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Pokémon Sword and Shield: Complete list of exclusives

Make sure your version of the game has your preferred ‘mons

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Galarian Ponyta, with a colorful mane and tail The Pokémon Company/Nintendo via Polygon
Julia Lee (she/her) is a guides producer, writing guides for games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Genshin Impact. She helped launch the Rift Herald in 2016.

If you still don’t know whether to get Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield, maybe this list of confirmed exclusive Pokémon will help you out.

Note that this means that if you get one version, you cannot get the Pokémon from the other version without trading. So if your favorite Pokémon is a Sword exclusive, you probably want to pick up Sword.

Here is a list of the version exclusives for each game that we know so far:

Pokémon Sword

  • Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon
Deino, Zweilous, and Hydreigon are exclusives in Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o, Kommo-o
Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o, and Kommo-o are exclusives in Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Farfetch’d, Sirfetch’d
Sirfetch’d is exclusive to Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company
  • Turtonator
Turtonator is exclusive to Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company
  • Mawile
Mawile is exclusive to Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company
  • Gothita, Gothorita, Gothitelle
Gothita, Gothorita, and Gothitelle are exclusives in Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Rufflet, Braviary
Rufflet and Braviary are exclusives in Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Sawk
Sawk is exclusive to Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company
  • Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry
Seedot, Nuzleaf, and Shiftry are Pokémon Sword exclusives The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Swirlix, Slurpuff
Swirlix and Slurpuff are Pokémon Sword exclusives The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Scraggy, Scrafty
Scraggy and Scrafty are Pokémon Sword exclusives The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Solrock
Solrock is exclusive to Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company
  • Passimian
Passimian is a Pokémon Shield exclusive The Pokémon Company
  • Basculin (red-stripe)
Red Stripe Basculin is only available in Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company
  • Darumaka, Darmanitan
  • Flapple
  • Stonjourner
  • Indeedee (male)
  • Zacian
Zacian is an exclusive to Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company

Pokémon Sword has the fighting-type gym leader, Bea, and the rock-type gym leader, Gordie.

Bea, the upcoming fighting-type gym leader from Pokémon Sword and Shield Game Freak/Nintendo
Gordie, Circhester’s gym leader in Pokémon Sword, gets ready to battle Game Freak, The Pokémon Company/Nintendo via Polygon

Pokémon Shield

  • Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar
Larvitar, Pupitar, and Tyranitar are exclusive to Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Goomy, Sliggoo, Goodra
Goomy, Sliggoo, and Goodra are exclusive to Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Galarian Ponyta, Rapidash
Galarian Ponyta is exclusive to Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company
  • Drampa
Drampa is exclusive to Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company
  • Sableye
Sableye is exclusive to Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company
  • Solosis, Duosion, Reuniclus
Solosis, Duosion, and Reuniclus are exclusive to Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Vullaby, Mandibuzz
Vullaby and Mandibuzz are exclusive to Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Throh
Throh is exclusive to Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company
  • Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo
Lotad, Lombre, and Ludicolo are Pokémon Shield exclusives The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Spritzee, Aromatisse
Spritzee and Aromatisse are Pokémon Shield exclusives The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Croagunk, Toxicroak
Croagunk and Toxicroak are Pokémon Shield exclusives The Pokémon Company via Polygon
  • Lunatone
Lunatone is exclusive to Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company
  • Oranguru
Oranguru is exclusive to Pokémon Sword The Pokémon Company
  • Basculin (blue stripe)
Blue Stripe Basculin is only available in Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company
  • Corsola, Cursola
  • Appletun
  • Eiscue
  • Indeedee (female)
  • Zamazenta
Zamazenta is exclusive to Pokémon Shield The Pokémon Company

Pokémon Shield has the ghost-type gym leader, Allister, and the ice-type gym leader, Melony.

Allister from Pokémon Shield poses spookily The Pokémon Company
Circhester’s ice-type gym leader, Melony, poses in Pokémon Shield Game Freak, The Pokémon Company/Nintendo via Polygon

Other exclusives

  • Gigantamax Meowth — Mystery Gift option in-game before Jan. 15, 2020
The Pokémon Company

These Pokémon require having save files from other games in order to obtain:

  • Gigantamax Pikachu — Let’s Go, Pikachu!
The Pokémon Company
  • Gigantamax Eevee — Let’s Go, Eevee!
The Pokémon Company

Pokémon Sword and Shield release for Nintendo Switch on Nov. 15 and you can preload the game now if you pre-purchase the game through the Nintendo eShop.

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