 382 Water Type
383 NatDex 383 Ground Type
378 NatDex 378 Ice Type
377 NatDex 377 Rock Type
379 NatDex 379 Steel Type
380 NatDex 380 Dragon Type Psychic Type
381 NatDex 381 Dragon Type Psychic Type
385 NatDex 385 Steel Type Psychic Type
487 NatDex 487 Ghost Type Dragon Type
486 NatDex 486 Normal Type
484 NatDex 484 Water Type Dragon Type
483 NatDex 483 Steel Type Dragon Type
481 NatDex 481 Psychic Type
480 NatDex 480 Psychic Type
482 NatDex 482 Psychic Type
488 NatDex 488 Psychic Type
485 NatDex 485 Fire Type Steel Type
487 NatDex 487 Ghost Type Dragon Type
641 NatDex 641 Flying Type
642 NatDex 642 Electric Type Flying Type
645 NatDex 645 Ground Type Flying Type
649 NatDex 649 Bug Type Steel Type
494 NatDex 494 Psychic Type Fire Type
647 ? Water Type Fighting Type
640 NatDex 640 Grass Type Fighting Type
643 NatDex 643 Dragon Type Fire Type
647 NatDex 647 Water Type Fighting Type
645 NatDex 645 Ground Type Flying Type
641 NatDex 641 Flying Type
642 NatDex 642 Electric Type Flying Type
644 NatDex 644 Dragon Type Electric Type
646 NatDex 646 Dragon Type Ice Type
638 NatDex 638 Steel Type Fighting Type
639 NatDex 639 Rock Type Fighting Type
718.2 NatDex 718 Dragon Type Ground Type
718.1 NatDex 718 Dragon Type Ground Type
721 NatDex 721 Fire Type Water Type
719 NatDex 719 Rock Type Fairy Type
718 NatDex 718 Dragon Type Ground Type
717 NatDex 717 Dark Type Flying Type
716 NatDex 716 Fairy Type
789 NatDex 789 Psychic Type
788 NatDex 788 Water Type Fairy Type
790 NatDex 790 Psychic Type
787 NatDex 787 Grass Type Fairy Type
786 NatDex 786 Psychic Type Fairy Type
785 NatDex 785 Electric Type Fairy Type
800 NatDex 800 Psychic Type
792 NatDex 792 Psychic Type Ghost Type
802 NatDex 802 Fighting Type Ghost Type
791 NatDex 791 Psychic Type Steel Type
807 NatDex 807 Electric Type
808 NatDex 808 Steel Type
809 NatDex 809 Steel Type
801 NatDex 801 Steel Type Fairy Type

List of Pokemon Appearing in Expansion Pass DLC

How to Catch Legendary Pokemon

How to Catch Eternatus

How to Catch Legendary Pokemon - Eternatus_1.jpeg
Location: Hammerlocke Energy Plant - Tower Summit

Can be obtained before battling the Champion

Eternatus is the last battle before facing with the Champion, and it is encountered directly after battling the Chancellor, the mastermind of the story of Pokemon Sword and Shield. Because you will be able to obtain Eternatus with any Poke Ball, simply choose a ball you like, and be sure to have it with you for the encounter.

How to Catch Zacian

How to Catch Legendary Pokemon - Zacian_1.jpeg
Location: Energy Plant - Tower Summit

Steps for Catching Zacian

1 Defeat the Champion.
2 After the ending, return to the Slumbering Weald.
3 Go to the end of the Slumbering Weald and battle with Hop.
4 Battle with Swordward.
5 Defeat Dynamax Pokemon at 3 Stadiums around the Region.
Turffield Stadium: Tsareena
Hulbury Stadium: Gyarados
Motospoke Stadium: Torkoal
6 Return to Sonia's laboratory and have a double battle with Swordward and Shieldbert.
7 Defeat Dynamax Pokemon at 4 Stadiums around the Region.
Hammerlocke Stadium: Haxorus
Stow-on-Side: Conkeldurr
Ballonlea: Battle with Bede
Circhester: Gigalith
8 Head to Hammerlocke Stadium and talk to Sonia in front of the Elevator.
9 Battle with Swordward.
10 Take the elevator to the top floor.
11 Battle with Zamazenta.
12 Save before facing Zacian.
13 Battle with Zacian.

