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

Wedgehurst

Items: Wedgehurst

When you reach Wedgehurst, cross the bridge and head to the right where you'll find Leon waiting for you outside the Pokemon Research Lab. Go inside and you'll meet Sonia for the first time, then after the cutscene, head back outside to meet Hop who will introduce you to the Pokemon Center. Heal up, then speak to the woman outside to have your fortune read. Ominous.

Explore the town and shops, then when you're ready to move forwards, Hop will tell you all about the gym challenge. Follow the path down and you'll reach Route 2, where Leon gives you 20 more Poke Balls.

Route 2

Pokemon: Route 2 - Overworld

Pokemon: Route 2 - Random Encounters

Pokemon: Route 2 - Fishing

Items: Route 2

Just like on Route 1, use this time to battle some wild Pokemon and catch some more, because there's a staggering amount of Pokemon available here. When you get through the first two sections of tall grass, you'll face your first trainer battle against Youngster Jake.

Youngster Jake

He's not a particularly tough fight as you'd expect, so take down his singular Skwovet then carry on down Route 2. The next trainer you'll fight is Lass Lauren.

Lass Lauren

Lass Lauren also only has one Pokemon, but this time it's a Chewtle, so use a Yamper if you've caught one to take it down with the Electric-type moves. Finally, before you reach Professor Magnolia's house, there's one more battle to win.

Youngster Benjamin

After you defeat Youngster Benjamin, go inside Professor Magnolia's house and speak with the gang. When you're done, go back outside and battle against Hop for the second time.

Hop

When you've beaten Hop, Leon will give you a letter of endorsement so you can enter the gym challenge. Grab the Wishing Star off Hop so you can now Dynamax your Pokemon, then when you're done speaking with Magnolia again, Hop will challenge you to a race to see who can catch the most Pokemon on the way back to Wedgehurst.

While you can spend time doing this, even if you run straight back and don't catch any, Hop will still give you TM40 Swift as a gift. Head inside the train station, grab the Camping Gear off your Mom, then jump on the train.

Route 2 - Surfing

Pokemon: Route 2 (Across the lake) - Overworld

Pokemon: Route 2 (Across the lake) - Random Encounters

Pokemon: Route 2 (Across the lake) - Fishing

Pokemon: Route 2 (Surfing) - Water Surface

Items: Route 2 (Across the lake)

When you've obtained the ability to surf with your Rotom Bike, make sure you return to Route 2 because there's plenty more Pokemon to catch and items to find on the surface of the lake and beyond. Head to the very south of the river to find some items, and at the very top of the lake are some more.

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