How to Build the Best Team | Best Story Party | Pokemon Sword and Shield

This guide gives our suggestions for Pokemon teams effective for getting through the story. Read on for for team lists suited to each of the three Starter Pokemon, and Pokemon which are useful to add to your team at each point in the game.

NOTE: This is an guide for players progressing through the game's main story. For tips on how to make a competitive team for online Ranked Battle, these guides will do the trick!
All Competitive Team Building Guides

In the early part of the game

If you chose Grookey

Grookey	Rookidee	Bunnelby
Magikarp	Litwick	Toxel

If you chose Scorbunny

Scorbunny	Rookidee	Bunnelby
Magikarp	Toxel

If you chose Sobble

Sobble	Rookidee	Bunnelby
Litwick	Toxel

In the middle part of the game

If you chose Grookey

Thwackey	Gyarados	Toxtricity (Amped Form)
Lampent	Hattrem	Grapploct

If you chose Scorbunny

Raboot	Toxtricity (Amped Form)	Diggersby
Gyarados	Hattrem	Grapploct

If you chose Sobble

Drizzile	Corvisquire	Toxtricity (Amped Form)
Lampent	Hattrem	Grapploct

In the late part of the game

If you chose Grookey

Rillaboom	Gyarados	Toxtricity (Amped Form)
Chandelure	Hatterene	Eternatus

If you chose Scorbunny

Cinderace	Diggersby	Gyarados
Toxtricity (Amped Form)	Hatterene	Eternatus

If you chose Sobble

Inteleon	Corviknight	Toxtricity (Amped Form)
Chandelure	Hatterene	Eternatus

Where each recommended Pokemon appears

Early game

Rookidee

Rookidee
Type		Location	Route 1, 2, and others

Rookidee - Locations and Learnable Moves

Magikarp

Magikarp
Type		Location	Route 2 (Fishing), Motostoke (Fishing), and others

Magikarp - Locations and Learnable Moves

Bunnelby

Bunnelby
Type		Location	Rolling Fields, East Lake Axewell, and others

Bunnelby - Locations and Learnable Moves

Toxel

Toxel
Type		Location	Receive at Route 5 Day Care, Bridge Field, and others

Toxel - Locations and Learnable Moves

Litwick

Litwick
Type		Location	Motostoke (Gym Challenge)

Litwick - Locations and Learnable Moves

Mid-game

Hattrem

Hattrem
Type		Location	Glimwood Tangle

Hattrem - Locations and Learnable Moves

Grapploct

Grapploct
Type		Location	Route 9 (Fixed on the Map)

Grapploct - Locations and Learnable Moves

Late game

Eternatus

Eternatus
Type		Location	Catch during the story

Eternatus - Locations and Learnable Moves

How picky should you be about Natures and IVs?

Avoid Natures which lower Attack and Special Attack

When focusing on getting through the main story, there's no need to be picky about IVs, as it's quicker to simply level up a Pokemon to improve their stats. However, in order to get through the story quickly, it's best to avoid Natures which lower Attack and Special Attack. It's advantageous to have your Pokemon able to deal as much damage as possible to make sure you can defeat each opponent swiftly.

Related Links

Beginner Tips and Guides

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