In the Pokémon mythos, Technical Machines (TMs) serve as one-time-use tools Pokémon can use to learn a move. These get replaced by Technical Records (TRs), which remain one-time-use items, but can be relearned in Move Reminders. Thanks to TRs, Generation 8 Pokémon can learn specialized moves they can't easily learn simply via species or via types.
Therefore, it's reasonable for fans of Nintendo's hit IP to want to farm as much TRs as possible. Moreover, the latest Pokémon Sword & Shield for the Nintendo Switch boasts new sets of Pokémon in the Galar region. As such, it makes sense for completionists and competitive Trainers to try and experiment with as much TRs as they can and build a perfect team.
10 Have A TR In Mind
Pokémon can learn other moves outside the natural ones they know on the outset. Aside from learning new skills when leveling up, Pokémon can also obtain moves via HMs, TMs, and TRs. In the case of TRs, players can get as many as 99 TRs to teach their Pokémon. If they don't know what they're looking for, players might not like what TRs they get.
Instead of buying TRs haphazardly, players should at least have TRs they want to get in mind. That way, they can get the TRs they want as soon as the opportunity arises.
9 Save Your Watts
Watts serve as a "currency" players obtain by walking a certain number of steps. The Pokéwalker gadget keeps track of steps in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, among other functions. In Sword and Shield, players can obtain Watts in various ways.
Pokémon Dens yield Watts depending if they offer a Max Raid Battle. Moreover, catching Brilliant Pokémon, joining the Rotom Rally, and giving Armorite Ores to Digging Pa can give Watts as well. Players can use their Watts to purchase a ton of stuff from Watt Traders.
8 Look For Watt Traders
Watt Traders offer interesting items to Trainers, which makes them worth searching for. Unfortunately, despite the huge size of Galar region, only seven Watt Traders exist. As such, players should look for them as soon as possible.
Thanks to their rarity, it makes sense for Watt Traders to sell various useful gear and items to trainers. For instance, they sell a variety of Poké Balls, a Wishing Piece, and a set of TRs to choose from. TRs, in particular, cost quite a ton of Watts, which means players should find ways to boost their Watt count if they're out for a shopping spree.
7 Join The Rotom Rally
Aside from items, Watt Traders also offer a quirky mini-game to players in the form of Rotom Rallies. These Rallies make use of the Rotom Bikes and help players enjoy the more 3D open landscape that Galar offers. Like other racing games, Rotom Rallies offer challenging time battles that span stretches of the Wild Area and reward them with Watts depending on their progress.
It's interesting to note that the faster players complete their Rotom Rallies, the more Watts they can spend on their TRs. Remember, players can look for seven Watt Traders in the region – which means there are seven sets of challenges to complete.
6 Don't Forget Max Raid Battles
Interestingly, players who want to analyze the kind of TRs they might need prior to acquiring them might want to take on a Max Raid Battle first. In these battles, a group of four Trainers fight a wild Gigantamax or Dynamax Pokémon. Unlike in other battles across the series, Max Raid Battles will force their enemy to stay in the upgraded form for the entire battle. Thankfully, Max Raid Battles are also fast-paced, as players lose if they don't beat the wild Pokémon within ten turns or if they accumulate four faints.
Max Raid Battles reward a ton of things when they're completed. Trainers get a shot of acquiring the wild Pokémon if they defeat it in a Max Raid Battle, but they also get a lot of Watts in the process.
5 Mind The Trader Rotation
Interestingly, despite how "separated" Watt Traders become, their locations matter when it comes to the TRs they offer to players. If they get to find all seven Watt Traders early on, they should take note of a certain "order" when it comes to farming TRs from them.
For the sake of collectors, their Watt Trader rotation should become: Meetup Spot, East Lake Axwell, Dappled Grove, Giant's East, Bridge Field, Hammerlocke Hills, and Giant's Cap. Understanding this rotation makes it easier to "calculate" with TRs other Watt Traders will most likely have on any particular day.
4 First Offerings Count
TR collectors might rejoice in the fact that Watt Traders offer stock of five TRs to sell at any given point in time. Moreover, it seems they offer a random stock of TRs every day. However, players may have a way of getting the TRs they want, provided they know the "rotation" of TRs amongst Traders. Unfortunately, this trick does need a bit of math.
For instance, the first TR in any Watt Trader's stock will be between TR 00 (Swords Dance) and TR 49 (Calm Mind). Moreover, the first TR offering changes and increases in the next day, provided players saved the game before the previous day ends. In this case, the first TR offering becomes seven more than the last one, with TR 49 resetting to TR 00. For example, if Meetup Spot's Trader offered TR 00 on Day One, then it should offer TR 07 on Day Two.
3 Everything Follows The First
Players who know the first TR offering of any Watt Trader will likely know the rest of their offerings with math. Thanks to a simple formula, players can more or less guess what TRs they can purchase before interacting with a Watt Trader.
In essence, players should take note of the TR value of the first offering (TR-1) in order to determine the values of the second through fifth TR offerings (TR-2 to TR-5, for the sake of simplicity). With this in mind, TR-2 should be TR-1(+24), TR-3 should be TR-1(+42), TR-4 should be TR-1(+67), and TR-5 should be TR-1(+96).
In the case of TR-4 and TR-5, if their resulting value exceeds 100, then players should subtract 100 to that total to acquire the real TR numbers.
2 Use The Cram-O-Matic
Players don't necessarily have to rely on pure luck to get their TRs. In fact, the Cram-o-Matic in the Isle of Armor can be used to craft not just random items but also TRs. Players can use the Cram-o-Matic after giving Hyde 500 Watts– they should also save prior to using this device.
Like other crafting options, the Cram-o-Matic can create items based on recipes. The Cram-o-Matic uses a type/value system. As such, the first item determines the type of item while the sum of the four items determines its value. Players should mind how they mix and match the item components to acquire the TRs they want.
1 Explore The Isle Of Armor
Interestingly, thanks to the Isle of Armor, players may actually obtain TRs in various locations across the island. Players can find TR 26 (Endure) in Soothing Wetlands' Challenge Beach. Meanwhile, they can find TR 77 (Grass Knot) in the tree that tall grass has been fencing on the far end of Soothing Wetlands. Thanks to these hidden spots, players may save up valuable Watts they can use to buy their more desired TRs from vendors.