Pokemon Sword And Shield Walmart Trainer Outfit And 2019 Promotional Offers

Pokemon Sword and Shield, the latest entries in the popular Pokemon franchise for Nintendo Switch, were released to significant excitement from fans. Alongside the game launch, The Pokemon Company and various retail partners offered numerous promotional freebies and special items for early adopters. Among these promotions was an exclusive trainer outfit available at Walmart locations, which provided additional value for consumers purchasing the game at this major retailer. This article examines the various free promotional items available for Pokemon Sword and Shield in 2019, with particular focus on the Walmart-exclusive trainer outfit offer and other distribution methods for these digital freebies.

Walmart Trainer Outfit Promotion

One of the most notable promotional offers for Pokemon Sword and Shield was an exclusive trainer outfit available at Walmart locations. This promotion ran for a limited time from November 16-25, 2019, allowing early adopters to claim a special digital outfit for their in-game character. The offer was designed to incentivize purchases at Walmart, where the games were priced at $49.94 on launch day.

To obtain this exclusive outfit, consumers needed to follow a specific process:

1. First, players had to download and install the Pokemon Pass app on their smartphone. This application served as the primary interface for accessing promotional content and scanning in-store displays.

2. After installing the app, consumers needed to visit a participating Walmart location. The promotion was in-store only, meaning it could not be accessed through online shopping or other retail channels.

3. Once at Walmart, customers used the Pokemon Pass app to scan a QR code that was displayed prominently in the store. This QR code contained the digital rights to the exclusive trainer outfit.

4. Upon scanning the QR code, users received a download code that could be redeemed within the game itself.

5. To actually equip the outfit, players had to input this download code into their copy of Pokemon Sword or Shield by:

   • Launching the game
   • Selecting "Mystery Gift" from the main menu
   • Choosing "Get a Mystery Gift"
   • Selecting "Get with Code/Password" and following the prompts to connect online
   • Inputting the download code obtained from Walmart
   • Visiting the fitting room in a boutique within the game to access and equip the outfit

This promotion represented a successful collaboration between The Pokemon Company and Walmart, providing tangible benefits to consumers who purchased the game at this particular retailer. The outfit added a unique aesthetic element to the game experience at no additional cost beyond the base game purchase.

Additional Promotional Pokemon and Items

Beyond the Walmart-exclusive trainer outfit, The Pokemon Company and various retail partners offered numerous other free Pokemon and items throughout 2019. These promotional offerings were distributed through different channels and had various expiration dates, creating multiple opportunities for players to enhance their game experience.

Free Pokemon with Special Abilities

Several promotional Pokemon with unique Hidden Abilities were made available to Pokemon Sword and Shield players:

• A free Galarian Corsola with its Hidden Ability, Cursed Body, was available for a limited time until June 11
• Players could obtain a free Galarian Ponyta with its Hidden Ability along with several rare Poke Balls via Mystery Gift until June 4
• The Pokemon Company distributed a handful of Galarian Pokemon with their Hidden Abilities to help players prepare for the upcoming Isle of Armor expansion
• Through the Pokemon Home cloud service, players could claim free Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble with their Hidden Abilities
• A free Shiny Zeraora was available via Pokemon Home until July 6

Special Mystery Gifts

The Mystery Gift function in Pokemon Sword and Shield served as the primary distribution method for many promotional items:

• Players could claim free Battle Points, Poke Balls, and a Bottle Cap through Mystery Gift until the end of the month
• Another free Bottle Cap became available via Mystery Gift for a limited time
• A free Pikachu that knows Sing was available for a limited time
• Eight different Pikachu wearing Ash's various caps were available for a limited time, with players needing different passwords for each
• A free, battle-ready Porygon2 was available via download code until the end of the month
• A free Shiny Toxtricity was available at participating GameStop stores for a limited time

Expansion Pass Benefits

Players who purchased the Sword or Shield Expansion Pass before August 31 received bonus clothing items based on Leon's cap and tights. These exclusive cosmetic items were designed to enhance the visual customization options for players who invested in the expansion content.

