Pokemon Sword and Shield Weather Guide

This is our Pokemon Sword and Shield Weather Guide, we explain how the weather effects pokemon spawns and battles. We also detail a strategy used to change the weather in pokemon SW and SH, and provide links to every location in the game with spawn information.

How To Change Weather in Pokemon Sword and Shield

You can change the weather in Pokemon SW SH by adjusting your Nintendo Switch Date Settings.

Open your Nintendo Switch System Settings
Open the System Tab
Disable Synchronize Clock via Internet
Select the Date and Time Settings

Changing your Date and Time to the following dates will cause that type of weather to appear in wild areas.

Normal: 5 / 1 / 2020
Overcast: 3 / 1 / 2020
Raining: 10 / 1 / 2020
Thunderstorm: 11 / 1 / 2020
Snowing: 12 / 1 / 2020
Snowstorm: 2 / 1 / 2020
Intense Sun: 7 / 1 / 2020
Sandstorm: 4 / 1 / 2020
Fog: 6 / 1 / 2020

Dates for Changing Weather on the Isle of Armor DLC Expansion.

Normal: 3 / 15 / 2020 OR 9 / 15 / 20
Overcast: 2 / 15 / 2020 OR 11 / 15 / 20
Raining: 4 / 15 / 2020 OR 6 / 15 / 20
Thunderstorm: 7 / 15 / 2020 OR 8 / 15 / 20
Snowing: Not Available
Snowstorm: Not Available
Intense Sun: 5 / 15 / 2020 OR 12 / 15 / 20
Sandstorm: Not Available
Fog: 1 / 15 / 2020 OR 10 / 15 / 20

*Sandstorm, Snowstorm and Fog weather are locked

Unlock Sandstorm & Snowstorm by completing 3 Gyms and reaching Hammerlocke.
Unlock Heavy Fog by completing the game and beating the Champion.

Did You Know you can increase the spawn rate chance % of pokemon with methods other than weather? Visit the link below to view the different ways of increasing pokemon spawn rates in game.

Increasing Pokemon Spawn Rate Methods

How weather works in pokemon sword and shield

Below we explain how the weather works in Pokemon Sword and Shield and these conditions can affect what pokemon will appear in the area. You may have noticed that depending on the weather certain types of Pokemon will appear with increased spawn rates.

= Types of pokemon that will have Increased Spawn Rate Chance during this weather.

Normal
Overcast
Raining
Increased Power of Water-Type moves.
Reduces Power of Fire-Tye moves.
Thunderstorm
Increased Power of Water-Type moves.
Reduces Power of Fire-Tye moves.
Increased Power of Electric-Type moves for pokemon on the ground.
Pokemon on the ground cannot fall asleep.
Snowing
Deals damage to pokemon each turn who aern’t Ice Type.
Snowstorm
Deals damage to pokemon each turn who aren’t Ice Type.
Intense Sun
Reduces Power of Water-Type moves.
Increased Power of Fire-Type moves.
Sandstorm
Deals damage to pokemon each turn who aren’t Steel, Rock and Ground Type.
Heavy Fog
Only half the damage is taken from Dragon-Type moves if they are on the ground.
Pokemon on the ground are protected from status conditions.
Fishing
When fishing you will have a chance to encounter certain pokemon.
Shaking Trees
Slow Shake will drop Berries
Fast Shake will be an encounter with a pokemon
All Weather
Pokemon will spawn in that location regardless of the weather.

If you are visiting a certain area and want to know every pokemon that has a chance to spawn during any weather. Below we list each location and you can Click or Tap the links to view all this information.

List of Crown Tundra Locations Guides, Click/Tap any of the links below to view all the pokemon that spawn in each of the Crown Tundra DLC Locations.

List of Isle of Armor Locations Guides, Click/Tap any of the links below to view all the pokemon that spawn in each of the Isle of Armor DLC Locations.

You can view our other Pokemon S&S Guides below.