Can You Duplicate Zacian? A Comprehensive Guide to Zacian in Pokémon Sword and Shield

The short answer is a resounding no, you cannot directly duplicate Zacian within a single Pokémon Sword save file. Pokémon Sword and Shield, like many mainline Pokémon games, are designed to prevent players from obtaining multiple copies of their cover legendaries through normal gameplay. However, there are a few methods you can use to effectively get more than one Zacian on your account or to trade.

How to Obtain Additional Zacian

While you can only catch one Zacian per game save file, there are a few strategies you can employ to get more:

• Trading: The most common method is to trade with other players. If you own Pokémon Shield, or have a friend who does, they will have Zamazenta in their game. You can trade a Pokémon with them for their Zacian.

• Starting a New Save File: This is a more time-consuming option. You can create a new profile on your Nintendo Switch and play through Pokémon Sword again. This allows you to catch a second Zacian. However, you’ll need a second Switch or a trusted friend to trade the Zacian to your main save file.

• Cloning (Use with Caution): Cloning involves using glitches or third-party devices to duplicate Pokémon. While this can get you a second Zacian, it’s generally frowned upon by the Pokémon community and could potentially corrupt your save data. This method is not officially supported and carries risks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Zacian

Here are some common questions players have about Zacian and its availability in Pokémon Sword and Shield:

Can I catch a second Zacian in the same game file?

No, you cannot. The game is programmed to allow only one encounter and capture of Zacian per save file. Once you’ve caught Zacian, it will not appear again in the story.

Can I get both Zacian and Zamazenta in one game?

No, you can only obtain either Zacian (in Pokémon Sword) or Zamazenta (in Pokémon Shield) during the main storyline. To get the other legendary, you must trade with another player.

Is it possible to breed Zacian with Ditto?

No, you can’t breed Legendaries, including Zacian, with Ditto or any other Pokémon. This is because Zacian is in the Undiscovered Egg Group, which prevents it from breeding.

Can I trade Zacian with the Rusted Sword?

Yes, you can trade Zacian while it’s holding the Rusted Sword. The Rusted Sword is essential because it allows Zacian to transform into its Crowned Sword form, significantly boosting its stats and changing its type to Fairy/Steel.

What happens if I give Zamazenta the Rusted Sword?

Giving Zamazenta the Rusted Sword has no effect. Zamazenta requires the Rusted Shield to transform into its Crowned Shield form and gain increased stats and typing.

Is Zacian good without the Rusted Sword?

Zacian is still a strong Pokémon in its Hero of Many Battles form, but it’s significantly more powerful in its Crowned Sword form. Without the Rusted Sword, it lacks the Steel typing and the stat boost, making it less effective in battles.

Is Zacian better than Zamazenta?

This depends on your team composition and battling strategy. Zacian’s Fairy/Steel typing provides excellent offensive coverage and fewer weaknesses compared to Zamazenta’s Fighting/Steel typing. Zacian is often considered the more versatile and powerful of the two due to its typing and higher attack stat in Crowned form. However, Zamazenta is still a viable option, and each legendary has its strengths.

What are the two forms of Zacian?

Zacian has two forms:

• Hero of Many Battles: Zacian’s base form, which is a Fairy-type Pokémon.

• Crowned Sword: Zacian’s enhanced form, achieved by holding the Rusted Sword. This form adds Steel typing and significantly boosts Zacian’s stats.

What is the rarest legendary Pokémon in Sword and Shield?

While Zacian and Zamazenta themselves aren’t considered the “rarest” due to their guaranteed encounter in the story, some of the harder-to-find Pokémon include:

• Dreepy: Requires patience and good fortune to find in the Wild Area.
• Sizzlipede: Low spawn rate in specific locations.
• Dhelmise: Tricky to locate in the Isle of Armor DLC.
• Lapras: Rare spawn in specific weather conditions.
• Feebas: Requires specific fishing spots and timing.

Can you get the same legendary twice through Dynamax Adventures?

While Dynamax Adventures in the Max Lair offer a chance to catch various Legendary Pokémon, you can only catch each Legendary once. If you encounter a Legendary you’ve already caught, you won’t be able to catch another of the same species.

Is Zacian shiny locked?

Yes, Zacian is shiny locked in Pokémon Sword and Shield. This means that it’s impossible to encounter a shiny version of Zacian through normal gameplay. Other shiny-locked Pokémon include Zamazenta, Eternatus, and several Mythical Pokémon.

Who is stronger: Arceus or Zamazenta?

In their base forms, Arceus has a significantly higher base stat total than Zamazenta. When Zamazenta is in its Crowned Shield form, its stats increase, but Arceus remains the stronger Pokémon overall. Arceus is considered a god-like Pokémon with the ability to change its type and has a total base stat unmatched.

Is Zacian one of the strongest Pokémon?

Yes, Zacian is widely regarded as one of the strongest Pokémon in the competitive scene. Its high attack stat, speed, and excellent typing make it a formidable opponent. In its Crowned Sword form, Zacian’s stats are further boosted, making it even more powerful.

What Pokémon can outspeed Zacian?

While Zacian is very fast, some Pokémon can outspeed it, especially with the use of Choice Scarf items or abilities. Some examples include:

• Calyrex-Shadow: Extremely fast Special Attacker.
• Choice Scarf Kyogre: Can outspeed and deal significant damage.
• Offensive Eternatus: Can outspeed and KO Zacian with its STAB moves.

Is Crowned Zacian better than Hero Zacian?

Crowned Zacian is significantly better than Hero Zacian. The Rusted Sword not only changes Zacian’s typing to Fairy/Steel, but it also provides a massive stat boost to its Attack and Speed. This makes Crowned Zacian one of the most powerful and fastest Pokémon in the game.

Should I use Play Rough or Wild Charge on Zacian?

Play Rough is generally the preferred charged move for Zacian due to its high STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) damage. Wild Charge is a viable option, but it often has less utility. Close Combat is the weakest option due to clashing effectiveness with Snarl.

Further Exploration: The Educational Value of Pokémon

The strategic depth and community engagement surrounding Pokémon, including the intricacies of obtaining and training powerful Pokémon like Zacian, highlight the educational potential of gaming. Resources such as Games Learning Society support research and understanding of how games can contribute to learning and skill development. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about the intersection of games and education.

In conclusion, while you can’t duplicate Zacian in the traditional sense, understanding the methods available and the nuances of Zacian’s strengths and weaknesses will help you make the most of this legendary Pokémon in your Pokémon Sword adventure.