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Pokémon: Sword & Shield

Route 5

By
Ben Chard
&
Vincent Lau

This route is home to the Pokémon Nursery, the home base for dedicated breeders.

Wild Pokémon - Overworld

Pokémon Type Encounter Rate
"Eldegoss" IconEldegoss Grass Fixed
"Stufful" IconStufful Normal/Fighting 35%
"Swirlix" IconSwirlix (Sword only) Fairy 30%
"Spritzee" IconSpritzee (Shield only) Fairy 30%
"Minccino" IconMinccino Normal 15% (Sword), 20% (Shield)
"Wobbuffet" IconWobbuffet Psychic 10%
"Farfetch'd" IconFarfetch’d (Sword only) Fighting 5%
"Drifloon" IconDrifloon Ghost/Flying 5%

Wild Pokémon - Random Encounters

Pokémon Type Encounter Rate
"Dottler" IconDottler Bug/Psychic 26%
"Espurr" IconEspurr Psychic 20%
"Nuzleaf" IconNuzleaf (Sword only) Grass/Dark 20%
"Lombre" IconLombre (Shield only) Water/Grass 20%
"Swirlix" IconSwirlix (Sword only) Fairy 14%
"Spritzee" IconSpritzee (Shield only) Fairy 14%
"Applin" IconApplin Grass/Dragon 10%
"Dewpider" IconDewpider Water/Bug 5%
"Nincada" IconNincada Bug/Ground 5%
"Skwovet" IconSkwovet Normal Berry Tree - 100%

Wild Pokémon - Fishing

Pokémon Type Encounter Rate
"Magikarp" IconMagikarp Water 70%
"Chewtle" IconChewtle Water 20%
"Goldeen" IconGoldeen Water 10%

Begin by heading east past the number 5 signpost. Immediately, you’ll come across a pair of trainers that you must fight.

Interviewers Gillian and Cam

Pokémon Level Type
"Helioptile" IconHelioptile 18 Electric/Normal
"Klink" IconKlink 18 Steel

This is a Double Battle where you battle two opponents at once, using your first two Pokémon. "Helioptile" IconHelioptile is weak to Fighting and Ground only, while "Klink" IconKlink is weak to Fire, Ground and Fighting. If you have a Ground-type from Galar Mine, you’ll be smiling. Either way, try to focus on one of your opponents first.

Carry on east from the duo. Soon, there will be a side path towards the south, leading south-east. Meanwhile, along the top is a patch of tall grass. Step into the tall grass first, then skilfully weave your way through the trees on the right. At the end of this area, you can pick up a Shed Shell. Go back onto the main path, then head south along the side path.

When you reach the bottom, there will be some tall grass on the left. Go into the tall grass and grab the 3 Heal Balls besides the tree. Next, go south. If you follow the trail on the left side, there’s a chef wandering around looking for a food fight. Meanwhile, on the right side, there’s more tall grass. Between the two sections, there’s a berry tree.

Cook Stuart

Pokémon Level Type
"Applin" IconApplin 20 Grass/Dragon

"Applin" IconApplin is a new Pokémon found randomly in the tall grass here. It’s Grass and Dragon, a pretty rare type combination that’s extremely susceptible to Ice. It’s also weak to Flying, Bug, Poison, Fairy and Dragon. Of the lot, you should have a Flying-type. If not, a Fire-type will do OK.

Afterwards, head east, while following the pond in the centre. Towards the south-east corner, there’s a fairly wide stretch of tall grass. Step into the grass and head for the rock in the far corner. It’s a bit tricky to see, but you can obtain TM31 Attract above the rock and on its right. Return to the trail and go up towards the camp site above the pond.

(1 of 2) Attract makes an opposite gender Pokémon fall in love with yours, occasionally stopping it from attacking.

Attract makes an opposite gender Pokémon fall in love with yours, occasionally stopping it from attacking. (left), Don’t sniff these mushrooms, sell ’em for cold, hard cash! (right)

Search the corner to the left of the tent to discover 2 Big Mushrooms. Next, go right and head up the incline. There will be two trainers blocking the road. If you’d prefer not to fight, go backwards until you’re back on the main path before coming down here, then travel east.

Pokémon Breeder Debra

Pokémon Level Type
"Minccino" IconMinccino 17 Normal
"Steenee" IconSteenee 19 Grass

"Minccino" IconMinccino is a Normal-type commonly found here. It’s weak to Fighting-types only, but any half-decent Pokémon should do. Next up, "Steenee" IconSteenee is an evolve "Bounsweet" IconBounsweet. It’s a pure Grass-type and you already conquered the Grass Gym Leader, so there isn’t much to say.

The next trainer can be skipped if you know what you’re doing. Wait for him to look down, then dash north, while keeping towards the east.

Pokémon Breeder Adrian

Pokémon Level Type
"Stufful" IconStufful 17 Normal/Fighting
"Cutiefly" IconCutiefly 18 Bug/Fairy
"Ralts" IconRalts 19 Psychic/Fairy

"Stufful" IconStufful is cute-looking, but packs a mighty punch! If possible, hit it with Flying or Psychic-types. Next can be "Cutiefly" IconCutiefly. This lil’ critter is weak to Fire, Flying, Poison and Steel. Finally, "Ralts" IconRalts is weak to Bug, Dark, Ghost and Steel (and Poison, but it’s risky).

If you really want to use Toxel, it might help to feed it the experience candies you receive alongside it.

