Here's how to get Pikachu and Eevee in 'Pokémon Sword and Shield'
Who cares about new Pokémon? We want these Gen 1 icons.
The release of Pokémon Sword and Shield means almost a hundred new Pokémon to catch and train, but who wants to do that when you can rustle up some classic Gen 1 ‘mon instead? Two icons, in particular, are readily available. Here’s what you need to know to get Pikachu and Eevee. in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
Unlocking Pikachu and Eevee in Pokémon Sword and Shield is shockingly easy — if you played Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee! that is. Assuming you played either game on the same Nintendo Switch you’re using to play Sword and Shield, you’ll be able to unlock the respective Gen 1 Pokémon. And if you didn’t beat those games, don’t worry, any save file will do the trick.
'Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu!'
To actually unlock your free Eevee or Pikachu in Pokémon Sword and Shield, you’ll have to visit the Wild Area Station, which you should gain access to within the first few hours of playing. It happens during your first trip to Motostoke when your train is forced to stop thanks to a herd of wild Wooloo on the tracks. You’ll end up at the Wild Area train station, where you should quickly spot a couple of kids in a nearby corner. Talk to them to claim your prize.
If you never played Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee! you can always pick them up now from Amazon for just over $40 each. But if you’re not looking to spend any more money on Pokémon right now there are other options.
Eevee in action.
Where to find and catch Eevee in Pokémon Sword and Shield
Dot Esports has a useful guide for where you can find an Eevee in the wild in Pokémon Sword and Shield. In short, you have a couple of options:
1. Look around in the tall grass on Route 4 just after riding the train in from the small town of Wedgehurst. They’re pretty rare though, so this could take a while.
2. You can also hope one shows up in a Max Raid Battle in the Wild Area, but, again, that could take a while.
A giant Pikachu in 'Pokémon Sword and Shield'
Where to find and catch Pikachu in Pokémon Sword and Shield
Polygon has us covered here with a (short) list of locations where Pikachu can be found in Sword and Shield:
1. On Route 4 you can find a Pikachu at any time, but it might take some patience.
2. Pikachus also roam the Stony Wilderness, but only when it’s raining or thundering (you can check the local in-game weather by hovering over an area in the map view).
Keep in mind that these wild Pikachu’s and Eevee’s can’t Gigantamax. So if you want to experience Fat Pikachu you’ll need to shell out for Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!.
Pokémon Sword and Shield is available now for Nintendo Switch.
