You just beat Leon. The credits rolled. You’re sitting there in Postwick, looking at your Switch screen, wondering if that’s actually it. Honestly, if you just put the game down now, you're missing about forty percent of what makes Galar actually interesting. The Pokemon Shield post game isn't just a victory lap; it’s where the mechanics finally stop holding your hand and let you actually play the game.
Most people think the "story" ends when they become Champion. It doesn't. There’s a whole weird, slightly surreal questline involving two brothers with hair that looks like literal swords and shields—Sordward and Shielbert. Yes, the names are ridiculous. Yes, their hair is even more ridiculous. But this is where you actually get your hands on Zamazenta, the legendary mascot that’s been staring at you from the box art this whole time.
The Sordward and Shielbert Weirdness
So, you head back to the Slumbering Weald. That foggy place at the start of the game? It’s relevant again. You meet Hop there, and suddenly these two aristocratic weirdos show up claiming the throne of Galar. It sounds like filler, but it’s actually the only time the game acknowledges the darker side of Galar's history. You’ll spend the next few hours traveling to all the stadiums you already cleared.
Dynamax Pokemon are going on a rampage in the gyms. It’s basically a boss rush mode. You aren't just fighting trainers; you're taking down giant, glowing monsters with your friends—or the AI, if you’re playing solo. This questline is the bridge. It’s the thing that moves you from being a "story player" to a "completionist." Once you beat the brothers and catch Zamazenta (bring a lot of Ultra Balls, or just use that Master Ball you've been hoarding), the real Galar opens up.
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Battle Tower and the Competitive Grind
If you want to actually understand the Pokemon Shield post game, you have to talk about Wyndon’s Battle Tower. This is where Leon hangs out now. He’s traded his "unbeatable" cape for a suit, and he’s ready to wreck your team.
The Battle Tower is where you earn Battle Points (BP). You need BP. Why? Because the game doesn't tell you that your Pokemon’s stats are probably "Decent" at best. To get them to "Amazing," you need Mints and Bottle Caps.
- Mints change Natures.
- Bottle Caps maximize IVs through Hyper Training.
- Ability Capsules let you swap to a better standard ability.
It’s a bit of a grind. Actually, it’s a huge grind. But this is the entry point for competitive play. If you ever want to jump into Ranked Battles, the Battle Tower is your training ground. It’s also where you get Type: Null. Just talk to the lady standing on the left side of the lobby. She’ll just give it to you. A legendary-tier Pokemon, for free, just for showing up. It’s one of those things people constantly miss because they never bother to walk into the building.
The Wild Area Reborn
Once the credits roll, the Wild Area changes. Every single Pokemon you see roaming around is now Level 60. This is huge for finishing the Pokedex. You don’t have to hunt for babies and evolve them anymore; you can just catch the final forms wandering around near the Lake of Outrage.
The Max Raid Dens also scale up. You’ll start seeing five-star raids regularly. These are the only way to get Hidden Abilities and high-IV Ditto. If you see a purple beam of light shooting into the sky, drop everything and go there. Those are the rare encounters. In the Pokemon Shield post game, raiding becomes the primary way to get Exp. Candy XL, which is basically the only sane way to level a Pokemon to 100 without losing your mind.
Exploring the Expansion Pass Content
Let’s be real: the base game’s post-game is a bit thin without the DLC. If you have the expansion pass, the game triples in size. The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra aren't just "extra areas"—they are the actual endgame.
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The Isle of Armor is all about growth. You get Kubfu, you climb a tower, and you unlock Max Soup. This is a literal game-changer. It lets you turn any Pokemon capable of Gigantamaxing into its G-Max form. Before this, you had to find them in specific raids. Now, you can just feed your starter some soup and suddenly it’s a skyscraper.
Then there’s the Crown Tundra. This is the "Legendary graveyard." Through Dynamax Adventures, you can catch almost every legendary Pokemon from previous generations. Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Giratina—they’re all there. It’s a co-op mode that actually requires strategy because you use rental Pokemon instead of your own overleveled team. It’s arguably the best content Game Freak has produced in a decade.
The Secret Events and Ribbons
There’s a lot of small stuff people overlook. Go back to the hotel in Ionia. There’s an NPC there who represents the developers at Game Freak. Beat him, and you get the Oval Charm, which makes eggs appear faster at the Nursery. If you’ve completed the Pokedex (all 400 entries), he gives you the Shiny Charm.
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Don't ignore the tournament at Wyndon Stadium, either. You can re-run it daily. It’s the best way to farm money and get rare items like Flame Orbs or Toxic Orbs from the Ball Guy. Sometimes you’ll fight gym leaders; sometimes it’s just random challengers. It keeps the "Champion" title feeling semi-real instead of just a static trophy in your inventory.
Finding the Rare Galar Forms
Some Pokemon only show up under very specific conditions in the Pokemon Shield post game. Have you found the Galarian Slowpoke on the Wedgehurst station platform? Have you tried to evolve your Galarian Yamask by taking 49+ damage and walking under a specific stone arch in the Dusty Bowl?
The game is full of these weird, cryptic requirements. It feels like the old days of the internet where you had to look up rumors, except these are actually true. Finding every Galarian form is a task in itself, especially the version exclusives like Eiscue, which is Shield-only and has a ridiculously low spawn rate in snowstorms.
Actionable Next Steps for Galar Champions
The post-game can feel overwhelming because it's non-linear. To make the most of your time in Galar after the story, follow this specific progression:
- Claim your gifts: Go to Hop’s house in Postwick to get a Charmander with the G-Max factor from Leon’s room. Then, hit the Battle Tower in Wyndon to pick up Type: Null.
- Finish the "Sword and Shield" quest: Complete the Sordward and Shielbert arc to catch Zamazenta. Without this, your Pokedex will always have a gaping hole at #399.
- Optimize your team: Use the Battle Tower to earn enough BP for a Nature Mint. If your Cinderace has a Modest nature, you're doing 10% less damage for no reason. Fix it.
- The Ditto Hunt: Head to the Lake of Outrage during normal weather. Look for the small island with the stones. This is the premier spot for catching Ditto. You want one with at least 4 "Best" IVs for breeding.
- Unlock the Shiny Charm: It sounds daunting, but with the Wild Area’s Level 60 spawns, filling the 400-slot Pokedex is easier than in any previous generation. Trade version exclusives with Sword players via Link Codes (standard community codes usually exist for this).
The Galar region isn't finished with you just because the credits rolled. Whether it's the high-stakes strategy of the Battle Tower or the legendary hunts in the freezing mists of the Crown Tundra, the real challenge starts now. Get out of Postwick and get back to the Wild Area. There's a lot left to catch.