Night and Day Cycle in Pokemon Sword & Shield
Pokemon Sword & Shield day and night cycle is one of the core mechanics of the game, because certain Pokemon only appear at night or in daytime. Needless to say, figuring out how the night and day cycle in Pokemon Sword & Shield works is something that you have to figure out fast. Unfortunately, things regarding day and night in this game is a little bit confusing, since both the story and the Switch’s internal clock influence them. So, let’s see how the day and night cycle in Pokemon Sword & Shield works, shall we?
How does the Pokemon Sword & Shield Day & Night Cycle Work?
How the Day and Night cycle works in Pokemon Sword & Shield works depends on where you are and at what point in the story you are. On routes and in cities, your story progression is going to be important. If the story needs it to be night time, it’ll be night time. Same goes for Wild Areas when going through them is a part of the story mission. Basically, the game sacrifices the in-game clock for a bit of atmosphere and story-telling, which is fine, if confusing. When you go back to that Wild Area later, it’ll follow your console’s clock.
Speaking of Wild Areas, if they’re not a part of a story mission, they follow your Switch’s internal clock. So, if it’s, say, 1 AM on your Switch, it’ll be night in the Wild Areas. If it’s noon, it’ll be daytime, you get the idea. And, once you beat the main game, the routes and cities will also start following the console’s clock. At that point, there’s no drama to build, and consistency takes over the reins. So yeah, if you’re looking for a Pokemon that only comes out at a certain time of day, you can simply change the Switch’s clock. It’s great.
I think that’s all there is to it when it comes to the day and night cycle in Pokemon Sword & Shield. We’ve also got a lot of different Pokemon Sword & Shield guides for you to check out, if you need more help. Like, say, Bad League Staff Member Wyndon Location, Special Move Tutor Locations, and How to Catch Pokemon Easier.
