Pokemon Sword And Shield Zarude Codes Being Sent Out In The US

Download codes for the Mythical Pokemon Zarude are now being distributed to Pokemon Sword and Shield players in the US. The codes are included as part of this month's Pokemon Trainer Club newsletter, so if you signed up for the newsletter before the cutoff date last month, you should find an email with the code waiting in your inbox.

Zarude is the new Mythical Pokemon featured in the series' latest animated film, Pokemon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle. The Dark/Grass type is level 60, and it comes equipped with Leftovers and knows the moves Close Combat, Power Whip, Swagger, and Snarl.

To claim the Pokemon, you'll need to fire up your copy of Sword or Shield and follow these steps:

• Select Mystery Gift from the menu screen
• Select Get with a Code/Password
• Follow the prompts to connect online
• Enter the code you received in your email

Although this is US players' first chance to get Zarude, the Mythical Pokemon was distributed in several countries across Europe last month. If you missed it then, you'll soon have another opportunity to snag the elusive Rogue Monkey. The Pokemon Company has announced it will likewise distribute Zarude codes to European players via the Pokemon Trainer Club newsletter. You'll need to have signed up for the newsletter by December 18 to receive a code. If you already have a Pokemon Trainer Club account, make sure you're opted into marketing communications to receive the newsletter.

Zarude isn't the only Mythical Pokemon up for grabs right now. All players who transfer a Pokemon from Go to Pokemon Home will receive a Melmetal that's capable of Gigantamaxing as a free bonus. After you've made a transfer, you'll find the Melmetal waiting in your gift box in Pokemon Home.

In other Pokemon news, a new Max Raid event is underway in Pokemon Sword and Shield. All December long, players will have a better chance of encountering certain Fire and Ice Pokemon--including Weavile, Turtonator, Kantonian Rapidash, and Gigantamax Lapras and Centiskorch--in Max Raid dens. February 2021 also marks the Pokemon series' 25th anniversary, and The Pokemon Company has already started teasing an anniversary celebration of some sort.