Pokémon Sword and Shield/Wild Area and Motostoke

Back to Wedgehurst station

Follow Hop back to Wedgehurst's train station. Once you get there, Hop will check how many Pokémon you've caught since you last saw him. He'll then give you TM40 Swift, and explains what TM's are: reusable discs that teach your Pokémon certain moves. Swift is a move that never misses, so in some situations this can be useful.

Item		Location	Type	Effect
	TM40 Swift	Given by Hop.	NPC item	Teaches Pokémon the move Swift.

When you go inside the station, your and Hop's moms will come to see you off, and you'll be gifted with Camping Gear. This'll allow you to utilize the Pokémon Camp feature, which replaces Pokémon Amie before it. After you've said goodbye, you and Hop get on the train to Motostoke.

The Wild Area

Hop will tell you a bit about the Wild Area surrounding Motostoke. It's a vast place, with many different kinds of Pokémon, and where you can set up camp, find trainers to battle, participate in Max Raids, and many other things. Due to the sheer amount of information about the Wild Area there is to cover, it won't be shown here, and will instead be in a separate page.

It seems the train stopped at the wrong station, due to some Wooloo blocking the path. Therefore, you end up at the Wild Area instead of Motostoke. However, Hop says it's a perfect opportunity to put a team together and become stronger. Though encounters from the Wild Area will not be covered on this page, it's recommended that you consider catching some of the Pokémon you'll find here.

If you have data from Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, it's in this station that you can get your Gigantamax Pikachu/Eevee (depending on which you played), by talking to the girl (for Pikachu) or the boy (for Eevee) in the corner of the station.

Item		Location	Type	Effect
	Poké Doll (x5)	Given by the woman with the Swinub next to the station's exit.	NPC item	Allows you to escape from an encounter without fail.

Going outside, before actually heading into the Wild Area, you'll meet back up with Hop, who will show you where Motostoke is. Sonia will show up, looking to find more info about the Pokémon you battled back in Slumbering Weald. Meanwhile, Hop says he's going to fight some Dynamax Pokémon, found in dens that emit a beam of light. Sonia also gives you a new item, the Pokémon Box Link. With this, you can access your PC boxes from just about anywhere. To do so, simply open your menu, go to Pokémon and then pressing the button.

And now, you can explore the Wild Area to your heart's content. If you've caught one of the Pokémon that requires a stone to evolve, chances are said stone is available somewhere in the Wild Area. You can see all the information you'll need in the Appendices page dedicated to the Wild Area. However, for now, we'll simply move forward to Motostoke, by going to the entrance that's straight ahead from where you came in.

One thing to point out is that, if you faint in battle, you'll be healed by the woman next to the train station you came from, and she'll offer to send you right to the entrance to Motostoke, so you can do this if you don't want to have to walk through. However, it's recommended that you at least take this opportunity to level up your team a bit to around level 15.

Stone Evolutions

If you've captured any Pokémon up to this point that require stones to evolve, here are the locations for those that you can obtain before coming here. Any other locations will be listed within the Wild Area pages.

Item		Location	Type	Effect
	Water Stone	In Bridge Field, around the back of Motostoke, to the left of the bridge after crossing it.	Item Ball	Allows you to evolve Lombre into Ludicolo.
	Thunder Stone	In North Lake Miloch, on cliffside all the way east, overlooking Giant's Seat	Item Ball	Allows you to evolve Charjabug into Vikavolt.

Even if you didn't capture these Pokémon, it's still recommended to pick these up for possible later use. The Leaf Stone for Nuzleaf will be available a bit later. Once you're done picking everything you want up, move on to Motostoke.

Motostoke

Arriving in Motostoke, you'll meet up with Sonia. She'll take you into the Pokécenter and she'll teach you about customizing your League Card. She'll also give you Leon's League Card. After she leaves, take your time to use the Move Relearner if you've got any of the stone evolutions, heal up your Pokémon if needed and buy any items you may need. Furthermore, Lass Haley next to the Mart will offer to trade you her Skwovet for a Bunnelby.

