Appendix:Sword and Shield walkthrough/Section 18

Wyndon Stadium

Hop is waiting for you at the bottom of the steps up to the Stadium. Follow him up and enter, before checking in at the registration desk. You’ll be brought into the locker room with all the Gym Leaders, minus Opal, preparing for their first matches. Once you’re happy with your own preparations, head out onto the pitch for the opening ceremony.

Leon is leading the crowd in the absence of Chairman Rose, but before the battles can commence, you’re rudely interrupted by a familiar face - Bede is back! Now wearing the fetching Fairy uniform, Bede challenges you to a battle to prove they should never have been expelled from the Gym Challenge, and is coming for your Finals spot, pledging to retire as a trainer if they lose.

Gym Leader Bede Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $8,480 Types: Steel Fairy Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Mawile♀ Lv.51 Play Rough Fairy Physical   --       Iron Head Steel Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Types: Psychic Fairy Ability: Synchronize Held item: None Gardevoir♀ Lv.51 Dazzling Gleam Fairy Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Calm Mind Psychic Status   --       Wish Normal Status   --       Types: Psychic Fairy Ability: Pastel Veil Held item: None Rapidash♂ Lv.52 Psycho Cut Psychic Physical   --       Take Down Normal Physical   --       Dazzling Gleam Fairy Special   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Types: Psychic Fairy Ability: Anticipation Held item: None Gigantamax Hatterene♀ Lv.53 Psychic Psychic Special Max Mindstorm   --       Dazzling Gleam Fairy Special G-Max Smite   --       Calm Mind Psychic Status Max Guard   --       Mystical Fire Fire Special Max Flare   --

Bede leads with a Mawile with Intimidate, which drops your attack one stage, and as a part Steel-type Pokémon is immune to Poison-type moves that would normally be super effective against Fairy-types. All of Bede’s other Pokémon have a secondary Psychic-type, making using Poison-type Pokémon a risky strategy. As such, Steel-type Pokémon are a better bet, hitting Mawile neutrally and being super effective against the rest of Bede’s team, while resisting STAB moves from all of their Pokémon. Bede’s ace is Hatterene, which they will Gigantamax on its first turn in battle.

After your victory, Bede reneges on their retirement plans, vowing to train even harder and eventually take over Opal’s role as the Fairy-type Gym Leader, while you return back to the locker room to get ready for your first finals match, where you’ll take on Nessa.

Gym Leader Nessa Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $8,480 Types: Bug Water Ability: Emergency Exit Held item: None Golisopod♂ Lv.51 First Impression Bug Physical   --       Liquidation Water Physical   --       Swords Dance Normal Status   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Types: Water Flying Ability: Drizzle Held item: None Pelipper♂ Lv.51 Roost Flying Status   --       Air Slash Flying Special   --       Water Pulse Water Special   --       Tailwind Flying Status   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Barraskewda♀ Lv.52 Liquidation Water Physical   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Ice Fang Ice Physical   --       Drill Run Ground Physical   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Seaking♀ Lv.52 Smart Strike Steel Physical   --       Megahorn Bug Physical   --       Aqua Ring Water Status   --       Waterfall Water Physical   --       Types: Water Rock Ability: Shell Armor Held item: None Gigantamax Drednaw♀ Lv.53 Liquidation Water Physical G-Max Stonesurge   --       Jaw Lock Dark Physical Max Darkness   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical Max Rockfall   --       Crunch Dark Physical Max Darkness   --

Nessa leads with Golisopod, with the priority move First Impression and the Emergency Exit ability switching it out below half HP for another First Impression later. Pelipper’s Drizzle sets up the rain to boost Water-type attacks, while also doubling the speed of Seaking and Barraskewda thanks to their Swift Swim ability. The Pelipper can also set Tailwind, doubling the speed of Nessa’s team for four turns, helping her further win the speed war. The order of these Pokémon varies, so be prepared, especially as Barraskewda will outspeed you in the rain. Nessa closes out with her Drednaw, which she must have fed some Max Soup as it can now Gigantamax, which it will at the first available opportunity.

With Drednaw dispatched and Nessa defeated, your next opponent is the Gym Leader from Stow-on-Side, meaning you’ll face Bea on Pokémon Sword, while Allister awaits on Pokémon Shield.

Gym Leader Bea Wyndon Stadium Sword Reward: $8,640 Types: Fighting Flying Ability: Limber Held item: None Hawlucha♂ Lv.52 Flying Press Fighting Physical   --       High Jump Kick Fighting Physical   --       Bounce Flying Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Type: Fighting Unknown Ability: Limber Held item: None Grapploct♂ Lv.52 Octolock Fighting Status   --       Submission Fighting Physical   --       Bind Normal Physical   --       Mega Punch Normal Physical   --       Type: Fighting Unknown Ability: Steadfast Held item: None Sirfetch'd♂ Lv.53 Leaf Blade Grass Physical   --       Slam Normal Physical   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Brutal Swing Dark Physical   --       Type: Fighting Unknown Ability: Battle Armor Held item: None Falinks Lv.53 No Retreat Fighting Status   --       Bulk Up Fighting Status   --       Close Combat Fighting Physical   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical   --       Type: Fighting Unknown Ability: Guts Held item: None Gigantamax Machamp♀ Lv.54 Cross Chop Fighting Physical G-Max Chi Strike   --       Revenge Fighting Physical G-Max Chi Strike   --       Fire Punch Fire Physical Max Flare   --       Strength Normal Physical Max Strike   --

Bea’s Fighting-type Pokémon can output lots of damage, but are all physical attackers, so might struggle to break through Pokémon with a high defense stat, especially if they resist their Fighting-type attacks. A strong special attacker, preferably a Psychic-type or Flying-type, should handle her team without any major concerns, with most of her team lacking good coverage options. Bea will once again Gigantamax her Machamp on its first turn in battle.