Early Purchase Bonuses

As an incentive for early adoption of Pokemon Sword and Shield, The Pokemon Company offered several benefits to players who purchased the game by January 15:

• A Meowth capable of Gigantamaxing was available via Mystery Gift
• Players who had save data from either Let's Go Pikachu or Eevee on their Switch received a Gigantamax-capable Pikachu or Eevee in addition to the Meowth

In-Game Resources

The Pokemon Company also distributed valuable in-game resources to help players progress:

• A bundle of free Armorite and Dynite Ore was available until March 14
• Free Heal Balls, Battle Points, and TRs were available until the end of the month

Retailer-Specific Promotions

In addition to the Walmart-exclusive trainer outfit, various other retailers offered their own promotions and deals for Pokemon Sword and Shield:

GameStop

GameStop was scheduled to distribute a free Dynamax Crystal that would summon Gigantamax Copperajah, though it appeared this event would no longer happen. The retailer also offered a free Shiny Toxtricity at participating GameStop stores for a limited time. Additionally, GameStop participated in a "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" promotion for new Nintendo Switch games, which included Pokemon Sword and Shield among the eligible titles.

Best Buy

Best Buy offered several Pokemon-related products and deals: - The recently released Pokemon Sword and Shield TCG Elite Trainer Box was on sale - Various Nintendo Switch games were available at discounts, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey - Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl and Pokemon Sword/Shield could be purchased with a $20 discount

Other Retailers

Amazon featured deals on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One games, as well as Pokemon toys, collectibles, and other merchandise. Power A released a trio of new Pokemon Sword and Shield Switch controllers, one for each starter Pokemon. Hori announced a new lineup of Pokemon-themed Nintendo Switch accessories, including Split Pad Pros. The Pokemon Company also partnered with UK apparel brand Criminal Damage for a limited edition clothing set as part of Pokemon's 25th anniversary celebration.

Claiming Free Items: Step-by-Step Process

The method for claiming free items in Pokemon Sword and Shield varied depending on the specific promotion. However, most digital items followed a general process:

1. Obtain the necessary code or access method (through app scanning, retailer visit, or online redemption)
2. Launch Pokemon Sword or Shield
3. Access the Mystery Gift option from the main menu
4. Select the appropriate method for receiving the gift (Get with Code/Password, Get via Internet, etc.)
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the redemption
6. Receive the item in-game, often at the delivery person in any Pokemon Center

For items distributed through Pokemon Home, players needed to: 1. Download and install the Pokemon Home app on their smartphone or compatible device 2. Link their Pokemon Home account to their Nintendo Switch profile 3. Access the specific promotion page within the app 4. Follow the instructions to claim the Pokemon or items 5. Sync the Pokemon Home app with Pokemon Sword and Shield to transfer the content

The Walmart trainer outfit required an additional step of scanning a physical QR code in-store before obtaining the redemption code, making it unique among the promotional offerings.

Conclusion

The promotional offerings for Pokemon Sword and Shield in 2019 provided numerous opportunities for players to enhance their game experience through free content. The Walmart-exclusive trainer outfit represented a successful retail partnership, offering exclusive digital content to consumers who purchased the game at this specific retailer. Alongside this promotion, The Pokemon Company distributed numerous free Pokemon with special abilities, valuable in-game items, and cosmetic options through various distribution channels including Mystery Gift, Pokemon Home, and retailer-specific promotions.

These promotional activities served multiple purposes: they incentivized early adoption of the game, encouraged engagement with various retail partners, provided additional value to consumers, and extended the game's lifecycle by offering new content even after launch. The distribution methods utilized, from in-store QR code scanning to online redemption through Pokemon Home, demonstrated the evolving landscape of digital content distribution for video games.

For consumers, these promotions offered opportunities to enhance their Pokemon experience without additional cost beyond the base game purchase. The variety of items available, from battle-ready Pokemon to cosmetic outfits and valuable resources, catered to different player preferences and playstyles. As Pokemon Sword and Shield continued to receive updates and expansions, promotional offerings remained an important component of the game's ecosystem, providing ongoing value to the player community.

Sources

1. Last Chance: Get A Free Pokemon Sword And Shield Outfit
2. Pokemon Sword and Shield Deals
3. 9to5Toys: Sandisk, Apple, Twelve South and More