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Pokemon Isle Of Armor: How To Get The Newly Added Pokemon Without Buying DLC

A bunch of new and returning Pokemon have arrived alongside the Isle of Armor expansion, but you don't need to own the DLC to get them; here's how you can add them to your collection.

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The first expansion for Pokemon Sword and Shield, The Isle of Armor, is out now. The DLC arrives alongside a new update, which introduces an assortment of new and returning Pokemon to the Galar region. These monsters can only be caught in the new Isle of Armor area, but you don't need to own the expansion to add them to your collection.

You can obtain the newly added Pokemon in a couple of different ways, even if you haven't purchased the Sword and Shield Expansion Pass. If you're looking to get your hands on the monsters, we've broken down all the ways you can get the newly added Pokemon without owning the Isle of Armor DLC below.

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Transfer From Pokemon Home

If you've caught any of the newly reintroduced Pokemon in previous games, you can transfer them into Sword or Shield via Pokemon Home. Newly added Gen 1 Pokemon such as Scyther and Kangaskhan can be brought over from Let's Go, Pikachu or Let's Go, Eevee if you have a copy of either title, but any monsters from later generations will need to be transferred from Pokemon Bank on the 3DS. That, however, can be a tricky process, so be sure to check out our guide on how to transfer Pokemon from Bank and other games.

Trading

While the newly reintroduced Pokemon can only be caught in the wild in the new Isle of Armor area, you can still receive them in trades. You can trade with other players within Sword and Shield, but your best bet to get the new monsters is Pokemon Home's GTS. The GTS is a handy way to trade for a particular Pokemon. Leave a monster on the service and specify which Pokemon you want in return, and the trade will be completed automatically for you when another player accepts the offer.

Join Other Players' Raids

If you see a player hosting a Max Raid featuring one of the newly reintroduced Pokemon, you can join the battle and potentially catch it. If your team is able to defeat the Dynamaxed Pokemon, everyone who participated in the Raid will have a chance to capture the monster, even if you don't own the Isle of Armor DLC. However, you will need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to join any online Raids.

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