How to get Mew in Pokemon Sword and Shield
Unbeknown to a lot of trainers, you can get Mew in Pokemon Sword and Shield. Unfortunately, your options are somewhat limited, though.
A quick scan through the Galar region Pokedex and you could be forgiven for thinking that there aren’t any Mythical Pokemon. However, that isn’t true as the original Mythical species from the Kanto region can be obtained.
A Mythical Pokemon after all
While the good news is Mew can be added to your Pokemon Sword and Shield game, the bad news is it requires an accessory to do so.
NintendoPokemon Let’s Go players will remember the Poke Ball Plus accessory – a handheld Poke Ball that works as a controller for both Let’s Go games on the Nintendo Switch. It’s worth noting that there’s no controller functionality whatsoever in Sword and Shield, however.
If you’re lucky enough to have the $50 accessory, or even had it come bundled with the 2019 game, then you may be able to add the iconic psychic-type. That is if you haven’t already done so with in Let’s Go Pikachu! or Let’s Go Eevee!
You’ll need to buy another one (if you really want Mew) or wait until Pokemon Home launches later in February. The cloud-based service will allow you to store Pokemon from generations past and more importantly trade existing ones into new games. So, you’ll be able to trade Mew from Let’s Go to Sword and Shield.
If you haven’t redeemed Mew before though, then follow the below steps and you’ll be able to travel around the luscious Galar region with Mew.
- Go into the main menu within Pokemon Sword and Shield and select Mystery Gift.
- Click “Take a stroll with Poke Ball Plus”.
- Press the top button or control stick on your Poke Ball Plus and then wait until it connects.
- At this point you should hear a cry that resembles Mew. The game will say there is a Pokemon in your Poke Ball Plus and whether you’d like to get it. Click yes.
- A Level 1 Mew will be in your party or in a storage box.
Chances are most trainers will have to wait for Pokemon Home to launch to transfer over their Mew…Without a Poke Ball Plus?
As Pokemon Home has yet to launch, there is no other way to get Mew in your Pokemon Sword and Shield game.
When trading species from other games does become available though, you will be able to transfer Mew, as well as various other ‘mons. This will only work species available in Sword and Shield – although interestingly Mew isn’t in the Galar region Pokedex (currently) and is therefore the exception.
Find Mew in wild?
Right now, there is no chance of finding Mew somewhere in the Galar region, even in the darkest depths of the wild area. However, we can’t rule a special event or another type of change in the future.
35 species weren’t present in the game at launch but were found in the game’s code – one of them being Mew. Then there are the two Pokemon Sword and Shield DLCs – The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra – which will surely bring more surprises to the game.
The latter of those – The Crown Tundra – is expected to bring an array of past legendary Pokemon to the game. So, for those who don’t have, or want to buy, a Poke Ball Plus there’s an outside chance you’ll be able to get Mew yet.