As players make their way around the Galar region in Pokemon Sword & Shield, they'll find a variety of helpful held items for their Pokemon. One of these is the Razor Claw, a held item that increases the holder's critical hit ratio by a single stage during battle. That's not the only use for this elusive item, however.

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While the Razor Claw can be helpful for battle, it's also a necessary ingredient for those hoping to evolve Sneasel in Pokemon Sword & Shield. For the dual Dark and Ice-type Pokemon to evolve into a Weavile, it needs to be holding a Razor Claw while it levels up at night.

Updated December 14, 2021 by Tom Bowen: With the hype surrounding Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl having now died down a little and Pokemon Legends: Arceus still a few months away, many players are opting to return to the wonderful world of Galar to pass the time. Those who have and now find themselves wondering how to find a Razor Claw in Pokemon Shield or its sword-themed counterpart are in luck, as this guide contains all of the necessary information as well as how players can use said Razor Claw after tracking it down.

Where to Find a Razor Claw in Pokemon Sword & Shield

pokemon sneasel

Considering the possible uses for Razor Claws, it's generally considered to be a great item for trainers to get their hands on. Luckily, there are multiple places where players can find them in the Galar Region, both in the base version of the games and the Isle of Armor DLC expansion.

The first location that players can find a Razor Claw is the Dusty Bowl. If they go to the northwest island and check near the northeast corner of the island, they can find a Razor Claw. It even has a 25% chance of reappearing after being found, though players should note that they'll need the Rotom Bike Water Mode in order to reach it.

The next location where players can find a Razor Claw in Pokemon Shield or Sword is the town of Stow-on-Side. Upon visiting the Bargain Shop there, there's a chance that the shopkeeper will be selling a Razor Claw for 3,000 PokeDollars. The chances of getting a Razor Claw this way are just one in 28, but if players return every day or change the date on their Switch, they will be able to get one eventually.

Pokemon Kommo-o

If players really want to put their luck to the test, there is one more method for those limited to just the base version of Pokemon Sword. This involves catching wild Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o, or Kommo-o, which can be found in the Lake of Outrage and Dusty Bowl areas. There'll be a 5% chance that the former two will be holding a Razor Claw, with wild Kommo-o ten times more likely.

For players who own the Isle of Armor DLC expansion, there is one more method of getting a Razor Claw that involves using the Cram-o-matic. If players manage to get 72-80 Ice-type points into the Cram-o-matic through their items, the Cram-o-matic will produce a Razor Claw. Ice-type items that can be fed to the Cram-o-matic include Aspear Berries, Comet Shards, Ganion Berries, Ice Stones, Icy Rocks, and Snowballs.

How to Use Razor Claws in Pokemon Sword & Shield

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After getting a Razor Claw, players have a few different options when it comes to how they actually use it. Most will opt to evolve Sneasel, which requires players to level the Pokemon up at night while it's holding a Razor Claw. If done correctly, the player's Sneasel will evolve into a Weavile, which boasts a much improved 510 base stat total when compared to Sneasel's 430.

Alternatively, players can use Razor Claws to boost a Pokemon's critical hit ratio during battle. Given that crits are determined in part by the user's base speed, it works best with faster Pokemon like Regieleki and Calyrex, though Pokemon with the Super Luck ability like Murkrow and Togekiss can also be good candidates. With high affection and a move set consisting of attacks with high critical hit ratios, this can be an incredibly effective strategy.

Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield are now available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.

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