Generation VIII of Pokémon brought a lot of curious new additions to the formula. New moves, new Abilities, new items that help make breeding and training for competitive play much less laborious and, of course, new Pokémon. Galar is home to some very interesting critters, that’s for sure.
Among all the newcomers, though, we can’t forget about the returning ones. Those faithful stalwart Pokémon that have been by our sides all throughout the series. The gentle giant that is Lapras is one such species, having been ferrying trainers around on its back for decades like the noble, agreeable beast it is. It’s always been a solid competitive choice to boot. Here’s where to get your hands on Lapras in Pokémon Sword & Shield, as well as some super interesting trivia about it you may not know.
10 It’s Found On Routes 2 And 9, As Well As The Wild Area’s North Lake Miloch And Lake Of Outrage
Typically, Lapras is quite an elusive Water-type. You don’t tend to find them bobbing along and interrupting you every darn half a second as you try to surf to the next route, like Tentacool in Gen I. Lapras is far harder to come by.
It’s a lone wanderer on Route 2 in Sword & Shield, on the water after the Dark Badge has been acquired. It’s also available through fishing on Route 9 (Circhester Bay), though the chances of this are very low indeed at 1%. Failing these, there’s also a single Lapras wandering the Wild Area’s Lake of Outrage, and another in the eastern section of North Lake Miloch.
9 It’s Also Quite Common In Max Raids
Failing these methods, there are still a lot of chances to get yourself a Lapras in the Wild Area. Fans of Max Raids will be glad to hear that this enigmatic Water/Ice Pokémon crops up quite a lot in these special encounters, not limited to certain areas or dens as some Max Raids are.
Dens in South Lake Miloch, West Lake Axewell, East Lake Axewell, Giant’s Mirror, Giant’s Cap, Bridge Field, Lake of Outrage, Stony Wilderness and Dusty Bowl all call this noble creature home, though its Gigantamax form is much harder to find (originally appearing only in Pokémon Shield’s Max Raids in Giant’s Seat).
8 Its Gigantamax Form (And G-Max Move In Particular) Is Great
When it comes right down to it, Lapras hasn’t really changed much at all since its debut over two decades ago. In battle, it’s a great tank and damage sponge thanks to its stellar HP stat, while still capable of bringing the pain in return with its decent-enough-but-not-incredible offenses.
The Dynamax and Gigantamax phenomena makes it more effective than ever, doubling its HP and offering movse of a higher base power. Gigantamax Lapras is a super common metagame pick, with one of the very best G-Max moves in the game. G-Max Resonance is an Ice-type attack (which doesn’t set hail, which is a mixed bag) that sets up the effects of Aurora Veil, without needing hail on the field. Instantly halving all damage the team takes for a time can be incredible.
7 It Has Some Very Nice Abilities
On the subject of Abilities, it can be tough to know which direction to go with Lapras. As is usually the case in Pokémon, some options may be better or worse depending on the specific team you’re building.
Where Lapras is concerned, Shell Armor is a great option for more defensive sets. With this Ability, opponents can’t score a critical hit on it, which is excellent for any tank. Alternatively, Water Absorb offers immunity (and healing from) Water-type attacks, which can help a lot with switch-ins, baiting certain attacks and healing. Its Hidden Ability, Hydration, heals all status at the end of each turn in the rain. This also has its uses, but Lapras can’t make the best of it with Rest while Dynamaxed/Gigantamaxed.
6 It Almost Went Extinct Earlier In The Series…
Pokémon fans, as we know, tend to have a very special place in their hearts for the original Kanto crew of critters. As such, you could imagine the reaction if one of the iconic 151 had actually gone extinct (the National Dex brouhaha was more than enough).
In earlier games, the Pokédex emphasized just how far Lapras populations had fallen. “People have driven Lapras almost to the point of extinction. In the evenings, this Pokémon is said to sing plaintively as it seeks what few others of its kind still remain,” Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire ruined our day by stating. Its passive, gentle ways were its downfall, as it was exploited and hunted.
5 …But Don’t Worry, Their Population Has Grown Super Dramatically
In these troubled times, a little good news is always very welcome. Heck, we’d accept some totally fictional good news from the world of Pokémon at this point. Feast your eyes, ears and wholesome news item appreciation glands on this, then.
Thanks to conservation efforts, Lapras numbers have increased. Increased and increased then increased some more, in fact: “They’ve been so cherished that there’s now an overabundance. The fish Pokémon population has declined in waters with too many Lapras,” Pokémon Ultra Moon’s Pokédex reports.
4 Its Gigantamax Form Is A Living Cruise Ship
If you’ve ever taken a cruise, you’ll know that some of the higher-end ships are the absolute last word in opulence and luxury. Guests can enjoy amenities they didn’t even know existed. Can a ride on the back of a colossal, 78’09” sea creature’s shell compete? Well, apparently it can.
“Over 5,000 people can ride on its shell at once. And it’s a very comfortable ride, without the slightest shaking or swaying,” Pokémon Sword states. That shell looks more than a little sharp to us, and we doubt the dining options are up to much up there, but there we are.
3 It’s A One-Hit K.O. Machine
Ever since the series began, the kind, docile nature of Lapras has been emphasized. You wouldn’t think it would be one of the most devious, potentially infuriating Pokémon of all, but that’s the sad truth.
Here’s one of the most infamous Lapras facts of all time that you may have missed: it can learn the most one-hit K.O. moves of any Pokémon. With access to Sheer Cold, Horn Drill and Fissure, it’s missing only Guillotine. No Pokémon can compete with that (other than Smeargle as a technicality). Running multiple of these moves is beyond a terrible idea, but it’s possible nonetheless.
2 It Has One Heck Of A Movepool
The whole one-hit K.O. move situation is just the start of things, too. When it comes to movesets, Lapras has a huge range of options. Water and Ice STAB options are very nice in and of themselves, but let’s take a look at what else this critter has to offer besides.
It has tricky moves like Charm and Attract. Supportive moves like Helping Hand and even the deadly Perish Song. Weather Ball to offer surprise coverage. STAB utility with the likes of Freeze-Dry. Great general coverage in Thunderbolt. As we’ll see next, it even has more surprising options.
1 It Can Run A Lot Of Different (Possibly Very Surprising) Sets
As we’ve mentioned, the standard Lapras approach is to sit there, tank hits and heal itself wherever possible, preferably with double HP and under the protection of G-Max Resonance. Even so, there’s a lot of freedom to customize builds and sets.
Defensive builds can work brilliantly, but how about a surprise offensive one? With equal Attack and Special Attack, there are a range of options. Lapras has priority in Ice Shard, other great physical STAB moves (such as Liquidation) and even Dragon Dance to set up the most surprising and hilarious sweep you’ve ever seen in your life. Lapras is no one trick pony, so take a look at its teammates, what it can do and how it can best fit.
NEXT: Pokémon: The 10 Most Powerful Water Moves, Ranked
