The main feature of the Pokémon games has always been battling. The entire goal is to move through the world, battling trainers and gym leaders to up your Pokémon's levels and become the best trainer in all of Galar, Kanto, or whatever region you're fighting in.
That doesn't mean there aren't other aspects to the games, though. To become good at any Pokémon game, you have to make some money, and that's no different in Sword & Shield. You can also use money to purchase cool clothing options and customize your character!
So, what exactly are the best ways to really sink your teeth in and get rich?
Battle Every NPC
Battling can become tedious when you're making your way through routes in the game. Sometimes it seems like there's a trainer every few feet and if their levels are below you and your Pokémon aren't gaining much experience from the fight, it can be tempting to dodge eye contact and keep making your way along the path.
It's not just important to battle NPCs for EXP, however. Every battle won comes with that NPC having to forfeit half of their money.
...Unless They're Too High Level
However, you should also be careful not to battle trainers that are high above your level. This means you'll have to forfeit half of your own money, which will seriously set you back in your savings. That's the last thing you want.
Pick Up The Amulet Coin
The Amulet Coin, when held by a Pokémon, will double the amount of money earned from defeating trainers in battle. There are a few ways to get an Amulet Coin:
- Behind the Motostoke Outskirts sign
- From random wild Pokémon
- From a merchant, though this isn't recommended when you can pick one up for free elsewhere
The Amulet Coin will make a world of difference to your monetary needs.
Keep At It With The Wild Area
The Wild Area, a new addition to the Pokémon games, is not only filled with creatures to collect and battle — it's filled with items too. Look for sparkling spots in the ground and those classic Pokéballs that herald items, and you can pick up a lot of them and sell them.
Luxury Balls
Selling Luxury Balls is a great way to quickly get cash, and you can get them by spending Watts. To find Watts, interact with Pokémon dens — even if they aren't active with a raid at the time. It takes two seconds to grab some, and they'll add up over time.
Chloe
Chloe is a rich trainer who can be found in the Wild Area, and she'll give out an impressive amount of cash if you beat her. If you lose, she'll give you some get rich quick tips instead — she's all about the money. Holding an Amulet Coin when battling her especially yields an impressive amount.
PokéJobs
Another new addition to the games is PokéJobs. Access a PC and sign your Pokémon up for some jobs. They'll disappear for a day and return with not only more EXP, but perhaps some money and items.
PokéJobs aren't exactly a great way to grind for cash if it's your main method, since the money tends to be random and minimal, but it definitely adds up. It's also pretty effortless on your part, since you don't have to do the job at all — your Pokémon does it all in the background of the game.
You can also find jobs at the university that will up your Pokémon's stats, making their battling more effective and earning you more money that way!
The Wyndon Tournament
In the post-game, far more money becomes available for you to make! The Wyndon tournament can be played through as many times as you like, and each trainer will spit out quite an impressive amount of cash.
The Best Pokémon To Use
If you can get your hands on Gigantamax Meowth, G-Max Gold Rush will increase the amount of money you can make by a lot. If you hand that Meowth an Amulet Coin, you can make over $100k per battle if you use that move three times. This is by far the quickest way to farm money in the game, but it does require completing everything else first so it won't help you on the initial playthrough.
The higher level your Meowth is, the more money G-Max Gold Rush will produce. The quickest way to level up your Pokémon is to grab some candies from raids, so make sure you hit up all those Dynamax Raids and get the EXP candies. Those items almost make leveling up too easy in this game, so it shouldn't take too long for you to hit the max.
Spend Wisely
Of course, you should spend the money you do make wisely! You can only wear one outfit at a time, so no point going to town in a clothes store when you really should be saving your money for something else. The best way to farm money is by not spending it instantly and then regretting your purchase.