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ThePokemon GOLegendary Heroes event is here, and with its timed research comes a perilous dilemma: Should you take the Sword or Shield path? This choice doesn’t just affect your Incense encounters, but it also gives you different research task rewards that are worth considering — particularly if your focus is primarily on PVP-viable teams.
Whatever your reason for tracking down certain Pokemon over others in thelatest event of the Max Out season, below is everything you need to know to make an informed choice about which of the Sword and Shield Paths to take inPokemon GO. This guide will go over the rarer shinies that you can potentially encounter during the event, as well as which creatures are the best for each of the main three PVP leagues.
Should Players Choose The Sword Or Shield Path In Pokemon GO?
Much like the draw of 5-star raids being thechance to get a shiny Zacian, the path you choose inPokemon GOcould depend on which of the available creatures you want in its shiny form. Perhaps you have all the shiny Pokemon from the research in the Shield Path, but you don’t have a shiny Swirlix from the Sword path? If so, your choice is relatively straightforward. You only have untilOctober 1 at 8 PM local timeto complete the timed research and find these Pokemon.
The rarer shinies in theSword Pathare likelyScraggy, Gothita, and Passimian, while theShield Path’s rare shinies areSolosis, Croagunk, and Oranguru. Larvitar and Deino were featured Pokemon in past Community Days, though these were quite some time ago, and thus they could be considered uncommon these days.
If you care about the Pokemon being shiny from the timed research, all six of the exclusive Pokémon in the research tasks are available in this form. However,Galarian Darumaka is the rarest one of the fouras its debut event was furthest in the past. Each one has been a rare spawn or egg hatch with boosted odds.
Ponyta was thefeatured Pokémon in September’s Community Day, while Vullaby was a 7km hatch during Go Fest 2024 with boosted odds. Rufflet had boosted odds to be shiny during the Flock Together Research Day in May 2024, while Galarian Darumaka appeared in its shiny form last during the Winter Holiday 2023 event.
Oranguru
Best PVP Pokemon In Sword Or Shield Path
Perhaps you don’t care about shinies and instead wish for PVP-viable Pokemon to put onto your team? If you care aboutadding a new Dark-type Pokemonto your Great League team, go with theShield Path. Mandibuzz is the #3 overall in the league currently, with an extremely effective combo of Snarl, Dark Pulse, and Aerial Ace.
Choosing this research gives you anencounter with a 3-star Vullabyif you reach the end, which could give you perfect PVP stats. It’s also ranked #40 in theUltra League. Out of the Incense spawns, the Shield Path’s Oranguru is also viable in the Ultra League, as it’s ranked #86 overall if it has Confusion, Brutal Swing, and Trailblaze.
That said, the best Pokemon in the Shield Path for the Master League is not as good as itsSword Path-based counterpart. Larvitar’s final evolution,Tyranitar, is a decently ranked Master League choice, ranked #82 with the Smack Down, Brutal Swing, and Stone Edge move set.you may Mega Evolve Tyranitaras well, making it a more viable fighter than its regular form.
However, the Sword Path hasDeino spawns, which evolves intoHydreigon. In the Master League,this Pokemon is ranked #34with the move set Dragon Breath, Brutal Swing, and Flash Cannon.
