For fans looking to approach Pokémon Sword & Shield from a different angle, there is a way to play a new game on "Hard Mode." Sword & Shield added items to the Galar region which take the grind out of training. Players no longer have to worry about their team being too low of a level to take on gym challenges, or battle in the Max Raids strewn throughout the region's Wild Areas. However, this has made the journey to become a Pokémon trainer almost too easy, and some fans may be missing the reward of more challenging training requirements.
With the introduction of Pokémon Sword & Shield's Galar region, several changes were integrated into the gameplay. This included wiping the need for HM moves to explore the area, instead funneling all of the needed abilities into the player's Bike, as well as making EXP Share into a basic mechanic for the game, so the player can no longer toggle it on and off. However, there are ways to get around battle experience being shared to the entire party, for players looking to challenge themselves.
To start a "Hard Mode" game of Pokémon Sword & Shield, players will want to collect the six Pokémon that they wish to train. Thanks to the PC boxes being accessible from the player's Bag menu, they can now put Pokémon they are not actively training in a PC box and easily shuffle out which Pokémon they are using. By doing this, a player will only have one Pokémon at a time in their party while training on routes and in Sword & Shield's Wild Area. This requires the player to carefully evaluate the moves that they are giving their Pokémon, and allows them to spend more time with each of their team members, making the experience of eventually beating gyms and max raids more rewarding.
Pokémon Sword & Shield Added Too Many EXP Boosting Items
Pokémon Sword & Shield added a feature based off of the mechanics of Pokémon GO, and it skews how quickly trainers can level their Pokémon. EXP candy comes in many sizes, and it allows players to quickly level their team without the need to battle. This handy new item has put a higher value on high-leveled Pokémon, instead of strategy and effort, when it comes to a player's Pokémon team. To play on "Hard Mode" in Sword & Shield, players will want to ignore EXP candy, instead using encounters and trainer battles to build up their team.
Once the player has spent time grinding their team to the correct level, they can pull all six into their party and challenge the Gym they were preparing for, or a Max Raid battle they want to enter. By avoiding EXP items that speed the player through the game, Pokémon fans can challenge themselves by taking on the Galar region using good strategy and thoughtful partnership with the Pokémon in their team. This Hard Mode adventure will allow fans to experience Pokémon Sword & Shield in a different way, and hopefully become closer to their Pokémon as a trainer.