Hammerlocke

Explore Hammerlocke in pokemon sword and shield, find items like Focus Sash, Tart Apple, and Wise Glasses, and battle trainers like Black Belt Brian and Café Master Bernard.

Black Belt Brian

Black Belt Brian has a Level 2 Cottonee. Be aware that if you hit it with a single-hit move, it will survive due to its Focus Sash and use Endeavor to reduce your Pokémon’s HP to 1. It will be too slow to attack on the next turn. Multi-hit moves like Double Kick or Rock Blast can bypass its Focus Sash. After the battle, you will receive a Focus Sash for yourself. Remember that the Focus Sash disappears after it activates, so it is best used during non-story battles like multiplayer battles or the Battle Tower. Exit the house and travel west along the street. After the street bends, you’ll find a boutique, battle café, and hair salon. At the café, you can participate in a daily double battle.

Café Master Bernard

Café Master Bernard has a Level 37 Slurpuff and a Level 37 Alcremie, both Fairy-types. They are weak to Poison and Steel. Slurpuff acts as support by using Helping Hand to boost Alcremie’s damage, while Alcremie is the attacker, using Dazzling Gleam to hit both of your Pokémon. Once you’ve done enough shopping, continue west along the street. At the next bend, there will be a young child playing with a Noibat, with her parent or guardian watching. Go north from this group and pick up the 2 Hyper Potions in the corner. Then follow the street once more. After a while, there will be a drawbridge. On the other side is another Pokémon Center. Before going inside, go left a bit and search the corner of the low fence for 2 X Attacks. Inside this Pokémon Center, the right Poké Mart clerk is selling TMs. Of particular interest are the four TMs that can change the weather. Next, continue a short distance west from the Pokémon Center. Above is the entrance to the vault, currently being guarded. Below is a court where a Pokémon battle seems to be taking place. Go over to the benches on the right and retrieve the Muscle Band behind the bottom bench. Then head left towards the opposite corner. Over here, there’s a woman who wants to trade her Togepi for your Toxel. Togepi is very rare, while you should have received a Toxel from the Pokémon Nursery on Route 5. You can catch Toxel in the northern half of the Wild Area (from Motostoke Riverbank and upwards), usually when there’s a thunderstorm, or on Route 7, available after beating two more Gyms. Regardless, head back to the main path and go another short distance west. To the left is another drawbridge, leading to Route 6, but an annoying goon is there. Meanwhile, standing below is a lad who wants to borrow your Applin. You can catch one of these on Route 5 or certain zones in the Wild Area near Hammerlocke during specific weather. Lend him your Applin and, after watching the drama unfold, you’ll receive a Tart Apple (Sword) or Sweet Apple (Shield), which can be used to evolve your Applin. From here, head south through the nearby side path. At the bottom of the steps, there’s a man who’ll teach special “battle-combo” moves.

Exploration and Items

Head back to the first Pokémon Center and travel east. To the right of the stadium entrance, search around the corner for a Nugget. Inside the first house on the right, you can find the Best Friends Ribbon Giver, who checks Pokémon happiness, and the Effort Ribbon Giver, who checks for max EVs. Chat to the Lass near the back to receive a Soothe Bell, which increases friendship faster when held by a Pokémon. Continue following the street east. Past the row of houses, there will be steps leading up. To the right is the train station. East from the train station is the entrance to Route 7, but there is no way through. Go up the steps. When you reach the top, grab the Strawberry Sweet sitting to the left. Then go right from the Poké Ball statue. Head for the bottom-right corner to find Wise Glasses. Chat to the little girl standing to the left of the wooden door and agree to deliver her Old Letter. The recipient lives in Ballonlea. Make your way back to the city entrance and head directly north into Hammerlocke Stadium. You’ll meet up with Oleana and Chairman Rose at the stadium. Once they have gone, go over to the Ball Guy standing next to the reception to receive a rare Level Ball, which works better if the Pokémon you’re catching is a lower Level.