As with all games, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield have a variety of Pokémon that can only be obtained within that particular game. But due to the feature of connectivity with other games using Max Raid Battles, if you connect with a player in the other game to complete a Max Raid Battle featuring an exclusive Pokémon, you can catch it in your game.
Trades are always an option.
If you are still confused whether to get Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield, this following list of confirmed exclusive Pokémon might help you pick one.
Don’t forget, this means that if you get one version, you cannot get the Pokémon from the other version unless you trade. So, if your favorite Pokémon is a Sword exclusive, you probably want to pick Pokémon Sword.
Also read: Pokémon Sword and Shield – How to choose the best starter Pokémon?
Pokemon only found in Sword:
- Seedot (Grass)
- Nuzleaf (Dark/Grass)
- Shiftry (Grass/Dark)
- Swirlix (Fairy)
- Slurpuff (Fairy)
- Scraggy (Fighting/Dark)
- Scrafty (Fighting/Dark)
- Sawk (Fighting)
- Gothita (Psychic)
- Gothorita (Psychic)
- Gothitelle (Psychic)
- Rufflet (Flying/Normal)
- Braviary (Flying/Normal)
- Mawile (Fairy/Steel)
- Passimian (Fighting)
- Turtonator (Fire/Dragon)
- Solrock (Rock/Psychic)
- Galarian Darumaka (Ice)
- Galarian Darmanitan (Ice)
- Deino (Dark/Dragon)
- Zweilous (Dark/Dragon)
- Hydreigon (Dark/Dragon)
- Jangmo-o (Dragon)
- Hakamo-o (Dragon/Fighting)
- Kommo-o (Dragon/Fighting)
- Flapple (Grass/Dragon)
- Galarian Farfetch’d (Fighting)
- Sirfetch’d (Fighting)
- Zacian (Fairy/Steel)
The Isle of Armor Sword exclusives:
- Pinsir (Bug)
- Sawk (Fighting)
- Clauncher (Water)
- Clawitzer (Water)
The Crown Tundra Sword exclusives:
- Omanyte (Rock/Water)
- Omastar (Rock/Water)
- Ho-oh (Fire/Flying)
- Bagon (Dragon)
- Shelgon (Dragon)
- Salamence (Dragon/Flying)
- Latios (Dragon/Psychic)
- Groudon (Ground)
- Dialga (Steel/Dragon)
- Tornadus (Flying)
- Reshiram (Dragon/Fire)
- Xerneas (Fairy)
- Solgaleo (Psychic/Steel)
Klara: Pokemon Sword exclusive rival
Klara is a rival that appears in The Isle of Armor expansion. She specializes in Poison type Pokemon and is training with another new character, Mustard, at his dojo.
Pokemon only found in Shield:
- Lotad (Water/Grass)
- Lombre (Water/Grass)
- Ludicolo (Water/Grass)
- Spritzee (Fairy)
- Aromatisse (Fairy)
- Croagunk (Fighting/Poison)
- Toxicroak (Fighting/Poison)
- Solosis (Psychic)
- Duosion (Psychic)
- Reuniclus (Psychic)
- Vullaby (Dark/Flying)
- Mandibuzz (Flying/Dark)
- Sableye (Dark/Ghost)
- Lunatone (Rock/Psychic)
- Throh (Fighting)
- Oranguru (Normal/Psychic)
- Drampa (Normal/Dragon)
- Galarian Corsola (Ghost)
- Cursola (Ghost)
- Larvitar (Rock/Ground)
- Pupitar (Rock/Ground)
- Tyranitar (Rock/Dark)
- Goomy (Dragon)
- Sliggoo (Dragon)
- Goodra (Dragon)
- Appletun (Grass/Dragon)
- Galarian Ponyta (Psychic)
- Galarian Rapidash (Psychic/Fairy)
- Zamazenta (Fighting/Steel)
The Isle of Armor Shield exclusives:
- Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
- Throh (Fighting)
- Skrelp (Poison/Water)
- Dragalge (Poison/Dragon)
The Crown Tundra Shield exclusives:
- Kabuto (Rock/Water)
- Kabutops (Rock/Water)
- Lugia (Psychic/Flying)
- Latias (Dragon/Psychic)
- Kyogre (Water)
- Gible (Dragon/Water)
- Gabite (Dragon/Ground)
- Garchomp (Dragon/Ground)
- Palkia (Water/Dragon)
- Thundurus (Electric/Flying)
- Zekrom (Dragon/Electric)
- Yveltal (Dark/Flying)
- Lunala (Psychic/Ghost)
Avery: Pokémon Shield exclusive rival
Avery is a rival that appears in The Isle of Armor expansion. He specializes in Psychic type Pokémon, which is indicated by the Pokéballs that float around the top of his hat and his uniform.
Other exclusives:
- Gigantamax Meowth – Mystery Gift option in-game.
- Gigantamax Pikachu – requires save files from other games (Let’s Go, Pikachu!) in order to obtain.
- Gigantamax Eevee – requires save files from other games (Let’s Go, Eevee!) in order to obtain.
There you have it, a complete list of all the exclusive Pokémon in both games, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.
Let the grind begin!
