Pokemon Sword and Shield players had their first chance to encounter the mythical Zeraora in Max Raids earlier this month, from June 17 - June 28. Trainers did not have the option of capturing the electric mythical upon defeat (much like Mewtwo this Spring,) but there was certainly no lack of incentive: if players managed to team up and defeat more than 1,000,000 Zeraora before June 28th, then all players would automatically become eligible to receive a Shiny Zeraora through Pokemon Home. Thanks to Pokemon Trainers worldwide, 1, 435,283 Zeraora were defeated as of June 24th, and the time to claim Shiny Zeraora has finally arrived.

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Even players who didn’t complete their own Zeraora Max Raid Battle are eligible for the prized Shiny, but not before certain conditions are met. First and foremost, trainers should download the free Pokemon Home mobile app. Once downloaded, players will need to ensure that they have either a) deposited a Pokemon into Pokemon Home, or b) transferred a Pokemon from Pokemon Home to Pokemon Sword or Shield. The transfer only registers if it occurred after June 17, 8:00AM PDT, so players who aren’t 100% sure may want to play it safe and deposit a Pokemon.

If a Pokemon has been transferred between Pokemon Home and Pokemon Sword or Shield between June 17, 8AM, and July 6, 5PM PDT, then the account should be eligible to claim Shiny Zeraora. To do so, simply:

Open the Pokemon HOME app (and link it to the Nintendo Account in question) Open the Main Menu and select “Mystery Gift” Select “Gift Box” Select and claim the gift marked “Victory over Zeraora (1)”

Trainers will also receive a download code for a bundle of Armorite Ore, new power-up items introduced by the new Isle of Armor Expansion Pass.

Mythical Pokemon have been a cherished secret of the Pokemon world since the days of Mew in Pokemon Red and Blue, but obtaining them hasn’t always been quite as straightforward. Back in the day, Trainers often found themselves waiting for movie premiere events, or trekking to their nearest Toys ‘R Us and lining up to physically trade an employee for a rare Mythical. Once online gaming became more commonplace, however, special Pokemon began to be distributed through online Mystery Gifts, codes, and the like, which drew criticism for potentially devaluing the rewards. Pokemon Sword and Shield players today can hopefully appreciate the balance between casual community challenge and accessibility brought forth by this recent Max Raid Battle event.

Pokemon Home is available now on the App Store, Google Play, and Switch.

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Source: The Pokemon Company