Even after the controversial Dexit cut half of the Pokemon in the Pokedex (at the time), still had plenty of e🥀xcellent monsters to fill out your roster for the story mode. Unlike competitive Pokemon battling, things like nature and perfect IVs aren't as important as balanced team composition.

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You'll want to put together a versatile team that can cover for each other's weaknesses. You never know when a trainer might throw out a Pokemon your ace just isn't prepared to deal with. Luckily, there's a lot of variety for both new and returning Pokemon, so you🦄 should have a Hall of Fame-worthy team in no time.

Updated on August 7, 2024, by Andrew Scariati: Putting together the best team Pokemon Sword & Shield has to offer is no simple task, especially in the unique Galar region. Whether you're looking for the best Pokemon Sword team or the best Pokemon Shield team, we've got you covered with plenty of options, starting with one of the most important Pokemon on your journey.

17 ꦏ Your Starter

Where Team-Building Begins

Grookey, Scorbunny, and Soble all posing for the camera in Pokemon Sword & Shield.

Picking your starter is one of th🌸e most important choices you can make in a Pokemon game. Ever since th♔ese three were released to the public, people have been loudly declaring their love for one or another. We doubt anything we say would sway any of the Grookey Gang or Sobble Squad.

Luckily, all three starters evolve into excellent Pokemon in their own right, even with their 🐟different strengths.

Rillaboom has bulky HP and a powerful Attack stat. Cinderace also has a high Attack as well as a high Speed. And Inteleon is a strong Special Attacker, with a high Speed as well. You'll just need to build your team with considera🌄tion for y🙈our starter's weaknesses.

16 Gri🌠mmsnarl ꦍ

Great Dark/Fairy Offense Pick

Grimmsnarl raising right arm ready to attack in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Grimmsnarl is the final evolution of Impidimp. That weird little goblin has grown up to be this absolute nightmare of teeth and hair. It wraps itself in its long hair, whic🌌h works like muscle fibers, boosting its offensive capabilities.

This is reflected in its very high Attack stat, and it's even got pretty good HP to balance out its somewhat lower defenses. It also has an unusual typing: Dark/Fairy, which means Grimmsnarl is an incredible choice for offense. It hits a lot of types extra hard and has few🔯 weaknesses.

15 Sirfetch'd

A High Crit-Rate That Can One-Hit K.O.

Sirfetch'd holding a leak sword and shield mid battle in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

You may need a friend to help get this Sword exclusive, bu꧑t the effort is more than worth it as this Sirfetch'd is a key part of Pokemon Sword's best team. When landing three critical hits in a row within the same battle with a Farfe🎉tch'd holding a Leek, it'll evolve into this gallant swordsman.

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Farfetch'd can be found on Route Five, making it an early addition to your team that has the potential to carry you until the very end. While its defensive stats leave a bit to be desired, its extremely high critical-hit ratio helps ꦛit take down most enemies in a single hit or two, especially when factoring in its wi൩de variety of move types.

14 Obstagoon

Well-Rounded With A Plethora Of Abilities

Obstagoon mid battle with tongue out in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Obstagoon isn't your average early-game evolution like Stoutland or Gumshoos, as Obstagoon remains a threatening fo𓄧rce even past the elite four. Galarian Zigzagoon can be found as early as Route 2, so it might even be your second or third Pokemon.

Its Dark-Normal typing may be a bit daunting to deal with at firs♕t, as it does make it quadruple weak to Fighting types, but it has a stellar selection of abilities to choose from and some particularly damaging attacks to go along with them. Obstagoon is a very well-rounded Pokemon, so it'll fit right aℱt home with any trainer.

13 Abomasnow

A Powerful Coverage Option

Abomasnow and its trainer stand ready to battle in an icy castle in the Pokemon anime.

Abomasnow boasts solid stats along the board, led by 92 Attack which jumps to 132 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:when Abomasnow Mega Evolves into its more powerful form. With both Grass and Ice-type moves to keep opponents on their toes, this Pokemon will help fill in the Grass-type Pokemon gap if you go with a fire or 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:water-type starter.

Unfortunately, Abomasnow is only available during snowy weather at the Lake of Outrage or while there's either a sandstorm or snowstorm in Hammerlocke Hills. You can also find it in Max Raid Battles if the wild areas aren't yielding go♓od results.

12 Dragapult

Speedy With High Regular & Special Attack

Dragapult firing its young from its head in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Dragapult is this generation's pseudo-legendary, and it has a very intere☂sting type combination. They're Dragon/Ghost, apparently because they're t🌟he spirits of ancient prehistoric sea creatures.

Not only do they have the fun gimmick o🎉f firing their small children like torpedos, but they also have pretty good stats to back it up. They're very fast, with both a high Attack and Special Attack. Plus, while they have quite a few weaknesses, they have more resistance and even two immunities to Normal and Fighting.

11 Toxapex

Great At Taking Hits For Your Party

Toxapex staring at camera on a beach in front of the ocean in the Pokemon anime.

Anyone who has delved into competitive Pokemon in some fashion ꦏprobably has some kind of opinion on Toxapex, one likely filled with hatred and disdain. This negativity isn't unwarranted, though, as Toxapex has been a great baꦛttler ever since its introduction into the Pokedex.

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Mareanie can be found on Route 9 and evolves into Toxapex at level 38. Its hidden ability, Regenerator, paired with some type of heali💜ng item, turns it into one of the best damage sponges in the game, where it can then dish back some ꧙annoying Poison-type attacks.

10 Gyarados

A Heavy-Hitting Water Type

Gyarados and trainer facing off against an opponent in a stadium battle in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

However, sometimes classic is best. Gyarados has been one of the most popular and strongest Pokemon since in Generation One. Its gimmick is that th෴is super powerful sea serpent evolves from Magikarp, a weak joke of a Pokemon that you have to struggle to level up. Once you've paid your dues, you're rewarded with Gyarados.

It has a massive and versatile move pool, high offensive stats, and only two weaknesses. Gyarados even holds its own in the competitive metagame. It would be an especially good choice if you didn't pick Sobble and need a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:strong Water-t🎐ype with powerful STAB moves.

9 Dugtrio

An Underrated Master Of Ground-Types

Dugtrio pupping out of the ground with angry expression in the Pokemon anime.

This three-pack of buried hot dogs from Kanto look anything but threatening and were often brushed aside in favor of stronger-looking Pokemon like Arcanine or Rhydon, but they should be anything but slept on, as th🍃ey're some of the most formidable Ground-types in 🧔the entire game.

An extremely viable Speed 🐓stat paired with Arena Trap and some da✅maging moves creates a big threat on the battlefield. If the enemy isn't equipped with a suitable counter, they'll be blocked from retreating and have to face this deadly assassin head-on.

8 Tsareena

A Grass-type Queen

Pokemon Anime Scene Of Tsareena In Battle

Tsareena is an excellent addition to Pokemon Sword'𝓰s best team once fully evolved, though the journey to evolve it can be a little confusing if you haven't done it before. Once Tsareena is evolved, this Pokemon will be a fantastic physical attacker, especially if you skipped out on a Grass-type for your starter.

Bounsweet evolved into Tsareena when it levels up while knowing Stomp.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of evolving this Pokemon yourself, you can find it already evolved in the Stony Wilderness area during a variety of weather. Bounsweet can be located at Dappled Grove, East (And West) 🦂L꧒ake Axewell, Rolling Fields, and Watchtower Ruins.