One of the most exciting moments in any Pokemon game is choosing your starter Pokemon. In Pokemon Sword, you can pick between Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble, each with their own unique type, personality, and evolution. But what if you want to have all three starters in your team? Is it possible to get them without trading with other players?
The answer is yes, but it’s not very easy. There are three methods you can use to get all starters in Pokemon Sword, but each one requires some extra steps and resources. In this article, we’ll explain how you can get all starters in Pokemon Sword using these methods:
- Method 1: Breed your starter and trade it
- Method 2: Own both games and trade them to one game
- Method 3: Use Pokemon HOME
Method 1: Breed Your Starter and Trade It
This is the most practical method for getting all starters in Pokemon Sword. You will need to catch a Ditto, breed your starter at a nursery, and trade it with another player who has a different starter. Here’s how to do it:
How to catch a Ditto in Pokemon Sword
Ditto is a rare Pokemon that can transform into any other Pokemon. You can use it to breed with any Pokemon, including your starter. To catch a Ditto, you will need to go to the Lake of Outrage zone in the Wild Area. You can only access this area after you get an upgrade for your bike on Route 9 that allows you to travel across water.
Once you reach the Lake of Outrage, look for Ditto as an overworld spawn or as a random encounter in the grass. Ditto will copy the appearance and moves of your first Pokemon in battle, so be careful not to use something that can easily defeat you. Weaken Ditto with attacks and catch it with a Poke Ball. You can also try using a Quick Ball at the start of the battle for a higher chance of success.
How to breed your starter at the nursery
After you catch a Ditto, you will need to go to a nursery and leave it there with your starter. There are two nurseries in the game: one near Route 5 and one in Bridge Field in the Wild Area. We recommend using the one near Route 5 because it has a long path that you can ride on with your bike.
When you leave two compatible Pokemon at the nursery, they will produce an egg after some time. The egg will inherit the species of the female parent or the non-Ditto parent if one of them is Ditto. To speed up the process, you can use a Pokemon with the Flame Body or Steam Engine ability in your party, which will halve the number of steps needed for the egg to hatch.
To check if your Pokemon have produced an egg, talk to the nursery worker outside. If she crosses her arms, that means there is no egg yet. If she holds her arms out, that means there is an egg ready for you. Take the egg and put it in your party. Then ride around on your bike until it hatches. You will now have a second copy of your starter.
How to trade your starter with other players
Now that you have an extra starter, you can trade it with another player who has a different starter. You can do this by using the Y-Comm feature on your menu. You can either use Link Trade or Surprise Trade.
Link Trade allows you to trade directly with another player by using a four-digit code or by selecting them from your friends list. You can communicate with other players online or locally and agree on what starter you want to trade. This method is more reliable and faster than Surprise Trade.
Surprise Trade allows you to trade randomly with another player without knowing what they will offer. You can select any Pokemon from your boxes and send it to the trade pool. Then you can continue playing the game while waiting for a trade partner. This method is more unpredictable and slower than Link Trade, but it can also be more fun and surprising.
You will need to repeat this process twice to get all three starters in Pokemon Sword. You will need to breed another starter and trade it for the third one. Alternatively, you can ask a friend who has all three starters to breed them for you and trade them with you.
Method 2: Own Both Games and Trade Them to One Game
This method is more expensive and time-consuming, but it allows you to get all starters in Pokemon Sword without relying on other players. You will need to own both Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, as well as two Nintendo Switch devices. You will also need to start a new game on one of the devices and trade with yourself. Here’s how to do it:
How to start a new game on another device
To start a new game on another device, you will need to create a new user profile on that device. You can do this by going to the System Settings on the home menu and selecting Users. Then choose Add User and follow the instructions. You can use any name and icon for your new user.
After you create a new user, you can launch Pokemon Sword or Shield with that user. You will be able to start a new game from the beginning without affecting your original save file. You can choose a different starter Pokemon and play until you reach the point where you get the Dynamax Band and the Y-Comm. This will allow you to trade with other players, including yourself.
