In Pokémon Sword and Shield, you can only have one starter. This is almost always the case in the Pokémon series, when Game Freak introduces a new generation. To find the two missing starters, you will have to use the means at your disposal. We give you 2 or 3 tips to achieve your goals.
Breed your starter and trade it for another
To breed your starter, the easiest way is to find a Ditto. Once you have it in your possession, no need to think: drop it off with your starter in a Day Care Center. We recommend the one on Road 5, it will be more practical to hatch your eggs.
After a while, go to the Day Care to pick up your starter egg. Use your bike to hatch it in front of the Day Care center. Feel free to repeat the process as many times as necessary to make sure you have enough eggs from your Pokémon starter.
Then, use the Y-Comm to trade with players who have another starter than yours but who precisely want this one. The easiest way to do this is to trade with friends you have in contact or to search for this kind of exchange directly on Pokémon Discords. You will necessarily find interested people who will be happy to give you their starter against yours.
Please note, however, that the Link Trade and Suprise Trade require a paid subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. Feel free to use your free month trial for Pokémon. Otherwise, encourage trade between friends in a local network (no need for the Internet).
Make Surprise Trades and hope to be lucky
Yes, we know, it's barely a trick. For those who hadn't thought of it, Surprise Trades are a solution. With a lot of patience, a little luck and PC boxes full of mediocre Pokémons ready to be traded, you will most certainly be able to get the starters you need. Good luck with that!
All you need to know about Surprises Trades, the new trading system in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
Have two versions of the game (and two Nintendo Switch)
A solution that works while definitely being more expensive.
If you have access to two copies of Pokémon Sword and Shield, you can use one of the games to bring the two missing starters back into the other game. Once both your switches are turned on with Pokémon, follow the steps below:
- Take one of the two starters you are missing at the beginning of the story in the "trash" version.
- Keep playing until Professor Magnolia gives the Dynamax Band. This unlocks access to the Y-Comm.
- Then trade between your two versions of Pokémon, using your two switches and the Y-Comm-Y.
- Delete the backup on the Switch with the "trash" version, then restart a game OR restart a game on a second profile.
- Repeat the process described a second time to get the last missing starter.
We encourage you to choose one of the first two proposals: if they require more time and commitment, they're definitely less expensive!
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, you can get some Pokémon for free. That's the case with Charmander! Here is a guide to find it.
