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Pokemon Sword and Shield

How to Build the Best Team | Best Story Party

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┣ Tier List / Doubles Tier List / Movesets / Rental Teams
┗ Competitive Battle Guide

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

NOTE: This is a 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

List of Contents

In the early part of the game

If you chose Grookey

Pokemon SWSH - Grookey ImageGrookey Pokemon SWSH - Rookidee ImageRookidee Pokemon SWSH - Bunnelby ImageBunnelby
Pokemon SWSH - Magikarp ImageMagikarp Pokemon SWSH - Litwick ImageLitwick Toxel ImageToxel

If you chose Scorbunny

Pokemon SWSH - Scorbunny ImageScorbunny Pokemon SWSH - Rookidee ImageRookidee Pokemon SWSH - Bunnelby ImageBunnelby
Pokemon SWSH - Magikarp ImageMagikarp Pokemon SWSH - Toxel ImageToxel

If you chose Sobble

Pokemon SWSH - Sobble ImageSobble Pokemon SWSH - Rookidee ImageRookidee Pokemon SWSH - Bunnelby ImageBunnelby
Pokemon SWSH - Litwick ImageLitwick Pokemon SWSH - Toxel ImageToxel

In the middle part of the game

If you chose Grookey

Pokemon SWSH - Thwackey ImageThwackey Pokemon SWSH - Gyarados ImageGyarados Pokemon SWSH - Toxtricity ImageToxtricity (Amped Form)
Pokemon SWSH - Lampent ImageLampent Pokemon SWSH - Hattrem ImageHattrem Pokemon SWSH - Grapploct ImageGrapploct

If you chose Scorbunny

Pokemon SWSH - Raboot ImageRaboot Pokemon SWSH - Toxtricity ImageToxtricity (Amped Form) Pokemon SWSH - Diggersby ImageDiggersby
Pokemon SWSH - Gyarados ImageGyarados Pokemon SWSH - Hattrem ImageHattrem Pokemon SWSH - Grapploct ImageGrapploct

If you chose Sobble

Pokemon SWSH - Drizzile ImageDrizzile Pokemon SWSH - Corvisquire ImageCorvisquire Pokemon SWSH - Toxtricity ImageToxtricity (Amped Form)
Pokemon SWSH - Lampent ImageLampent Pokemon SWSH - Hattrem ImageHattrem Pokemon SWSH - Grapploct ImageGrapploct

In the late part of the game

If you chose Grookey

Pokemon SWSH - Rillaboom ImageRillaboom Pokemon SWSH - Gyarados ImageGyarados Pokemon SWSH - Toxtricity ImageToxtricity (Amped Form)
Pokemon SWSH - Chandelure ImageChandelure Pokemon SWSH - Hatterene ImageHatterene Pokemon SWSH - Eternatus ImageEternatus

If you chose Scorbunny

Pokemon SWSH - Cinderace ImageCinderace Pokemon SWSH - Diggersby ImageDiggersby Pokemon SWSH - Gyarados ImageGyarados
Pokemon SWSH - Toxtricity ImageToxtricity (Amped Form) Pokemon SWSH - Hatterene ImageHatterene Pokemon SWSH - Eternatus ImageEternatus

If you chose Sobble

Pokemon SWSH - Inteleon ImageInteleon Pokemon SWSH - Corviknight ImageCorviknight Pokemon SWSH - Toxtricity ImageToxtricity (Amped Form)
Pokemon SWSH - Chandelure ImageChandelure Pokemon SWSH - Hatterene ImageHatterene Pokemon SWSH - Eternatus ImageEternatus

Where each recommended Pokemon appears

Early game

Rookidee

Pokemon SWSH - Rookidee ImageRookidee
Type Flying Type Location Route 1, 2,
and others

Rookidee - Locations and Learnable Moves

Magikarp

Pokemon SWSH - Magikarp ImageMagikarp
Type Water Type Location Route 2 (Fishing),
Motostoke (Fishing),
and others

Magikarp - Locations and Learnable Moves

Bunnelby

Pokemon SWSH - Bunnelby ImageBunnelby
Type Normal Type Location Rolling Fields,
East Lake Axewell,
and others

Bunnelby - Locations and Learnable Moves

Toxel

Pokemon SWSH - Toxel ImageToxel
Type Electric Type
Poison Type 		Location Receive at Route 5 Day Care,
Bridge Field,
and others

Toxel - Locations and Learnable Moves

Litwick

Pokemon SWSH - Litwick ImageLitwick
Type Fire Type
Ghost Type 		Location Motostoke
(Gym Challenge)

Litwick - Locations and Learnable Moves

Mid-game

Hattrem

Pokemon SWSH - Hattrem ImageHattrem
Type Psychic Type Location Glimwood Tangle

Hattrem - Locations and Learnable Moves

Grapploct

Pokemon SWSH - Grapploct ImageGrapploct
Type Normal Type Location Route 9
(Fixed on the Map)

Grapploct - Locations and Learnable Moves

Late game

Eternatus

Pokemon SWSH - Eternatus ImageEternatus
Type Poison Type Dragon 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.

Natures which decrease Attack
Bold Modest Calm Timid
Natures which decrease Special Attack
Adamant Impish Careful Jolly

What are Natures?

Related Links

Beginner Tips and Guides

Top Page
Beginner Tips & Guides
Getting a Good Start
Things to Know Before Starting Pokemon How to Adjust Screen Size
Recommended Settings
Galar Starters
Which Starter Pokemon Should You Choose? How to Get All 3 Starters
Changing Appearance
How to Change Your Appearance How to Change Your Uniform
Pokemon Battles
Type Effectiveness and Damage Output Fishing for Pokemon
How to Run Away -
Building the Best Team
How to Build the Best Team Train Pokemon Like a Pro
Catching Legendary Pokemon -
Your Pokemon
How to Stop Evolutions How to Release Pokemon
How to Get More PC Boxes -
Online Features
How to Add Friends How to Get and Use the Y-Comm
How to Battle and Trade with Friends How to Max Raid with Friends
Pokemon Camp
How to Pokemon Camp with Friends How to Get Toys
How to Make Best Curry -
Useful Information
How to Get Money (Poke Dollars) Fast Things to Do Every Day
Useful Characters and Their Locations List of Unrepeatable One-time Events
List of All Mystery Gift Codes How to Get BP
New in Sword and Shield
Differences Between Dynamax and Gigantamax Access Pokemon Boxes on the Road
How to Get Sweets Removed Features

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