What does Pawniard evolve into?

Pawniard becomes Bisharp at level 52, then Kingambit through a special method. Straight three-stage line with no branching.

At what level does Pawniard evolve?

Pawniard evolves into Bisharp at level 52. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.

Should I use Pawniard?

In Sword & Shield, Pawniard does the job early-game if you need a Dark/Steel type on your team. Evolve it into Bisharp before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Where can you catch Pawniard?

Pawniard is catchable in Sword & Shield. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 7 other games across the series.

Pawniard - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Balanced

DTier

60Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

Pawniard's spread isn't flashy. Attack leads, Sp. Atk trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Common in the wild and worth 1 Attack EV, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats

Avg

HP45

Attack85

Defense70

Sp. Atk40

Sp. Def40

Speed60

Total340

Details

Catch Rate

Moderate120 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height0.5 m

Weight10.2 kg

Base XP68

Abilities

DefiantTop Pick

Raises Attack two stages upon having any stat lowered.

Inner Focus

Prevents flinching.

PressureHA

Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.

EV Yield

HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe

Attack training source

Pokedex Entries

It uses river stones to maintain the cutting edges of the blades covering its body. These sharpened blades allow it to bring down opponents.

Pawniard Weakness

Pawniard is weak to Fighting, Fire, and Ground. Watch out for Fighting attacks, those deal 4x damage. On the flip side, it's immune to Poison and Psychic-type moves entirely. 9 resistances give it solid defensive coverage on top of that. Pawniard's physical bulk (base 70 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Pawniard Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
4x (Critical)	Fighting
2x (Weak)	Fire, Ground
0.5x (Resist)	Normal, Grass, Ice, Flying, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel
0x (Immune)	Poison, Psychic

Type ChartExcellent

3Weak

9Resist

2Immune

Score+7

4xCritical

Fighting

2xWeak

Fire Ground

½xResist

Normal Grass Ice Flying Rock Ghost Dragon Dark Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Poison Psychic

STAB (5)

Psychic Ghost Ice Rock Fairy

How to Beat Pawniard in Sword & Shield (Best Counters)

Gurdurr Fighting	A
Available Moves Moves Dynamic PunchLv. 36 DigTM15 Low SweepTM75 RevengeTM42 Damage vs Pawniard Dynamic Punch 4x 268-316%KO Dig 2x 71-84% Low Sweep 4x 175-206%KO Revenge 4x 165-194%KO View Gurdurr builds →
Hawlucha FightingFlying	B
Available Moves Moves SubmissionLv. 24 DigTM15 Low SweepTM75 RevengeTM42 Damage vs Pawniard Submission 4x 191-226%KO Dig 2x 63-75% Low Sweep 4x 158-187%KO Revenge 4x 147-174%KO View Hawlucha builds →
Passimian Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Low SweepTM75 RevengeTM42 Rock SmashLv. 5 Damage vs Pawniard Low Sweep 4x 197-232%KO Revenge 4x 181-213%KO Rock Smash 4x 126-148%KO View Passimian builds →
Toxicroak PoisonFighting	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM15 Low SweepTM75 RevengeTM42 Mud-SlapLv. 1 Damage vs Pawniard Dig 2x 73-86% Low Sweep 4x 181-213%KO Revenge 4x 165-194%KO Mud-Slap 2x 24-28% View Toxicroak builds →
Tyrogue Fighting	D
TM Move Moves Low SweepTM75 Damage vs Pawniard Low Sweep 4x 82-97% View Tyrogue builds →

Sword & Shield Evolution

Pawniard is the start of a three-stage chain. It evolves into Bisharp first, then eventually reaches Kingambit. For breeding, average hatch time with plenty of partners via one egg group. Evolving adds up to 210 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#624Pawniard

Level 52

#625Bisharp

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Pawniard

DarkSteel

Bisharp

DarkSteel

65+20

ATK

125+40

DEF

100+30

SP.ATK

60+20

SP.DEF

70+30

SPE

70+10

BST

340C-Tier

490A-Tier+150

ROLE

Balanced

Wallbreaker

TYPE

Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Pawniard easily with 52 breeding partners from the Humanshape egg group. Pass egg moves like Headbutt, Mean Look, Quick Guard and 1 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Humanshape

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

4moves

Breed With (best first)

Sword & Shield Pawniard Best Moveset

Pawniard runs a standard setup attacker set. Hardy nature with max Attack and Speed EVs shapes the build, while Red Card brings extra utility. Defiant supports the kit from the background.

