If you’ve been roaming the Hisui region lately, you know that catching 'em all isn't just about throwing Poké Balls. It's about data. Specifically, the data on your Nintendo Switch console. The "A Token of Gratitude" Arceus request is arguably the most specific, gatekept piece of content in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It’s not about skill. It’s not about level grinding. Honestly, it’s mostly about whether or not you spent sixty bucks on a completely different game a couple of years ago.
The Save Data Wall
Most players stumble into the Galaxy Hall blackboard, see a list of requests, and wonder why Request 92 is missing. It’s annoying. You’ve beaten the main story, you’ve watched the credits roll, and yet, there’s this gaping hole in your quest log. To trigger "A Token of Gratitude" in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the game checks your system for save data from Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield.
No save data? No Shaymin. It is that simple and, frankly, that frustrating for latecomers to the Switch era.
This isn’t like the Manaphy quest where you just need to solve a riddle from an old book. This is a hard digital lock. If you have that save data, you head to the blackboard in Jubilife Village after the credits have finished. You'll see Request 92 sitting there. It’s titled "A Token of Gratitude," and it’s your only ticket to the Floaro Gardens.
Finding the Gratitude in the Grass
Once you accept the quest, you’re looking for Medi. She’s an NPC located near the Fieldlands Camp in the Obsidian Fieldlands. She talks about a Pokémon that helped her when she was lost. It’s a sweet story, but the mechanics are what matter here. She gives you the Gracidea flower.
This is a Key Item. It’s the same item used in every previous game to turn Shaymin from its Land Forme (the cute little bush) into its Sky Forme (the reindeer-looking thing with ears). But first, you have to actually find the thing.
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Medi points you toward the Floaro Gardens. If you’ve been there before, you know it as a depressing, dead patch of dirt in the northwest corner of the Obsidian Fieldlands. It’s a wasteland. But once you arrive with the Gracidea in your pocket, the "gratitude" triggers a cutscene. The dead flowers bloom. Shaymin appears.
Don't Mess Up the Encounter
Here is where things get dicey. Shaymin is skittish.
If you go running in like a maniac, it will vanish. You can’t just chuck a Lead Ball and hope for the best. You’ve got to be sneaky. Smoke Bombs are your best friend here. Throw a few, crouch down, and try to get behind it. Backstrikes give you a much higher catch rate, which is vital because Shaymin’s catch rate is notoriously low for a "gift" encounter.
If you accidentally scare it off or—heaven forbid—knock it out, don't panic. You just need to leave the Obsidian Fieldlands, go back to Jubilife Village, and then return. It’ll respawn. It’s not a one-and-done deal, which is a rare bit of mercy from the developers.
The Sky Forme Shift
A lot of people think Shaymin is just a Pokédex filler. They're wrong. Once you catch it, go into your satchel and use the Gracidea on it.
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- Land Forme: Pure Grass type. High defenses. It's a tank.
- Sky Forme: Grass/Flying type. Its Speed and Special Attack skyrocket.
In the context of Legends: Arceus combat, where the "Action Order" system determines who hits first, that Speed boost is massive. A Sky Forme Shaymin using Seed Flare can delete enemies before they even get a turn. Just remember: it reverts to Land Forme at night or if it gets frozen. Well, "frostbite" in this game.
Why This Request Matters for the True Ending
You might ask: "Do I need Shaymin to get the Shiny Charm or fight Arceus?"
The answer is actually no.
Game Freak realized that tying the final boss of the game to owning other $60 titles would be a PR nightmare. To face Arceus at the Temple of Sinnoh, you need to catch every Pokémon in the Hisui Pokédex. However, "Mythical" Pokémon—specifically Shaymin and Darkrai—are excluded from this requirement. You can get the true ending without ever touching Request 92.
But for completionists? It’s a nagging itch. That empty spot in the Pokédex between Celebi (who isn't even in this game) and the Sinnoh legends feels like a taunt.
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The Logistics of Borrowing Gratitude
If you don't own Sword or Shield, there is a workaround, though it’s a bit of a "neighborly" strategy. The game only checks for the presence of a save file. It doesn't care how much of the game you played.
You can literally borrow a physical cartridge of Pokémon Sword from a friend, pop it into your Switch, start the game, save after the first five minutes, and return the cart. That’s it. Your Switch now has the "token" required to trigger the quest. This works for the Darkrai quest too, but that one requires save data from Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl.
Common Pitfalls and Glitches
Sometimes, people have the save data and the quest still doesn't show up. Usually, it's because they haven't talked to the right person. You have to check the blackboard specifically. It won't just pop up in your missions menu automatically.
Another weird quirk: Shaymin is tiny. The grass in Floaro Gardens is tall. I've seen players spend twenty minutes running in circles because they literally couldn't see the Pokémon. Use your focus trigger (ZL) to scan the area. It’ll lock onto Shaymin even if it's buried in the petals.
Actionable Steps for Completion
If you're ready to wrap this up, follow this specific sequence to ensure you don't waste time:
- Verify Save Data: Ensure a Pokémon Sword or Shield save file is on your specific User Profile on the Switch.
- Clear the Story: You must see the "The End" screen after the main campaign.
- Check the Board: Go to Professor Laventon’s office in the Galaxy Hall and interact with the blackboard.
- Stock Up: Bring at least 5 Smoke Bombs and 20 Ultra Balls (or Lead/Gigaton Balls if you’re good at sneaking).
- Travel to Obsidian Fieldlands: Talk to Medi at the Fieldlands Camp, then fly/ride to the Floaro Gardens in the northwest.
- The Catch: Use smoke to approach from the rear. Do not engage in battle unless you absolutely have to; catching it in the overworld is much faster.
- Transformation: Open your Key Items, select the Gracidea, and use it on Shaymin during the daytime to unlock the Sky Forme.
This quest is a bridge between the old-school "mystery gift" events and modern DLC-style unlocks. It’s a bit of a relic of Nintendo's desire to build an ecosystem across their titles. While it feels a bit like a paywall, the actual encounter in the Floaro Gardens is one of the more cinematic and rewarding moments in the post-game. It turns a desolate corner of the map into something vibrant, which, honestly, is the whole point of Shaymin anyway.