The Pokémon community is on a high at the moment with the recent release of the new Pokémon Sword and Shield DLC, Isle of Armor, as well as all of the recent Nintendo announcements relating to new Pokémon games.
One of the fandom's favorite Pokémon that debuted in the original 151 in generation one returned in Sword and Shield, and it even got a brand new regional look - Meowth. This cat Pokémon is best known for being a member of Team Rocket in the animated series and quickly won over the hearts of viewers with its sassy attitude. If you're new to the latest Pokémon title, or just filling out your Pokédex, read on to find out where you can get Galarian Meowth as well as a few fun facts.
10 Galarian Meowth
For players who have yet to find themselves their own Galarian Meowth, you can find one in Pokémon Sword and Shield on Route 4, as well as it possibly appearing as a Max Raid Battle from the Dusty Bowl, Giant's Seat, and Stony Wilderness dens.
Though the original Meowth was a normal type, this new Galarian Meowth is a steel type. You can also obtain an original Kanto Meowth in the game by trading a Galarian Meowth to a trainer at the Turffield Stadium.
9 Regional Variants
Meowth is currently the only Pokémon that has more than one regional form, with it debuting its Alolan form in Pokémon Sun and Moon before it received its Galarian form in Sword and Shield. Alolan forms are not native to the Sword and Shield, base game though one does appear in an NPC's camp on Route 7. However, you can now transfer Alolan forms via Pokémon Home, as well as obtain them as part of the Isle of Armor DLC.
The two different forms are vastly different, with the Alolan Meowth looking quite sophisticated with subtle purple coloring, whereas the Galarian Meowth looks a lot rougher with its dirty and unkempt appearance.
8 Gigantamax Meowth
Though Galarian Meowth didn't get a Gigantamax form, a new feature to Pokémon Sword and Shield, the original Kanto Meowth did. This makes Meowth the only Pokémon to currently have a regional form and a G-Max form. This Gigantamax Meowth was originally given out as a timed mystery gift when the game first launched, and then was later added as timed Max Raid for a week in May.
If you've missed out on your Gigantamax Meowth, worry not. With the addition of the new Isle of Armor DLC, players are able to make their Pokémon the Gigantamax versions by feeding them Max Soup. All you'll need is a Kanto Meowth and three Max Mushrooms to get your own G-Max cat.
7 Shinies
While the Kanto Meowth and Alolan Meowth both took on darker shades for their shiny variants, the Galarian Meowth shiny instead has a lighter color-scheme, which makes him look as though he's finally had a bath.
Funnily enough, the Sword and Shield Pokédex mentions how the Kanto Meowth washes its face regularly and doesn't get along with the Galarian version. Perhaps their different perspectives on hygiene are the issue here. Interestingly, the Galarian shiny variant more closely resembles the original Meowth, with the body color matching and its eyes returning to white.
6 Perserrker
Meowth from both the Kanto and Alola regions evolve into their own types of Persians, but fans were surprised to find that the Galarian Meowth evolves into a new Pokémon entirely. In Sword and Shield, Meowth evolves into Perrserker instead, presumably a combination of "Persian" and "Berserker".
Meowth will evolve into Perrserker starting at level 28 and Perrserker shares the same steel type as its previous form. Its fierce likeness with horns and beard could well be a tribute to Vikings, with its steel type being a nod to the Vikings use of iron for their helmets and weapons.
5 Galarian Meowth Design
The Pokédex entry for Galarian Meowth reads "Living with a savage, seafaring people has toughened this Pokémon's body so much that parts of it have turned to iron." This, coupled with its appearance, has led fans to believe that its design is based on Norwegian Forest cats.
Norwegian Forest cats are large cats with shaggy mane-like hair, which isn't too dissimilar from Galarian Meowth's beard-like look. It is also believed that the ancestors of this particular breed of cats were kept on Viking ships to help with vermin.
4 Kanto Meowth Design
The design of the original Kanto Meowth appears to be based on the Maneki-Neko of Japanese legend. The story goes that a poor monk who shared what little food he had with his pet cat Tama was one day sheltering from a storm below a tree. He noticed Tama raising one paw as if beckoning him to the temple, and so he left the cover of the tree to head to the temple. As he did so, a lightning bolt hit the tree and destroyed it, resulting in a close save for the monk.
Statues of these lucky cats are depicted with them holding up one paw in welcome, as well as holding a Konban coin. These cats are believed to bring good luck. It's not hard to see the resemblance between these legendary cats and Meowth.
3 Koban
Regardless of whether a Meowth is from Kanto, Alola, or Galar, you will notice that it always has the coin on its forehead, though the Galarian Meowth's is black instead of gold. The Pokémon anime refers to this as Meowth's "charm", but it is actually a Koban coin.
Koban coins were an early Japanese form of currency, initially containing about one ryō of gold, though later variants were made with less gold. These coins are synonymous with Maneki-Neko, which are often seen holding them. There is also a Japanese idiom that reads "neko ni koban", which translates to "gold coins for cats". It's easy to draw a parallel between this saying and Meowth's unique ability to produce coins by using its Pay Day move.
2 First English-Speaking Pokémon
Meowth was the first-ever Pokémon to speak English and is one of the few Pokémon who does this by actually speaking, rather than speaking telepathically. This only applies to Team Rocket's Meowth, as it is shown in the anime that other Meowth can't communicate with humans in English the same way.
Team Rocket's Meowth actually claims that his ability to speak has taken up one of his four "move slots", explaining that this is why he is unable to learn the lavish ability Pay Day.
1 Walking on Two Legs?
In episode 70 of the Pokémon anime, Go West Young Meowth, it is explained that Team Rocket’s Meowth had to learn how to walk on its hind legs and practice for ages to be able to walk like a human, which would lead viewers to believe that these Pokémon should naturally walk on all fours. In fact, there are even instances where we see Meowths on all fours too.
However, every game sprite for every Pokémon title, as well as the Pokédex in the anime, depicts Meowth as standing on its hind legs. In the later anime series, Tyson's Meowth is also seen walking on hind legs.