Best team for Sword and Shield
Galar has a small dex at launch and a long, linear route, so early type coverage matters.
A balanced option is Mawile, Seismitoad, Corviknight, Rotom, Sableye, Gastrodon. The one stacked weakness is Ground. It hits 17 of 18 types super effectively with STAB attacks.
- Mawile SteelFairy
- Seismitoad WaterGround
- Corviknight FlyingSteel
- Rotom ElectricGhost
- Sableye DarkGhost
- Gastrodon WaterGround
How this team handles the gyms
Each row is a gym type in Pokémon Sword and Shield. “Hits it” lists who on the team has a STAB type that is super effective against it. “At risk” lists who is weak to it.
| Gym type | Hits it | At risk |
|---|---|---|
| Grass | Corviknight | Seismitoad, Gastrodon |
| Water | Rotom | None |
| Fire | Seismitoad, Gastrodon | Mawile, Corviknight |
| Fighting | Mawile, Corviknight | None |
| Fairy | Mawile, Corviknight | Sableye |
| Rock | Mawile, Seismitoad, Corviknight, Gastrodon | None |
| Dark | Mawile | Rotom |
| Dragon | Mawile | None |
Swap options
Do not like a pick? These are the best replacements for each slot, scored against the other five.
| Replace | With |
|---|---|
| Mawile | Escavalier, Durant, Lucario |
| Seismitoad | Whiscash, Quagsire, Mimikyu |
| Corviknight | Escavalier, Durant, Ferrothorn |
| Rotom | Jolteon, Boltund, Raichu |
| Sableye | Mimikyu, Snorlax, Sylveon |
| Gastrodon | Whiscash, Quagsire, Mimikyu |
FAQ
What is the best team for Pokémon Sword and Shield?
A balanced option is Mawile, Seismitoad, Corviknight, Rotom, Sableye, Gastrodon. The one stacked weakness is Ground. It hits 17 of 18 types super effectively with STAB attacks.
How many Pokémon can I choose from in Pokémon Sword and Shield?
400 species are in the regional Pokédex we use for this page, and 204 of them are fully evolved and non-legendary.
Teams are generated from the Galar Pokédex using the generation 8 type chart. Availability inside the game can differ by version.