How to Claim Free Pokéball Mystery Gifts in Sword and Shield

Pokémon Sword and Shield give players free gifts to celebrate the holiday season. These gifts include different types of Pokéballs that will help you complete the Pokédex.

For now, these mystery gifts only contain different types of Pokéballs, but in the future, Gamefreak may change the content of the gifts. Currently, Mystery Gifts contain nine types of Pokéballs.

You'll need a code to unlock each gift, which contains three Pokéballs each. The way to redeem a code for Nintendo Switch is the same as for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Simply go to the Switch eShop and select “Enter Code”, which is on the left side of the screen. Below are the three codes for the Pokémon Sword & Shield Mystery Gifts and what each code contains:

• 1John : Fast ball, level ball, moon ball
• KOUN1NMASCOT : Beast Ball, Heavy Ball, Lure Ball
• OKUGAFUKA1BORU : Dream Ball, Friend Ball, Love Ball

Each of these Pokéballs is extremely useful in the game, as they all help the catching process in unique ways. Some are self-explanatory, like the fastball, which increases the likelihood of a capture the faster you use it in combat.

Others, like the Lure Ball, are not that easy to understand. Here's a quick look at how each Mystery Gift Pokéball works:

• Level Ball - increases the likelihood of capture if the Trainer's Pokémon is at a high level.
• Moon Ball - useful for catching an evolving Pokémon using a moonstone.
• Beast Ball - increases the chance of catching an Ultra Beast (when they eventually come out in Sword and Shield).
• Heavy Bullet - works best on Pokémon that weigh more.
• Lure Ball - increases your chances of catching a Pokémon while fishing.
• Dream Ball - makes it easier to catch sleeping Pokémon.
• Friend Ball - increase friendship with Pokémon caught using the Friend Ball.
• Love Ball - works best when used on a Wild Pokémon that is the opposite sex of the Trainer Pokémon.