Pokémon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra includes every single legendary Pokémon from previous titles. Most of the legendaries can be encountered via Dynamax Adventures, but, in order to catch The Swords of Justice – Virizion, Cobalion, and Terrakion – you’ll first need to head out into the wild area to collect lots of footprints for each of these Pokémon.
This quest will feel like a daunting endeavour for trainers who completed the Diglett quest in The Isle of Armor DLC. But, luckily, this time around Game Freak has streamlined the process and made sure your search is easily completed as you explore the snowy terrain, without having to watch numerous let’s play videos on the subject. Find out all the Pokémon Sword and Shield legendaries you can hunt down if you’re looking to fill out your Pokédex.
To get the footprint search started, you’ll need to head out of the main village of Freezington towards Frostpoint Field, where you will catch a glimpse of a footprint out of the corner of your eye. Sonia, who you may remember from the base game, will give you the rundown on who these mystery footprints may belong to, and then from then on, you will see these prints scattered throughout the land.
How to catch Virizion
To encounter Virizion, you’ll need to find 50 sets of footprints from around the Frostpoint Field, Giant’s Bed, and Old Cemetery areas. Virizion’s footprints are bright green and often appear near foliage. When you interact with the prints they are called Grassland Pokémon footprints. More than 50 sets of footprints will appear for each Pokémon and they do respawn, meaning you can find multiple prints in the same location.
Once you have collected all of the Grassland Pokémon footprints, return to Sonia in Freezington and she will let you know Virizion can be found in the Giant’s Bed area.
Virizion encounter stats
- Level: 70
- Ability: Justified – Whenever this Pokémon is hit by a Dark-type move, its Attack stat is raised.
| Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | Effect |
| Sacred Sword | Fighting | Physical | 90 | 100 | The user attacks by slicing with a longhorn. The target’s stat changes don’t affect this attack’s damage. |
| Swords Dance | Normal | Effect | – | – | A frenetic dance to uplift the fighting spirit. This sharply raises the user’s Attack stat. |
| Leaf Blade | Grass | Physical | 90 | 100 | The user handles a sharp leaf like a sword and attacks by cutting its target. Critical hits land more easily. |
| Close Combat | Fighting | Physical | 120 | 100 | The user fights the target up close without guarding itself. This also lowers the user’s Defence and Sp. Def stats. |
How to catch Terrakion
To encounter Terrakion, you’ll need to find 50 sets of footprints from around the Lakeside Cave, Ballimere Lake, and Dyna Tree Hill areas. Terrakion’s footprints are brown which makes them harder to see than Virizion. When you interact with the prints they are called Cavern Pokémon footprints. More than 50 sets of footprints will appear for each Pokémon and they do respawn, meaning you can find multiple prints in the same location.
Once you have collected all of the Cavern Pokémon footprints, return to Sonia in Freezington and she will let you know Terrakion can be found in the Lakeside Cave area.
Terrakion encounter stats
- Level: 70
- Ability: Justified – Whenever this Pokémon is hit by a Dark-type move, its Attack stat is raised.
| Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | Effect |
| Sacred Sword | Fighting | Physical | 90 | 100 | The user attacks by slicing with a longhorn. The target’s stat changes don’t affect this attack’s damage. |
| Swords Dance | Normal | Effect | – | – | A frenetic dance to uplift the fighting spirit. This sharply raises the user’s Attack stat. |
| Stone Edge | Rock | Physical | 100 | 80 | The user stabs the target from below with sharpened stones. Critical hits land more easily. |
| Close Combat | Fighting | Physical | 120 | 100 | The user fights the target up close without guarding itself. This also lowers the user’s Defence and Sp. Def stats. |
How to catch Cobalion
To encounter Cobalion, you’ll need to find 50 sets of footprints from around the Frigid Sea, Roaring-Sea Caves, and Three-Point Pass areas. Cobalion’s footprints are a shimmery blue which helps them stand out from the landscape. When you interact with the prints they are called Iron Will Pokémon footprints. More than 50 sets of footprints will appear for each Pokémon and they do respawn, meaning you can find multiple prints in the same location.
Once you have collected all of the Iron Will Pokémon footprints, return to Sonia in Freezington and she will let you know Cobalion can be found in the Frigid Sea area.
Cobalioin encounter stats
- Level: 70
- Ability: Justified – Whenever this Pokémon is hit by a Dark-type move, its Attack stat is raised.
| Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | Effect |
| Sacred Sword | Fighting | Physical | 90 | 100 | The user attacks by slicing with a longhorn. The target’s stat changes don’t affect this attack’s damage. |
| Swords Dance | Normal | Effect | – | – | A frenetic dance to uplift the fighting spirit. This sharply raises the user’s Attack stat. |
| Iron Head | Steel | Physical | 80 | 100 | The user slams the target with its steel-hard head. This may also make the target flinch. |
| Close Combat | Fighting | Physical | 120 | 100 | The user fights the target up close without guarding itself. This also lowers the user’s Defence and Sp. Def stats. |
Once you have caught the three Swords of Justice, you will also be able to encounter one of the best Crown Tundra Pokémon, Keldeo. If you need some help catching the mythical Pokémon, we also have a handy Keldeo catch guide. As always, be sure to look over our Pokémon type chart to learn more about how these critters work together – or against each other.