Are you unsure of which starter Pokemon to choose in Pokemon Sword and Shield? Read this guide to learn the quickest way to obtain all 3 starters after beginning Pokemon Sword and Shield.
2 Copies of Pokemon Sword and Shield (Either game is fine)
Note: This can also be done through an internet connection, in which case you will need the friend code of whoever you wish to trade with.
Steps for Getting All Starters
On the Device You Will Be Trading To
Required Time: 30 Minutes
Start a new file and proceed through the opening cutscene.
Run to the right and grab the bag from your room and exit the house.
Run to Hop's house. Exit, and head to Wedgehurst by going through Route 1.
Choose one of the starter Pokemon (Scorbunny is very useful for the first few trainers).
Answer "Yes" when asked if ready, and defeat Hop in a Pokemon battle
Head back to your house and enter Slumbering Weald. Proceed through the area and run from any battles you encounter.
Battle with ??? by using any attack repeatedly, then proceed through the dialogues. Return home and speak with Mum. She will (secretly) give you 5 Pokeballs.
Go through Route 1 and catch at least one Pokemon after weakening it in battle. Sneak past the other Pokemon to avoid battling, then go to the Research Lab.
Continue forward to the Pokemon Center. Answer "Of course not". Exit and head to Route 2.
Go to Professor Magnolia's house, proceed through the dialogue and head outside. Speak with Hop and answer "Of course!" to battle again.
Obtain the Dynamax Band and your Y-Comm will activate.
Connect to the device you wish to trade to via local or internet connection, and give up the Pokemon you caught on Route 1 for their starter.
On the Device You Will Be Trading From
Required Time: About 30 Minutes
Start a new file and proceed through the opening cutscene.
Press X to open the menu. Go to Options and change Text Speed to "Fast" and Skip Movies to "On"
Run to the right and grab the bag from your room and exit the house.
Run to Hop's house. Exit, and head to Wedgehurst by going through Route 1.
Choose one of the starter Pokemon that was not chosen on the other device.
Answer "Yes" when asked if ready, and defeat Hop in a Pokemon battle
Head back to your house and enter Slumbering Weald. Proceed through the area and run from any battles you encounter.
Battle with ??? by using any attack repeatedly, then proceed through the dialogues. Return home and speak with Mum. She will (secretly) give you 5 Pokeballs.
Go through Route 1 and catch one Pokemon after weakening it in battle. Sneak past the other Pokemon to avoid battling, then go to the Research Lab.
Continue forward to the Pokemon Center. Answer "Of course not". Exit and head to Route 2.
Go to Professor Magnolia's house, proceed through the dialogue and head outside. Speak with Hop and answer "Of course!" to battle again.
Obtain the Dynamax Band and your Y-Comm will activate.
Connect to the device you wish to trade to via local or internet connection, and trade your starter for one of their Pokemon.
Next you will need to delete your saved game. Press HOME and close the software. Go to the Switch System Settings > Data Managememt > Delete Save Data. Delete your save file for the game.
(Repeat this process as necessary)
Additional Notes
Make sure to set text speed to "Fast" as soon as you are given the option. Pressing buttons during the dialogue will also make dialogue pass by quicker (we recommend hitting ZL and ZR repeatedly).
It is faster to avoid Pokemon battles in tall grass than to battle them. Move your stick slowly to creep through the grass. If you do enter a battle, just run away.
You must have two Pokemon before you can trade. Catching a Pokemon on Route 1 will also allow you to skip the catching tutorial.
Since it takes roughly 30 minutes to obtain the Y-Comm from the start of the game, getting two starters to send to another switch will take roughly an hour if done correctly.
The female trainer on Route 2 can be skipped by going through the grass behind her.
If you wish to obtain all starters for both you and your friend, you will need to repeat the process of collecting and trading a starter to another device a total of four times on one device. Then on the fifth run through, have your friend return two of the starter Pokemon back to you after getting the Y-Comm.
Traded Pokemon are often disobedient above a certain level, so if you find them not following your orders, you can raise their friendship level, or simply collect more badges.
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