Although the start 3 gyms in Pokemon Sword & Shield do a adept chore at introducing the player to the new Dynamax mechanic, besides as ensure that newcomers to the series are aware of the common strengths and weaknesses of each type, the game stops holding the player's paw at the 4th gym, found in Stow-On-Side.

Bated from having quite a large leap in levels from the previous gym, the Stow-On-Side gym forces the player to utilize everything they have learned upwardly until that point to tackle some of the strongest Pokemon in the game that not only have decent movesets, merely are their ain Gigantamax forms besides. That being said, veteran players won't find this gym to be particularly challenging no matter which version of the game they are playing.

x The Two Gym Leaders

Stow-on-Side gym leaders

For the first time in a long time for the Pokemon series, Pokemon Sword & Shield has ii instances where a gym leader is unlike depending on the version being played. The first instance of this is the Stow-On-Side gym leader, who is Bea, the Fighting-blazon specialist in Pokemon Sword, and Allister, the Ghost-type specialist in Pokemon Shield. This means that, unlike previous Pokemon games, the actor volition have to ensure they have a slightly unlike team build depending on which version of the game they are playing, adding some much-needed diverseness to the gameplay.

9 Completing The Gym Puzzle

Stow-On-Side gym puzzle

Even though both Bea and Allister have a very different type specialty, their gyms are virtually identical and only have a slight pallet and logo bandy to differentiate them, likewise equally the gym trainers having slightly different Pokemon. The puzzle itself is also incredibly easy, with the histrion simply having to navigate a spinning chair through a short obstacle course earlier battling a gym trainer and moving on to the next segment. Later completing three of these "puzzles", the player volition so exist able to enter the primary arena and battle either Bea in Sword or Allister in Shield.

8 Bea's Hitmontop

Bea's Hitmontop from the Pokemon Anime

The starting time Pokemon that Bea will transport out is her Hitmontop. While the Tyrogue line isn't known for being the best Fighting-type Pokemon in the series, Hitmontop does have the distinction of being arguably the best of the iii available options, though Bea's Hitmontop is less of a threat than information technology could have been.

With Triple Kick, Quick Set on, Counter, and Revenge, it can be felled by even the weakest Ghost-type Pokemon around and might exist a good opportunity to become some final-infinitesimal feel on a weaker team fellow member before the fight really begins.

seven Bea'southward Pangoro

Pangoro

Unlike Hitmontop, Pangoro is a potential threat that can actually encompass its weakness to Ghost-blazon Pokemon. Bea's 2d Pokemon tin can also comprehend its double weakness to Fairy-type Pokemon quite well, as information technology has Bullet Dial in its adequately diverse moveset that can easily knock out unsuspecting trainers wanting to capitalize on its weaknesses. Rounding out its moveset with Night Slash, Work Up, and Circumvolve Throw, Pangoro shouldn't be messed around with and should exist taken care of as quickly as possible. The all-time counter to Pangoro, funnily enough, is another Fighting-blazon Pokemon, every bit it has no moves to cover its weakness to its own type.

half-dozen Bea's Sirfetch'd

Galar's Sirfetch'd, the evolved form of Galarian Farfetch'd, from Pokemon Sword & Shield

One of the well-nigh disappointing new Pokemon to come out of the Galar region, Sirfetch'd is only a marginally college threat than Pangoro thanks to its pure Fighting-blazon and the move Find allowing it to stall out PP for higher impairment moves. While Sirfetch'd does have Brutal Swing, Revenge, and Swords Dance, the latter of which capable of quickly turning boxing in its favor, its weak defenses and low speed mean that it can be taken down fairly hands with any decent Psychic, Fairy, or Flight-type Pokemon.

v Bea's Machamp

Machamp Pokemon

Bea's ace and the true test of a player'south squad composition, Machamp is a much bigger threat than whatsoever of Bea's other Pokemon largely due to Machamp'south great base stats and its Gigantamax form granting information technology more HP. Thankfully, Machamp'due south signature G-Max movement, G-Max Chi Strike, does increase its Assail by ane phase, unlike the generic Max Knuckle attack. Even so, while its moveset is adequately weak with Strength, Revenge, Knock Off, and Scary Face up, both Revenge and Knock Off are capable of knocking out Pokemon in a single accident fifty-fifty without the damage boost granted by its Gigantamax form. While Machamp'south defenses are fairly good, information technology can still easily exist taken downwardly by a decently powerful Fairy or Flying-type Pokemon, with Psychic-types having to remain wary of Knock Off.

4 Allister's Yamask

Yamask Pokemon

Moving on to Shield's Stow-On-Side gym leader, Allister is arguably a amend trainer than Bea in terms of his overall squad, though you wouldn't know this from looking at his first Pokemon. Yamask, unlike its development, Runerigus, is incredibly weak and can be easily defeated with even an united nations-evolved Sobble'south Water Gun.

While it is stupidly weak and but has Cruel Swing, Hex, and Disable, the latter can prove to be detrimental if the player isn't able to knock it out in a single attack, especially if they are banking on using the same Pokemon for the entire battle.

3 Allister's Mimikyu

Mimikyu looking sad with its ears down in the Pokemon anime

A substantial leap in difficulty from Yamask, Mimikyu is, thankfully, nowhere nearly as difficult as the Totem Mimikyu battle in Sun & Moon, but is still fairly powerful. The main affair to be wary of is its signature ability, Disguise, which guarantees it 1 free plough to practise any it wants in battle, which is ordinarily using either Baby-Doll Eyes to lower your Pokemon'southward Assail stat or Hone Claws to increase its own Attack. Rounding out its moveset with Shadow Sneak and Slash, the all-time bet confronting this Pokemon is to use a Pokemon that is physically defensive or able to resist Ghost and Normal-blazon attacks, equally Mimkyu is no pushover even if its stats aren't increased.

2 Allister'south Cursola

Cursola from the Pokémon Sword & Shield Pokédex

Although arguably not equally good as its pre-evolution thank you to the usefulness of the held particular Eviolite, Cursola substitutes high defenses for a ridiculous 145 base Special Set on that is even higher than Allister's signature Pokemon, Gengar. Unfortunately for Cursola, its moveset isn't able to capitalize on this dandy stat as it merely has Hex, Aboriginal Ability, and Curse to bargain impairment. While any decent Dark-type can make swift piece of work of Cursola, players should beware its Aboriginal Power, as this tin potentially increase all of its stats by i stage and turn the tide of boxing in its favor.

ane Allister'south Gengar

Pokemon Sword Shield Gigantamax Gengar Mouth Open

Similar Bea's Machamp, Gengar is a not bad Pokemon that, unlike Machamp, isn't let downward by a mediocre signature Thou-Max movement. G-Max Terror will, instead of lowering the opponent's Defense, prevent them from escaping and can cause serious bug for a player'southward strategy. Not only that, just Gengar has the moves Hypnosis, Hex, Venoshock, and Payback at its disposal, having a much better and more diverse moveset than any other Stow-On-Side gym leader'southward Pokemon. That being said, these moves aren't specially powerful and Gengar can exist walled entirely with whatsoever decent Steel or Nighttime-blazon Pokemon that has a Psychic, Dark, or Ghost-type attack.

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