With the release of Pokémon Sword & Shield, Pokémon Company has encouraged playing on day one by adding several events. These are similar to those featured in previous titles and Pokémon GO events, but these ones do not require you to leave your couch!
Max Raids provide you with the opportunity to battle alongside three other trainers: non-player characters (NPCs), other gamers, or a combination of both! These battles occur in the dens throughout the Wild Area! You can tell there’s a Pokémon in the den if you see a red light extending upward. Also, keep an eye out for a purple beam! This suggests a rare Pokémon with a hidden ability!
Dynamax Crystals
Depending on your pre-order, you may have access to Dynamax Crystals! These single use items allow the player to manipulate the inhabiting Pokémon of a den in the Wild Area. After they are used, the effects of the Dynamax Crystal remain until midnight of that day. So be careful when you use it! This event features version exclusive Dynamax Pokémon.
These 1-star raids also give trainers: (5) Exp. Candy XS, (1) Exp Candy S
Sword
| Pokémon | Level | Drops | Drop Rate |
| Jangmo-o | 16 | TR 47 Dragon Claw Oran Berry Pecha Berry Sitrus Berry Nugget Rare Bone Dynamax Candy | 100% 90% 70% 70% 20% 20% 10% |
Shield
| Pokémon | Level | Drops | Drop Rate |
| Larvitar | 16 | TR 32 Crunch Oran Berry Pecha Berry Sitrus Berry Nugget Rare Bone Dynamax Candy | 100% 90% 70% 70% 20% 20% 10% |
Distribution Raids
Players will experience increased probability of encountering the following Gigantamax Pokémon in raids from November 15th to early January 2020. There are two sets of version exclusive Pokémon available in these raids, but Gigantamax Butterfree will be equally available in both games! Raids are given a challenge level between 1 and 5 stars, 1-star being easiest. The incentives for higher stars are greater rewards! The drops add one or two new items per star. The ^ in a Drops or Drop Rate box indicates “same as above.”
The following are bonus drops associated with each star level of these raids.
- 1-Star: (5) Exp. Candy XS, (1) Dynamax Candy, (1) Exp. Candy S
- 2-Star: (5) Exp. Candy S, (1) Dynamax Candy, (1) Exp. Candy M
- 3-Star: (5) Exp. Candy M, (1) Dynamax Candy, (1) Exp. Candy L
- 4-Star: (3) Exp. Candy L, (2) Medium Exp. Candy, (1) Dynamax Candy
- 5-Star: (2) Dynamax Candy, (2) Exp. Candy L, (1) Exp. Candy XL
| Pokémon | Level | Drops | Drop Rate |
| 1-Star Butterfree | 17 | TR25 Psyshock Figy Berry Kelpsy Berry Rare Candy Balm Mushroom Big Mushroom | 100% 80% 80% 25% 20% 20% |
| 1-Star G-Max Butterfree | 17 | ^ | ^ |
| 2-Star Butterfree | 30 | TR11 Psychic TR25 Psyshock Figy Berry Kelpsy Berry Balm Mushroom Big Mushroom Rare Candy | 100% 100% 80% 80% 25% 25% 25% |
| 2-Star G-Max Butterfree | 30 | ^ | ^ |
| 3-Star Butterfree | 40 | TR11 Psychic TR12 Agility Figy Berry Kelpsy Berry Balm Mushroom Big Mushroom Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 80% 80% 30% 30% 25% 1% |
| 3-Star G-Max Butterfree | 40 | ^ | ^ |
| 4-Star Butterfree | 50 | TR11 Psychic TR12 Agility TR34 Future Sight Figy Berry Kelpsy Berry Balm Mushroom Big Mushroom Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 80% 80% 35% 35% 25% 2% |
| 4-Star G-Max Butterfree | 50 | ^ | ^ |
| 5-Star Butterfree | 60 | TR11 Psychic TR12 Agility TR25 Psyshock TR34 Future Sight Figy Berry Kelpsy Berry Balm Mushroom Big Mushroom Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 100% 80% 80% 50% 50% 25% 3% |
| 5-Star G-Max Butterfree | 60 | ^ | ^ |
Sword Exclusives Raids
| Pokémon | Level | Drops | Drop Rate |
| 1-Star Silicobra | 17 | TR87 Drill Run Aguav Berry Grepa Berry Rare Candy Star Piece Star Dust | 100% 80% 80% 25% 20% 20% |
| 1-Star Chewtle | 17 | TR 16 Waterfall Rare Candy Big Pearl Pearl | 100% 25% 20% 20% |