Continue north and you’ll reach the Pokémon Nursery. You can also get here by heading directly east along the main path. In any case, let’s go inside and take a look! Speak to the breeder lady on the right to receive a Level 1 "Toxel" IconToxel and 5 Exp. Candies XS. Toxel is a new Electric and Poison-type. If you want to use it, you must be patient as it’s incredibly weak until it evolves at Level 30.

When you’re ready to continue your adventure, carry on heading east from the Pokémon Nursery. Before long, you’ll reach a large bridge that goes across the Wild Area. However, there seems to be a ruckus going on…

Team Yell Grunt

Pokémon Level Type
"Zigzagoon" IconZigzagoon (Galarian) 17 Normal/Dark
"Thievul" IconThievul 18 Dark

Once again, Team Yell makes it obvious that they’re Dark-type fans. In particular, Galarian "Zigzagoon" IconZigzagoon takes heavy damage from Fighting-types. Otherwise it’s also weak to Bug and Fairy. Meanwhile, "Thievul" IconThievul is an evolved "Nickit" IconNickit. This conniving fox is weak to Fighting, Bug and Fairy.

Team Yell Grunt

Pokémon Level Type
"Sableye" IconSableye 18 Dark/Ghost

"Sableye" IconSableye is a troublesome ghoul that’s only weak to Fairy-types. If you have a Fairy, nice. But if not, your strongest Pokémon (such as your starter) ought to do the trick.

Send Team Yell packing and you’ll be rewarded with a "Rotom" IconRotom Bike.

The bridge is pretty long, so this is a great opportunity to test out your fancy new bike. Either way, make your way east. About halfway along the bridge, you’ll be stopped by Hop. He’ll warn you that a battle is coming up.

Pokémon Trainer Hop

Pokémon Level Type
"Wooloo" IconWooloo 18 Normal
"Corvisquire" IconCorvisquire 19 Flying
"Drizzile" IconDrizzile (if you picked "Grookey" IconGrookey) 14 Water
"Thwackey" IconThwackey (if you picked "Scorbunny" IconScorbunny) 14 Grass
"Raboot" IconRaboot (if you picked "Sobble" IconSobble) 14 Fire

Hop basically has the same team as always, but he’s evolved two of his Pokémon. By this point, you should be way ahead of him though. If you need a refresher though, Fighting-types are ideal for "Wooloo" IconWooloo, use Electric or Rock for "Corvisquire" IconCorvisquire and unleash your starter against his starter. Note that he has a Super Potion and isn’t afraid to use it.

After defeating Hop, you’ll receive a Revive from him. Once he’s gone, continue traveling east across the bridge. When you approach the end of the bridge, you may see a floating ball-shaped thing coming your way. This is a wild "Eldegoss" IconEldegoss. Try and catch it if you can (wait until it flies low), especially if you’re lacking a strong Grass-type for the Water-type Gym up ahead.

On the other side of the bridge, there’s a small patch of tall grass to the north. Meanwhile, towards the east is a female breeder. Unless you’re lazy to battle, head east and engage the breeder.

Pokémon Breeder Denise

Pokémon Level Type
"Cherubi" IconCherubi 18 Grass
"Woobat" IconWoobat 19 Psychic/Flying

"Cherubi" IconCherubi is a Grass-type that occasionally drops from shaking berry trees. It’s a pure Grass-type so weak to the usual suspects: Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug and Poison. As for "Woobat" IconWoobat, you may have bumped into one in the Galar Mine. This floofy bat is weak to Electric, Ice, Rock, Ghost and Dark.

If the Pokémon holding this is hit by a Water move, their Special Attack will increase. But the Absorb Bulb will disappear.

Pick up the 3 X Sp. Atks past Denise. Next, go up to the tall grass and search the space without grass for a hidden Absorb Bulb. Afterwards, go east. Around here, there’s a trainer strolling along the top of the path.

Office Worker Gabrielle

Pokémon Level Type
"Croagunk" IconCroagunk 19 Poison/Fighting

This dodgy-looking Pokémon is exceptionally weak to Psychic. Otherwise, it’s weak to Ground and Flying. Avoid using Water-types because it’ll take no damage thanks to its Dry Skin ability.

Further east is the exit to Hulbury.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Pokemon Company International
  • Platforms,
    Switch
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    15 November 2019
  • Last Updated
    21 March 2024
    Version History
  • Guide Author

Share this free guide:

Welcome to our comprehensive strategy guide for Pokémon: Sword and Shield, the latest entries in the Pokémon video game franchise. Our guide also incorporates all the DLC, including the Isle of Armor and brand new Crown Tundra DLC.

In Sword and Shield, you explore the Galar region, based on the United Kingdom, alongside rivals Hop, Bede and Marnie, with the aim to dethrone the Pokémon League Champion.

The games introduce several new features such as Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing, functions that increase size and change forms of certain Pokémon; the Wild Area, a large open world with free camera movement; and raids with co-op battling. They also reintroduce features previously seen in Sun and Moon and Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, such as regional variants and roaming Pokémon depicted in the overworld.

Brand New October 2020:

Version 1.2

  • A Complete Walkthrough of the Isle of Armor.
  • Details of all 16 new Wild Areas, including Pokémon encounter rates.
  • All the new Max Raid Dens: Locations and Featured Pokémon.
  • Images and Locations of All 150 of the Missing Diglett.
  • The Isle of Armor Pokédex (featuring 100 Returning Pokémon).
  • Recipes for the Cram-o-matic.
  • A Full Walkthrough featuring Pokémon encounter rates.
  • All Gym Encounters and Strategies.
  • New Items: Mints & Natures Explained.
  • Post Game content including Champion Cup.
  • Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing.
  • The Galar Region Pokédex (featuring 400 Pokemon).

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