Gym Leader Allister Wyndon Stadium Shield Reward: $8,640 Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Pressure Held item: None Dusknoir♂ Lv.52 Shadow Punch Ghost Physical   --       Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical   --       Disable Normal Status   --       Types: Ghost Fire Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Chandelure♂ Lv.52 Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Mystical Fire Fire Special   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Weak Armor Held item: None Cursola♂ Lv.53 Hex Ghost Special   --       Strength Sap Grass Status   --       Ancient Power Rock Special   --       Amnesia Psychic Status   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Weak Armor Held item: None Polteageist Lv.53 Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Protect Normal Status   --       Nasty Plot Dark Status   --       Giga Drain Grass Special   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Cursed Body Held item: None Gigantamax Gengar♂ Lv.54 Shadow Ball Ghost Special G-Max Terror   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special Max Ooze   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special Max Darkness   --       Hypnosis Psychic Status Max Guard   --

Allister’s team has really good synergy against physical attackers, with Chandelure’s Will-O-Wisp cutting the damage output in half, Rock Tomb on the bulky Dusknoir slowing you down, and Weak Armor on both Polteageist and Cursola to try and outspeed after taking physical attacks. Cursola can be a particular problem, with Hex dealing more damage if you do get burned, and Strength Sap able to cut your attack even further. Special attackers have a much easier matchup, especially Dark-type Pokémon, with Allister lacking ways to hit them super effectively in return. Gengar, his ace, will Gigantamax on its first turn in battle, as it did in your Gym Battle.

Marnie and Piers are already in the locker room after the latter’s semifinal match against Raihan. Piers lost, which means you’ll face Raihan for the right to take on Champion Leon.

Gym Leader Raihan Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $8,800 Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Drought Held item: None Torkoal♂ Lv.53 Lava Plume Fire Special   --       Body Press Fighting Physical   --       Solar Beam Grass Special   --       Yawn Normal Status   --       Type: Dragon Unknown Ability: Sap Sipper Held item: None Goodra♀ Lv.54 Rain Dance Water Status   --       Surf Water Special   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Muddy Water Water Special   --       Types: Fire Dragon Ability: Shell Armor Held item: None Turtonator♂ Lv.54 Sunny Day Fire Status   --       Dragon Pulse Dragon Special   --       Shell Trap Fire Special   --       Fire Blast Fire Special   --       Types: Ground Dragon Ability: Levitate Held item: None Flygon♂ Lv.54 Sandstorm Rock Status   --       Dragon Claw Dragon Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Types: Steel Dragon Ability: Light Metal Held item: None Gigantamax Duraludon♂ Lv.55 Dragon Claw Dragon Physical G-Max Depletion   --       Body Press Fighting Physical Max Knuckle   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical Max Rockfall   --       Iron Head Steel Physical Max Steelspike   --

Raihan’s team has its usual mix of Dragon-types interspersed with weather setters. He leads with Torkoal, which uses its Drought ability to create harsh sunlight. Its high physical defense stat makes special attackers preferable, but Water-type Pokémon not only have their STAB moves weakened by the sun, but are also vulnerable to a single turn Solar Beam. A quick Rain Dance to put the weather in your favor should deal with the Torkoal easily enough. Goodra has outstanding special bulk, and has the dangerous Thunder, which always hits in the rain, countering Water-type leads to tackle the Torkoal. Even if you don’t overwrite the harsh sunlight, Goodra has Rain Dance to implement that strategy. Physical attackers should beware of Turtonator’s Shell Trap - using a special move to avoid triggering its ability is wise. It can also choose to use Sunny Day to boost its Fire-type attacks, if it hasn’t expired after removing Torkoal. Flygon carries Sandstorm, coupled with strong physical attacks, but its double weakness to Ice-type moves shouldn’t make it too tricky to deal with. Raihan Gigantamaxes his Duraludon on its first turn in battle, and its high physical defense with increased HP make special attackers once again preferable.

With victory over Raihan, only one battle remains - Leon, who endorsed your Gym Challenge, the reigning Champion, is all that stands between you and battling immortality. Hop gives you a final pep talk before grabbing a seat in the stands. When you’re ready, head out once more for your shot at glory.

Leon plays up the occasion in the middle, but just as you’re about to begin, Chairman Rose appears on the jumbotron. Rose has decided it’s time to bring about the Darkest Day, that his plan can wait no longer, and huge beams of light erupt from the middle of Galar’s stadiums as you and Leon run to safety.

Leon chastises himself for not realizing Rose’s plan sooner, and heads off to Hammerlocke, where the Chairman appeared to be, to find him. You and Hop try to work out how to help, and decide to head to the Slumbering Weald to find the Pokémon of legend, remembering the mysterious encounter you two had there at the start of the story.

Sonia was already investigating the Weald when you arrive at home, and your Mum comes out to help inform the new Professor about Chairman Rose’s ominous speech. With that, Sonia gives you three Max Revives, and you and Hop enter the Slumbering Weald to find the mythical Sword and Shield.

← Part 17 Wyndon, Rose Tower

Sword and Shield walkthrough

Postwick, Slumbering Weald, Hammerlocke, Energy Plant, Eternatus Part 19 ⊟

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