With the new generation of Pokémon out many players are going to pick the prettiest and coolest looking Pokémon, but not you, you're curious about which ones are the strongest in the region. To a big surprise, it's not going to be any of the final forms of your starters, they couldn't even top the top 20.
There is a whole bunch of competitive Pokémon with the 400 Pokémon available through Sword and Shield, but only 10 here have the highest rank of the bunch. There are some old faithfuls and a lot of dragons that made the strongest of the region category but to find out you'll have to read through our ranked top 10 strongest Pokémon in the Galar region of Pokémon Sword and Sheild.
Updated by Michael Connor Smith on February 21, 2020: Pokémon Sword & Shield's huge list of Pokémon has some real stand-out creatures that have the ability to dominate the competition with powerful moves and abilities.
With such a huge selection of Pokémon to choose from, we thought it best to update this list as the competitive metagame of Sword & Shield is ever-changing and growing. The additional Pokémon seen here have earned being called the best of the best among the 400 listed in the Pokédex.
15 Arcanine
With an overall total base stat of 555 it's amazing a Pokémon from gen 1 can make the list, especially in a region of 400 Pokémon (and 7 generations later). It does show how overpowered Arcanine was at the time. Sorry Sword, but Shield gets the points on this one for having this strong Pokémon available to capture through Growlithe. It makes sense for a Pokémon being once described as legendary. Being a straight fire type, it doesn't have a lot of defenses, but it will make up for it with plenty of fire moves.
14 Silvally
From the last generation, Sivally comes in a total base stat of 570 making it 15 points more powerful than Arcanine, add onto this its type-change ability and it sends this Pokémon over the roof on power and strategic usability.
Gamefreak definitely made some odd choices for the Galar Pokédex such as including a genetic ultra beast experiment in as a Pokémon any trainer can find in the region possibly wild very odd. It would seem they were released into the wild and allowed to replicate. It sounds like an invasive species sent out into the wild.
13 Goodra
Goodra is a 600 base stat straight Dragon-type. Its biggest advantage over the rest on this list is the potential for its ability Gooey which makes a Pokémon who physically attacks it slower. You won't find much use for this ability often but if you're going against a fast Pokémon that uses mostly physical attacks, which would be some flying/fighting Pokémon. It's most outrageous attribute is the 150 special defense which covers you on most types of attacks.
12 Tyranitar
Tyranitar is still as nasty a player on the Pokémon list as it's ever been being one of the strongest non-legendary Pokémon ever since Gen 2. Its craziest stat of 134 attack is higher than the rest listed so far. It still has a base stat total of 600 but with a low speed stat of 61. Add onto this sandstorm and you're good against anything except water types and fighting types. Since most of its moves are physical, it can be a devastating Pokémon. Sandstorm can do continuous damage even after it faints.
11 Kommo-o
Its type of dragon/fighting is the ultimate combination to bring back the over-powered-ness of the dragon type even if you're facing a fairy. It's a fighting type meaning fairy types are now neutral against it, making it super useful in competition and even pro tournaments. It's another 600 base stat Pokémon much like most of the dragons in this generation. If you get one with Bullet Proof as an ability you get one that will be invulnerable to self destruct.
10 Hydreigon
One of the dragon bunch on the list, like most of the others coming up, this thing's total base stat power is 600. It has solid stats all around with none jumping into ridiculous numbers, something much different from most Pokémon who have some high stats and some really low ones. If you're looking for a Tournament Pokémon, Hydreigon is not a bad choice as it's 45 points stronger than Arcanine. Thanks to its ability, levitate, it can avoid ground type moves even though its resistance is pretty good on them. Being part dark also gives some interesting defenses.
9 Ditto
Ditto is one of the absolute worst Pokémon by itself, but its unique gimmick is what gives it the competitive edge it needs. By using Transform, it will turn its abysmal 288 stats into whatever the opponent has, as Ditto will copy every aspect of the enemy Pokémon. This allows Ditto to not only transform into prevalent top-tier threats, but it gives it the ability to single-handedly stop them in their tracks.
Ditto is also one of, if not the best user of Dynamax in the whole game, especially when paired with a choice item such as a choice scarf, making Ditto a great fit for any team needing some more defensive options.