Can be obtained after finishing the Story (Sword Exclusive)

Zacian can be obtained after completing the main Story. The quest to obtain Zacian as described above can be completed in about 3 hours. After defeating the Champion, the player will receive a Master Ball, so they will be able to obtain Zacian without fail.

How to Catch Zamazenta

How to Catch Legendary Pokemon - Zamazenta_1.jpeg
Location: Energy Plant - Tower Summit

Steps for Catching Zamazenta

1 Defeat the Champion.
2 After the ending, return to the Slumbering Weald.
3 Go to the end of the Slumbering Weald and battle with Hop.
4 Battle with Shieldbert.
5 Defeat Dynamax Pokemon at 3 Stadiums around the Region.
Turffield Stadium: Tsareena
Hulbury Stadium: Gyarados
Motospoke Stadium: Torkoal
6 Return to Sonia's laboratory and have a double battle with Swordward and Shieldbert.
7 Defeat Dynamax Pokemon at 4 Stadiums around the Region.
Hammerlocke Stadium: Haxorus
Stow-on-Side: Dusknoir
Circhester: Froslass
Ballonlea: Battle with Bede
8 Head to Hammerlocke Stadium and talk to Sonia in front of the Elevator.
9 Battle with Shieldbert.
10 Take the elevator to the top floor.
11 Battle with Zacian.
12 Save before facing Zamazenta.
13 Battle with Zamazenta.

Can be obtained after finishing the Story (Shield Exclusive)

Just like Zacian, Zamazenta can only be obtained after defeating the Champion and returning to the Slumbering Weald.

Introduction to the Legendary Pokemon

The Pokemon absorbing all the energy of the Galar Region

How to Catch Legendary Pokemon - Gigantamax Eternatus
Type
Dragon Type Poison Type

A strong Pokemon playing a decisive role in Max Raid Battles

Eternatus is at Level 60 when it joins the player's team, which combined with its high Special Attack makes it a must-have for Max Raid Battles. As the Pokemon with the highest Base Stats attainable before the end of the Story, Eternatus is a Pokemon you'll definitely want to have as a constant member of your team.

Eternatus's Stats, Abilities and Learnable Moves

The Pokemon with a shining sword to slice through anything, Zacian

How to Catch Legendary Pokemon - Zacian.jpg


Zacian attacks so gracefully that its movements can even captivate its opponents. It holds what appears to be a sword in its mouth.
Source: Official Site

Zacian eminates a gallant and refined aura suited to the knightly image of the sword, and as such fills the part as the mascot of Pokemon Sword. There is a high chance that Zacian will only appear in Pokemon Sword, so for those who want to capture Zacian, Pokemon Sword just might be the choice for you.

Becomes a Fairy/Steel-type

When given a Rusted Sword, Zacian will transform into its Crowned Sword Form, and become a Fairy/Steel dual-type Pokemon. With Fire and Ground as its only weaknesses, and a host of resistences provided by the Steel type, Zacian becomes a defensively powerful player.

Zacian's Stats, Abilities and Learnable Moves

The Pokemon with a glistening shield to reflect all attacks, Zamazenta

How to Catch Legendary Pokemon - Zamazenta.jpg


Zamazenta’s regal and majestic movements overwhelm any opponents that dare face it. Its body is covered in what seems to be a shield.
Source: Official Site

Zamazenta's body is completely covered in a giant shield. This truly is an appearance worthy to serve as the mascot of Pokemon Shield. Zamazenta is only available in Pokemon Shield, so for those who want to capture Zamazenta, Pokemon Shield would be the best option to purchase - assuming you don't have a friend who is willing to part with theirs!

Becomes a Fighting/Steel-type

When given a Rusted Shield, Zamazenta will transform into its Crowned Shield Form, and beocome a Fighting/Steel dual-type Pokemon. It gains a sizable stat boost in both Defense and Special Defense, making Zamazenta no easy feat to take down.

Zamazenta's Stats, Abilities and Learnable Moves

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