Best Build

Experimental

Physical Setup Sweeper

Ability

Defiant

Item

Red Card

Best Nature for Pawniard

HardyNEUTRAL

Pawniard best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Atk

Def

Spe

Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset

Iron DefenseSTAB
Swords Dance
Iron HeadSTAB
TormentUtility

Recommended Teammates

AbraGood

ShedinjaGood

Moves

Breeding opens up real options for Pawniard. Headbutt and Mean Look come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Foul Play and Iron Head and coverage across 9 types.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Leer

D—10030Normal

Lv 1

Scratch

—4010035Normal

Lv 5

Fury Cutter

—409520Bug

Lv 10

Metal Claw

C509535Steel

Lv 15

Torment

S—10015Dark

Lv 20

Scary Face

——10010Normal

Lv 25

Assurance

—6010010Dark

Lv 30

Metal Sound

D—8540Steel

Lv 35

Slash

D7010020Normal

Lv 40

Night Slash

C7010015Dark

Lv 45

Iron Defense

S——15Steel

Lv 50

Laser Focus

———30Normal

Lv 55

Iron Head

S8010015Steel

Lv 60

Swords Dance

S——20Normal

Lv 65

Guillotine

——305Normal

TM Moves

TM58

Assurance

—6010010Dark

TM31

Attract

C—10015Normal

TM37

Beat Up

D—10010Dark

TM43

Brick Break

C7510015Fighting

TR58

Dark Pulse

B8010015Dark

TM15

Dig

C8010010Ground

TR26

Endure+4

C——10Normal

TM39

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM94

False Swipe

D4010040Normal

TM59

Fling

——10010Dark

TR81

Foul Play

B9510015Dark

TR77

Grass Knot

D—10020Grass

TR46

Iron Defense

S——15Steel

TR74

Iron Head

S8010015Steel

TR07

Low Kick

D—10020Fighting

TM75

Low Sweep

—6510020Fighting

TM57

Payback

C5010010Dark

TR57

Poison Jab

C8010020Poison

TM25

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM69

Psycho Cut

D7010020Psychic

TM33

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM21

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM79

Retaliate

D701005Normal

TM42

Revenge-4

D6010010Fighting

TM48

Rock Tomb

D609515Rock

TM76

Round

D6010015Normal

TM32

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

TM26

Scary Face

——10010Normal

TM16

Screech

D—8540Normal

TM65

Shadow Claw

D7010015Ghost

TR27

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM85

Snarl

D559515Dark

TM24

Snore

—5010015Normal

TR76

Stealth Rock

C——20Rock

TR20

Substitute

C——10Normal

Swords Dance

S——20Normal

TR37

Taunt

C—10020Dark

TM23

Thief

C6010025Dark

TM14

Thunder Wave

C—9020Electric

TR60

X-Scissor

C8010015Bug

Egg Moves

Egg

Headbutt

D7010015Normal

Egg

Mean Look

D——5Normal

Egg

Quick Guard+3

———15Fighting

Egg

Sucker Punch+1

C701005Dark

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Lash Out

B751005Dark

Sword & Shield Pawniard Locations

Pawniard's scattered across 28 spots in early-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.

Best Locations to Catch Pawniard in Sword & Shield

Pawniard appears in 28 walking locations at Lv. 10-41 across Shield and Sword. Not all encounters show up in every version, so check which ones match your game.

