Cheats & Secrets

Cheats & Secrets: Pokémon Sword and Shield

Introduction

Pokémon Sword and Shield do not feature traditional cheat codes (such as GameShark or Action Replay codes) as they are not supported on the Nintendo Switch. However, the games contain numerous legitimate secrets, hidden features, Easter eggs, and developer-intended content that many players may overlook. This guide covers all known hidden content, including version-exclusive Pokémon, event-exclusive methods, secret battle tactics, and Easter eggs. All information is safe, exploit-free, and within the game's intended design.

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1. No Cheat Codes – Use Legitimate Secrets Instead

There are no conventional cheat codes (e.g., infinite money, max stats, walk through walls) for Pokémon Sword and Shield. Attempting to use third-party cheats or mods can corrupt save data or result in online bans. Instead, use the legitimate secrets below.

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2. Version-Exclusive Content (Secret Choices)

Each version has exclusive Pokémon, Gym Leaders, and even a different Legendary Pokémon. Choose your version carefully:

Tip: Trade with friends or use Pokémon Home to complete the Pokédex.

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3. Hidden Items & Secret Locations

#### 3.1. Digging Duo (Secret Item Sources)

• Located in the Wild Area (near the nursery in the Bridge Field area), the Digging Duo offers two types of digging: Skillful Sister (rare items like Fossils, Bottle Caps, Nuggets) and Sturdy Brother (more common items but more quantity). Use Watts to pay.


• Secret: The Skillful Sister can dig up Fossils (Fossilized Bird, Fish, Drake, Dino) used to create Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish, Arctovish. Each version finds two of the four fossils more easily; trading is required to get all.


#### 3.2. Hidden Items in the Wild Area

• Tunnel / Caves: Break rocks and search behind waterfalls (e.g., Motostoke Riverbank has a hidden Max Raid den).


• Trees: Interact with glowing spots to find berries, but some trees hide rare items like PP Up (e.g., the tree near the nursery in Bridge Field).


• Flowers: Some flowers in the Wild Area can be interacted with to find items (e.g., Big Nugget in the Giant's Cap area).


#### 3.3. Secret Berry Spot

• In Hammerlocke, behind the hotel (near the train station), there's a hidden berry tree that respawns daily. Often yields Lum Berries or Sitrus Berries.


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4. Easter Eggs & Developer References



#### 4.1. Kanto Homage

• In the Rose Tower post-game, you can find a room that references the original Kanto region: a poster of the Kanto starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle) in the leftmost room on the 2nd floor.


• In Wyndon, there's a billboard that changes between versions: Sword shows a silhouette of Zacian, Shield shows Zamazenta. Also, some NPCs mention other regions (e.g., a character in Motostoke mentions “Johto”).


#### 4.2. Hidden NPC Dialogue

• Talk to Game Freak Morimoto (located in the second floor of the Battle Tower after becoming Champion). He gives you a Shiny Charm after completing the Pokédex and also references his role as a developer (his dialogue changes if you have a full Pokédex).


• In Cafes (Motostoke, Hammerlocke, Wyndon), you can find Milo (the Grass Gym Leader) in disguise; he gives you an item if you talk to him after beating the game.


#### 4.3. The Missing Horse

• In the Route 10 area, there's a hidden path that leads to a small field with a single Dreepy model that is permanently there (it's an Easter egg referencing the rare Pokémon). It does not battle or can be caught, but it's a fun secret.


#### 4.4. The Roaring Moon Reference

• In the Crown Tundra DLC, there's a cave that contains a Roaring Moon (a Paradox Pokémon from Pokémon Scarlet/Violet) but this is only in the post-game of the expansion? Actually Roaring Moon is exclusive to Scarlet. Wait, in Sword/Shield expansion, there is no Roaring Moon. Instead, there is a static encounter with a Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, or Moltres that flies across the Crown Tundra. That's a secret.


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5. Secret Battle Mechanics & Developer-Intended Features



#### 5.1. Cram-o-matic (Isle of Armor)

• In the Isle of Armor DLC, visit the Cram-o-matic machine inside the Dojo. Using it, you can combine items to create new items. This is a hidden crafting system. For example:

- Apricorn + Apricorn = Poké Ball (rare chance).
- Berry + Berry = different berry.
- Mushroom + Mushroom = Big Mushroom or Tiny Mushroom.
The exact recipes are trial-and-error; this is a developer-intended puzzle.

#### 5.2. Max Soup (Isle of Armor)

• Max Mushrooms found in the Isle of Armor's Raid Dens can be used to brew Max Soup, which allows your Pokémon to Gigantamax (if they are compatible). This is a hidden way to unlock Gigantamax forms without needing a specific raid.


#### 5.3. Hidden Ability Capsule Trick

• Using an Ability Patch (obtainable from the Battle Tower at 200 BP or from Max Raid Dens with a rare chance) can change a Pokémon's ability to its Hidden Ability. This is not a cheat but a legitimate secret.


#### 5.4. Secret Raid Battle Triggers

• In the Wild Area, certain weather conditions enable rare raids. For example, when the weather is harsh sun, a rare raid for Torkoal or Drought Pokémon appears. Use the Rotom Bike to cycle weather by changing the time on your Switch (but this is a system exploit, not a cheat).


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6. Exploit-Free Secrets for Shiny Hunting




• Masuda Method: Breed two Pokémon from different language origins to increase shiny odds (base 1/682 with Shiny Charm). This is a standard secret.


• Raid Reroll: In max raids, you can save before starting a raid, check the Pokémon, and if it's not shiny, you can reset by closing the game – but this is time-consuming and not a cheat.


• Fishing: In Route 9 and Circhester, you can fish for rare Pokémon like Feebas (only one spot per day). This is hidden.


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7. Post-Game Secret Quests



#### 7.1. The Legendary Birds

• After becoming Champion and completing the main story, you can find Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres roaming the Wild Area (Articuno in Giant's Bed, Zapdos in Challenge Road, Moltres in Dusty Bowl). They flee after first encounter. You must chase them; use Stealth or Quick Balls.


#### 7.2. Type: Null

• In the Battle Tower (post-game), talk to Professor Magnolia's assistant to receive a Type: Null. This is a secret gift Pokémon that evolves into Silvally.


#### 7.3. The Swords of Justice

• In the Crown Tundra DLC, you can find Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, and Keldeo through a hidden quest involving footprints in the grass.


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8. Secret Item in Motorcycle (Rotom Bike)




• After the main story, you can upgrade your Rotom Bike to surf on water by speaking to a mechanic in Motostoke (at the gym entrance). This allows you to access previously unreachable areas, such as the hidden area behind the waterfall in the Wild Area near Lakeside Cave.


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9. Developer Room in Battle Tower




• In the Battle Tower (Wyndon), there is a secret room on the top floor accessible after you defeat the Director (not the battle challenge). Talk to the NPC Game Freak who gives you a Shiny Charm as mentioned. Also, there's a Poster that displays the development team; if you interact with it, you get a small message.

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10. Summary of No-Exploit Secrets

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Final Notes

Pokémon Sword and Shield are built without conventional cheat codes. Instead, the developers hid numerous secrets and Easter eggs that reward exploration and completion. Use this guide to uncover every hidden item, Pokémon, and feature without resorting to exploits or hacks.