Both games run the same Galar story, so the Pokemon Sword vs Shield choice comes down to which Pokemon you can get without trading. Sword has 52 wild Pokemon that Shield can't catch, Shield has 52 that Sword can't, and each one has its own wolf on the box. Zacian belongs to Sword and Zamazenta belongs to Shield.
A few Gym Leaders and your rival change with the version too, but the Pokemon are the part you'll feel.
Which Pokemon only one version has
Sword is where you find Hydreigon, Kommo-o and Salamence, along with Mawile, Ninetales and Machamp. Shield has Tyranitar, Goodra, Garchomp and Gengar, plus Lapras and Arcanine. Sword also keeps Dialga, Groudon, Ho-Oh and Solgaleo to itself, while Shield has Palkia, Kyogre, Lugia and Lunala. Anything your version lacks has to come from a friend with the other game.
Only in Sword
Deino
Zweilous
Hydreigon
Jangmo-o
Hakamo-o
Kommo-o
Turtonator
Solrock
Scraggy
Scrafty
Gothita
Gothorita
Gothitelle
Seedot
Nuzleaf
Shiftry
Mawile
Sawk
Darumaka
Darmanitan
Passimian
Rufflet
Braviary
Zacian
Farfetch'd
Sirfetch'd
Flapple
Stonjourner
Swirlix
Pinsir
Clauncher
Clawitzer
Omanyte
Omastar
Ho-Oh
Bagon
Shelgon
Salamence
Latios
Groudon
Dialga
Tornadus
Reshiram
Xerneas
Solgaleo
Ninetales
Hitmonlee
Indeedee
Escavalier
Basculin
Machamp
Coalossal
Only in Shield
Larvitar
Pupitar
Tyranitar
Goomy
Sliggoo
Goodra
Lunatone
Croagunk
Toxicroak
Solosis
Duosion
Reuniclus
Lotad
Lombre
Ludicolo
Sableye
Throh
Spritzee
Oranguru
Vullaby
Mandibuzz
Zamazenta
Ponyta
Rapidash
Corsola
Cursola
Appletun
Eiscue
Drampa
Gengar
Lapras
Heracross
Skrelp
Dragalge
Kabuto
Kabutops
Lugia
Latias
Kyogre
Gible
Gabite
Garchomp
Palkia
Thundurus
Zekrom
Yveltal
Lunala
Arcanine
Hitmonchan
Indeedee
Accelgor
Basculin
It's 52 against 52. Look for the Pokemon you'd build a team around.
Zacian or Zamazenta on Tower Summit
- Type
- Fairy
- Category
- Warrior Pokémon
- National Dex
- #0888
- Debut
- Gen VIII
- Base stat total
- 660
Your version's wolf waits on Tower Summit at level 70. Sword has Zacian, Shield has Zamazenta, and the other wolf is a trade away. (We'd like Zamazenta to know that the scowl works.)
Four Gym Leaders change with your version
Most Gym Leaders are shared. The ones that change sit in two towns in the middle of the run.
Stow-on-Side has Bea in Sword and Allister in Shield. Bea sends out Hitmontop and Pangoro at 34, then Sirfetch'd at 35 and Machamp at 36. Allister opens with Yamask and Mimikyu at 34, then Cursola at 35 and Gengar at 36.
Circhester is the other swap, with Gordie in Sword and Melony in Shield. Gordie's team is Barbaracle and Shuckle at 40, Stonjourner at 41 and Coalossal at 42. Melony brings Frosmoth and Darmanitan at 40, Eiscue at 41 and Lapras at 42.
The Slumbering Weald has a different rival
Sordward stands in the Slumbering Weald in Sword and Shielbert stands there in Shield, both with a team at level 60. Sordward brings Golisopod, Doublade and Bisharp. Shielbert brings Bronzong, Falinks and Klinklang. Both of them also have a Sirfetch'd, which Shield can't catch in the wild.
Items, shops and trades are the same in both versions, so nothing else in your bag depends on the box you bought.
Which version should you pick?
Pick Sword for Zacian and Hydreigon, and Shield for Zamazenta and Garchomp. Both play identically from start to finish, so the choice is whichever roster you'd rather have waiting in your box without trading.
Sword vs Shield FAQ
Can you play Sword and Shield without the other version?
Yes. Both games have the full story, and the Pokemon you're missing can be traded in from a friend.
Which version has the better legendary?
That comes down to taste, since each wolf is catchable in one version and a trade away in the other.