Pokémon	Type	Level	Moves	Ability
Skwovet Held item: Oran Berry	Normal	10	*Tackle *Tail Whip *Bite *Stuff Cheeks	Cheek Pouch

After you've done everything you need to, head back out. Sonia will remind you that you're in this city for the Gym Challenge opening ceremony, and will show you which way to go to reach Motostoke Stadium, where the ceremony will be held. And now, you're free to explore (most of) Motostoke!

Once you approach the lift to take you to the upper level, Leon will come and give you the item that boosts the power of moves of your starter's type. Go up the lift and talk to Hop in front of the stadium.

Once you're inside, you'll see a shady-looking character registering for the Gym Challenge, bumping Hop on his way out. The man at the counter will ask for your letters of Endorsement, and then you'll be asked to choose the number that will appear on your uniform. After choosing your number, the man will tell you all challengers will be able to stay at the Budew Drop Inn for the night.

Going outside of the Stadium, a man will show you to the Inn, so follow him there. Go in the Inn, and you'll once again find Sonia. She says she's studying Galar's legends, and she offers to teach you about the legend of the hero who saved the region. In short, a phenomenon called the "Darkest Day" occurred, and gigantic Pokémon attacked, but they were defeated by a hero wielding a sword and a shield. After she leaves, head up to the counter to see some strange individuals who call themselves Team Yell. They'll ask for a battle if you want them to leave, so agree. You'll have to battle 2 grunts, followed by a multi battle with Hop at your side.

Team Yell Grunt Reward: 720
Pokémon	Type	Level
Zigzagoon	Normal/Dark	9
Team Yell Grunt Reward: 720
Pokémon	Type	Level
Nickit	Dark	9
Team Yell Grunt (Multi battle) Reward: 720
Pokémon	Type	Level
Zigzagoon	Normal/Dark	9
Team Yell Grunt (Multi battle) Reward: 720
Pokémon	Type	Level
Nickit	Dark	9

After the battles, a girl named Marnie will come in and apologize for Team Yell, and explains that they're a sort of fan club of hers. They'll go home and now you'll be able to check in to the inn.

The next day, you'll find Hop practicing his Pokéball throws. He'll race you to Motostoke Stadium. Once you get out of the Inn, a man will offer to escort you to the Stadium. You can refuse if you wish to look around for items a bit longer. Whenever you're done, head to the Stadium. Speak to the man at the counter and you'll be given your uniform and head into the Stadium proper.

Rose will introduce the gym leaders, though one of the eight is missing. Milo, Nessa, Kabu, Bea(Sword)/Allister(Shield), Opal, Gordie(Sword)/Melony(Shield) and Raihan are the ones present.

After the ceremony, Leon will come to you with Rose, who will introduce himself. As Hop says, the first gym is in Turffield which is past Route 3, and he'll head off in that direction. Perhaps you should go ahead and follow him. When you go outside the stadium, one of the staff will give you access to the Flying Taxi, which allows you to go back to any location you've previously visited by selecting it in the Town Map. When you've finished exploring Motostoke, go ahead and head west toward route 3.

Points of interest

• Beginning to go down the main road, to the left you'll first find a Battle Café. You can battle here once a day and, if you win, you get a reward. Most of these are Sweets, which you will need to evolve a specific Pokémon obtainable a bit later on.
• Right ahead of the Café, a man next to a record store will give you TR13 Focus Energy if you talk to him. You can't actually go into the record store.

Item		Location	Type	Effect
	TR13 Focus Energy	Given by man next to record store in Motostoke.	NPC Item	Teaches a Pokémon the move Focus Energy, but breaks after one use.

