Pokemon Sword and Shield started off with a fair chunk of missing Pokemon, but thankfully, the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra Expansion Passes have helped ameliorate the issue. Each half of the DLC introduces new characters, creatures, and overall content for Galarian Pokemon Trainers to enjoy.
Although a good portion of the Pokemon Sword and Shield DLC content consists of entirely new material, an equally sizable portion has been dedicated to bringing back classic Pokemon favorites, like Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur.
Fans were delighted when The Isle of Armor reintroduced the Kanto Starter Pokemon to Galar, but the game still continued to lack a significant number of the series' existing monsters. Thankfully, the recently arrived Crown Tundra DLC, continues to allow older Pokemon (re)entry to the region.
Now that Pokemon Trainers are exploring the icy depths of the Crown Tundra, they will also be able to catch Pokemon like Lileep, which was previously missing from Galar. Not all of the returning Pokemon are simply making appearances in the wild though; some iconic Legendaries reappearing only in Dynamax Adventures, and others hiding away in Galarian ruins. Lileep falls somewhere in between these two extremities.
It seems that to spice up Lileep's return, developers leaned into its existing Pokedex entry and lore. Many players are at least familiar with the basic Lileep info, which is: it's a Fossil Pokemon. Initially introduced with the scuttling Rock/Bug-type Anorith, Lileep is one of two Generation III Fossil Pokemon.
Pokemon games, since Red/Blue/Green, essentially all feature a set of fossilized Pokemon for players to encounter. Traditionally speaking, Pokemon Trainers will be offered a choice between one of two rare Fossil Pokemon at some point in their adventures, and they can then restore that fossil into its original, live, form.
However, it seems that rather than restoring Lileep from a fossil, Galarian players will actually be able to find the once-extinct Rock/Grass-type in the wild. Although Lileep won't be found roaming tall grass, attentive players have taken note that its Shield Pokedex entry reveals its Galar hideaway: "Lileep clings to rocks on the seabed. When prey comes close, this Pokémon entangles it with petallike tentacles."
As such, players will instead find Lileep (mainly) by fishing in Pokemon Sword and Shield. The purple stone-plant hybrid can be found by fishing in either Giant's Bed, or Giant's Foot, both of which are located in the Crown Tundra. The Fossil Pokemon is also appearing in Max Raid Battles throughout the Crown Tundra, so players will be able to challenge its Dynamaxed self at Ballimere Lake, Crown Shrine, Giant's Bed, Giant's Foot, Slippery Slope, and, if playing Shield, Snowslide Slope, too.
Pokemon Sword and Shield, and The Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLC Expansion Passes, are available now on Switch.