How to get Gigantamax Meowth in Pokémon Sword and Shield

One of the new game mechanics in the future Pokémon Sword and Shield is Gigantamaxing. This not only makes your Pokémon huge, but it also changes its physical appearance, makes it stronger, and gives it access to new moves. However, only a few selected Pokémon are capable of Gigantamaxing in newer games. One such Pokémon is Meow. If you want to get your hands on a Meowth capable of gigantamaxing, here's what you need to do.

Gigantamax Meowth is awarded to players who purchase either Sword or Shield shortly thereafter as an early purchase bonus. From the release of the games from November 15 to January 15, 2020, players will be able to receive a special Meowth capable of Gigantamaxing.

However, in addition to purchasing one of the new games before January 15th, you will also need to claim your Gigantamax Meowth. So don't buy the game too early and just leave it on your shelf for months if you want a Gigantamax Meowth. To claim your Gigantamax Meowth you will need to use the Mystery Gift feature in the games.

To get this Meowth via Mystery Gift, you must be connected to the internet and select "Mystery Gift" from the main game menu instead of continuing your journey. Chances are, however, that you've at least started your journey before you can access Mystery Gift from the main menu. If you've already started your journey and don't see the Mystery Gift in the main menu, you may need to progress to a certain point in the story before you can access the Mystery Gift. Either way, once you have access to Mystery Gift, you should be able to receive Gigantamax Meowth over Wi-Fi.

Once you've selected Mystery Gift from the main menu, you'll likely need to do the following:

Your game should then receive the special meowth that Gigantamax can. If Sword and Shield are like previous Pokémon games, then you will need to physically receive Meowth in-game by talking to a delivery guy at a Pokémon Center.