Arguably the best part of Pokémon Sword and Shield is the Wild Area. In this large in-game area, you’ll find a ton of pokémon roaming the overworld in a diverse array of areas with varying terrain, features, and weather conditions. Some of the Pokémon wandering the overworld are stronger than others, though.
These pokémon are usually spotted easily. They are separated from the grass and by themselves, walking menacingly back and forth. If you’re to fight these strong opponents, they might be able to take you down very easily if you aren’t prepared. Here are the toughest among them.
10 Aegislash
Most of the time, you can see Aegislash’s pre-evolution Doublade hovering menacingly around Giant’s Cap. But, on occasion, the stronger Aegislash can be found in the same spot. This Ghost/Steel-type is a worthy opponent, and you might have a difficult time whittling down its health.
Aegislash is known for its Stance Change ability which allows it to flip its defense and attack stats when using certain moves. It’ll be sure to use this ability to its advantage when battling you, ensuring it can do a lot of damage to your team or protect itself with a high defense stat.
9 Duraludon
This new Generation VIII Dragon/Steel-type is a solid addition to any team. If you want one all your own, you can head to Giant’s Seat in the Wild Area, where there’s a small chance it will be wandering around. It can also be encountered in the grass in the Lake of Outrage during a Snowstorm or in the overworld on Route 10.
Duraludon has a fantastic type combination and access to some great moves, as well as high defense. If you’re looking to defeat it, you’ll need a Ground or Fighting Pokémon.
8 Grimmsnarl
This scary-looking Pokémon is quickly becoming a fan-favorite, in part due to its great design, but also because of its great use in battle. Grimmsnarl is a Dark/Fairy-type Pokémon that can be encountered Stony Wildnerness in every weather condition wandering in the overworld.
If you encounter it, you’ll want a Fairy, Steel, or Poison-type move for super-effective damage. Grimmsnarl has a nice base stat total and some good moves, and it’s pretty strong as a result. It’s also completely immune to two types—Dragon and Psychic.
7 Gallade
If you surf on over to the little island with the berry tree in Bridge Field, you will usually find a Gallade walking around. It’s a great option for use in catching other Pokémon, as it can learn Hypnosis and False Swipe, and it has a great attack stat.
But, this high attack stat can also work against you. If you’re trying to face down this Pokémon in the Wild Area, it’ll use that high attack and great moves to hit your party hard. Gallade is definitely worth the effort, though.
6 Haxorus
Many people wrongly think Haxorus is a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, but it isn’t. It’s only 60 base stat points away from meeting all the criteria for pseudo-status. Yet, the confusion over whether it is pseudo-legendary speaks to how strong this thing is.
You’ll find this Dragon-type on Axew’s Eye, or during a thunderstorm in the Lake of Outrage. It’ll need some strong counters in order to go down, so be sure to bring an Ice or Fairy-type with you when you go. If you’re looking to catch it, make sure you bring some Ultra Balls.
5 Gardevoir
Gardevoir has always been a Pokémon that seemed overpowered. This is no different in Sword and Shield, where she appears as a Pokémon that can wander the Wild Area. You’ll mainly find this Fairy/Psychic-type in the Lake of Outrage in normal weather, fog, or a thunderstorm. But, Gardevoir can also be found in the Dusty Bowl or Rolling Fields in the Fog.
Gardevoir will use its fantastic type combination against you, which allows it access to several great moves. It also has high special attack, so watch out for that.
4 Tyranitar
While Haxorus failed to meet the requirements for a pseudo-legendary, Tyranitar was one of the original pseudos. This Rock/Dark Pokémon can be found in the Dusty Bowl in normal weather, snow, snowstorms, intense sun, fog, or sandstorms. Unfortunately, it is a Shield exclusive, meaning you won’t see it in Sword.
On top of its insane stats and great moveset, this Godzilla-inspired beast will induce a sandstorm when it enters battle, meaning your Pokémon will take damage every turn if it isn’t a Rock, Steel, or Ground-type. Tyranitar is double-weak to Fighting, though, so use that to your advantage.
3 Steelix
The first time you see Steelix in the Wild Area, it can be frightening. It’s very large and pops out of nowhere, fully stretched-out with its giant head, scary eyes, and huge teeth right in your face. This can happen to you in Giant’s Seat or Giant’s Mirror (or if you’re unlucky, both in a matter of a few minutes).
This Steel/Ground-type has a ton of resistances and crazy-high defense, meaning it’ll take you a long time to defeat it if you aren’t strong enough. Watch out for Iron Tail and Double Edge.
2 Snorlax
Head to the bridge in Motostoke Riverbank to find this jolly fellow out for a jaunt. Snorlax has always been considered a very strong Pokémon, and that reputation continues in Sword and Shield. Part of what makes this creature so powerful is its impressive HP stat.
If you manage to bring one of these Normal-type Pokémon down, you’ve accomplished something great. If you caught it, bring it into the camping feature. It looks adorable wandering your campsite, and you know it’ll love whatever you cook for it.
1 Kommo-o
While encountering Tyranitar will only happen if you have Sword, owners of Shield will find its counterpart, Kommo-o, instead. This Dragon/Fighting-type is also a pseudo-legendary, and it’ll definitely show that status off in battle.
You’ll find it in the Dusty Bowl in normal weather, snow, snowstorms, intense sun, fog, and sandstorms, much like Tyranitar. On top of its great type-combo, stats, and move pool, it has a 50% chance of holding a Razor Claw, which increases its chances of landing critical hits. Watch out, because this thing is a beast.
NEXT: Every Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, Ranked
