Which Path to Choose in Pokémon Go Sword vs. Shield [Full Guide]

Pokémon GO tests trainers with tough decisions. Sometimes you decide which reward to claim, and other times it’s about which Pokémon to evolve. In the Legendary Heroes event, you must pick between the Sword Path and the Shield Path. Your choice directly affects the Pokémon you will encounter with Incense.

Moreover, you can not switch once you have picked. For many trainers, this makes the choice stressful. Pick Sword, and you are locked into one set of exclusives. If you pick Shield, you will be committed to another. Both paths offer strong Pokémon, and the “wrong” choice could mean missing out on valuable attackers for raids and PvP.

After testing both paths, analyzing the exclusive spawns, and comparing their long-term value, I’ve built this guide to help you decide.

Part 1: Understanding the Sword vs. Shield Path

The Sword or Shield Path is a branching research mechanic built into the Legendary Heroes Timed Research. Your choice determines:

• Which Pokémon appear from Incense spawns during the event?
• Which reward encounters will you see as you progress?
• The Collection Challenge you will need to complete.

This design is simple but impactful. By tying version-exclusive Pokémon to your path, Niantic pushes trainers to think strategically about which species they want more.

In short, Sword is about one set of exclusives and Shield is another set. And some of these Pokémon evolve into meta-defining powerhouses. Your decision matters most.

Part 2: Key Differences Between Sword and Shield Paths

Both paths give you useful encounters, but the stars of the show are two pseudo-Legendaries: Deino (Sword) and Larvitar (Shield).

• Larvitar : Now it is the best Dark-type attacker and one of the strongest Rock-types. Its mega evolution takes its power even further, making Tyranitar a must-have.
• Deino: It is a very strong Dark-type attacker with excellent raid and PvP value. Though it lacks a Mega Evolution, it limits its future potential compared to Tyranitar.

Both paths also offer decent but less game-changing spawns:

Both paths also shape your Timed Research reward encounters and Collection Challenge line-up, but the Incense spawns bring are the real difference.

Part 3: Sword vs. Shield: Which Path Offers Best?

Now the most important question is, should you pick a Sword or Shield? Let’s discuss each path.

Sword Path: Why Choose It?

Sword gives you access to Deino, which evolves into Hydreigon. Hydreigon is a Pokémon that has cemented itself as a raid staple. Hydreigon’s Dark Pulse gives it a strong raid presence. In PvP, it has surprising versatility with moves like Brutal Swing.

Another perk of Sword is Scraggy, which turns into Scrafty. It is a solid pick in the Great League and Ultra League. You can also catch Swirlix, which evolves into Slurpuff. It is a fun Fairy-type option if you are still filling your roster. If you enjoy Pokémon exclusive to Sword on Switch, this is your nostalgia path.

Choose Sword if you:

• Already have Tyranitar built and want Hydreigon instead.
• Mostly play PvP and want Scrafty or Hydreigon.
• Prefer aggressive attackers.

Shield Path: Why Choose It?

The Shield path is generally considered the better option for most trainers because it unlocks Larvitar, the building block for Tyranitar and eventually Mega Tyranitar. Mega Tyranitar is unmatched as a Dark-type raid attacker and stands among the strongest Rock-types, too. That versatility makes it future-proof.

You can also obtain Spritzee, which evolves into Aromatisse. A useful bulky Fairy-type in certain PvP formats. You will also encounter Solosis in the Shield path. It evolves into Reuniclus, an interesting Psychic-type option. The Croagunk, which evolves into Toxicroak, is also available in Shield Path. It is handy in the Great League with solid coverage.

Pick Shield if you:

• Participate in raids and want one of the strongest Mega evolutions in the game.
• Do not yet have a strong Dark/Rock-type attacker team.
• Like having versatile powerhouses that remain meta-relevant.

While both choices have value, Shield Path usually comes out ahead because Tyranitar (and especially Mega Tyranitar) is a long-term investment. Sword is still strong, but Hydreigon does not match Tyranitar’s utility.

[Pro Tip] Play Pokémon GO Smarter with Sword and Shield Without Moving

Choosing Sword or Shield is only step one. Actually catching enough of the exclusives can be tricky if you do not live in an area with good spawn density. In this situation, MocPOGO can help.

MocPOGO is a location changer. It lets you spoof your GPS location safely. So you can

• Jump to hotspots where other trainers are farming exclusives.
• Park yourself in high Incense spawn areas to increase encounters.
• Join remote raids for Zacian without travel.
• Collect multiple exclusives to build XL Candy faster.

This is especially helpful during timed events like Legendary Heroes, where you only have a short window to farm. Instead of stressing about missing spawns, you can teleport to where the action is and make the most of your path choice. Here are the steps to change location:

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Step 1 Just download and install MocPOGO on your PC or Mac and click on “Start.”

Step 2 Take a USB cable, WiFi or Bluetooth to connect your Android or iPhone to the PC.

Step 3 The current location will appear on the map. Now type the location address or its GPS coordinates in the search bar and click on “Search.”

When the location appears on the map, click on “Go.”

Conclusion

The Sword vs. Shield Path in Pokémon GO decides which Pokémon exclusives you will encounter. Sword Path highlights Deino, Hydreigon, which are great additions for raids and PvP. Shield Path focuses on Larvitar, Tyranitar, one of the best Pokémon in the game. Both are valuable, but if you want the safest long-term investment, Shield Path is the smarter pick. Whatever you choose, pair your decision with a tool like MocPOGO to farm your exclusives effectively, no matter where you live.