Introduction: Raising Pokemon

Learn how to raise the best Pokémon in Sword and Shield! Discover the key factors like Nature, IVs, EVs, Abilities, and Moves, and explore breeding vs. Max Raid Battles.

Alright, let's talk about making your Pokémon truly powerful in Pokémon Sword and Shield! It's not just about leveling them up; there are several key ingredients that go into creating a real powerhouse. Think of it like building the ultimate team member.

Here's what defines a Pokémon's potential:

• Nature: This gives a nice 10% boost to one of their stats. Choose wisely!
• IVs (Individual Values): At Level 100, max IVs in a stat can give you a 31-point advantage over a Pokémon with 0 IVs. That's a big deal!
• EVs (Effort Values): Similarly, maxing out EVs at Level 100 results in a 63-point increase in a stat.
• Ability: The right Ability can completely change how a Pokémon performs in battle.
• Moves: Just like Abilities, the moves a Pokémon learns are crucial for its effectiveness against different opponents.

So, to make your Pokémon the absolute best, you'll want to focus on getting the best IVs and EVs, along with a Nature, Ability, and moveset that perfectly suits them. Makes sense, right?

Creating a Killer Pokémon

Traditionally, the main way to get a Pokémon with the exact traits you want has always been Pokémon breeding. The good news is that this is still a core mechanic in Sword and Shield, and honestly, it's easier than ever before!

But wait, there's more! Thanks to some awesome Quality of Life updates, breeding isn't your only option anymore. You can also catch Pokémon in Max Raid Battles and then use items like Hyper Training and Mints to fine-tune them. You might even need to combine these methods depending on the Pokémon you're working with.

Which approach you take really depends on the specific Pokémon and what resources you have available. Plus, these methods aren't mutually exclusive. For instance, if you're aiming for a Pokémon with a Hidden Ability, you'll likely need to do some Max Raids. You can also use Mints and Bottle Caps to enhance Pokémon you've already bred.

Here are some handy guidelines to help you decide:

• If you're short on Battle Points (BP) for Mints, or don't have enough Bottle Caps (or BP to buy them), or just want to save your resources, breeding is probably your best bet.
• If you want your Pokémon to be able to Gigantamax, you absolutely must catch it via Max Raid Battles. There's no way to pass down the Gigantamax ability through breeding, so this is your only route.
• If the Pokémon is a Legendary, a species that can't breed, or you're aiming for a shiny version, you'll have to rely on Mints and Bottle Caps since breeding isn't an option.

No matter which method you choose, the actual training part – leveling up and distributing EVs – works the same way. We'll dive into all the details on that when we get to it!