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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesAfter the Champion story, you can take on repeatable battles at the Battle Tower or move into optional Expansion Pass adventures: the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra. The Isle of Armor can be explored after you reach the Wild Area, so it is not necessarily a post-credits activity. Choose your next step by whether you want battles, a new story and setting, or more Pokémon to find.
What counts as post-game in Sword and Shield?
There are two things players often mean by “post-game”: activities available after the main Champion story, and additional adventures in the Expansion Pass. Sword and Shield are Nintendo Switch role-playing games, and the Expansion Pass is split into the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra. Those areas are optional additions, not a requirement for continuing to play the base game.
The available official descriptions do not establish a complete step-by-step guide to the base-game post-story episode or the exact instructions for capturing version-specific Legendary Pokémon. This guide sticks to the confirmed destinations and activities rather than guessing at quest order.
Choose a next activity
| Activity | Access | What you do | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Tower | Base game; a post-game battle destination | A secondary walkthrough describes consecutive battles with Pokémon normalized to level 50 and BP rewards. Detailed unlock steps, ranks, and reward amounts are not established here. | Players looking for repeatable trainer battles |
| Isle of Armor | Expansion Pass; the official game description says it can be entered after reaching the Wild Area | Take part in a dojo apprenticeship and explore the island. | Players who want an additional story and progression activities |
| Crown Tundra | Expansion Pass; the second part of the pass | Explore the snowy region, investigate Pokémon Dens, and try activities including Dynamax Adventures and the Galarian Star Tournament. | Players who want exploration, den challenges, and another tournament |
Battle Tower: a repeatable battle challenge
The Battle Tower is the base-game option in this guide for players who want to keep battling rather than start an expansion story. A secondary walkthrough describes consecutive trainer battles, level-50 normalization, and BP rewards. Those details provide a broad picture of the challenge, but they do not establish a complete reward table or precise unlock conditions.
#1 Best Overall
- Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on an all-new adventure in the Galar region
- Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon
- Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!
- Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles***!
- Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles and try catching them***
Isle of Armor: dojo apprenticeship and island exploration
The Isle of Armor is the first Expansion Pass area. Its official description says you can begin exploring it after reaching the Wild Area in the main story; you do not have to wait for the credits on that basis. A dojo apprenticeship is one of the area’s central activities. If you own the matching Expansion Pass and want another storyline and place to explore, this is the natural expansion to consider first.
Crown Tundra: dens, exploration, and tournament battles
The Crown Tundra is the second Expansion Pass area. Its official description focuses on joining an exploration team and venturing deeper into Pokémon Dens. The listed activities include Dynamax Adventures and the Galarian Star Tournament. The Crown Tundra is also where the official Galar brochure places Calyrex.
Rank #2
- New entries in the main series of Pokémon RPGs arrive on Nintendo Switch simultaneously in late 2019
- The Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games take place in the newly discovered Galar Region
- Galar is an expansive region with diverse environments - an idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forest and craggy, snow-covered mountains
- Fans will have the opportunity to visit Gyms in the Galar region in their quest to become Champion
- Newly discovered partner Pokémon join in this new iteration of the games - Grookey, Scorbunny and Sobble
The available descriptions do not establish a required story order between the two expansion areas or a recommended level for starting either one. Treat the choice as a preference, not an official progression rule: choose the Isle of Armor for the dojo apprenticeship, or the Crown Tundra for its exploration and den-centered activities.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Pick your route by goal
- Want battles without starting another expansion storyline? Try the Battle Tower.
- Want a new area with a dojo apprenticeship? Choose the Isle of Armor if you have the matching Expansion Pass.
- Want exploration, dens, and another tournament? Choose the Crown Tundra if you have the matching Expansion Pass.
- Focused on collecting? Explore the expansion areas for their additional Pokémon and activities; the exact capture steps for individual Legendary Pokémon are not covered here.
Sword and Shield are separate editions, so check that any Expansion Pass you use matches your game. The activity descriptions above apply to the named areas; this guide does not assume that every Pokémon or pass listing is identical between editions.
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Quick Recap
Rank #4
- A new generation of Pokemon is coming to the Nintendo Switch system.
- Become a Pokemon Trainer and embark on a new journey in the new Galar region!
- Choose from one of three new partner Pokemon: Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble.
- In this all new adventure, you'll encounter new and familiar Pokemon as you catch, battle, and trade Pokemon while exploring new areas and uncovering an all-new story.
- Get ready for the next Pokemon adventure in the Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield games.
Rank #3
![Nintendo Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass or Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass (Retail Version) - [Switch Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51l34qxMYhL._SL160_.jpg)
- Continue your Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield adventure in The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra, two new areas to explore that will be added to the Galar region as part of the Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass or Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass
- Redeem your download code in the Nintendo eShop for either the Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass or the Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass. Upon redeeming the code, you will be prompted to select one Expansion Pass. Only redeemable for one Expansion Pass.
- You'll also see some familiar Pokémon that didn't appear in the Galar region before, a total of over 200 Pokémon
- Part 1: The Isle of Armor is available now; Part 2: The Crown Tundra is scheduled for release during the fall of 2020
- If you purchase the Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass or the Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass, you'll receive two codes redeemable to get two special uniform sets of in-game apparel as a bonus
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