How to Get Zarud in Pokemon Sword & Shield
Zarude is the last Mythical Pokémon to be included in the Pokemon sword & shield, but finding this elusive creature can be a little tricky. Here's how you can catch Rogue Monkey when it releases.
While information about Zarude's appearance in Pokemon Sword and Shield may be elusive, we do know that this mythical creature will be obtainable through a special event. As of now, only Japanese Pokémon fans can get Zarude by pre-purchasing a ticket to Pokemon the Movie: Coco.
The film must come out December 25, 2020 in Japan and will likely give fans more information about Zaruda's origins. While Pokemon the Movie: Coco may not have a confirmed Western release, it's likely that Zarude will be distributed in a similar fashion.
Be sure to check out all the details below for everything we know about this mysterious Pokémon.
Where to find Zarude in Pokemon Sword & Shield
At the time of writing, we don't know when or how the Mythical Pokémon Zarud will be added to the Galar region. However, on Sword and Shield official website it states that "Zaruda cannot be found in regular gameplay." In other words, trainers will not be able to capture Zarud in the wild unless they first gain access to a special event or giveaway. Some fans have managed to get Zarud early by pre-purchasing tickets for the Japanese screening of Pokemon the Movie: Coco, but it can be a little tricky if you don't know what you're doing.
Based on distribution in Japan, we expect Zarude to get a similar process overseas. We'll update this section as soon as Zarude goes live, so be sure to check here for all the latest information.
What do we know about Zaruda?
- Category: Rogue Monkey Pokémon
- A type: Dark and herbal
- Height: 1,8 m (5 ft 10 ft)
- Ability: Leaf Guard
Zarude may not have been officially released in Pokemon Sword and Shield, but we do have a fair amount of information on this Mythical Monster. According to the official Pokémon website, Zarude uses his flexible vines to swing from trees, grab berries from distant branches, heal wounds, and even force enemy Pokémon into submission.
The double type Dark/Grass is also known to live in packs and inhabit areas of dense forest, hiding from prying eyes. Like most monkeys, Zarude is known for his intelligence and quick thinking, which is said to help him in combat.
Zarude's move set and abilities
While the manic monkey is known to use its razor-sharp claws and flexible vines to scratch and whip opponents, its signature move is actually more defensive in nature. When Zarud reaches level 90, he can learn Jungle Healing.
This grass-type status move allows Zarud to wrap his vines around nearby trees and absorb their energy. Once all the energy is consumed, Zardud releases it, healing both himself and any allied Pokémon. Jungle Heal also heals any status conditions the Pokémon has been inflicted with, making it an extremely powerful support move.
The official Sword and Shield website says, “In Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, only Zarude can learn jungle healing. However, it is possible that other Pokémon will be able to learn this move in future games.” Depending on how effective and game-changing Jungle Heal is, we may see this move become extremely popular in competitive play.
If that wasn't enough, Zarude's Leaf Guard ability prevents non-volatile conditions from hitting him. This ability was first introduced in Generation 4 and was the primary choice for those looking to avoid any sort of nasty status effects.