8 Dragapult
The biggest benefit you'll get from him is the ghost type advantage which covers you gainst even more types. Its total base stats is another dragon standard of 600 but its type advantage puts it higher than the rest even though it has more dipped-down stats like defense and special defense at 75.
If you get one with clear body you essentially get a Pokémon that can avoid losing stat points in battle, meaning things like intimidate will not work on it. It launches it's babies as missiles at opponents so you know this Pokémon doesn't care to get dirty.
7 Conkeldurr
If it wasn't apparent enough that Conkeldurr is all about muscles and sheer attacking power from it carrying around stone pillars like it's nothing, then its high placement in the OU tier will show just how deadly it can be. With a base 140 attack, Conkeldurr hits extremely hard, able to KO a lot of Pokémon in a single hit or two.
What makes this Pokémon so dangerous is its ability, Guts. When Conkeldurr is affected by any status move, its attack is boosted to 1.5x as well as ignoring the lowered attack from burns. Pokémon that are heavily focused on status effects and setting up screens will have a really difficult time against Conkeldurr, especially since it has some truly devastating moves like Mach Punch and Earthquake.
6 Cinderace
Even though Cinderace's hidden ability is yet to be released, it does just fine without it. Comparative to someone like Blaziken, Cinderace is definitely one of the best starters in the entire series. Its speed and attack stats are great, and it has access to quite the stellar move pool to dominate the competitive scene.
Its unique moves, Pyro Ball and Court Change are particularly deadly, able to deal some massive damage and change around field hazards at will. It does best when paired with an item to compliment one of its higher stats or something like Heavy Duty Boots to really take advantage of nullifying the opponent's hazards.
5 Bisharp
Physically attacking Pokémon are quite good within Sword & Shield's metagame, and Bisharp is no exception. A base 125 attack coupled with some great defensive typings makes for a particularly scary threat. Using Swords Dance to boost powerful attacks like Sucker Punch and Throat Chop will take out most Pokémon in the blink of an eye.
Bisharp's Defiant ability allows it to counteract stat-lowering moves extremely well, as they'll instantly double its already monstrous attack. While it stands a bit on the frail side, any opponent not prepared for it will lose half their team.
4 Aegislash
Ever since its unveiling in the sixth generation of Pokémon games, Aegislash has remained an extremely dangerous threat, being banned to Uber tier in X & Y and Sun & Moon. It isn't quite as formidable in the Galar region, but it's still at the top of the charts for a multitude of reasons
For starters, Stance Change is downright amazing, switching up its defensive and offensive stats whenever it needs them. It's one of the best users of Substitute in the series and moves like Shadow Ball and Sacred Sword make it feel like an unstoppable powerhouse at times.
3 Zamazenta
Now we're onto the legendaries in this list. Zamazenta and Zacian both have similar stats with a 670 totals base stats. Legendaries are always overpowered in all Pokémon games, Sword and Shield are no different this generation with legendaries. Its base stat total is 70 over the strong dragon type bunch and 115 above number 15 on the list.
2 Zacian
Zacian is the stronger of the two game-specific legendaries because of its high-powered signature attack moves. You're more likely to one-shot Pokémon with Zacian then you are with Zamazenta. It being a fairy type also makes it good against most of the strong dragon types on this list. Much like Zamazenta, it has a 138 speed stat which will mean in most cases it will go first. Of course, being the legendary Pokémon of the game, it will be one of the strongest, much to Pokémon tradition, but it's topped by one other legendary.
1 Eternatus
This is the main plot point legendary Pokémon in Pokémon: Sword and Shield but also the strongest Pokémon in the game at a total base stat of 691, making it 21 points stronger than the title legendaries. It is available on both titles to add to the benefits of it over the title Pokémon. Eternatus is even 136 points stronger than the 15th on this list, Arcanine, and 91 points stronger than the dragon bunch. By the Pokédex, it stays alive by absorbing energy in the Galar region, allowing it to stay alive and create the Dyamax forms for Pokémon. Being the source of energy that turns tiny 8-inch babies into 40-foot monsters, of course, it will be the strongest of the land.