Pokemon Sword & Shield: What To Do When You Beat The Game Essential post-game activities and strategies for maximizing your Pokemon Sword and Shield experience

TL;DR

Complete the legendary quest to catch Zacian or Zamazenta using your Master Ball
Collect rare League Cards from key characters by winning specific battles
Capture level 60+ Pokemon in the Wild Area and master five-star raids
Claim exclusive gift Pokemon including Gigantamax-capable Charmander
Conquer the Battle Tower for BP rewards and Type: Null legendary Pokemon

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Your Pokemon Sword and Shield adventure continues well beyond the main storyline conclusion. After becoming Champion, you’ll discover extensive post-game content including legendary encounters, challenging battles, and exclusive rewards. This guide provides strategic approaches to maximize your endgame experience while avoiding common pitfalls.

If you’re still progressing through the main campaign, we offer comprehensive resources covering rare Pokemon locations, evolution mechanics, and currency systems. Our detailed guides on evolving tricky Pokemon like Milcery, Sinistea, and Applin provide step-by-step instructions for completing your Pokedex efficiently.

In our Pokemon Sword and Shield review, Kallie Plagge noted: “The vibrant Galar region offers consistent exploration rewards, balancing collection and combat perfectly. Grandiose battles enhance the traditional Gym formula, while streamlined mechanics reduce tedious elements from previous generations. This represents the most balanced Pokemon experience in years, marking Sword and Shield as the standout new generation.”

After the credits conclude and you restart your game, you’ll find yourself at home in Postwick. Professor Magnolia will present you with a Master Ball, the ultimate capture tool. Exit your residence and proceed left into the Slumbering Weald, navigating to the deepest area where you previously discovered the rusted sword and shield artifacts. Hop will await your arrival, initiating the post-game storyline. Simply adhere to Sonia’s detailed instructions, which guide you through revisiting most Gym locations (excluding Spikemuth) to complete heroic objectives and encounter either Zacian or Zamazenta.

Throughout your post-game journey, you’ll acquire exclusive alternate League Cards from prominent characters. Some require deliberate effort to obtain. To secure Marnie’s card, travel to Spikemuth and defeat her in Pokemon combat near the local Pokemon Center. For Rose’s card, locate Oleana within the Galar Mine tunnels. Leon’s card becomes available through Battle Tower competitions, while the Ball Guy outside Motostoke Gym offers another collectible card.

Upon achieving champion status, all Wild Area Pokemon reach level 60 or higher, presenting prime capture opportunities for powerful species you’ve previously missed. Engage in Max Raid Battles regularly—five-star encounters pose significant difficulty but yield exceptional Pokemon rewards. Consult our specialized guide for locating rare and desirable Pokemon to accelerate Pokedex completion.

Ensure you visit Hop’s residence and ascend to Leon’s former chamber. A Poke Ball resting on the floor contains a Charmander capable of Gigantamax transformation, mirroring Leon’s Charizard capabilities. This special Pokemon possesses perfect Individual Values in multiple stats! (To examine its statistical attributes personally, reference the judge function details provided later.)

You can now access the Battle Tower situated in Wyndon—rapid travel via flying taxi proves most efficient. Inside the facility, proceed leftward where a League official accompanied by Type: Null awaits. This staff member will gift you Type: Null, the legendary chimera Pokemon originally introduced in Sun and Moon, along with multiple “memory” items corresponding to various Pokemon types. Type: Null evolves into Silvally through high friendship development, acquiring the RKS System ability that modifies its type based on the held memory item.

While visiting, test your skills in Battle Tower competitions! Rather than standard experience points, these battles award Battle Points (BP) redeemable for combat-enhancing items. These include innovative Mint items that can alter a Pokemon’s nature! Two BP merchants operate on the left side within the Battle Tower, supplemented by an additional BP shop in Hammerlocke’s primary Pokemon Center. BP acquisition occurs exclusively through Battle Tower performance, with certain items available only through BP exchange—thoroughly examine available merchandise and your specific needs.