Pokémon Sword and Shield Yamask evolution method: how to evolve Yamask into Runerigus explained

Where to find Yamask in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Yamask can be only be found on Route 6, which lies between Hammerlocke and Stow-on-Side.

You'll find Yamask happily walking around in the long grass waiting for you to attack it.

How to evolve Yamask into Runerigus in Pokémon Sword and Shield

If you want to evolve Yamask into Runerigus in Pokémon Sword and Shield, then you need to ensure that it takes more than 49 damage or more in one hit.

The easiest way to do this is to find a Pokémon in the Wild Area that is a good couple of levels higher than your Yamask, which should easily deal more than the required 49 damage.

We managed this with a strong looking Golurk in the Stony Wilderness.

You can also put Yamask in a battle with a Pokémon whose type Yamask is weak against. Though this does run the risk causing Yamask to faint.

The Pokémon types Yamask is weak against are:

• Dark
• Ghost
• Grass
• Ice
• Water

Once the 49 or more damage has been dealt use a Pokémon Doll to quickly escape the battle.

Now it's time to head to the Dusty Bowl.

All you have to do here is head to the large archway that is at the far end of the Dusty Bowl and walk beneath it. The moment you step beneath the archway, Yamask will begin to evolve into Runerigus.

If you're having trouble finding the archway, probably due to a sandstorm, enter the Wild Area from Hammerlock.

From here head down the left-hand side of the hill, until sand begins to appear on the ground. Go into this sandy area and keep going forward, you should quickly arrive at the stone archway.

With it finally in the wild, here's how to start the Crown Tundra DLC and our full Pokémon Crown Tundra walkthrough. Plus, here's how to catch Calyrex, Glastrier and Spectrier, the Regieleki and Regidrago puzzle solution and Regirock, Regice, Registeel locations, details on how to catch Legendary Birds Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres in the Crown Tundra, the Ultra Beasts and Necrozma adventure, Dynamax Adventures, including the legendries you can catch on these adventures, and the new Crown Tundra Pokédex and returning Pokémon explained. For Isle of Armor players, here's how to find the Slowpoke, where to find Max Mushroom locations, and how to get Kubfu, become best friends and evolve it, plus all Diglett locations too! For the base game, here's info on the ability to transfer Pokémon to Pokémon Home, the Wild Area, lists of all TM locations and TRs, all Galarian forms and finally our main Pokémon Sword and Shield walkthrough for the whole game.

How useful is Runerigus in Pokémon Sword and Shield?

Runerigus is definitely worth its complicated evolution method, because, not only does it look cool, it's a pretty useful Pokémon.

It can learn a variety of powerful ghost, ground and psychic-moves, which can make it incredibly useful for the later stages of the game. This includes the ground-type move Earthquake and Shadow Ball - a ghost type move.

If you're playing Pokémon Sword and are having trouble with the fourth, fighting-type gym, then Runerigus could be your saviour, since its immune to fighting-type moves.

Runeerigus can also use the move Mean Look, which will prevent wild Pokémon from running away. This is great for when your adding the more elusive Pokémon to your Pokédex.

If you're looking for more advice on the unique evolution methods for Gen 8 Pokémon, then check out our guides on evolution Sinistea, Sirfetch'd, Toxel, Milcery and Applin.