Pokemon Sword and Shield are almost upon us. As always, each has its own set of exclusive pokemon you can’t get in the other version. However, Sword and Shield also have version-exclusive Gyms, with a handful of the eight Major League Gyms tied to specific versions.
Here we have a list of all the known version exclusive pokemon and Gyms. Though an additional list of 10 pokemon and two gyms were allegedly revealed in a leak earlier this week, we’ve opted not to include those here until The Pokemon Company confirms them.
With that said, we will update this list as more official information becomes available in the coming days and weeks.
Sword-Exclusive Pokemon and Shield-Exclusive Pokemon
As of now, there aren’t all that many version exclusives. Despite allegedly providing the entire Galar Pokedex, the Sword and Shield leakers haven’t provided any further information about version exclusives.
| Pokemon Sword | Pokemon Shield |
|---|---|
| Farfetch’d | Ponyta |
| Sirfetch’d | Rapidash |
| Gothia | Solosis |
| Gothorita | Duosion |
| Gothitelle | Reuniclus |
| Deino | Larvitar |
| Zweilous | Pupitar |
| Hydreigon | Tyranitar |
| Turtonator | Drampa |
| Jangmo-o | Goomy |
| Hakamo-o | Sligoo |
| Kommo-o | Goodra |
| Mawile | Sableye |
| Rufflet | Vullaby |
| Braviary | Mandibuzz |
| Machamp Gigantamax Raid | Gengar Gigantamax Raid |
| Coalossal Gigantamax Raid | Lapras Gigantamax Raid |
| Flapple Gigantamax Raid | Appletun Gigantamax Raid |
| Flapple (item can be traded to Shield) | Appletun (item can be traded to Sword) |
| Stonjourner | Eiscue |
| Indeedee (Male) | Indeedee (Female) |
| Swirlix | Spritzee |
| Slurpuff | Aromatisse |
| Scraggy | Galarian Corsola |
| Scrafty | Cursola |
| Galarian Darumaka | Croagunk |
| Galarian Darmanitan | Toxicroak |
| Seedot | Lotad |
| Nuzleaf | Lombre |
| Shiftry | Luidicolo |
| Basculin (Red Stripe) | Basculin (Blue Stripe) |
| Lunatone | Solrock |
| Zacian | Zamazenta |
Pokemon Sword and Shield Version Exclusive Gyms
Officially, we know of only two version-exclusive Gyms.
Pokemon Sword
- Fighting-Type Gym
- Leader: Bea
- Rock-Type Gym
- Leader: Gordie
Pokemon Shield
- Ghost-Type Gym
- Leader: Allister
- Ice-Type Gym
- Leader: Melonie
—
Fortunately, regardless of which version you get, you’ll be able to take advantage of the new Dynamax feature, which every Pokemon can use, and so far, it’s looking like there aren’t any version-exclusive Gigantamax Pokemon either. Those whose Gigantamax Raids you can only complete in one version can still be traded to the other.
Don’t forget as well that there is a handful of other exclusives out there, but they’re tied to previous data and early adoption of the game — and, if it shapes up to be what we’re hoping, it won’t take much convincing to get this one early.
