Whether it be in preparation for a tough rival battle (looking at you, May), an upcoming Gym Battle, or the final push to beat the Elite Four, grinding is something that’s definitely an acquired skill. Knowing where to go for the best benefit is a large part of that skill – and this list goes through some places for you to check out in the Galar Region. While Pokémon Sword and Shield are not considered to be some of the most difficult games, you may still come across a time or two where it could be handy to get in some extra levels. With that being said – let’s get into the list!
Wild Area
This is an interesting location to consider, as there’s a mass array of Pokémon to choose from, and the levels of the Pokémon change as you progress through the game. Every time you enter, you know there’ll be an area for you to go where the Pokémon you’re grinding up will have a significant advantage against the wild Pokémon. That way you can make sure to take minimal damage and get through the battles as quickly as possible. You’re also able to fly to different locations along the massive Wild Area, making it easy to travel back and forth to the Pokémon Center when necessary. Late-game, I would definitely suggest venturing to the land area of the Lake of Outrage. That’s where you can find the most late-stage Pokémon that are sure to hand over the highest amount of EXP.
Route 9
This area is one of the final areas you’ll visit before the 8th Gym Battle with Raihan, who’s generally considered the most challenging. And that means you’re likely to find the highest level Pokémon here to give you the highest amount of EXP yield. The biggest downfall of this area has to be the weather effects, which may slow down your relentless push just a tad.
Isle of Armor
Whenever you get access to the Isle of Armor, it’s worthwhile to go over and fight some of the wild Pokémon in the area. They scale to your level, and there are some Pokémon that provide some great EXP yields. One of the notable Pokémon you can find here is Chansey, the most famous EXP farm in the entire Pokémon franchise.
Max Raid Battles
Around the Wild Area, Isle of Armor, and the Crown Tundra, you’ll come across Max Raid Battles of varying difficulty. The higher the level, the greater the yield you’ll get. A huge part of these yields are EXP Candies, which are easily the best way to level-up your Pokémon in Generation VIII. Feed some of these to your weaker Pokémon and you’ll be ready to battle anyone in no time.
Gym Leader Rematches
After you beat the Elite Four, you’ll have access to Gym Leader rematches at Wyndon Stadium in the form of a tournament. These provide you with a natural way to level-up your Pokémon in a more interesting setting, rather than hitting all the same areas mentioned on this list. So this is a leveling method that may be more appealing to a casual Pokémon fan that’s just in it for the fun.
