How to Get the Leader’s Crest in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: A Comprehensive Guide
The Leader’s Crest is a crucial item in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, vital for evolving Bisharp into the formidable Kingambit. Unlike many evolutionary items, obtaining the Leader’s Crest isn’t as simple as purchasing it from a shop or finding it randomly on the ground. It requires a bit of detective work and some strategic battling. In short, to get a Leader’s Crest, you need to either capture or use Thief on a specific kind of Bisharp. This Bisharp must be the leader of a pack of Pawniard, easily identifiable by being surrounded by four Pawniard in the wild.
Locating Leader Bisharp
Where to Find Them
The primary habitat for these Leader Bisharp is in the North Province (Area Two) of the Paldea region. Specifically, focus your search within the bamboo thicket. These areas are teeming with Pawniard and, if you’re lucky, the Bisharp that command them. Remember, not all Bisharp carry the Leader’s Crest, only those leading the Pawniard packs.
Visual Confirmation
When scouring the bamboo groves, keep an eye out for groups of Pawniard. These groups are your signal that a Leader Bisharp might be nearby. The Bisharp will be positioned at the center of the group, clearly indicating its leadership role. This visual cue is essential for distinguishing the correct Bisharp from others in the area.
Acquiring the Leader’s Crest
Method 1: The Thief Approach
One way to acquire the Leader’s Crest is to use the move Thief. This move allows your Pokémon to steal the held item of the target Pokémon while simultaneously dealing damage.
- Bring a Pokémon with Thief: Ensure you have a Pokémon in your party that knows the move Thief. Good candidates include Sneasel, Weavile, or even Meowth.
- Engage the Leader Bisharp: Initiate a battle with the Leader Bisharp surrounded by Pawniard.
- Use Thief: Use the Thief move on Bisharp. If it is holding the Leader’s Crest, your Pokémon will steal it.
- Confirm the Acquisition: After the battle, check your Pokémon’s held item. If it is holding a Leader’s Crest, congratulations! You’ve successfully stolen it.
Method 2: The Capture Approach
Alternatively, you can simply catch the Leader Bisharp.
- Engage the Leader Bisharp: Initiate a battle with the correct Bisharp.
- Weaken the Bisharp: Reduce the Bisharp’s HP without knocking it out.
- Use a Poké Ball: Throw a Poké Ball (Ultra Balls are recommended for a higher catch rate) to capture the Bisharp.
- Check Held Item: After capturing the Bisharp, check its held item. If it is holding a Leader’s Crest, you’ve successfully obtained it. If not, you can either try again with another Leader Bisharp or use the move “Covet” or “Thief” to take the item from it.
Evolving Bisharp into Kingambit
The Evolution Process
Once you have a Bisharp or acquired the Leader’s Crest, you’re one step closer to obtaining Kingambit. Evolving Bisharp is not just about leveling up or using an item; it requires fulfilling specific conditions.
- Obtain a Leader’s Crest (Either by holding or by acquiring).
- Defeat Three Leader Bisharp: The Bisharp holding the Leader’s Crest needs to defeat three other Bisharp that are also leaders of Pawniard packs. The best approach is to bring the Leader’s Crest to a Bisharp with a strong attack stat.
- Level Up: After defeating the three Leader Bisharp, simply level up your Bisharp. As long as it has defeated the appropriate Bisharp, it will evolve into Kingambit upon leveling up.
Important Considerations
- Location Matters: The three Bisharp you defeat must be the Leader Bisharp surrounded by Pawniard.
- Held Item: Although some sources conflict, you can use the Leader’s Crest without requiring your Bisharp to hold it.
- Level is Irrelevant: The evolution can occur at any level, even level 100, as long as the three Leader Bisharp have been defeated.
FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About the Leader’s Crest
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process of obtaining and using the Leader’s Crest:
1. How do I know if a Bisharp is holding a Leader’s Crest?
You can’t visually determine if a Bisharp is holding a Leader’s Crest before engaging in battle. The only way to find out is to either use the move Thief or Covet during battle, or to catch it and then check its held item in your party.
2. Where do Leader Bisharp spawn?
Leader Bisharp primarily spawn in the North Province (Area Two), particularly within the bamboo thicket areas. They are always surrounded by a group of four Pawniard.
3. How do you evolve Bisharp into Kingambit?
To evolve Bisharp into Kingambit:
- Obtain a Leader’s Crest.
- Have the Bisharp defeat three other Leader Bisharp that are leading packs of Pawniard.
- Level up the Bisharp afterwards.
4. Why is my Bisharp not evolving?
Your Bisharp won’t evolve if you haven’t fulfilled the specific conditions: It needs to defeat three other Leader Bisharp surrounded by Pawniard. Simply having a Leader’s Crest won’t trigger the evolution.
5. Can you evolve Bisharp without a Leader’s Crest?
Some players find it difficult to get Bisharp to hold a Leader’s Crest. A Bisharp that is holding a Leader’s Crest can fight other Bisharp in its evolution process, which is what causes confusion.
6. Can I evolve a level 100 Bisharp?
Yes, you can evolve any Pokémon at level 100, including Bisharp. To evolve a level 100 Bisharp, ensure it has defeated three wild Leader Bisharp surrounded by Pawniard and then level it up. The level is irrelevant to the evolution condition.
7. Can Kingambit be female?
Yes, Kingambit can be either male or female. Gender does not affect its evolution or abilities.
8. Does every Bisharp have a Leader’s Crest?
No, not every Bisharp carries a Leader’s Crest. Only the Bisharp leading a pack of Pawniard have a chance of holding it.
9. Where can I find Alpha Bisharp?
Bisharp can be found in the bamboo groves of the North Province (Area Two) and in Area Zero. Note that Alpha Pokémon are generally larger and more powerful, but the location remains consistent.
10. What if I’m having trouble finding Bisharp holding a Leader’s Crest?
If you struggle to find Leader Bisharp holding the crest, try using a Pokémon with the move Switcheroo. Give your Pokémon the Leader’s Crest, use Switcheroo to give it to the wild Bisharp, and then defeat that Bisharp with your own Bisharp.
11. How many Leader’s Crests do you need to evolve Bisharp?
You don’t need more than one Leader’s Crest, unless you plan to evolve multiple Bisharp into Kingambit. The primary requirement is to defeat three Leader Bisharp.
12. Does Bisharp need to hold the Leader’s Crest to defeat the other Bisharp?
Bisharp must defeat three other Bisharp in order to evolve into Kingambit. Having Bisharp hold the Leader’s Crest is optional.
13. How hard is it to evolve Bisharp?
Evolving Bisharp can be moderately challenging due to the specific conditions. Finding the Leader Bisharp, acquiring the Leader’s Crest, and then defeating three more Leader Bisharp requires patience and strategic battling.
14. Is Kingambit better than Bisharp?
Kingambit is generally considered superior to Bisharp due to its higher stats and the unique ability Supreme Overlord. While Bisharp has its strengths, Kingambit’s offensive prowess makes it a valuable addition to any team.
15. Is there any strategy behind breeding for Bisharp?
There are no strategies for breeding Bisharp in order to evolve it more easily. The most common way to use Bisharp effectively is to breed it with the moves you require.
Conclusion
Obtaining the Leader’s Crest and evolving Bisharp into Kingambit is a rewarding process in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. By understanding where to find Leader Bisharp, utilizing the Thief move or capture method, and fulfilling the evolution requirements, you can add this powerful Pokémon to your team. Remember to explore the bamboo groves of the North Province (Area Two), and keep an eye out for those Pawniard packs! By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to adding the mighty Kingambit to your Paldean adventure.
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