Pokemon Sword and Shield complete guide and walkthrough to become the Champion of Galar

Wild Area

Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Despite heading to Motostoke, a flock of Wooloo on the tracks forces the train you're on to stop abruptly at the Wild Area. When in the station — if you played Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu or Eevee — speak to the couple to the left of the door to the platform. They'll give you a special version of Pikachu or Eevee depending on the version you played. What's so special, I hear you ask? They can be Dynamaxed!

Leave the station and you'll be in the Wild Area, where you can control the camera with the right stick. Revolutionary! You don't need to do anything specific in the Wild Area right now, simply aim to get to Motostoke at the other end. We've got everything to do with this vast expanse covered in our Pokemon Sword and Shield Wild Area guide, so check that out for more information.

Motostoke

Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Pokemon: Motostoke - Fishing

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonRarity
BarboachAverage
ChewtleFrequent
MagikarpFrequent

Items: Motostoke

Swipe to scroll horizontally
ItemVisibleHidden
Black GlassesYRow 0 - Cell 2
Burn Heal x3YRow 1 - Cell 2
Great Ball x3YRow 2 - Cell 2
NuggetRow 3 - Cell 1 Y
Paralyze Heal x2Row 4 - Cell 1 Y
Poke BallRow 5 - Cell 1 Y
Poke DollRow 6 - Cell 1 Y
RepelRow 7 - Cell 1 Y
Revival HerbRow 8 - Cell 1 Y
Silk ScarfYRow 9 - Cell 2
Super PotionRow 10 - Cell 1 Y
TM02 Pay DayYRow 11 - Cell 2
X AccuracyRow 12 - Cell 1 Y

When you get to Motostoke, head towards the Pokemon Center to find Sonia. She'll take you inside and show you how league cards work, then afterwards, you can spend some time exploring the high street. Make sure you check out the Battle Cafe and take on Cafe Master Dwight because you'll earn a reward every time you fight him, although his lineup changes each time you face him.

Afterwards, make sure you talk to the guy outside of the record store to get the Hi-Tech Earbuds – these allow you to go into the options and adjust the volume of Background Music, Pokemon Cries, and Sound Effects individually – then head to the end of the road to use the lift. Leon will interrupt and give you an item dependent on which starter you picked, but then you can head up the lift and into Motostoke Stadium. Not before speaking to Ball Guy, of course.

Speak to Hop and enter the Motostoke Stadium, then get registered with the guy at the front desk. Leave again and you'll be taken to the Budew Inn down the road, but don't go inside yet. Go west a little further and speak to the two boys by a shipping crate with their mom.

Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough

(Image credit: Nintendo)

They've lost their Minccino and it's up to you to find it for them. All you know is it likes water, so walk back along to the stadium and outside are two fountains. Approach the one on the left and whistle to make Minccino come out of hiding. Head back to the boys for a reward, then go inside the Budew Inn.

After speaking with Sonia in the lobby, you'll be introduced to Team Yell for the first time, with three successive battles against four Grunts, with the final fight being a duo battle alongside Hop.

Team Yell Grunt

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonLevelType
Zigzagoon9Dark/Normal

Team Yell Grunt

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonLevelType
Nickit9Dark

Team Yell Grunt & Team Yell Grunt (Duo)

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonLevelType
Zigzagoon9Dark/Normal
Nickit9Dark

Take down all four trainers and Marnie, one of the challengers for the Gym Challenge will appear. Team Yell are her rather eager fans, and she apologises on behalf of them. Speak to the receptionist to jump to the next day.

Walk over to the Motostoke Gym to watch the opening ceremony for the Gym Challenge, featuring Rose, the Director. When it's done, Rose and Leon will come and talk to you, then as you leave, you'll receive the Flying Taxi service as a gift which allows you to fly to any location you've visited already. Walk left down the path to find Hop who insists on another battle.

Hop

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonLevelType
Wooloo11Normal
Sobble/Grookey/Scorbunny14Water/Grass/Fire
Rookidee12Flying

After you've beaten Hop, keep going left to find Route 3.

Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Postwick and Route 1
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Wedgehurst and Route 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Wild Area and Motostoke
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Route 3, Galar Mine, and Route 4
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Turffield, Turffield Gym, and Route 5
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Hulbury and Hulbury Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Galar Mine No.2 and Motostoke Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Hammerlocke and Route 6
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Stow-on-Side and Stow-on-Side Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Glimwood Tangle
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Ballonlea and Ballonlea Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Route 7 and Route 8
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Circhester and Circhester Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Route 9
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Spikemuth Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Hammerlocke Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Route 10 and Wyndon
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Wyndon Gym and Rose Tower
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Wyndon Gym Finals and Slumbering Weald
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Energy Plant and Champion Battle
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Zacian and Zamazenta
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Post-game activities

Ford James

Give me a game and I will write every "how to" I possibly can or die trying. When I'm not knee-deep in a game to write guides on, you'll find me hurtling round the track in F1, flinging balls on my phone in Pokemon Go, pretending to know what I'm doing in Football Manager, or clicking on heads in Valorant.

With contributions from
Read more
Monster Hunter Wilds reveal
The ultimate Monster Hunter Wilds guide to weapons, monsters, multiplayer, and more
A car facing the camera in the middle of a wet, neon-lit Cyberpunk 2077 street.
Cyberpunk 2077 guide and walkthrough to survive Night City
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Everything announced at Pokemon Presents 2025
Monster Hunter Wilds
The beginner's guide to Monster Hunter Wilds
Pokemon
How to watch Pokemon in order: a complete guide to the TV show and movies
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC artwork showing students on an exchange trip
The best Pokemon games, ranked from worst to best
Latest in Pokemon
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shiny Cards
How to get Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's director appears to be a Xenoblade Chronicles fan, and I'm now feeling very validated about a tiny detail I spotted in the upcoming RPG's gameplay trailer
Pokemon TCG Pocket
Pokemon TCG Pocket is getting yet another new expansion as the addition of shinies and Gen 9 Pokemon keep free-to-play players drowning in new cards to collect
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shining Revelry
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shining Revelry release date and details
Pokemon GO
Despite new ownership's iffy history, Pokemon GO lead claims intrusive ads and playtime restrictions won't plague the game: "Not now, not ever"
Lego Pikachu tail over the top of the 'Who's that Pokemon?' anime screen
Lego Pokemon revealed for 2026 after 'shocking' Pikachu tease
Latest in Guides
FC 25
FC 25 Dreamchasers tracker and full UEFA promo guide
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe "justice must be served" or "killing them isn't justice" Yaya and Mistumune choice
Should you side with Mitsumune or Yaya in Assassin's Creed Shadows?
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shiny Cards
How to get Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Assassin's Creed Shadows money naoe and merchant
How to get money in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shining Revelry
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shining Revelry release date and details
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe in outfit
Best Assassin’s Creed Shadows armor for Naoe and Yasuke