Pokemon Sword and Shield complete guide and walkthrough to become the Champion of Galar

Ballonlea

Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Items: Ballonlea

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ItemVisibleHidden
Balm MushroomRow 0 - Cell 1 Y
Big Mushroom x2Row 1 - Cell 1 Y
TM21 RestYRow 2 - Cell 2

As you enter Ballonlea, make sure you heal up at the Poke Center in front of you. Head over to the first house on the left and speak to the person outside, insistent on becoming a Pokemon. He wants to see you wearing an outfit that embodies the Fire-type, so you'll need to wear the Fire-type tracksuit jacket. He'll give you TM78 Acrobatics as a reward.

Next, head into the house and speak to the old man. This is Frank, the same guy you have to deliver the Old Letter to. Look, we know it's meant to be a love letter and it was sent from a young girl, let's just not question it... in return he gives you the Choice Scarf.

Go inside the next building and the old lady will give you TM77 Hex/TM42 Revenge depending on which edition of the game you have, which is kind of her. Speak to the woman in the corner and tell her yes, you would like to know how to make a Pokemon strong without it evolving, and she'll battle you.

Pokemon Breeder Elena

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PokemonLevelType
Dottler30Bug/Psychic

When you beat her, she'll give you the Eviolite in return. Leave the building and go across to the other side of the town to find TM21 Rest, then make your way towards the gym.

Ballonlea Gym

Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough

(Image credit: Nintendo)

When you enter, make sure to grab a Love Ball off Ball Guy, then prepare for the mission. The Ballonlea Gym is simply a quiz, and alongside all of the trainers, we've got all of the questions and answers below:

  1. Do you know about Fairy type's weaknesses?
    Answer: Either Poison or Steel is correct.
  2. What was the previous Trainer's name?
    Answer: Annette.
  3. What do I eat for breakfast every morning?
    Answer: Omelets
  4. You... Do you know my nickname?
    Answer: The wizard.
  5. What is my favorite color?
    Answer: Purple.
  6. All righty then... How old am I?
    Answer: 16.

Gym Trainer Annette

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PokemonLevelType
Spritzee34Fairy
Slurpuff34Fairy

Gym Trainer Teresa

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PokemonLevelType
Swirlix34Fairy
Aromatisse34Fairy

Gym Trainer Theodora

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PokemonLevelType
Morgrem35Dark/Fairy
Gardevoir35Psychic/Fairy

Gym Leader Opal

Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Opal is an interesting fight, because while you may have been relying on certain Poison-type moves like Venoshock, her third Pokemon is Mawile who is immune. Therefore you'll need some flexibility in your team, you can't simply rely on Poison-type moves. Make sure you have some fodder Pokemon to absorb the damage when she gigantamaxes Alcremie at the end and then you can switch back to your strongest types when the three turns are up.

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PokemonLevelType
Weezing36Poison/Fairy
Togekiss37Fairy/Flying
Mawile36Steel/Fairy
Alcremie38Fairy

After taking down Opal, she'll give you TM87 Draining Kiss, and the ability to catch Pokemon up to level 45. Leave the gym and Opal will catch up with you, telling you to meet her in Hammerlocke; you can either go with her or make your own way there, but that's the next destination, so head over there and find Bede in the middle of the road. 

When the cutscene is done and Opal has taken Bede under her wing, make your way east until you run into Sonia. Let her and Leon investigate the Power Spot, then keep going east towards Route 7.

Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Postwick and Route 1
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Wedgehurst and Route 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Wild Area and Motostoke
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Route 3, Galar Mine, and Route 4
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Turffield, Turffield Gym, and Route 5
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Hulbury and Hulbury Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Galar Mine No.2 and Motostoke Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Hammerlocke and Route 6
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Stow-on-Side and Stow-on-Side Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Glimwood Tangle
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Ballonlea and Ballonlea Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Route 7 and Route 8
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Circhester and Circhester Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Route 9
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Spikemuth Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Hammerlocke Gym
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Route 10 and Wyndon
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Wyndon Gym and Rose Tower
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Wyndon Gym Finals and Slumbering Weald
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Energy Plant and Champion Battle
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Zacian and Zamazenta
Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough: Post-game activities

Ford James

Give me a game and I will write every "how to" I possibly can or die trying. When I'm not knee-deep in a game to write guides on, you'll find me hurtling round the track in F1, flinging balls on my phone in Pokemon Go, pretending to know what I'm doing in Football Manager, or clicking on heads in Valorant.

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