Pokémon Sword and Shield Poké Ball Plus Guide: How to Use, Rewards, Tips, and Hints

The Poké Ball Plus was one of the more intriguing aspects of playing Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee and Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu as it let players have a usable Poké Ball in the real world – and it also came with Mew.

Now, Nintendo and Game Freak have been gracious enough to make it compatible with the new games Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. While it’s not used for the motion control aspect, it can be used to continue gaming while your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite is turned off.

With the Poké Ball Plus, you can take your favourite Pokémon from Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield to earn further in-game rewards and bonuses for that specific Pokémon.

This guide is here to show you how to use and why you should use the Poké Ball Plus in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

How to use the Poké Ball Plus in Pokémon Sword and Shield

To make use of the Poké Ball Plus in Pokémon Sword and Shield, you simply need to access the menu by pressing ‘X’ and then move over to Mystery Gift.

If you haven’t already, also use this section to get your special Gigantamax Meowth in the ‘Get via Internet’ section of ‘Get a Mystery Gift’ and input your promotion code for the pre-order bonus attire and Dynamax Crystals if applicable.

In the Mystery Gift Section, scroll down to the ‘Take a Stroll with Poké Ball Plus’ button and press ‘A’ to move on to the next screen. From there, a prompt will appear on the screen for you to press either the top button or control stick on your Poké Ball Plus.

Once you do this, a quick light flash or two will occur on the Poké Ball Plus, and all you have to do is wait a few seconds for it to connect. Then, you pick the Pokémon that you wish to put in the Poké Ball Plus to take for a walk. Once you’re done with walking your Pokémon around and playing with it – which we’ll get into shortly – you go through the exact same steps to bring your Pokémon out of the Poké Ball Plus to reap the rewards.

While the Pokémon is in the Poké Ball Plus, it is still available for use in the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield game.

What rewards do you get for using the Poké Ball Plus with Pokémon Sword and Shield?

When you’re out and about with a Pokémon in the Poké Ball Plus, the device will record the amount that you walked, played, and responded to the Pokémon as well as if it was used in conjunction with the mobile game Pokémon Go.

By using the Poké Ball Plus and clocking in lots of steps and playtime on the device, you will be well-rewarded in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. The rewards include various Poke Balls, such as regular, great, and ultra, as well as star pieces and the all-important rare candies. By using the device more – particularly for play – you’ll earn more rewards.

How to earn rewards with the Poké Ball Plus with Pokémon Sword and Shield

There are some very basic controls that you need to know while using the Poké Ball Plus to earn bigger and better rewards for your game in Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield. To commence play, simply hold the control stick down until the centre colour comes on in the colour of the Pokémon within the device. For example, if you have a Magikarp in the Poké Ball Plus, the outer ring will turn orange.

When it’s on, there are three main ways to play:

Roll the control stick clockwise or anticlockwise repeatedly with your thumb;
Firmly tie the strap around your wrist and then shake the ball back and forth;
Put the Poké Ball Plus on a flat table and, with the palm of your hand, rock the device in a circular motion.

During play, the device will give you feedback in the form of rumbles. When the Pokémon is enjoying the play, it will rumble once. Keep repeating the same action as it will continue to rumble in intervals until it eventually rumbles in rhythm and flashes multiple colours to mark that it has very much enjoyed playing. If the Pokémon is bored with the type of play, it will let out two rumbles in quick succession. At this point, just change the type of play.

If you’re looking for a way to maximise your walking around to get more rewards with the Poké Ball Plus, a good trick is to tie the strap to your leg, just below the knee, so that the ball hangs down the back of your calf muscle – not over your shin as the bouncing will hurt. You’ll need to be careful not to damage the device or anything around you – so only walk with it strapped on – but this way, each step feels like many to the device, thus building up the step counter faster.

There may also come a time when the ball rumbles inexplicably: this is the Pokémon performing a call-out. To answer the call, simply press the control stick – to which the Poké Ball Plus will respond with a flurry of rumbles and colours.

Another good control to know for the Poké Ball Plus is the mute function. While you can’t adjust or remove the rumble function, you can mute the sounds – except for when you first get the Pokémon in the device – by simultaneously pressing the control stick and the top button. If successful, you will feel a long rumble. To reverse the muting, follow the same process.

Anyone who purchased the Poké Ball Plus for the Pokémon Let’s Go games will be very happy to see that their investment extends to the latest games of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.

Looking for more Pokemon Sword and Shield Guides?

Pokémon Sword and Shield: Best Team and Strongest Pokémon

Pokémon Sword and Shield: How to Ride on Water

How to Get Gigantamax Snorlax in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Pokémon Sword and Shield: How to Get Charmander and Gigantamax Charizard

Pokémon Sword and Shield: Legendary Pokémon and Master Ball Guide

Want to evolve your Pokemon?

Pokémon Sword and Shield: How to Evolve Linoone into No. 33 Obstagoon

Pokémon Sword and Shield: How to Evolve Steenee into No.54 Tsareena

Pokémon Sword and Shield: How to Evolve Budew into No. 60 Roselia

Pokémon Sword and Shield: How to Evolve Piloswine into No. 77 Mamoswine

Pokémon Sword and Shield: How to Evolve Nincada into No. 106 Shedinja