Challenge Road

ShieldOverworld Lv.10-15 Route

20%Early

Overcast

Forest of Focus

SwordOverworld Lv.10-15 Forest

20%Early

Overcast

Potbottom Desert

ShieldOverworld Lv.10-15 Desert

20%Early

Overcast

Soothing Wetlands

SwordOverworld Lv.10-15 Swamp

20%Early

Overcast

Forest of Focus

SwordGrass Lv.13-18 Forest

15%Early

Overcast

Forest of Focus

ShieldGrass Lv.13-18 Forest

15%Early

Overcast

Soothing Wetlands

ShieldGrass Lv.13-18 Swamp

15%Early

Overcast

Soothing Wetlands

SwordGrass Lv.13-18 Swamp

15%Early

Overcast

Forest of Focus

ShieldOverworld Lv.10-15 Forest

10%Early

Overcast

Soothing Wetlands

ShieldOverworld Lv.10-15 Swamp

10%Early

Overcast

Giant's Mirror

SwordOverworld Lv.28-30

50%Mid

Snowstorm

Giant's Mirror

ShieldOverworld Lv.28-30

50%Mid

Snowstorm

Motostoke Riverbank

SwordGrass Lv.26-28

35%Mid

Snowstorm

Motostoke Riverbank

ShieldGrass Lv.26-28

35%Mid

Snowstorm

Giant's Cap

SwordGrass Lv.26-28

30%Mid

Snowstorm

Giant's Cap

ShieldGrass Lv.26-28

30%Mid

Snowstorm

Stony Wilderness

SwordGrass Lv.26-28

30%Mid

Snowstorm

Stony Wilderness

ShieldGrass Lv.26-28

30%Mid

Snowstorm

Motostoke Outskirts

SwordGrass Lv.21-24

20%Mid

All Weather

Motostoke Outskirts

ShieldGrass Lv.21-24

20%Mid

All Weather

Challenge Road

ShieldGrass Lv.19-24 Route

15%Mid

Overcast

Challenge Road

SwordGrass Lv.19-24 Route

15%Mid

Overcast

Challenge Road

SwordOverworld Lv.16-21 Route

10%Mid

Overcast

Potbottom Desert

SwordOverworld Lv.19-24 Desert

10%Mid

Overcast

Motostoke Riverbank

SwordOverworld Lv.26-28

5%Mid

Snowstorm

Motostoke Riverbank

ShieldOverworld Lv.28-30

5%Mid

Snowstorm

Route 8

ShieldOverworld Lv.39-41 Route

20%Late

All Weather

Route 8

SwordOverworld Lv.39-41 Route

20%Late

All Weather

Pawniard Guide

Pawniard becomes Bisharp at level 52, then Kingambit through a special method. Straight three-stage line with no branching.
Pawniard evolves into Bisharp at level 52. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.
In Sword & Shield, Pawniard does the job early-game if you need a Dark/Steel type on your team. Evolve it into Bisharp before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Pawniard is catchable in Sword & Shield. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 7 other games across the series.

Game Availability

Introduced in Black & White, Pawniard has appeared in 8 games across 6 generations. Later debuts mean fewer total appearances, but it's been a consistent presence since its introduction.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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Pancham Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Low SweepLv. 16 Circle ThrowLv. 12 Arm ThrustLv. 4 Damage vs Pawniard Low Sweep 4x 150-178%KO Circle Throw 4x 141-167%KO Arm Thrust 4x 46-56% View Pancham builds →
Machop Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Low SweepLv. 12 RevengeLv. 8 Damage vs Pawniard Low Sweep 4x 150-178%KO Revenge 4x 141-167%KO View Machop builds →
Palpitoad WaterGround	D
Available Move Moves Mud ShotLv. 12 Damage vs Pawniard Mud Shot 2x 80-94% View Palpitoad builds →
Growlithe Fire	D
Available Moves Moves Flame WheelLv. 12 EmberLv. 1 Damage vs Pawniard Flame Wheel 2x 65-78% Ember 2x 61-72% View Growlithe builds →
Timburr Fighting	D
Upcoming Move Moves Dynamic PunchLv. 32 Learns Dynamic Punch at Level 32 View Timburr builds →

Pancham Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Low SweepLv. 16 Circle ThrowLv. 12 Arm ThrustLv. 4 Damage vs Pawniard Low Sweep 4x 137-162%KO Circle Throw 4x 129-152%KO Arm Thrust 4x 40-48% View Pancham builds →
Machop Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Vital ThrowLv. 24 Low SweepLv. 12 RevengeLv. 8 Damage vs Pawniard Vital Throw 4x 144-171%KO Low Sweep 4x 137-162%KO Revenge 4x 129-152%KO View Machop builds →
Croagunk PoisonFighting	D
Available Moves Moves RevengeLv. 16 Mud-SlapLv. 1 Damage vs Pawniard Revenge 4x 105-124%KO Mud-Slap 2x 17-22% View Croagunk builds →
Palpitoad WaterGround	D
TM Move Moves Mud ShotTM53 Damage vs Pawniard Mud Shot 2x 71-86% View Palpitoad builds →
Growlithe Fire	D
Available Moves Moves Fire FangLv. 24 Flame WheelLv. 12 EmberLv. 1 Damage vs Pawniard Fire Fang 2x 63-76% Flame Wheel 2x 60-71% Ember 2x 60-71% View Growlithe builds →

