How to Find and Catch Every Legendary in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Finding the Base Game Legendaries in Galar

The journey through the Galar region introduces players to a trio of powerful entities central to the region's history: Zacian, Zamazenta, and Eternatus. Unlike previous generations where legendaries might be found tucked away in optional caves, the primary Galar legendaries are deeply integrated into the narrative arc, though their capture mechanics vary significantly.

Capturing Zacian and Zamazenta in the Post-Game

While you encounter the box mascots early in the Slumbering Weald, they are not catchable during the main gym challenge. To add them to your team, you must complete the post-game questline that begins immediately after you become the Champion. This quest involves returning to the Slumbering Weald with Hop and dealing with the brothers Sordward and Shielbert.

According to IGN's walkthrough , the final battle takes place at the Energy Plant rooftop. In Pokémon Sword , you will face Zacian; in Pokémon Shield , you will face Zamazenta. It is vital to ensure you have the Rusted Sword or Rusted Shield item equipped, as these allow the Pokémon to enter their "Crowned" forms, which rank among the top competitive tiers in the game's history.

Securing Eternatus and Type: Null

Eternatus is the only legendary caught during the main story progression. You face it at Level 60 at the summit of the Energy Plant. The first phase is a standard battle, followed by a scripted Max Raid Battle where you team up with Zacian, Zamazenta, and Hop. Note that the "Eternamax" form seen here is uncatchable; the version you keep will be in its standard form. Eternatus is widely regarded as one of the most effective choices for clearing Max Raid Battles due to its signature move, Dynamax Cannon.

Type: Null is a unique case. It is not found in the wild but is gifted to the player. After becoming Champion, head to the Battle Tower in Wyndon. A member of the League Staff standing to the left of the counter will give you a Type: Null along with a set of "Memories" that allow its evolution, Silvally, to change types. A useful tip for collectors: if you receive a Type: Null at Level 100 via a trade or event, you can still evolve it into Silvally by using a Rare Candy, a mechanic confirmed by Serebii .

Mastering the Isle of Armor Trials for Kubfu and Urshifu

The first expansion, The Isle of Armor , focuses on the growth of a single legendary Pokémon: Kubfu. This small Fighting-type is gifted to you by Master Mustard after you complete the three trials of the Master Dojo. Unlike most legendaries, Kubfu feels more like a starter Pokémon, requiring you to build friendship and train alongside it before it can reach its full potential.

Choosing Between Single Strike and Rapid Strike Styles

The evolution of Kubfu into Urshifu is a permanent choice. You must take Kubfu to one of two locations on the island:

• The Tower of Darkness: Evolves Kubfu into Single Strike Style Urshifu (Fighting/Dark). This form specializes in devastating single-hit moves like Wicked Blow.
• The Tower of Waters: Evolves Kubfu into Rapid Strike Style Urshifu (Fighting/Water). This form utilizes multi-hit moves like Surging Strikes, which are excellent for breaking through "Sturdy" abilities or Focus Sashes.

Solving the Crown Tundra Mysteries and the King of Bountiful Harvests

The Crown Tundra DLC is the primary source of legendary encounters in Gen 8. The central plot revolves around Calyrex, the former king of the Tundra, and its quest to reunite with its loyal steed. This storyline introduces a complex choice mechanic that affects which Pokémon you can ultimately catch.

Navigating the Calyrex Fusion and Steed Choice

During the quest "The King of Bountiful Harvests," you must choose where to plant Carrot Seeds. This decision determines which steed Calyrex will summon:

1. Snowslide Slope (Icy Furrow): Summons Glastrier (Ice-type). This results in Ice Rider Calyrex, a slow but incredibly bulky physical attacker.
2. Old Cemetery (Grave Furrow): Summons Spectrier (Ghost-type). This results in Shadow Rider Calyrex, a lightning-fast special attacker that ranks among the top choices for competitive play.

Once you catch the pair, you receive the Reins of Unity . This key item allows you to fuse and defuse Calyrex and its steed at will. According to Eurogamer's guide , you cannot have both steeds on a single save file without trading or a second playthrough.

Tracking the Galarian Legendary Birds Across the Region

After visiting the Dyna Tree Hill in the Crown Tundra, the Galarian variants of Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres will scatter across the Galar region. Unlike their Kantonian counterparts, these are roaming Pokémon that require specific strategies to intercept:

• Galarian Articuno: Roams the Crown Tundra. It uses illusions to create clones of itself. You must identify the real one as it spins to initiate the battle.
• Galarian Zapdos: Roams the Wild Area (Mainland). It runs at high speeds and must be chased down using your Rotom Bike. Cutting corners is the most effective way to catch up.
• Galarian Moltres: Roams the Isle of Armor. It flies in a fixed circuit. The best strategy is to wait at a bottleneck, such as the entrance to the Master Dojo, and intercept it as it passes.

