Galar

Trying to find out where you can catch a specific Pokémon in Pokémon Sword and Shield? In this guide we highlights all the main locations, the towns with Gym leaders to defeat and where to catch certain Pokémon to complete your Galar Pokédex.

Below you'll find the main towns and sub-areas. On the second page we look at the two large Wild Areas in Pokémon Sword and Shield and the Pokémon you'll find in their sub-areas.

On the third page we round up all the Pokémon you'll find on the Routes between towns, and on the final page there's a big table of all the Pokémon and where you can find them in the Galar region.

You can also check out the entire Galar Pokédex or our Pokémon type chart for info on strengths and weaknesses, hunt out Easter Eggs in Pokémon Sword and Shield, find out how to find and evolve Galar region Pokémon from Sirfetch'd to Frosmoth, Alcremie and many more.

Ballonlea

Ballonlea

Ballonlea is a dark little hamlet located in a forest of gigantic trees and glowing mushrooms. Its Gym Leader is the Fairy-type specialist Opal who fits in nicely with the other-worldly atmosphere of the place. With only a couple of houses alongside its Poké Center and Stadium, 'town' is probably a bit generous, but it's a pleasant little getaway in the north west of Galar.

Circhester

A large, cold town in the north east of Galar with plenty to see and do, Circhester has a gym that changes depending on the version of Pokémon Sword and Shield you're rocking (Rock for Sword, Ice for Shield), you'll take a different badge home for beating either Gordie or Melony.

Energy Plant

One of the last places on your journey through the Galar region to become the very best (like no-one ever was), it's here where you'll battle a Legendary Pokémon that doesn't feature on the box...

Galar Mine

Located between Routes 3 and 4, Galar Mine is... well, it's a mine. In Galar. It's dark, it's got carts and loitering Pokémon Trainers. And Pokémon, of course. You were expecting something more exciting?

Galar Mine No. 2

The second of the Galar region's cavernous mines stands between Motostoke Outskirts and the town of Hulbury. The feel is different in this one, but it's still a big cave so expect darkness and rocks here, plus a liberal sprinkling of Pocket Monsters.

Glimwood Tangle

Glimwood Tangle

This was the north western area where the 24-hour livestream took place before Pokémon Sword and Shield launched. It contains several trainers and, of course, Pokémon and you can't get to Ballonlea without going through these shadowy woods.

Hammerlocke

Hammerlocke is a large town with a Medieval feel thanks to its castle complete with drawbridge. There are boutiques and lots of nooks and crannies to explore in this town which stands slap-bang in the centre of the Galar region map. With plenty of people to chat to around town, you'll want to prepare for your inevitable encounter with Hammerlocke's Gym Leader, Raihan, a Dragon-type fan.

Hulbury

A classic British-style port town, Hulbury sits on the mid-western coast and boasts a lighthouse to accompany its docks and market. Being a port, you might be able to guess that the Hulbury Gym is full of Water types, so now's the time to crack out your Pikachu against Gym Leader Nessa if ever there was one. You'll also have the opportunity to yoink some Pokémon out of the coastal waters here.

Motostoke

Motostoke

The main hub town in the south of Galar which opens out into the Wild Area to the south, Motostoke is an industrial place with chimneys, steam power and plenty to explore. It's the first big place town you'll come to in Pokémon Sword and Shield, but as big cities go, this is rather less grimy than its industrial backdrop suggests with shops and an inn in addition to your common-or-garden variety Pokémon Centers.

Motostoke Outskirts

Sandwiched between Galar Mine No. 2 and Motostoke, this area is rich with Pokémon to battle and catch, but it's ultimately the outskirts of the city. The action's in the Big Smoke, no? Who wants to be on the outskirts?

Postwick

This is where your adventure kicks off right in the very south of Galar. It's literally your and Hop's houses that make up Postwick, with Wedgehurst just a (excuse the pun) hop and a skip to the north and the mysterious Slumbering Weald to the west. It's almost certainly in Postwick in the long grass that you'll catch your first Pokémon in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Route 9 Tunnel

As the name suggests, this is a tunnel separating Spikemuth and Hammerlocke. You can ride your bike through it, although it can get pretty crowded.

Slumbering Weald

A mysterious, foggy place, you'll set foot in the Slumbering Weald very early on in your Galar adventure, but won't return until much later. Initially the way is blocked by a gate, but a mighty Wooloo won't be stopped by such a measly barrier. Then it gets closed again. We can unleash the fury of a huge fire-breathing Charizard in battle, but the latch on a countryside gate has us beat.

Spikemuth

A depressed coastal town in the west to the north of Hulbury, Spikemuth is shuttered when you arrive. Piers is the Gym Leader in these parts and he's a Dark-type user. User of Pokémon, in his battles. If that wasn't clear. Hey, there's not much to do in Spikemuth but ponder one's inevitable fate. No wonder things get Dark.

Stow-on-Side

On the east coast near Hammerlocke after traversing Route 6, Stow-on-Side is a pleasant little cliffside town with a Gym Leader that depends on the version of Pokémon Sword and Shield you have. Sword owners will face Fighting-type specialist Bea while Shield owners will go up against Allister and his Ghost-type devotees.

Turffield

Turffield

Situated to the north east of Motostoke in the lower half of the Galar region map, Turffield (as you might have guessed from the subtle wordplay in its name) is a grassy-knolled place and home to the gym filled with Grass type-using Pokémon Trainers. If you went with Scorbunny as your Galar starter Pokémon, you'll have no trouble firing through Gym Leader Milo and his grass-loving underlings.

Wedgehurst

Let's face it, your 'hometown' of Postwick is basically the street where you and Hop live - it is almost certainly in the same post code as Wedgehurst, a small town with some basic amenities and Professor Magnolia's Pokémon Research Lab, as well as the first place to get to that has a train station.

Wyndon

Wyndon

Wyndon is the final city you'll visit in your quest to become the strongest Pokémon Trainer in the Galar region. With its river, black iron and gold-tipped railings and red telephone boxes, it's obvious which real life city Wyndon takes inspiration from. It's a large place with plenty to see and do, and challenges to face and towers to ascend.


On the next page you'll find all the areas contained in the two large Wild Areas in the game, the Northern Wild Area and the Southern Wild Area, as well as the Pokémon you'll find there...