• On the right side of the road, you'll find your first barber shop, where you'll be able to customize your hair and makeup options.
• Further ahead, there's another boutique with more clothing options.
• You'll find another man in front of a record store going forward. This man will give you Hi-tech Earbuds, which allow you to control the volume of different sounds (background music, battle effects, etc.)
• On the upper part of the city, south of the fire station, there's a train station that you can use to go back to the Wild Area or Wedgehurst if you wish.
• Next to the fire station, there are a couple of kids looking at a container. Talk to the one on the left and he'll tell you his Minccino has gone missing. Agree to help, then head into the grassy area around the Stadium. You'll see a fountain. Whistle while next to this fountain by pressing the left analog stick, and Minccino will go back to the boy. Go back and talk to him again to receive the Throat Spray, an item that boosts the Pokémon's Special Attack whenever it uses a sound-based move.

Pokémon

Pokémon		Games		Levels	Rate
Fishing
	Magikarp	Sw	Sh	7-11	50%
	Chewtle	Sw	Sh	7-11	40%
	Barboach	Sw	Sh	7-11	10%

Analysis

Pokémon

Analysis

Barboach Type: Water/Ground

This evolutionary line hasn't really changed much from how it's always been. It now learns Muddy Water earlier, but Earthquake later. Besides that, its learnset hasn't really changed almost at all. It has pretty average to mediocre stats across the board, excluding HP, and even getting to its evolved state is a hurdle due to its pathetic base stats as a Barboach. Its typing is... interesting, and can be very helpful if used correctly, allowing it to get STAB boost on moves like Earthquake and Waterfall. Its access to Dragon Dance, though via TR, is also useful to it, and with Zen Headbutt, it has at least some coverage. It's not the best Pokémon out there, but it's nowhere near the worst either, if used correctly.

Items

Item		Location	Type	Effect
	Nugget	Lower part: Left of the Pokécenter, down the pathway before crossing the small bridge.	Hidden	Can be sold at shops for a high price.
	Super Potion	Lower part: Northwestern corner of the overpass.	Hidden	Heals a Pokémon for 60 HP.
	Poké Ball	Lower part: At the end of a pathway on the southeast side of town, in a trash can.	Hidden	Used to capture Pokémon.
	Charcoal	Lower part: Given by Leon once you approach the lift (if you picked Scorbunny).	NPC item	Boosts the power of Fire-type moves when held.
	Miracle Seed	Lower part: Given by Leon once you approach the lift (if you picked Grookey).	NPC item	Boosts the power of Grass-type moves when held.
	Mystic Water	Lower part: Given by Leon once you approach the lift (if you picked Sobble).	NPC item	Boosts the power of Water-type moves when held.
	Paralyze Heal (x2)	Lower part: Corner to the right of the lift.	Hidden	Heals paralysis on a single Pokémon.
	Poké Ball	Upper part: Talk to Pokéball guy in front of the stadium.	NPC Item	Used to capture Pokémon.
	Silk Scarf	Upper part: Next to the fence south of the fire station, west of Budew Drop Inn.	Item Ball	Boosts the power of Normal-type moves when held.
	Poké Doll	Upper part: Next to a bench south of the fire station.	Hidden	Allows you to escape from an encounter without fail.
	TM02 Pay Day	Upper part: Go southwest of Budew Drop Inn and down the stairs.	Item ball	Teaches Pokémon the move Pay Day.
	Burn Heal (x3)	Upper part: In the grassy area left of the stadium.	Item Ball	Heals burn on a single Pokémon.
	Repel	Upper part: Next to the fountain in the grassy area right of the stadium.	Hidden	Prevents encounters with Pokémon lower level than your first Pokémon for 100 steps.
	Great Ball (x3)	Upper part: South of the fire station, head down the lift, then down the stairs and to the left.	Item Ball	Used to catch Pokémon, with a higher rate than a regular ball.
	Revival Herb	Lower part: In a hedge around a tree after crossing small bridge in southwest part of the city.	Hidden	Revives a fainted Pokémon with full HP.
	Star Piece	Upper part: Given by man in the leftmost room at the inn.	NPC Item	Can be sold at shops for a high price.