Throh Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Circle ThrowLv. 10 RevengeLv. 20 Damage vs Pawniard Circle Throw 4x 148-174%KO Revenge 4x 148-174%KO View Throh builds →
Sawk Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Low SweepLv. 20 Rock SmashLv. 1 Double KickLv. 10 Damage vs Pawniard Low Sweep 4x 191-226%KO Rock Smash 4x 125-148%KO Double Kick 4x 96-113%KO View Sawk builds →
Pancham Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Low SweepLv. 16 Circle ThrowLv. 12 Arm ThrustLv. 4 Damage vs Pawniard Low Sweep 4x 139-165%KO Circle Throw 4x 132-157%KO Arm Thrust 4x 43-52% View Pancham builds →
Machop Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Vital ThrowLv. 24 Low SweepLv. 12 RevengeLv. 8 Damage vs Pawniard Vital Throw 4x 148-174%KO Low Sweep 4x 139-165%KO Revenge 4x 125-148%KO View Machop builds →
Croagunk PoisonFighting	D
Available Moves Moves RevengeLv. 16 Mud-SlapLv. 1 Damage vs Pawniard Revenge 4x 103-122%KO Mud-Slap 2x 19-23% View Croagunk builds →

Gurdurr Fighting	A
Available Moves Moves Dynamic PunchLv. 36 DigTM15 Low SweepTM75 RevengeTM42 Damage vs Pawniard Dynamic Punch 4x 263-310%KO Dig 2x 70-83% Low Sweep 4x 172-202%KO Revenge 4x 160-189%KO View Gurdurr builds →
Hawlucha FightingFlying	B
Available Moves Moves SubmissionLv. 24 DigTM15 Low SweepTM75 RevengeTM42 Damage vs Pawniard Submission 4x 189-222%KO Dig 2x 63-74% Low Sweep 4x 154-182%KO Revenge 4x 143-169%KO View Hawlucha builds →
Toxicroak PoisonFighting	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM15 Low SweepTM75 RevengeTM42 Mud-SlapLv. 1 Damage vs Pawniard Dig 2x 70-83% Low Sweep 4x 172-202%KO Revenge 4x 160-189%KO Mud-Slap 2x 25-29% View Toxicroak builds →
Throh Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM15 Vital ThrowLv. 35 Low SweepTM75 Circle ThrowLv. 10 Damage vs Pawniard Dig 2x 69-81% Vital Throw 4x 178-209%KO Low Sweep 4x 165-196%KO Circle Throw 4x 154-182%KO View Throh builds →
Tyrogue Fighting	D
TM Move Moves Low SweepTM75 Damage vs Pawniard Low Sweep 4x 80-94% View Tyrogue builds →

Gurdurr Fighting	A
Available Moves Moves Dynamic PunchLv. 36 Hammer ArmLv. 42 DigTM15 Brick BreakTM43 Damage vs Pawniard Dynamic Punch 4x 260-306%KO Hammer Arm 4x 260-306%KO Dig 2x 70-82% Brick Break 4x 194-229%KO View Gurdurr builds →
Hawlucha FightingFlying	B
Available Moves Moves SubmissionLv. 24 DigTM15 Brick BreakTM43 Low SweepTM75 Damage vs Pawniard Submission 4x 189-224%KO Dig 2x 63-75% Brick Break 4x 175-206%KO Low Sweep 4x 155-182%KO View Hawlucha builds →
Passimian Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Brick BreakTM43 Low SweepTM75 RevengeTM42 BulldozeTM81 Damage vs Pawniard Brick Break 4x 215-253%KO Low Sweep 4x 189-224%KO Revenge 4x 175-206%KO Bulldoze 2x 58-69% View Passimian builds →
Falinks Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Brick BreakTM43 RevengeTM42 Rock SmashLv. 5 Damage vs Pawniard Brick Break 4x 189-224%KO Revenge 4x 150-176%KO Rock Smash 4x 105-124%KO View Falinks builds →
Tyrogue Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Brick BreakTM43 Low SweepTM75 BulldozeTM81 Damage vs Pawniard Brick Break 4x 89-106%KO Low Sweep 4x 79-94% Bulldoze 2x 25-29% View Tyrogue builds →