Appendix:Sword and Shield walkthrough/Section 14

Route 9 Tunnel

The tunnel was previously blocked off to you, but with all the concern about what’s happening in Hammerlocke, it’s now possible to pass through. It’s not a particularly long tunnel, and there’s nothing of note inside, so just pass through on your way back to Route 7.

Route 7

When you exit the tunnel, you’ll find that Hop’s been waiting here for you. He explains that Pokémon have begun to Dynamax everywhere following the explosions, although he seems more focused about Leon taking some of them down. He races on ahead, and asks you to catch him up at Hammerlocke Stadium. Continue across the bridge, where you can choose to fight Gentleman Caden (this can be avoided if you stay far enough south), visit the Pokémon Camp, and pick up some useful items - the Safety Goggles at the bottom of the path south of the bridge can be very helpful in the next Gym Challenge. Otherwise you can follow Hop’s lead and continue on into Hammerlocke.

Items

Items
Item Location Games TM58 (Assurance) Southeast of the Pokémon Camp, next to the eastern bridge  Sw  Sh  Safety Goggles Down the path next to the eastern bridge  Sw  Sh  PP Up Next to some rocks northwest of the Route 9 Tunnel (hidden)  Sw  Sh

Pokémon

While the game contains data for different hidden encounters in non-clear weather, the weather is always clear on this route.

Hidden encounters

Available Pokémon

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate Liepard Sw Sh Grass 28-40 10% Liepard Sw Sh Grass 36-40 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% Seismitoad Sw Sh Grass 28-40 10% Seismitoad Sw Sh Grass 36-40 5% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% Karrablast Sw Sh Grass 28-40 20% Karrablast Sw Sh Grass 28-40 5% Karrablast Sw Sh Grass 36-40 25% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% Karrablast Sw Sh Grass 36-40 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% Shelmet Sw Sh Grass 28-40 5% Shelmet Sw Sh Grass 28-40 20% Shelmet Sw Sh Grass 36-40 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% Shelmet Sw Sh Grass 36-40 25% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% Meowstic Male Sw Sh Grass 28-40 10% Meowstic Male Sw Sh Grass 36-40 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% Meowstic Female Sw Sh Grass 28-40 10% Meowstic Female Sw Sh Grass 36-40 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% Corviknight Sw Sh Grass 28-40 20% Corviknight Sw Sh Grass 36-40 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% Toxel Sw Sh Grass 28-40 25% Toxel Sw Sh Grass 36-40 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% Berry trees Greedent Sw Sh Berry tree 36-40 100% A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Visible encounters

Available Pokémon

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate Liepard Sw Sh Grass 37-41 15% Galvantula Sw Sh Grass 37-41 20% Inkay Sw Sh Grass 37-41 10% Thievul Sw Sh Grass 37-41 20% Perrserker Sw Sh Grass 37-41 30% Morpeko Sw Sh Grass 37-41 5% A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Curry encounters

Available Pokémon

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate Toxel Sw Sh Curry 36-40 10.85% Shelmet Sw Sh Curry 36-40 10.85% Karrablast Sw Sh Curry 36-40 10.85% Corviknight Sw Sh Curry 36-40 12.40% Liepard Sw Sh Curry 36-40 15.50% Meowstic Male Sw Sh Curry 36-40 15.50% Meowstic Female Sw Sh Curry 36-40 15.50% Seismitoad Sw Sh Curry 28-40 17.44% Shelmet Sw Sh Curry 36-40 17.44% Karrablast Sw Sh Curry 36-40 17.44% A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Trainers

Trainers
Trainer Pokémon Gentleman Caden ノゾム Nozomu Reward: $8,800 Doublade♂ Lv.44 No item Passimian♂ Lv.44 Hard Stone Polteageist Antique Form Lv.44 No item

Hammerlocke

Upon entering Hammerlocke, make your way back to the front of Hammerlocke Stadium, where you’ll find Hop, Sonia, and Leon. After you discuss where the mysterious red light causing Pokémon to Dynamax away from Power Spots has come from, Professor Magnolia arrives. She explains that Chairman Rose asked for her help in figuring out what’s going on, although she doesn’t seem to think there’s too much to be worried about. She does, however, want Sonia to investigate how it could be linked to the Darkest Day. Leon, as ever, just wants you to continue your Gym Challenge, so Hop heads back to Spikemuth to challenge Piers, while you’re now free to enter Hammerlocke Stadium to challenge Raihan.

