In-game trades have been a function in Pokémon games since Red & Blue, with them usually allowing the player access to rare or harder to obtain Pokémon. This isn’t always the case, as there are several in-game trades that are notoriously bad, such as the late-game Skitty trade in Ruby & Sapphire, but others are significantly better, such as the Machoke trade in Pokémon Yellow.
Sword & Shield brings in-game trades back for another generation, with a mix of both great and mediocre trades available throughout the game. The Isle of Armor DLC also brought a large handful of trades as well, giving the player even more ways to complete their Pokédex or just obtain their favorite Pokémon easier.
12 Bunnelby For Swovet
Easily one of the worst trades in the game, this in-game trade can be triggered in Motostoke’s Pokémon Center where the NPC will request a Bunnelby in exchange for a Swovet. Neither Bunnelby or Skwovet are particularly good, but if the player can get their hands on a Bunnelby with its hidden ability, Huge Power, it is far more useful than any version of Skwovet or its evolution, Greedent. This is one trade that is better off being left alone
11 Galarian Meowth For Kantonian Meowth
A significantly better trade than the previous one is a Galarian Meowth in exchange for a Kantonian Meowth, which can be found inside the Turfield gym. This is one of the only ways to get a Persian in the game, which is required to complete the Pokédex, as the gift Gigantamax Meowth isn’t able to evolve. This particular Meowth also has Technician as an ability, one of the better abilities it can use as it can also learn Fake Out, though its nature is locked as Timid, meaning it isn’t going to be as useful for attacking.
10 Minccino For Cottonee
Cottonee trades in the past haven’t always given players the Prankster ability along with the Pokémon. Thankfully, Game Freak knows that this is the only good ability on Whimsicott, Cottonee’s evolution, so made sure that this in-game trade had the right ability. In Hulbury market, there is a trainer sitting at a park bench who wants a Minccino in exchange for their Cottonee, and players should definitely take this one.
9 Toxel For Togepi
Since the release of Togekiss, Togepi has become a good option for any team and has been one of the most used Pokémon in online battling in generation eight. While the gift Toxel is a decent Pokémon, this Togepi is arguably better in the long run, as it has both Serene Grace and the Timid nature.
This trade can be found in Hammerlocke, past where players can find Toxel in the wild if they don’t want to trade the gift one, just in front of the vault and next to a trainer with his Rhydon.
8 Maractus For Hatenna (Sword)
It’s easy to forget that Maractus is a Pokémon sometimes, as it is so useless outside of incredibly niche strategies that involve Follow Me and Drought Torkoal. Thankfully, there is a use for it in Pokémon Sword, as players can trade one for a much better Pokémon, Hatenna. Although it doesn’t come with its hidden ability, Magic Bounce, it is still a decent pick for any standard run team as its Fairy and Psychic-typing is great both defensively and offensively. This trade can be found in Stow-on-Side atop a building to the left of the stairs leading to the gym.
7 Maractus For Impidimp (Shield)
In Pokémon Shield, this same trainer can be talked to for an in-game trade, though this one offers an Impidimp instead of a Hatenna. Like with Hatenna, Impidimp can be found fairly easily in Glimwood Tangle, the very next area players can explore after beating the Stow-on-Side gym, so both of these trades should only be taken if players want either of these Pokémon earlier, or they really just want to get rid of their Maractus.
6 Galarian Yamask For Unovan Yamask
Like with the trade for a Kantonian Meowth, there is trainer who will give the player a Unovan Yamask in exchange for the Galarian Form. This is the only way to get a Unovan Yamask outside of Max Raid events and is required to complete the Galar Pokédex, as Cofagrigus is in the Pokédex. The trainer can be found inside the Ballonlea gym against the left-hand wall and Yamask can be useful in the Ballonlea gym battle, as several of Opal’s Pokémon aren’t good against Ghost-types.
5 Vanillish For Throh (Sword)
Vanillish and its evolutions may get a lot of hate for being ice cream cones, but they aren’t half bad as Hail weather setters when they have the Snow Warning ability. However, they also have a use for getting Pokémon that are otherwise version exclusives, such as Sawk and Throh.
In Circhester, players can find a trainer working a food stand who wants a Vanillish in exchange for a Throh with an Adamant nature, which can only be found natively in Pokémon Shield.
4 Vanillish For Sawk (Shield)
In Pokémon Shield, the same trainer who requests a Vanillish can be found near the hot spring in the middle of the city, though this time he is offering a Sawk rather than a Throh. Unfortunately, this Sawk doesn’t have its Sturdy ability and has Inner Focus instead, but it does have an Adamant nature so it is definitely usable, though it might be worth using an Ability Capsule on it to get the better ability.
3 Obstagoon For Kantonian Mr. Mime
Game Freak did the impossible when they made Galarian Mr. Mime, creating a version of this generation one Pokémon that is actually creepier than the original. If players want to relive the horrors of this original Mr. Mime, they can find one in an in-game trade in Spikemouth for an Obstagoon. Since this Mr. Mime is part Fairy-type, it is a decent option against Piers’ gym battle, though its Psychic-typing and abysmal defense stat means it may not last long in battle against his own Obstagoon.
2 Frosmoth For Duraludon
Frosmoth can be a pain to evolve from Snom, especially if players don’t know that it needs to have maximum happiness and can only evolve during the night, much like Eevee evolving into Umbreon. However, Duraludon is even harder to get, as it is a very rare overworld spawn and quite hard to find in Raid Dens, so this trade is definitely worth it. In the fourth house down from Wyndon Stadium, down the same stretch where players can find the Rotom Catalogue, there is a trainer looking for a Frosmoth in exchange for their Duraludon.
1 Isle Of Armor Roaming Trader
This trainer is a god-send for anyone wanting the original forms of any who gained a Galarian alternative, as she is the source of all of them if players can find her. She roams around the Isle of Armor and her trades are always random, though some of her trades, such as Galarian Weezing for Kantonian Weezing, will give the player hidden abilities such as Stench on Kantonian Weezing. The Pokémon she will trade are Meowth, Far’fetched, Ponyta, Corsola, Mr. Mime, Darumaka, Zigzagoon, Stunfisk, and Weezing in exchange for their respective Galarian forms, while she also trades the player an Alolan Exeggutor or Marowak in exchange for their Kantonian forms.
