[Gen 8] Sword playthrough

It's been a while since I've done one of these. I picked up Sword on launch, but didn't do this thread off the bat. I'll just put down what I've done so far:

-Picked Sobble as my starter
-Put together a starting team; still figuring out on the final members.
-Spent the last 3 days just looking for a good IV Yamper.

Other comments:
-Skipping the capture tutorial with a single prior capture before coming to Route 2 was a godsend.
-Caught 2 aura Rookidee (1 male, 1 female) that each had Defog and Roost for competitive purposes.
-Mandatory Exp. Share makes gaining the wrong EVs for each of my Pokemon annoying.
-Am about to battle Hop for the second time.

Current team:

Sobble, male, level 12
-Pound
-Growl
-Water Pulse
-Bind
Nature: Quirky

Rookidee, male, level 10
-Peck
-Leer
-Power Trip
-Hone Claws
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Keen Eye

Yamper, male, level 10
-Tackle
-Growl
-Nuzzle
-Bite
Nature: Adamant

Zigzagoon, female, level 10
-Tackle
-Leer
-Sand Attack
-Snarl
Nature: Docile
Ability: Gluttony

Dottler, male, level 10
-Struggle Bug
-Reflect
-Light Screen
-Confusion
Nature: Bold
Ability: Compound Eyes

I mucked around in the Wild Area and it over leveled my team faster than I thought because I was catching Pokemon like crazy, even evolving Sobble in the process.

Anyway, I arrived at Motostoke, got signed up for the gym challenge, and met Marnie and Bede. I'm in Route 3 seeing if I can get a Sizzlipede before the third badge.

Current team:

Drizzile, male, level 19
-Swift
-Tearful Look
-Water Pulse
-Bind
Nature: Quirky

Rookidee, male, level 17
-Pluck
-Leer
-Power Trip
-Hone Claws
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Keen Eye

Yamper, male, level 17
-Tackle
-Growl
-Nuzzle
-Bite
Nature: Adamant

Zigzagoon, female, level 17
-Headbutt
-Leer
-Sand Attack
-Snarl
Nature: Docile
Ability: Gluttony

Dottler, male, level 17
-Struggle Bug
-Reflect
-Light Screen
-Confusion
Nature: Bold
Ability: Compound Eyes

I learned that Flash Fire now increases the odds of finding a Fire Pokemon as a "!" encounter, so finding Sizzlipede was a lot easier (I used a Vulpix I got from the Wild Area for this).

I went through the Galar Mine and it was surprisingly straightforward aside from the occasional fork in the road for an item. I battle Bede and won, arrived at Hulbury, and got my first badge. The first puzzle was rather easy; I just battled the trainers before guiding the Wooloo to the goals so the Yamper wouldn't be an annoyance. After getting the badge, I decided to add a Toxel I got onto the team as my 6th Pokemon while I figure out the rest of the team; Yamper/Boltund likely won't be permanent.

Current team:

Drizzile, male, level 27
-Swift
-Sucker Punch
-Water Pulse
-Bind
Nature: Quirky

Corvisquire, male, level 24
-Pluck
-Payback
-Power Trip
-Hone Claws
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Keen Eye

Yamper, male, level 24
-Spark
-Tail Whip
-Nuzzle
-Bite
Nature: Adamant

Linoone, female, level 24
-Headbutt
-Pin Missile
-Sand Attack
-Night Slash
Nature: Docile
Ability: Gluttony

Sizzlipede, female, level 24
-Flame Wheel
-Leech Life
-Wrap
-Bite
Nature: Serious
Ability: Flash Fire

Toxel, female, level 24
-Nuzzle
-Growl
-Flail
-Acid
Nature: Hardy
Ability: Rattled

Got quite a bit done over the past few days. I beat Nessa and Kabu while messing around in the Wild Area in between. Yamper evolved into Boltund, but I decided to replace it with Impidimp after Linoone evolved. Sizzlipede also evolved just before Kabu and it did a good job at "walling" Arcanine with Flash Fire (quote for emphasis because Bite is still neutral) and a +2 Coil boost. Drizzile also finally evolved into Intelon while I was catching Pokemon in the Wild Area.

