Galar Gym Challenge and version differences
Follow the eight-badge sequence, identify version-exclusive Gym Leaders and understand Galar’s first Champion Cup.
Original Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield for Nintendo Switch (2019). Version-exclusive Gyms and starter-dependent teams are labelled. These guides cover the first story challenge, before Expansion Pass tournaments.
Eight badges, two version routes
Milo, Nessa and Kabu begin the sequence. Sword then has Bea and Shield has Allister. Opal is fifth; Sword has Gordie for the sixth Gym while Shield has Melony. Piers and Raihan complete the eight. The Gym browser’s version selector keeps these alternatives in their correct positions.
Stadium battles and Dynamax
Dynamax can be used once per battle at eligible locations and lasts three turns. Gigantamax also changes a compatible Pokémon’s form and supplies its signature G-Max Move. Most Gym aces enlarge for their final confrontation. Piers does not use Dynamax, and Raihan’s Gym is a Double Battle built around weather.
The Champion Cup replaces the Elite Four
Your first Wyndon tournament starts with Marnie and Hop in the semifinals. Bede interrupts the finals before the sequence of Nessa, Bea in Sword or Allister in Shield, and Raihan. Leon’s title match follows the story crisis. The Cup page separates these encounters from badge battles.
Your starter changes the title match
If you picked Grookey, Leon has Seismitoad and Cinderace. Scorbunny gives him Mr. Rime and Inteleon; Sobble gives him Rhyperior and Rillaboom. Aegislash, Dragapult, Haxorus and his Gigantamax Charizard are shared. The Champion selector is labelled with your starter, rather than Leon’s.
Prepare a balanced party
Use the recorded levels as a preparation guide, then inspect the individual types and moves. Keep a second useful counter available for a Dynamax ace, restore your party before major battles and consider how switching interacts with weather, abilities and secondary types. Repeat tournaments and the Galarian Star Tournament have different rosters.
Select your version on the Gym page and your own first partner on the Champion page.