How to link trade with yourself
To link trade with yourself, you will need to connect both devices either locally or online. If you want to trade locally, you will need to enable local communication on both devices by pressing the Y button on the menu and then the + button on the Y-Comm screen. If you want to trade online, you will need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription on both devices and connect them to the internet.
Once you are connected, you can initiate a link trade on both devices by pressing the Y button on the menu and then selecting Link Trade. Then choose Set Link Code and enter the same four-digit code on both devices. This will pair you up with yourself and allow you to trade your starters.
You will need to repeat this process twice to get all three starters in Pokemon Sword. You will need to start a new game again on the other device and choose a different starter. Then trade it with yourself using the same method.
Method 3: Use Pokemon HOME
This method is the easiest and most convenient, but it requires you to have Pokemon HOME, a cloud service that allows you to store and transfer your Pokemon across different games. You can use Pokemon HOME to transfer your starters from other games or from other players who have them. You can also get the Kanto starters as a bonus for using Pokemon HOME. Here’s how to do it:
How to transfer your starters from Pokemon HOME
To transfer your starters from Pokemon HOME, you will need to download the Pokemon HOME app on your Nintendo Switch or your mobile device. You can get it for free from the Nintendo eShop or the App Store/Google Play Store. You will also need to create a Nintendo Account and link it to your Pokemon HOME app.
Once you have Pokemon HOME, you can transfer your starters from other games that are compatible with Pokemon HOME, such as Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee or Pokemon Sword/Shield. You can do this by using the Pokemon HOME menu on your Nintendo Switch or by using the Move option on your mobile device.
You can also transfer your starters from other players who have them in their Pokemon HOME app. You can do this by using the Friend Trade or Room Trade option on your mobile device. Friend Trade allows you to trade with players who are registered as your friends in Pokemon HOME. Room Trade allows you to trade with up to 20 players who join a room that you create or join.
You will need to transfer all three starters from Pokemon HOME to your Pokemon Sword game by using the Pokemon HOME menu on your Nintendo Switch. You can select which box or party slot you want to transfer them to.
How to get the Kanto starters as a bonus
As a bonus for using Pokemon HOME, you can also get the Kanto starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle) for free. You can do this by using the Mystery Gift option on your mobile device. You will receive three gift boxes that contain one of each starter. You can open them and claim your starters.
You can then transfer them from Pokemon HOME to your Pokemon Sword game by using the same method as before. You will now have six starters in total.
Conclusion
Getting all starters in Pokemon Sword is not impossible, but it does require some extra work and resources. Depending on which method you use, you will need to breed, trade, or transfer your starter Pokemon with other players or devices. You can also use Pokemon HOME to get them from other games or from other players who have them. You can also get the Kanto starters as a bonus for using Pokemon HOME.
Getting all starters in Pokemon Sword can be a fun and rewarding challenge. It can also give you more options and variety for your team. You can experiment with different combinations and strategies with your starters. You can also enjoy their different personalities and animations.
We hope this article has helped you learn how to get all starters in Pokemon Sword. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And if you liked this article, please share it with your friends and fellow Pokemon fans. Thank you for reading and happy gaming.
FAQs
- Can I get all three starters without trading?
Typically, trading is the standard method, but utilizing Pokemon HOME and surprise trades can also yield starters. - Are hidden abilities necessary for my starters?
Hidden abilities can provide a strategic advantage but are not mandatory for gameplay. - Can I breed starters and trade them with friends?
Yes, breeding starters and trading them is a common practice among players. - Is Pokemon HOME free to use?
Pokemon HOME offers free and premium plans, with the latter providing additional features and storage. - Can I trade Pokemon back from Pokemon HOME to Pokemon Sword?
Yes, Pokemon can be moved between Pokemon Sword and Pokemon HOME freely, with some exceptions.
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