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Like every generation of Pokémon before it, Pokémon Sword and Shield have Pokémon that can only be found in one version or the other. It’s a long-held tradition used to encourage players to trade with owner others of the games.

For example, if you own Pokémon Sword, you won’t be able to find a Ponyta in the wild. You’ll need to trade with someone who owns Pokémon Shield if you want a Ponyta in your copy of Sword. Conversely, owners of Pokémon Shield won’t be able to find a Farfetch’d in the wild and they’ll need to trade with a Sword owner to get one.

Where Pokémon Sword and Shield change things up, though, is with the addition of version-exclusive Gyms, as well.

We’ve put together this guide to all the version exclusive Pokémon and Gyms in the games.

 

Exclusive to Pokémon Sword

 

Pokémon

 

The following 33 Pokémon can only be found in Pokémon Sword:

 

Pokémon NameTypeLocationsNotes
Farfetch'dNormal/FlyingRoute 5, Giant's Mirror, Max Raid Battles
Sirfetch'dFightingMax Raid Battles
GothitaPsychicDusty Bowl, Giant's Cap, Max Raid Battles
GothoritaPsychicLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
GothitellePsychicLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
DeinoDark/DragonLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
ZweilousDark/DragonLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
HydreigonDark/DragonMax Raid Battles
TurtonatorFire/DragonLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
Jangmo-oDragonLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
Hakamo-oFighting/DragonLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
Kommo-oFighting/DragonMax Raid Battles, Strong Spawn in Wild Area
MachampFightingMax Raid Battles, Strong Spawn in Wild AreaMachamp's Gigantamax Raid Battle is only available natively in Pokémon Sword.
SeedotGrassRoute 2, Dappled Grove, West Lake Axewell, Max Raid Battles
NuzleafGrass/DarkRoute 5, Dappled Grove, Giant's Cap, Giant's Seat, Rolling Fields, South Lake Miloch, Max Raid Battles
ShiftryGrass/DarkMax Raid Battles, Strong Spawn in Wild Area
MawileSteel/FairyBridge Field, Dusty Bowl, Max Raid Battles
SolrockRock/PsychicRoute 8, Giant's Cap, Max Raid Battles
DarumakaIceRoute 8, Route 10, Max Raid Battles
DarmanitanIceMax Raid Battles
ScraggyDark/FightingBridge Field, Dusty Bowl, Galar Mine No. 2, Giant's Cap, Motostoke Outskirts, Stony Wilderness, Max Raid Battles
ScraftyDark/FightingMax Raid Battles
RuffletNormal/FlyingRoute 8, Bridge Field, Stony Wilderness, Max Raid Battles
BraviaryNormal/FlyingDusty Bowl, Lake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
SwirlixFairyRoute 5, Giant's Mirror, Glimwood Tangle, Stony Wilderness, Max Raid Battles
SlurpuffFairyMax Raid Battles
CoalossalRock/FireDusty Bowl, Lake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles, Strong Spawn in Wild AreaCoalossal's Gigantamax Raid Battle is only available natively in Pokémon Sword.
FlappleGrass/DragonMax Raid BattlesFlapple's evolutionary item, the Tart Apple, is only available in Pokémon Sword. Flapple's Gigantamax Raid Battle is only available natively in Pokémon Sword.
StonjournerRockRoute 10, Lake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
IndeedeePsychic/NormalGlimwood Tangle, Lake of Outrage, Max Raid BattlesOnly male Indeedee is exclusive to Pokémon Sword.
ZacianFairyEnergy Plant
PassimianFightingGlimwood Tangle, Max Raid Battles
BasculinWaterHulbury, Motostoke Riverbank, North Lake Miloch, Max Raid BattlesThe Red-Striped Form is exclusive to Pokémon Sword.

 

Gyms

 

The following two Gyms can only be found in Pokémon Sword:

 

  • Bea: Fighting-Type Gym Leader
  • Gordie: Rock-Type Gym Leader

 

Exclusive to Pokémon Shield

 

Pokémon

 

The following 33 Pokémon can only be found in Pokémon Shield:

 

Pokémon NameTypeLocationsNotes
PonytaPsychicGlimwood Tangle, Max Raid Battles
LarvitarRock/GroundLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
PupitarRock/GroundLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
TyranitarRock/DarkMax Raid Battles, Strong Spawn in Wild Area
SolosisPsychicDusty Bowl, Max Raid Battles
DuosionPsychicLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
ReuniclusPsychicLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
VullabyDark/FlyingRoute 8, Bridge Field, Stony Wilderness, Max Raid Battles
MandibuzzDark/FlyingDusty Bowl, Lake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
GoomyDragonLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
SliggooDragonLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
GoodraDragonMax Raid Battles
DrampaNormal/DragonLake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
RapidashPsychic/FairyMax Raid Battles
GengarGhost/PoisonMax Raid Battles, Strong Spawn in Wild AreaGengar's Gigantamax Raid Battle is only available natively in Pokémon Shield.
LaprasWater/IceRoute 9, Max Raid Battles, Strong Spawn in Wild AreaLapras's Gigantamax Raid Battle is only available natively in Pokémon Shield.
CorsolaGhostGiant's Mirror, Max Raid Battles
LotadWater/GrassRoute 2, Dappled Grove, Rolling Fields, West Lake Axewell, Max Raid Battles
LombreWater/GrassRoute 5, Dappled Grove, Giant's Cap, Giant's Seat, South Lake Miloch, Max Raid Battles
LudicoloWater/GrassMax Raid Battles, Strong Spawn in Wild Area
SableyeDark/GhostDusty Bowl, Max Raid Battles
LunatoneRock/PsychicRoute 8, Giant's Cap, Max Raid Battles
CroagunkPoison/FightingBridge Field, Dusty Bowl, Galar Mine No. 2, Giant's Cap, Motostoke Outskirts, Stony Wilderness, Max Raid Battles
ToxicroakPoison/FightingStony Wilderness, Max Raid Battles
BasculinWaterHulbury, Motostoke Riverbank, North Lake Miloch, Max Raid BattlesThe Blue-Striped Form is exclusive to Pokémon Shield.
SpritzeeFairyRoute 5, Giant's Mirror, Glimwood Tangle, Stony Wilderness, Max Raid Battles
AromatisseFairyMax Raid Battles
OranguruNormal/PsychicGlimwood Tangle, Max Raid Battles
AppletunGrass/DragonMax Raid BattlesAppletun's evolutionary item, the Sweet Apple, is only available in Pokémon Shield. Appletun's Gigantamax Raid Battle is only available natively in Pokémon Shield.
CursolaGhostMax Raid Battles
EiscueIceRoute 10, Lake of Outrage, Max Raid Battles
IndeedeePsychic/NormalGlimwood Tangle, Lake of Outrage, Max Raid BattlesOnly female Indeedee is exclusive to Pokémon Shield.
ZamazentaFightingEnergy Plant

 

Gyms

 

The following two Gyms can only be found in Pokémon Shield:

 

  • Allister: Ghost-Type Gym Leader
  • Melonie: Ice-Type Gym Leader

 

More Pokémon Sword and Shield guides

 

Want more help with Sword and Shield? Check out one of our other great guides to assist you through the games!

 

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Written by Daniel Dell-Cornejo

Daniel is an editor at Nintendo Wire. Always with his head in the clouds, he is never apart from his creative thoughts – a blessing for an aspiring fiction writer. As a journalist and lifelong gamer, he aims to provide readers with the very best in Nintendo coverage.