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Pokemon Sword and Shield carry on the series tradition of version exclusives. Here's the complete list of known version exclusive Pokemon and Gyms.

Pokemon Sword and Shield Version Exclusives Guide

Pokemon Sword and Shield carry on the series tradition of version exclusives. Here's the complete list of known version exclusive Pokemon and Gyms.
This article is over 5 years old and may contain outdated information

Pokemon Sword and Shield are almost upon us. As always, each has its own set of exclusive pokemon you can’t get in the other version. However, Sword and Shield also have version-exclusive Gyms, with a handful of the eight Major League Gyms tied to specific versions.

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Here we have a list of all the known version exclusive pokemon and Gyms. Though an additional list of 10 pokemon and two gyms were allegedly revealed in a leak earlier this week, we’ve opted not to include those here until The Pokemon Company confirms them. 

With that said, we will update this list as more official information becomes available in the coming days and weeks. 

Sword-Exclusive Pokemon and Shield-Exclusive Pokemon

As of now, there aren’t all that many version exclusives. Despite allegedly providing the entire Galar Pokedex, the Sword and Shield leakers haven’t provided any further information about version exclusives.

Pokemon Sword Pokemon Shield
Farfetch’d  Ponyta
Sirfetch’d Rapidash
  Gothia  Solosis
  Gothorita  Duosion
  Gothitelle Reuniclus
  Deino  Larvitar
Zweilous Pupitar
Hydreigon  Tyranitar
  Turtonator Drampa
  Jangmo-o  Goomy
Hakamo-o Sligoo
  Kommo-o  Goodra
  Mawile  Sableye
  Rufflet  Vullaby
  Braviary Mandibuzz
Machamp Gigantamax Raid Gengar Gigantamax Raid
Coalossal Gigantamax Raid  Lapras Gigantamax Raid
  Flapple Gigantamax Raid Appletun Gigantamax Raid
Flapple (item can be traded to Shield) Appletun (item can be traded to Sword)
  Stonjourner  Eiscue
  Indeedee (Male) Indeedee (Female)
Swirlix  Spritzee
  Slurpuff Aromatisse
  Scraggy  Galarian Corsola
Scrafty  Cursola
Galarian Darumaka Croagunk
Galarian Darmanitan  Toxicroak
Seedot  Lotad
  Nuzleaf Lombre
  Shiftry  Luidicolo
Basculin (Red Stripe)  Basculin (Blue Stripe)
  Lunatone  Solrock
Zacian  Zamazenta

 

Pokemon Sword and Shield Version Exclusive Gyms

Officially, we know of only two version-exclusive Gyms.

Pokemon Sword
  • Fighting-Type Gym
    • Leader: Bea
  • Rock-Type Gym
    • Leader: Gordie
Pokemon Shield
  • Ghost-Type Gym
    • Leader: Allister
  • Ice-Type Gym
    • Leader: Melonie

Fortunately, regardless of which version you get, you’ll be able to take advantage of the new Dynamax feature, which every Pokemon can use, and so far, it’s looking like there aren’t any version-exclusive Gigantamax Pokemon either. Those whose Gigantamax Raids you can only complete in one version can still be traded to the other.

Don’t forget as well that there is a handful of other exclusives out there, but they’re tied to previous data and early adoption of the game — and, if it shapes up to be what we’re hoping, it won’t take much convincing to get this one early.


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Author
Image of Josh Broadwell
Josh Broadwell
Josh Broadwell started gaming in the early '90s. But it wasn't until 2017 he started writing about them, after finishing two history degrees and deciding a career in academia just wasn't the best way forward. You'll usually find him playing RPGs, strategy games, or platformers, but he's up for almost anything that seems interesting.