Hammerlocke Stadium

Talk to the attendant at the end of the corridor to begin the final Gym. This Gym is different from all the others in a number of ways. Firstly, there’s no Gym Mission this time, just three Trainer battles. Second, said battles do not occur at the Gym, but at Hammerlocke Vault. And third, each battle in the Gym is a Double Battle, which can catch you off-guard if you’re not careful. While Raihan is a Dragon-type specialist, and each Gym Trainer does have a Dragon-type Pokémon, they’re all paired with a different weather setter - Pelipper for rain, Ninetales for sun, and then Abomasnow for hail. Make sure to bring your own weather options to overwrite this if you’re worried.

Hammerlocke Stadium Trainers Trainer Pokémon Gym Trainer Sebastian リョウタ Ryōta Reward: $4,320 Pelipper♂ Lv.45 No item Sliggoo♂ Lv.45 No item Gym Trainer Camilla レナ Rena Reward: $4,320 Ninetales♀ Lv.45 No item Turtonator♀ Lv.45 No item Gym Trainer Aria ヒトミ Hitomi Reward: $4,320 Abomasnow♀ Lv.45 No item Hakamo-o♀ Lv.45 No item Gym Leader Raihan Hammerlocke Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $7,680 Type: Rock Unknown Ability: Sand Stream Held item: None Gigalith♂ Lv.46 Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Sand Tomb Ground Physical   --       Rock Blast Rock Physical   --       Body Press Fighting Physical   --       Types: Ground Dragon Ability: Levitate Held item: None Flygon♂ Lv.47 Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Breaking Swipe Dragon Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Steel Wing Steel Physical   --       Type: Ground Unknown Ability: Sand Spit Held item: None Sandaconda♂ Lv.46 Protect Normal Status   --       Glare Normal Status   --       Fire Fang Fire Physical   --       Earth Power Ground Special   --       Types: Steel Dragon Ability: Heavy Metal Held item: None Gigantamax Duraludon♂ Lv.48 Breaking Swipe Dragon Physical G-Max Depletion   --       Body Press Fighting Physical Max Knuckle   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical Max Rockfall   --       Iron Head Steel Physical Max Steelspike   --

Raihan, like the other Gym Trainers, has a mix of weather setters and Dragons on his team. He leads with a pairing of Gigalith, whose Sand Stream ability creates a sandstorm, next to Flygon. Once one of those two are knocked out, he’ll bring in Sandaconda who can also cause a sandstorm when hits thanks to its Sand Spit Ability, assuming one isn’t up already. Raihan’s final Pokémon is a Duraludon, which he’ll Gigantamax on its first turn in battle. The sand gives the Gigalith a special defense boost, which can make it tricky to take out in one hit, so bringing a Pokémon who can change the weather can make things easier for you. If you don’t have that option available, equipping a Pokémon with the Safety Goggles you can find on Route 7 will prevent them from taking any chip damage from the sand. A strong Water-type Pokémon has a good matchup with the Gigalith and Sandaconda, and an Ice-type coverage move should easily deal with the Flygon and hit the Duraludon for neutral damage. You can also Dynamax to use Max Geyser, which has the secondary effect of setting the rain for you. Pairing that with a Pokémon that can support by reducing damage with screens or stat-dropping moves is helpful, as is using a Fighting- or Ground-type Pokémon that can fire off super effective attacks into the Gigantamax Duraludon. A Ground-type Pokémon also has a good matchup for the Gigalith, but it is worth keeping in mind that the Flygon has the Levitate Ability, negating Ground-type attacks. As long as your Pokémon are around a similar level to Raihan, this Gym shouldn’t prove too tricky.

After your victory Raihan will award you the Dragon badge, which signifies the completion of your Gym Challenge, and also allows you to catch wild Pokémon of any level. Before you leave Raihan will also hand you TM99, which teaches Breaking Swipe, as well as the Dragon Uniform. Before you go, Hop will arrive to finish his Gym Challenge against Raihan, but you’re free to leave. When you exit, Sonia and Professor Magnolia are waiting outside to congratulate you and talk more about the strange goings on in Galar of late. Magnolia has a surprise for Sonia - her own lab coat, and the confidence and recognition that comes with it. While the two of them continue to discuss the ramifications of the mysterious beams of light, head to the station where Hop and Raihan will catch you up, with Hop having won his final badge too. The train will take you to Route 10, which you must traverse to get to Wyndon, your next destination, so you can participate in the Champion Cup.

← Part 13.5 Isle of Armor, Water Exploration

Sword and Shield walkthrough

Route 10, Wyndon Part 15 ⊟

This article is part of Project Walkthroughs, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive step-by-step guides on each Pokémon game.