Current team

Inteleon, male, level 37
-Swift
-Sucker Punch
-Snipe Shot
-U-turn
Nature: Quirky

Corvisquire, male, level 35
-Drill Peck
-Payback
-Power Trip
-Hone Claws
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Keen Eye

Obstagoon, female, level 35
-Headbutt
-Pin Missile
-Obstruct
-Night Slash
Nature: Docile
Ability: Guts

Centiskorch, female, level 35
-Flame Wheel
-Leech Life
-Coil
-Bite
Nature: Serious
Ability: Flash Fire

Toxtricity, female, level 35
-Spark
-Shock Wave
-Swift
-Venoshock
Nature: Hardy
Ability: Rattled

Morgrem, male, level 35
-Dark Pulse
-False Surrender
-Dazzling Gleam
-Sucker Punch
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Prankster

I took some time off the story to try to dig for the 4 fossils at the cost of most of my watts. I made it to Hammerlocke, learned some more ancient Galarian history, and went to Route 6 to revive 3/4 of the fossils. After some deliberation, I decided to keep Dracozolt for the playthrough. Before arriving at Stow-on-Side, I trained Dracozolt to catch up with the rest of the team.

Current team:

Inteleon, male, level 40
-Ice Beam
-Sucker Punch
-Snipe Shot
-U-turn
Nature: Quirky

Corvisquire, male, level 37
-Drill Peck
-Payback
-Power Trip
-Hone Claws
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Keen Eye

Centiskorch, female, level 37
-Flame Wheel
-Leech Life
-Coil
-Bite
Nature: Serious
Ability: Flash Fire

Toxtricity, female, level 37
-Spark
-Discharge
-Swift
-Venoshock
Nature: Hardy
Ability: Rattled

Morgrem, male, level 37
-Dark Pulse
-False Surrender
-Dazzling Gleam
-Sucker Punch
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Prankster

Dracozolt, level 37
-Aerial Ace
-Thunder Shock
-Ancient Power
-Dragon Claw
Nature: Lonely
Ability: Hustle

I made my way to Stow-on-Side for the gym. The gym puzzle there was surprisingly fun and Bea wasn't too hard considering that Corvisquire evolved just in time. Afterward, Bede tried destroying the mural, but got stripped of his challenger title by Rose himself.

The path to Ballonlea's gym was surprisingly short and Morgrem evolved into Grimmsnarl just before the challenge, although I didn't use it much during the "puzzle" and battle with Opal. Toxtricity and Corviknight were wonderful there. After the battle, I went back to Hammerlocke to go through Route 7 to the next gym, not before Hop stopped me for another battle. I also gave Dracozolt Thunder Fang to tide it over until Bolt Beak (seriously, why does it get Bolt Beak so late?) and a stronger coverage option in Fire Fang after the Yell Grunts blocking the path to the Pokemon Center that had the TMs left.

Current team:

Inteleon, male, level 48
-Ice Beam
-Sucker Punch
-Snipe Shot
-U-turn
Nature: Quirky

Corvisquire, male, level 46
-Drill Peck
-Steel Wing
-Body Press
-Hone Claws
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Keen Eye

Centiskorch, female, level 46
-Flame Wheel
-Leech Life
-Coil
-Crunch
Nature: Serious
Ability: Flash Fire

Toxtricity, female, level 46
-Overdrive
-Spark
-Swift
-Sludge Wave
Nature: Hardy
Ability: Punk Rock

Grimmsnarl, male, level 46
-Bulk Up
-False Surrender
-Spirit Break
-Sucker Punch
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Prankster

Dracozolt, level 46
-Aerial Ace
-Thunder Fang
-Fire Fang
-Dragon Claw
Nature: Lonely
Ability: Hustle

I made it to Circhester and was baffled on why the Rock gym was pushed this late instead of being early. The gym puzzle using the item finders was fun too. After beating Gordie, Sonia dragged me to Bob's Your Uncle for a meal and to learn more about the Galar legend; sure enough, there was a fifth tapestry apparently bought from the market. After battling Hop again, I headed to Route 9 for Spikemuth, which was blocked off. Marnie battled me and showed me another way in.

While Spikemuth looked cool, I was disappointed that it was just a straight hallway to Piers himself with the occasional Mr. Mime blocking the path and Team Yell Grunts battling me. I loved Piers' theme and liked it when he called out his attacks. After getting the Dark Badge, I did the in game trade for Kanto Mr. Mime then learned from Hop that wild Pokemon were Dynamaxing randomly, but Leon took care of them. I circled back to Hammerlocke for the final badge. I burned some Wishing Pieces for a Drakloak in one of the Wild Area dens and I eventually got one to replace Dracozolt.

