Pokemon Sword and Shield

How to Get and Use the Y-Comm

How to Use the Y-Comm.png

This is a page guide on the Y-Comm feature in the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on to learn about how to use the Y-Comm both local and online and what features are available in the Y-Comm.

What is the Y-Comm?

Y-Comm is a feature in Pokemon Sword and Shield that enables players to enjoy several optional game features, such as battling, trading, and exchanging League Cards by connecting locally or online.

Note that you must have a Nintendo Switch Online account to use the Y-Comm online. This is not required for using Local Connection.

How to Unlock the Y-Comm

Y-Comm Icons.jpg

The Y-Comm is unlocked early in the game, but not at the very beginning, so you'll need to progress through the initial stages to start trading and battling online. You will receive the Y-Comm together with the Dynamax Band at Professor Magnolia's house on Route 2.

As soon as you receive the Y-Comm, icons will start appearing on the left side of the screen detailing events in your area, such as players requesting trades, players inviting others to join a Max Raid Battle, and others.

For the exact steps for proceeding through the game up through receiving the Y-Comm, check our guide on how to get all three starter Pokemon.
How to Get All Starters

How Does Y-Comm Work?

Y-Comm Explanation.jpg
Once you've unlocked it, accesing the Y-Comm is easy. Follow the steps for a basic guide to the Y-Comm.

How to Use the Y-Comm
1 Press the Y button to Access the Y-Comm.
2 Press the + button to connect to the internet. On the other hand, you do not need to connect to the internet when using Local Connection.
3 Select the feature you want to access.
4 Press A to confirm.
5 Press B to quit.

When broadcasting to anyone that you want to trade pokemon, you cannot look for a link battle partner at the same time. In other words, you can only do one broadcast at a time.

Differences between Local and Online Connection

raid 1.jpg

If you are trying to connect locally and you have friends around to do trade, battle, or do a Max Raid Battle with, you won't have to wait long for the device to find the other player. However, finding a partner online can take a while and depends on the quality of your internet connection.

Accessible Features in Y-Comm

Y-Comm With Stamps.jpg

The Y-Comm is a feature that serves as a gateway to using several other features. The buttons on the left side of the Y-Comm menu show the options accessible by the player, while the Stamps on the right side show activities and invitations from other players.

When connected to the internet, more Stamps will appear from other random players. To view more stamps, press X to load new Stamps, and the Search Stamps feature to filter to Stamps for a certain activity or to only your Nintendo Switch friends.

Available Features in the Y-Comm
Feature Description
Link Trade This feature gives you the ability to trade Pokemon with friends or other trainers. You will be able to see the Pokemon the other trainer wants to trade with you and decide if you will accept it or not.
Surprise Trade This feature also allows you to trade Pokemon. However, it's a mystery as to who you will connect with, and what Pokemon the other trainer will send you.
Swap Cards This feature allows you to swap League Cards with other players.
Link Battle This feature allows you to battle with your friends online or locally.
Profile This feature gives you the ability to change the profile picture which represents your character on Y-Comm stamps.
Search Stamps This feature allows you to filter the stamps displaying on the Y-Comm, and can be used to search for Friends' activities or certain categories of stamps.

Link Trade

Link Trade allows players to trade Pokemon, either inviting a specific player using a Link Code or by waiting to be paired with a random player.

How to Trade Pokemon
1 Select Link Trade in the Y-Comm.
2 Choose to start trading with anyone or Set a Link Code to trade with a friend.
3 Select the Pokemon you want to trade to your partner.
4 You will be showed the Pokemon your partner has chosen to trade to you. You can view its stats, and accept or reject the trade.
5 If you both accept the trade, the two Pokemon will be exchanged.
5 If one of you rejects the trade, the other can try again to choose a different Pokemon to trade. Otherwise, you can cancel the trade.

How to Trade With Friends Locally and Online

Surprise Trade

Surprise Trade, as the name suggests, will require you to give a pokemon up for trade, and the game will set you up automatically with a randomly selected partner. You can't confirm the Pokemon you will receive before starting the trade. The pokemon you will receive will depend on your luck and the kindness of the player on the other side.

How to Surprise Trade
1 Select Surprise Trade in the Y-Comm.
2 Choose a Pokemon to trade.
3 Play the game while you wait for the trade to be completed automatically with a random player.
4 You'll be notified that the trade was completed. Check the Y-Comm to see what Pokemon you received.

How Surprise Trade Works

League Card Exchange

League Card

When you create your League Card, you can swap it with other players. And to do this, you need to access Swap Cards feature in Y-Comm.

How to Trade Cards
1 Select Swap Cards in the Y-Comm.
2 Choose to start trading with anyone or Set a Link Code to trade with a friend.
3 Trade either locally or online. If you want to exhcnage cards within the area, use locally or trade with anyone from around the world online.

If you did not already know, you can customize your League Card to your liking. Before trading cards, you might want to change the appearance of your card.

How to Customize Your League Card

Link Battle

Rank Battles 5

Link Battle is a pokemon battle between you against your friend or a complete stranger. You can battle agaisnt any player with this feature.

How to Link Battle
1 Select Link Battle.
2 Choose to start the battle with a random player, or Set a Link Code to battle against a friend.
3 Battle against other players either locally or online.

Pokemon Sword and Shield Related Links

Beginner Tips and Guides

Top Page
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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