Pokemon Sword and Shield have arrived. The Gen 8 Pokemon games launched on Nintendo Switch on November 15, and they've already been a huge critical and commercial success, selling more than six million copies worldwide during their launch weekend. While the titles may be officially out now, it seems they'll receive plenty of post-launch support, including free Pokemon and other bonuses.
The Pokemon Company has already announced a handful of free Pokemon you'll be able to get in Sword and Shield, and there will presumably be even more on the way in the future. We've rounded up all the free gifts announced for the titles so far below, and we'll continue to update this list as more are revealed.
Available Gifts
Rare Poke Balls
For a limited time, you can claim a handful of free Poke Balls in Sword and Shield. Many of these balls can normally only be obtained once in the games, making them exceedingly rare, while a few others can only be purchased from Watt Traders around the Wild Area. To claim the gifts, you'll need to input the following codes via Mystery Gift:
| Code | Gift | Expiration Date |
|---|---|---|
| AREAS1LVESTRE | 10 Premier Balls | February 27 |
| G1GAGRANF1NALE | 10 Heal Balls | March 31 |
Battle Points
Sword and Shield players can claim free Battle Points via Mystery Gift for a limited time. These points can be used to purchase helpful items at the Battle Tower in Wyndon, such as Nature-changing mints and other competitive-focused equipment for your Pokemon. To claim the free Battle Points, select Mystery Gift from the menu and enter the following passwords:
| Code | Gift | Expiration Date |
|---|---|---|
| KAMPFTEAM | 20 Battle Points | February 28 |
| SUPEREFF1CACE | 20 Battle Points | March 30 |
Bottle Cap
To commemorate Pokemon Sword and Shield's latest online competition, you can claim a free Bottle Cap for a limited time. Bottle Caps are rare items that can be used to Hyper Train your Pokemon at the Battle Tower in Wyndon, maxing out one of their base stats. To receive the free cap, enter the following download codes in Mystery Gift:
| Code | Gift | Expiration Date |
|---|---|---|
| GALAR | 1 Bottle Cap | February 28 |
| C0MPET1T10N | 1 Bottle Cap | March 30 |
TRs
To coincide with the arrival of Gigantamax Toxtricity, The Pokemon Company is giving away three TR94s via Mystery Gift. TR94 lets you teach a Pokemon the Ground-type attack High Horsepower, which will be especially effective against Gigantamax Toxtricity. To receive the free TRs, select Mystery Gift from your game's menu and input the following download code:
| Code | Gift | Expiration Date |
|---|---|---|
| PUNKR0CK | 3 TR94 (High Horsepower) | March 30 |
Gigantamax-Capable Pikachu / Eevee
If you have save data from Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu or Let's Go Eevee on your Nintendo Switch, you'll be able to receive a free Pikachu or Eevee in Sword and Shield. You can claim the free Pokemon from the Wild Area Station roughly two hours into the adventure. Unlike a normal Pikachu and Eevee, these are capable of Gigantamaxing, but they cannot evolve.
Pokemon Home Gifts
You can get a handful of free Pokemon just for using Pokemon Home. When you first log into the service, you'll be able to choose one of the original three starter Pokemon: Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. Each of these will have its Hidden Ability. You'll also find a free Pikachu waiting in your gift box.
You can get a couple of other free Pokemon for completing certain activities. The first time you trade a Pokemon via the GTS, you'll receive a free Rotom, and you can get a free Eevee the first time you trade a Pokemon through Wonder Box. If you register the entire National Pokedex in Home, you'll be rewarded with Original Color Magearna.
Past Gifts
Gigantamax-Capable Meowth
If you purchase a copy of Pokemon Sword or Shield by January 15, 2020, you'll be able to receive a free Meowth that's capable of Gigantamaxing. You can claim the Pokemon until that date by selecting Mystery Gift from the games' main menu and choosing the "Get via internet" option. However, because this Meowth is able to Gigantamax, it cannot evolve.
Track Suit Outfit
From November 16-25, you can receive a download code for a free track suit trainer outfit from participating Walmart stores across the US. To claim the code, you'll need to download and install the Pokemon Pass app on your smartphone, then use that app to scan a QR code on display at the store. Once you've gotten a download code, you'll then need to input it in your copy of Sword or Shield to download the outfit.
Pokemon Sword And Shield News & Guides