Pokemon Sword and Shield players can claim Ash’s championship team thanks to the anime

Ash's team from Pokemon Journeys: The Series
(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

Pokemon Sword and Shield players can soon pick up Ash’s championship team directly from the Pokemon anime via weekly codes. 

As revealed in a blog post on the official Japanese Pokemon website, from August 12 until September 16, players who tune into the current season of the Pokemon anime - Pokemon Journeys: The Series - will see an exclusive code on screen which can be used to claim all of the Pokemon in Ash’s team for Pokemon Sword and Shield

This weekly event will give Pokemon Sword and Shield players access to all five of the Pokemon in Ash’s Pokemon Journeys team, this includes Dracovish (August 12), Dragonite (August 26), Gengar (September 2), Sirfetch’d (September 9), and Lucario (September 16). Don’t think that you’ll be able to watch just one episode and keep using the same code, though, as the website also says that the password will change every week with each Pokemon.

Like all giveaways, this one does come with a few terms and conditions. First, each password can only be used once per save data. Not only this, but only one Pokemon can be received per password (meaning you can’t claim multiple Gengars with just one code). 

You also can’t use these codes to claim the Pokemon via Pokemon Home or any other games in the series. To take part, you need to be connected to an internet source and your Nintendo Switch must be connected to a Nintendo Account. Finally, if you miss the weekly deadline for each Pokemon, you can’t claim it outside of the date given. 

In other Pokemon news, earlier this week we were treated with a Pokemon Presents, which shared a lot of new information about the upcoming Gen 9 game Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

If you missed it, here are some of the showcase’s highlights. First, we finally discovered that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s region is called Paldea. We also learned more about the two new Legendary Pokemon Miraidon and Koraidon, and were introduced to a new Teratallize mechanic coming to the game. 

Want to find out more about the next Pokemon game? Take a look at our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Pokedex list

Hope Bellingham
News Writer

After studying Film Studies and Creative Writing at university, I was lucky enough to land a job as an intern at Player Two PR where I helped to release a number of indie titles. I then got even luckier when I became a Trainee News Writer at GamesRadar+ before being promoted to a fully-fledged News Writer after a year and a half of training.  My expertise lies in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, cozy indies, and The Last of Us, but especially in the Kingdom Hearts series. I'm also known to write about the odd Korean drama for the Entertainment team every now and then.  

Read more
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
A single frame in the new Pokemon Legends Z-A trailer gives hardcore shiny hunters and Nuzlocke runners hope for a huge quality-of-life change
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Everything announced at Pokemon Presents 2025
Pokemon TCG Pocket Promo Cards
All Pokemon TCG Pocket Promo cards and how to get them
The player character in Pokemon Legends: Z-A looks at the three starter Pokemon, Totodile, Tepig, and Chikorita.
You can let fate decide your Pokemon Legends Z-A starter with a random plushie pre-order bonus, just in case you couldn't pick between Totodile, Tepig, and Chikorita
Key art for Pokemon Champions
Pokemon Champions announced for Switch and mobile, a new PvP competition where you can fight with your Pokemon from older games
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends Z-A: Everything we know so far
Latest in Pokemon
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A looks to finally bring my anime-inspired dreams of truly active combat to life
Zoomed in art of the Sudowoodo illustration rare card in Pokemon TCG Pocket.
Pokemon's literal god of the universe is almost unstoppable in TCG Pocket – the only thing that can save us is a smiley tree and a concussed dinosaur
Charizard in the Pokemon anime.
Pokemon fans prove they'll buy anything as a Cheeto shaped like a Charizard sells for almost $90k
The player character in Pokemon Legends: Z-A looks at the three starter Pokemon, Totodile, Tepig, and Chikorita.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's starter trio proves it's time for a new type, and I know what it should be
The player character in Pokemon Legends: Z-A looks at the three starter Pokemon, Totodile, Tepig, and Chikorita.
You can let fate decide your Pokemon Legends Z-A starter with a random plushie pre-order bonus, just in case you couldn't pick between Totodile, Tepig, and Chikorita
Key art for Pokemon Champions
Pokemon Champions could be the series' "biggest announcement in over a decade," says former world champ, because Nintendo might finally be about to separate competitive play from single-player
Latest in News
Grand Theft Auto 3
A GTA streamer is trying to beat every single 3D entry without dying, and in 33 hours he's made it as far as San Andreas but keeps getting caught in Vice City purgatory
Monster Hunter Wilds Nu Udra Palico
Monster Hunter Wilds players are so obsessed with Palico armor that turns your cute cat into a freaky little octopus that even Capcom is sharing fan art of it
Charli XCX
Charlie XCX is in talks to star in Greta Gerwig’s The Chronicles of Narnia movie - and that is so Brat
Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #12
Gwen Stacy and Loki team-up for a cosmic adventure in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #12
A screenshot shows the cat protagonist of Monster Hunter Puzzles waving a wand while wearing a Cinnamoroll costume.
Monster Hunter gets the collab of the century: Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s resident stalker Cinnamoroll joins Capcom’s puzzle game to stare at you without blinking
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again episode 1 has a heartbreaking and deep-cut Easter egg from the comics