How to Get Charmander in Pokemon Sword & Shield (Early + Post-Game Methods)

The Charmander line is one of Game Freak’s most beloved Pokemon of all time. 

From Generation 1 onward, Charizard has consistently remained one of the most popular Pokemon thanks to its design, battling power, and later on, its Mega and Gigantamax forms.

Because of that legacy, many players go into Pokemon Sword and Shield hoping to use Charmander in their playthrough.

That is where the disappointment usually starts. Most guides tell players that the only way to get a Charmander without cheating is to simply finish the game. 

What many players do not realize is that there is also a legitimate early-game method that allows you to obtain Charmander within your first few hours. 

In this guide, I’ll show you every legitimate way to get Charmander in Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, including the guaranteed story method and the early-game raid method that the top players use.

Keep reading:

• Which Starter Pokemon Is The Best In FireRed Or LeafGreen
• Gigantamax Locations Guide in Pokemon Sword and Shield
• How to Get Diancie in Pokemon X and Y
• How to Get Mewtwo in Pokemon Let’s Go

How to Get Charmander in Pokemon Sword and Shield

You can get Charmander in Pokemon Sword and Shield in two main ways.

• Receiving as a gift post-game – The first way is by finishing the main story. After you become the Champion, go to Leon’s room in Postwick. You will receive a free Charmander as a gift.
• Through an early-game Max Raid method – The second way lets you get Charmander earlier in the game. You can catch it from Max Raid Battles in the Wild Area. To do this, use Wishing Pieces, look for purple raid dens, and reset the game until Charmander appears.

Both methods work, but the first one is guaranteed, while the second one depends on luck.

Comparing the Two Methods

In this table, we compare the two methods of obtaining Charmander in Pokemon Sword and Shield, including when it becomes available, the difficulty of each method, and whether it relies on RNG.

Obtaining Charmander Via the Main Story

This is the intended and guaranteed way to get Charmander. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Step 1: Complete the main story. Defeat Leon and become the Champion. After that, you will be teleported to your house.
• Step 2: Return to Hop and Leon’s house in Postwick. This is the same house you first went to when the game began.
• Step 3: Go upstairs to Leon’s room.  You will see a Poke Ball on the floor.
• Step 4: Interact with the Poke Ball. You receive a Charmander.

The only downside to this method is that you won’t be able to use Charmander or Charizard in your playthrough at all, at least not before the post-game.

So if you want to put Charizard next to you in the Hall of Fame, check out the next method.

Oh, and don’t bother hunting for this specific Charmander because it is guaranteed to be non-Shiny.

Catching a Charmander Early in the Game (Through Max Raids)

This method allows you to obtain Charmander before beating the main story, often within your first two hours of gameplay. 

It relies on Max Raid dens and date resetting. While it is an exploit (not a cheat), it works consistently and does not require online play.

You’ll Need:

• Access to the Wild Area
• At least 3,000 Watts
• One Wishing Piece

You can buy a Wishing Piece from a Watt Trader at the Nursery for 3,000 Watts.

Step 1: Gather at least 3,000 Watts

After leaving Motostoke, you gain access to the Wild Area. Interact with glowing dens and Watt Traders to collect Watts. You need at least 3000. 

Then, you need to buy a Wishing Piece. You can purchase it from any Watt Trader in the Wild Area.

Step 2: Go to Hammerlocke Hills

Look for the empty Dynamax den near the entrance. It sits close to a cliff edge with a rock behind it. Then, make sure to save your game in front of the den. Also, set your text speed to slow for better timing.

Step 3: Look for the Purple Beam

Throw the Wishing Piece into the den. Watch the beam carefully. Check the beam color.

• Red beam means common raids.
• Purple beam means rare raids. 

If the beam is not purple, immediately press the Home button and close the game before the text finishes.

Step 4: Continue Checking Purple Dens Until You See a Charmander

Change your system date forward by one day. Reopen the game and repeat the process until you get a purple beam. 

Open the den, and if the Pokemon silhouette is not Charmander, exit the den. Advance the system date by one day again. 

Reopen the game and check the den again. Repeat until the Charmander silhouette appears. Once it does, enter the Max Raid and catch it. 

You can also get a Charmeleon or Charizard later on in the game.

This method works because advancing the system date rerolls the raid Pokemon without consuming the Wishing Piece, giving you infinite resets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Now you know how to get Charmander in Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield. 

The post-game gift from Leon’s room is the guaranteed method; however, it isn’t available until you become Champion.

But if you’re fixed on adding Charizard into your team early on, the Max Raids exploit is the only legal workaround. 

Well, besides trading for one with your friends. While it requires patience and resets, it is still a legitimate in-game method.

No matter which route you choose, both options let you add one of the most iconic Pokemon ever to your Galar team. 

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