Pokemon Sword and Shield players can claim Ash’s championship team thanks to the anime

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Players need to look out for weekly codes in Pokemon Journeys: The Series

Ash's team from Pokemon Journeys: The Series
(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

Pokemon Sword and Shield players can soon pick up Ash’s championship team directly from the Pokemon anime via weekly codes. 

As revealed in a blog post on the official Japanese Pokemon website, from August 12 until September 16, players who tune into the current season of the Pokemon anime - Pokemon Journeys: The Series - will see an exclusive code on screen which can be used to claim all of the Pokemon in Ash’s team for Pokemon Sword and Shield. 

This weekly event will give Pokemon Sword and Shield players access to all five of the Pokemon in Ash’s Pokemon Journeys team, this includes Dracovish (August 12), Dragonite (August 26), Gengar (September 2), Sirfetch’d (September 9), and Lucario (September 16). Don’t think that you’ll be able to watch just one episode and keep using the same code, though, as the website also says that the password will change every week with each Pokemon.

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Like all giveaways, this one does come with a few terms and conditions. First, each password can only be used once per save data. Not only this, but only one Pokemon can be received per password (meaning you can’t claim multiple Gengars with just one code). 

You also can’t use these codes to claim the Pokemon via Pokemon Home or any other games in the series. To take part, you need to be connected to an internet source and your Nintendo Switch must be connected to a Nintendo Account. Finally, if you miss the weekly deadline for each Pokemon, you can’t claim it outside of the date given. 

In other Pokemon news, earlier this week we were treated with a Pokemon Presents, which shared a lot of new information about the upcoming Gen 9 game Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. 

If you missed it, here are some of the showcase’s highlights. First, we finally discovered that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s region is called Paldea. We also learned more about the two new Legendary Pokemon Miraidon and Koraidon, and were introduced to a new Teratallize mechanic coming to the game. 

Want to find out more about the next Pokemon game? Take a look at our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Pokedex list. 

Hope Bellingham
Hope Bellingham
News Writer

After studying Film Studies and Creative Writing at university, I was lucky enough to land a job as an intern at Player Two PR where I helped to release a number of indie titles. I then got even luckier when I became a Trainee News Writer at GamesRadar+ before being promoted to a fully-fledged News Writer after a year and a half of training.  My expertise lies in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, cozy indies, and The Last of Us, but especially in the Kingdom Hearts series. I'm also known to write about the odd Korean drama for the Entertainment team every now and then.