Bisharp's evolution, Kingambit, is one of the best additions in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, making it more than worth the wait to see Bisharp get a new stage. However, Kingambit isn't exactly easy to get your hands on, proving to be one of the more difficult evolutions in Paldea. Luckily for you, we're here to tell you how to evolve Bisharp, along with important information such as where you can catch one.
However, before we dive into that, allow us to help you fill out your Pokédex with our how to evolve Primeape, how to evolve Inkay, and how to evolve Charcadet guides. We can also tell you how Pawniard, Bisharp, and Kingambit fare in comparison to other dark Pokémon and steel Pokémon.
Here's what you need to know about Bisharp's evolution.
Where can I catch Pawniard?
Pawniard is a fairly common Pokémon, appearing frequently in the locations it calls home; you can even catch one with just a basic pokéball, maybe a great ball if it's a higher level. On Nintendo Switch, Pawniard appears in the following games and locations:
- Sword and Shield - Route 8, Giant's Cap, Motostoke Outskirts, Giant's Mirror, Stony Wilderness, Motostoke Riverbank, West Lake Axewell, Giant's Seat, Dusty Bowl, Hammerlocke Hills
- Scarlet and Violet - South Province (Area Five), East Province (Area Three), North Province (Area Two), Tera Raid Battles
How do I evolve Pawniard?
Pawniard evolves at level 52. While this seems daunting, if you take advantage of the EXP share and give Pawniard candies, you'll speed up the process. If you play Sword and Shield or Scarlet and Violet, you can get EXP candies through Dynamax Caves and Terra Raid battles.
Where can I catch Bisharp?
Though not as common as Pawniard, you can encounter Bisharp out in the wild. In Scarlet and Violet, you can find on in the following locations:
- North Province (Area Two)
- Area Zero
- Tera Raid Battles (it won't have a leader's crest)
If you want to find Bisharp in Sword and Shield (just remember you can't evolve it in those games), you can find it in the following areas:
- Lake of Outrage
- Giant's Seat
- Motorstoke Riverbank
- West Lake Axewell
- Stony Wilderness
- Giant's Mirror
- Dusty Bowl
- Hammerlock Hills
How do I evolve Bisharp?
As a gen 9 Pokémon, Kingambit is only available in Scarlet and Violet. Bisharp needs three leader's crests to evolve into Kingambit, but these items aren't too easy to come across, as not every Bisharp you encounter has one. If you find one alone, it's best to leave it and look for one in a group with Pawniard, as they're the ones with a leader's crest. Then, to get the item, you either need to steal it with an ability or catch the Bisharp.
We do have one bit of advice that may help speed up the process: if you have the switcheroo move, you can give a leader's crest to the opposing Bisharp, and it still counts towards your total.
Where can I catch Kingambit?
You can't find Kingambit wandering around in the world, but you can get lucky and encounter it via five-star or six-star raids in Scarlet and Violet. However, if you have The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, you can find it in the Timeless Woods.
How do I evolve Bisharp in Pokémon Go?
You can evolve Pawniard into Bisharp with 50 candies, but Kingambit takes considerably more effort. To evolve Bisharp in Pokémon Go, you need to get 100 Pawniard candies and defeat 15 dark- or steel-types with Bisharp as your buddy. Getting the candies can also take some time, as it's random as to when you'll encounter Pawniards and Bisharps to catch.
Now that you know how to evolve Bisharp, check out our Salandit evolution, Rockruff evolution, and Scyther evolution guides to fill out that Pokédex. Or, if you want to know how to beat the Pawniard evolution line in battle, check out our steel Pokémon weakness and dark Pokémon weakness articles.