| 2-Star Silicobra | 30 | TR87 Drill Run TR 94 High Horsepower Aguav Berry Grepa Berry Rare Candy Star Piece Star Dust | 100% 100% 80% 80% 25% 25% 25% |
| 2-Star Drednaw | 30 | TR 16 Waterfall TR 84 Scald Rare Candy Big Pearl Pearl | 100% 100% 25% 25% 25% |
| 3-Star Sandaconda | 40 | TR 76 Stealth Rock TR 94 High Horsepower Aguav Berry Grepa Berry Star Piece Star Dust Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 80% 80% 30% 30% 25% 1% |
| 3-Star G-Max Sandaconda | 40 | ^ | ^ |
| 3-Star Drednaw | 40 | TR 45 Muddy Water TR 84 Scald TR 98 Liquidation Big Pearl Pearl Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 30% 30% 25% 1% |
| 3-Star G-Max Drednaw | 40 | ^ | ^ |
| 4-Star Sandaconda | 50 | TR 10 Earthquake TR 76 Stealth Rock TR 87 Drill Run Aguav Berry Grepa Berry Star Piece Star Dust Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 80% 80% 35% 35% 25% 2% |
| 4-Star G-Max Sandaconda | 50 | ^ | ^ |
| 4-Star Drednaw | 50 | TR 03 Hydro Pump TR 04 Surf TR 84 Scald TR 98 Liquidation Big Pearl Pearl Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 100% 35% 35% 25% 2% |
| 4-Star G-Max Drednaw | 50 | ^ | ^ |
| 5-Star Sandaconda | 60 | TR 10 Earthquake TR 76 Stealth Rock TR 87 Drill Run TR 94 High Horsepower Aguav Berry Grepa Berry Star Piece Star Dust Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 100% 80% 80% 50% 50% 25% 3% |
| 5-Star G-Max Sandaconda | 60 | ^ | ^ |
| 5-Star Drednaw | 60 | TR 03 Hydro Pump TR 04 Surf TR 84 Waterfall TR 98 Muddy Water Big Pearl Pearl Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 50% 25% 3% |
| 5-Star G-Max Drednaw | 60 | ^ | ^ |
Shield Exclusive Raids
| Pokémon | Level | Drops | Drop Rate |
| 1-Star Rookidee | 17 | TR 19 Tri Attack Qualot Berry Sitrus Berry Balm Mushroom Big Mushroom Tiny Mushroom | 100% 80% 80% 25% 20% 20% |
| 1-Star Sizzlipede | 17 | TR 88 Heat Crash Figy Berry Tamato Berry Rare Candy Big Nugget Nugget Rare Bone | 100% 80% 80% 25% 20% 20% 20% |
| 2-Star Corvisquire | 30 | TR 19 Tri Attack Qualot Berry Sitrus Berry Balm Mushroom Big Mushroom Tiny Mushroom Rare Candy | 100% 80% 80% 25% 25% 25% 25% |
| 2-Star Centiskorch | 30 | TR 88 Heat Crash Figy Berry Tamato Berry Rare Candy Big Nugget Nugget Rare Bone | 100% 80% 80% 25% 25% 25% 25% |
| 3-Star Corviknight | 40 | TR 19 Tri Attack TR 66 Brave Bird Qualot Berry Sitrus Berry Balm Mushroom Big Mushroom Tiny Mushroom Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 80% 80% 30% 30% 25% 1% |
| 3-Star G-Max Corviknight | 40 | ^ | ^ |
| 3-Star Centiskorch | 40 | TR 41 Blaze Kick TR 88 Heat Crash Figy Berry Tamato Berry Big Nugget Nugget Rare Bone Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 80% 80% 30% 30% 25% 1% |
| 3-Star G-Max Centiskorch | 40 | ^ | ^ |
| 4-Star Corviknight | 50 | TR 19 Tri Attack TR 66 Brave Bird TR 89 Hurricane Qualot Berry Sitrus Berry Balm Mushroom Big Mushroom Tiny Mushroom Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 80% 80% 35% 35% 35% 25% 2% |
| 4-Star G-Max Corviknight | 50 | ^ | ^ |
| 4-Star Centiskorch | 50 | TR 41 Blaze Kick TR Flare Blitz TR 88 Heat Crash Figy Berry Tamato Berry Big Nugget Nugget Rare Bone Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 80% 80% 35% 35% 35% 25% 2% |
| 4-Star G-Max Centiskorch | 50 | ^ | ^ |
| 5-Star Corviknight | 60 | TR 19 Tri Attack TR 66 Brave Bird TR 89 Hurricane Qualot Berry Sitrus Berry Balm Mushroom Big Mushroom Tiny Mushroom Rare Candy Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 80% 80% 50% 50% 50% 25% 3% |
| 5-Star G-Max Corviknight | 60 | ^ | ^ |
| 5-Star Centiskorch | 60 | TR 41 Blaze Kick TR Flare Blitz TR 88 Heat Crash Figy Berry Tamato Berry Big Nugget Nugget Rare Bone Bottle Cap | 100% 100% 100% 80% 80% 50% 50% 50% 25% 3% |
| 5-Star G-Max Centiskorch | 60 | ^ | ^ |