Footprint Hunting for the Swords of Justice and Keldeo

The Crown Tundra also features the "Swords of Justice" from the Unova region. To find them, you must find 100% of the footprints for each Pokémon scattered across the Tundra:

• Cobalion (Iron Will): Footprints found in the Frigid Sea and Roaring-Sea Caves.
• Terrakion (Cavern): Footprints found in Lakeside Cave and Ballimere Lake.
• Virizion (Grassland): Footprints found in Giant's Bed.

Once you have caught all three, a secret encounter with Keldeo becomes available. Take Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion in your party to the small island in Ballimere Lake. Interact with the cooking pot there, and Keldeo will appear as a static encounter. This is a significant advancement for Keldeo, which was previously only available via limited-time events.

Unlocking the Regi Ruins and the Split-Decision Choice

The Regi trio (Regirock, Regice, and Registeel) returns with dedicated ruins in the Crown Tundra. Each ruin requires a specific puzzle to be solved before the door opens:

• Rock Peak Ruins (Regirock): Have the lead Pokémon in your party hold an Everstone.
• Iceberg Ruins (Regice): Have a Cryogonal as your lead Pokémon.
• Iron Ruins (Registeel): Use the "Whistle" function (press the left analog stick) in front of the door.

After catching the original trio, you can access the Split-Decision Ruins in Three-Point Pass. Here, you must choose between the new additions: Regieleki (Electric) or Regidrago (Dragon). You light up the floor panels to match the pattern of the Regi you want. Like the Calyrex steeds, you can only pick one per save file. To encounter Regigigas , you must have all five Regis (including the one you traded for) in your party and interact with the inactive raid den in Giant's Bed.

Farming Dynamax Adventures for Past Generation Legendaries

Dynamax Adventures, located in the Max Lair, stands out as a top choice for players looking to catch legendaries from previous regions. This mode uses a rental system where you and three other players (or AI) navigate a branching path of Max Raid Battles.

Maximizing Shiny Odds and Catch Rates in the Max Lair

The Max Lair offers some of the most favorable conditions for legendary hunting in the series. Every Pokémon caught in a Dynamax Adventure has a 100% catch rate , meaning you can use any PokéBall—including Luxury or Premier Balls—without fear of failure.

Furthermore, the shiny odds are exceptionally strong. Without the Shiny Charm, the odds are 1 in 300. With the Shiny Charm, those odds improve to 1 in 100 . This makes Dynamax Adventures a premier method for shiny hunting legendaries like Mewtwo, Rayquaza, and Giratina. However, be aware that the Galar-native legendaries (Zacian, Zamazenta, Eternatus, and the Galarian Birds) are "shiny locked" and cannot be found in their shiny forms through this method.

Using the Early Game Legendary Exploit for a Power Start

A notable strategy among the community involves accessing the Crown Tundra almost immediately after reaching the Wild Area for the first time. By taking the train to the Tundra (which is accessible as soon as you get the Wedgehurst station pass), you can participate in Dynamax Adventures before even earning your first Gym Badge.

While the initial battle against Peony is scripted for you to lose, you can still enter the Max Lair. Because the Pokémon in Dynamax Adventures are rentals, your own team's level does not matter. If you successfully complete a run, you can catch a Level 70 legendary. Because you are the Original Trainer (OT), this Level 70 Pokémon will obey your commands regardless of how many badges you have. This effectively acts as an "easy mode" for the main Galar campaign, allowing you to steamroll through the early gyms with a legendary powerhouse.

Optimizing Your Catching Strategy with the Gallade Setup

For overworld legendaries that are not guaranteed catches (like the Regis and Swords of Justice), having a dedicated "Catcher Pokémon" is essential. Many veteran players consider Gallade to be one of the strongest options for this role. Gallade can learn both False Swipe (to leave the target at 1 HP) and Hypnosis (to put the target to sleep, significantly increasing the catch rate).

Additionally, if you are hunting for legendaries with specific "Marks" (rare titles like "the Chipper" or "the Recluse"), you should first complete the Isle of Armor Pokédex to obtain the Mark Charm . This item triples the chance of a wild Pokémon having a mark, adding a layer of prestige to your legendary collection that was not present in previous generations.

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