Current team:

Inteleon, male, level 57
-Ice Beam
-Air Slash
-Snipe Shot
-U-turn
Nature: Quirky

Corviknight, male, level 54
-Brave Bird
-Steel Wing
-Body Press
-Hone Claws
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Pressure

Centiskorch, female, level 54
-Fire Lash
-Leech Life
-Coil
-Crunch
Nature: Serious
Ability: Flash Fire

Toxtricity, female, level 54
-Overdrive
-Shift Gear
-Boomburst
-Sludge Wave
Nature: Hardy
Ability: Punk Rock

Grimmsnarl, male, level 54
-Bulk Up
-False Surrender
-Play Rough
-Sucker Punch
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Prankster

Drakloak, male, level 54
-Dragon Pulse
-Dragon Dance
-Shadow Ball
-Phantom Force
Nature: Docile
Ability: Infiltrator

I finally made it to Wyndon, where the Pokemon League took place. After having a look around I went to the arena and got signed up. I was pleased that it took a page from the Pokemon anime and made it a finals/semifinals bracket. Before actually battling my first opponent, Marnie, I evolved Drakloak into Dragapult and put the rest of the team up to scale with it. I wiped the floor with Marnie and Hop in the semifinals because of all that level grinding I did between catching and KOing Pokemon in the Wild Area.

Just before the finals, Leon had invited Hop to dinner, but he never showed up because he was in a meeting with the chairman. Sure enough, Oleana showed up and told us that the key to Rose Tower was given to one of the Macro Cosmos employees. We had to track him down with the help of Team Yell and battle him a few times along the way.

After wrestling the key off of him, it was off to Rose Tower, where every battle was a double battle against Macro Cosmo employees, except for Oleana at the top.

The next "day" after Leon came back from his discussion with the chariman, the finals started, with Nessa as my first opponent and Bea as my next, but not before Bede suddenly showed up for a challenge as the Fairy gym leader.

Inteleon, male, level 66
-Ice Beam
-Dark Pulse
-Snipe Shot
-U-turn
Nature: Quirky

Corviknight, male, level 63
-Brave Bird
-Steel Wing
-Body Press
-Hone Claws
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Pressure

Centiskorch, female, level 63
-Fire Lash
-Leech Life
-Coil
-Crunch
Nature: Serious
Ability: Flash Fire

Toxtricity, female, level 63
-Overdrive
-Shift Gear
-Boomburst
-Sludge Wave
Nature: Hardy
Ability: Punk Rock

Grimmsnarl, male, level 63
-Bulk Up
-False Surrender
-Play Rough
-Sucker Punch
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Prankster

Dragapult, male, level 63
-Draco Meteor
-Shadow Ball
-Fire Blast
-Dragon Darts
Nature: Docile
Ability: Infiltrator

I got through the finals against Bea and Kabu, but just before I could battle Leon for the champion title, Chairman Rose started the Darkest Day again. Hop and I had to go back to Slumbering Weald to see if there was anything to find that could help ,but came across a rusted sword/shield after meeting up with the 2 mascot legendaries.

Returning to Hammerlocke, Oleana begged me to reason with Rose about continuing with the Darkest Day. I went to the Energy Plant to do this and he challenged me to a battle. Surprisingly enough, he was a good sport about the loss and he let me continue on to Leon, who was in the process of catching Eternatus, the progenitor of the Darkest Day and Dynamaxing. Leon failed to catch it (in an ordinary Poke Ball no less) and I had to battle it. After beating it once, it transformed into the Eternamax form and battled me (and Hop) again. After a few turns of not being able to do anything to Eternatus, Zacian and Zamazenta came to the rescue and combined with the rusted weapons into their Crowned forms. They helped take down Eternatus and I did what Leon couldn't by catching Eternatus in a Premier Ball.

A few days later after Rose turned himself in, Ifinally battled Leon for the champion title and won.

Final team (before post game):

Inteleon, male, level 68
-Ice Beam
-Dark Pulse
-Snipe Shot
-U-turn
Nature: Quirky

Corviknight, male, level 66
-Brave Bird
-Steel Wing
-Body Press
-Hone Claws
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Pressure

Centiskorch, female, level 66
-Fire Lash
-Leech Life
-Coil
-Crunch
Nature: Serious
Ability: Flash Fire

Toxtricity, female, level 66
-Overdrive
-Shift Gear
-Boomburst
-Sludge Wave
Nature: Hardy
Ability: Punk Rock

Grimmsnarl, male, level 66
-Bulk Up
-False Surrender
-Play Rough
-Sucker Punch
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Prankster

Dragapult, male, level 66
-Draco Meteor
-Shadow Ball
-Fire Blast
-Dragon Darts
Nature: Docile
Ability: Infiltrator