False Swipe is a unique move in Pokemon Sword and Shield, in that it achieves something no other ability in the entire game is capable of. While it's not necessarily great for battling other trainers, it is the perfect tool to have in your arsenal when it comes to capturing new Pokemon — especially rare or Legendary Pokemon, who you need to be very careful with.
While some Pokemon can learn False Swipe naturally, the move can also be taught via TM — and, as luck would have it, TM54 False Swipe is obtainable in Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Pokemon Sword And Shield - What Is False Swipe?
False Swipe, for those unacquainted with the technique, is a move that is utterly incapable of making an enemy Pokemon faint. Although you can deal significant damage with the attack, it will always leave your opponent with at least 1HP, making it the perfect move for capturing Pokemon without having to risk defeating them.
This comes in particularly handy in a few specific cases, namely: when you are fighting a Legendary Pokemon who does not respawn if you make them faint; if you find a rare Pokemon with very low odds of appearing in a certain area; if you encounter an incredibly rare shiny Pokemon, the odds of which are 1/512 at best, and 1/4096 at worst.
So yeah, False Swipe is something you'll definitely need if you're planning on going on an expedition to find rare Pokemon. First, though, you'll need to get yourself the actual TM.
How To Get False Swipe TM In Sword And Shield
TM54 False Swipe is only obtainable in one specific area of Pokemon Sword and Shield. After arriving at Motostoke City, visit the Pokemon Centre adjacent to the entrance to Route 3.
If you go inside and head upstairs, you'll see that it's on sale for 10,000 PokeDollars — a significant sum of money at this stage of the game, but a vital purchase for anyone who has ever known the woe of knocking a Mewtwo out — or, even worse, finally encountering a shiny Mewtwo and accidentally landing a critical hit on it.
Which Pokemon Can Learn False Swipe?
Some Pokemon, like Fraxure, Marowak, and Ninjask, generally know False Swipe by default. The entire Haxorus and Ninjask families can also learn it by leveling up, alongside Gallade, Farfetch'd, Scyther, and others.
However, with the False Swipe TM, your options are far more varied. Here's a list of all the Pokemon who can learn False Swipe via TM in Pokemon Sword and Shield, in alphabetical order so you can quickly check whichever species you're curious about:
- Absol
- Aegislash
- Alolan Marowak
- Axew
- Barbaracle
- Binacle
- Bisharp
- Blastoise
- Bulbasaur
- Charizard
- Charmander
- Charmeleon
- Cobalion
- Corphish
- Cubone
- Dartrix
- Decidueye
- Drapion
- Drednaw
- Escavalier
- Falinks
- Farfetch'd
- Fomantis
- Fraxure
- Gallade
- Garchomp
- Golisopod
- Grookey
- Hakamo-0
- Hawlucha
- Haxorus
- Heracross
- Honedge
- Ivysaur
- Jangmo-o
- Karrablast
- Keldeo
- Kingler
- Kommo-o
- Krabby
- Leafeon
- Lurantis
- Magearna
- Marowak
- Marshadow
- Mawile
- Mew
- Nincada
- Ninjask
- Nuzleaf
- Pancham
- Pangoro
- Pawniard
- Pinsir
- Rillaboom
- Rowlet
- Scizor
- Scyther
- Seedot
- Shedinja
- Shiftry
- Skorupi
- Sneasel
- Squritle
- Terrakion
- Thwackey
- Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style
- Urshifu Single-Strike Style
- Venusaur
- Virizion
- Wartortle
- Weavile
- Zacian
- Zeraora
And there you have it — where to find False Swipe in Pokemon Sword and Shield, as well as every Pokemon who can possibly learn it via TM. Happy hunting!