How to find Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur max raid battles in Pokémon Sword and Shield

For a limited time, you have the opportunity to capture Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and their second evolutions by participating in max raid battles in Pokémon Sword and Shield. These battles vary in difficulty, but they give you the chance to add the original starter choices to your Pokémon Sword and Shield collection. Not only can you battle them, but you can fight Mewtwo, unfortunately, you cannot capture it.

You can locate these three Pokémon the same way you would approach the traditional max raid battles. You need to venture into the wild area and start exploring the glowing dens throughout the area. The ones filled with Pokémon should have a distinct glowing light shooting up into the sky. Approach them, and you should see a dark outline of the Pokémon you’re about to battle. While you do so a black outline, you also see the Pokémon’s type before you engage it. Charmander is purely a Fire-type, Squirtle is purely a Water-type, and Bulbasaur is purely a Grass-type, so this should make it easier to locate them.

Depending on which of the three you battle, you need to change up your tactics each time. You can find these three Pokémon in one-star, two-star, and three-star raids. When you locate a four-star raid, you will find their second evolutions, Charmeleon, Wartortle, and Ivysaur, respectively. They do not have five-star raids. The new five-star raids have been reserved to Mewtwo, whom you can only receive rewards for beating.

The raids for these old favorites will continue until March 2. You have until then to try and capture them. If you miss out on them, you can always connect some of your Pokémon games to transfer them over from Pokémom Home.