Pokémon Sword and Shield
- Sword and Shield redirects here. For the TCG expansion, see Sword & Shield (TCG). For the Pokémon Adventures chapter, see Sword & Shield chapter (Adventures).
Pokémon Sword (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ソード Pocket Monsters Sword) and Pokémon Shield (Japanese: ポケットモンスター シールド Pocket Monsters Shield) are the primary paired versions of Generation VIII. The games were released on the Nintendo Switch worldwide on November 15, 2019 for both retail sale and download. All copies of the game are playable in nine languages: Japanese, English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
| Pokémon Sword ポケットモンスター ソード | |
|---|---|
 Pokémon Sword's boxart, featuring Zacian | |
| Pokémon Shield ポケットモンスター シールド | |
 Pokémon Shield's boxart, featuring Zamazenta | |
Basic info
| |
| Platform: | Nintendo Switch |
| Category: | RPG |
| Players: | 1-2, 4 players simultaneous |
| Connectivity: | Wireless, Nintendo Switch Online |
| Developer: | Game Freak |
| Publisher: | Nintendo/The Pokémon Company |
| Part of: | Generation VIII core series |
Ratings
| |
| CERO: | A |
| ESRB: | E |
| ACB: | PG |
| OFLC: | PG |
| PEGI: | 7 |
| GRAC: | ALL |
| GSRR: | 6+ |
Release dates
| |
| Japan: | November 15, 2019 |
| North America: | November 15, 2019 |
| Australia: | November 15, 2019 |
| Europe: | November 15, 2019 |
| South Korea: | November 15, 2019 |
| Hong Kong: | November 15, 2019 |
| Taiwan: | November 15, 2019 |
Websites
| |
| Japanese: | Pokémon.co.jp |
| English: | Official site Pokémon.com Nintendo.com (Sword) Nintendo.com (Shield) |
|
Japanese boxart
 Pokémon Sword Japanese boxart  Pokémon Shield Japanese boxart | |
During E3 2017, Tsunekazu Ishihara announced that the next core series titles would be available on the Nintendo Switch, but they were not prepared to release any more information at the time. On May 30, 2018, The Pokémon Company gave a press conference and announced that the new core games would have more traditional gameplay, as opposed to that found in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
The games were formally announced on Pokémon Day, February 27, 2019 at 11 pm JST during a worldwide announcement through Nintendo Direct hosted by Tsunekazu Ishihara, Junichi Masuda, and Shigeru Ohmori. An official trailer was shown, giving information on the region and the starter Pokémon players can choose from.
The Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass was revealed during a Pokémon Direct on January 9, 2020; it adds two new areas to the game, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra.
Plot
The player is a young child who lives with their mother in the town of Postwick in the Galar region. One day, the player's friend Hop invites them to meet his big brother Leon, the Champion of the Galar League, so that they both can receive a starter Pokémon from him. After receiving their starters, the player and Hop follow a runaway Wooloo into the Slumbering Weald. Inside the foggy forest, they encounter a mysterious Pokémon that is completely unaffected by moves. They are soon rescued by Leon, and then they set out to receive an endorsement from him so that they can participate in Galar's Gym Challenge. After some convincing by Professor Magnolia, Leon agrees to give both the player and Hop an endorsement. Just then, two Wishing Stars fall out of the sky, and Professor Magnolia converts them into Dynamax Bands for the player and Hop, allowing them to Dynamax their Pokémon. The player and Hop then travel together to Motostoke to attend the Gym Challenge's opening ceremony, where they meet Rose, the president of Macro Cosmos and the chairman of the Galar Pokémon League, as well as a band of hooligans known as Team Yell.
After the opening ceremony, the player sets out to collect the eight Badges required to compete in the Champion Cup tournament from Gym Leaders across the region. Along the way, Professor Magnolia's granddaughter and assistant Sonia tells them about Galar's history and a mysterious event known as the Darkest Day. The player ends up uncovering pieces of the Darkest Day's history during their journey, much to Sonia's pleasure. Eventually, the player manages to successfully collect the eight Badges and travels to Wyndon, where the Champion Cup is held. They win their way through the Champion Cup semifinals, where they defeat Hop and end his dream of surpassing his brother. After confronting Macro Cosmos's vice-president Oleana at Rose Tower, the player participates in the Champion Cup finals and wins their way through it, earning themselves the right to challenge Leon.
However, just before the player and Leon's battle can begin, Rose makes a public announcement, revealing that he's going to bring about the second Darkest Day to save Galar from an energy crisis a thousand years in the future. To stop Rose's plans, the player and Hop travel to the Slumbering Weald again to seek help from the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta, one of whom had been the mysterious Pokémon they saw at the start of their journey. They find and take along a Rusted Sword and a Rusted Shield from the heart of the forest and go to confront Rose in Hammerlocke, where it is revealed that the Darkest Day is the result of Rose awakening a Legendary Pokémon known as Eternatus. After defeating Rose, the player and Hop go to face Eternatus at the top of the Hammerlocke Stadium, where Leon unsuccessfully tries to catch it, forcing the player to battle it. Once Eternatus seems to have been defeated, however, it suddenly transforms into its even more powerful Eternamax form. However, thanks to the sword and the shield they found, the player and Hop are able to summon Zacian and Zamazenta to their aid, and together, they defeat Eternatus in a Max Raid Battle, allowing the player to catch it and thus end the crisis. Three days later, the player finally takes on Leon in a battle at Wyndon Stadium and defeats him, ending his career as the undefeated Champion and making the player the new Champion of Galar.
During the post-game, the player and Hop travel to the heart of Slumbering Weald to return the Rusted Sword and the Rusted Shield, only to be confronted by the rich brothers Sordward and Shielbert, who try to steal the artifacts. Although the player manages to defeat one of the brothers and recover one of the stolen items, the two still manage to get away with the other one. The player and Hop are then forced to travel around Galar to stop the Dynamax Pokémon the brothers have let loose at the Gym Stadiums. They finally confront them again at Hammerlocke Stadium, where they reveal their plan being to reinstate the Galarian monarchy and denigrate Zacian and Zamazenta. Using the artifact they stole, the brothers lure in one of the Legendary Pokémon and drive it berserk, forcing the player to battle it. After it has been defeated, the other Legendary Pokémon appears as well, which the player battles and catches. During the battle, Hop follows the first Legendary to the heart of Slumbering Weald, where he successfully calms it down. Deeming Hop worthy of its trust, the Legendary Pokémon then willingly joins his party. The player and Hop then battle for one last time, after which Hop declares that his new dream is to become a Pokémon Professor, and Sordward and Shielbert briefly reappear to apologise for their actions.
Blurb
A wild new adventure with Pokémon!
You can battle to be the best!
Carve a path to the future!Sw / Protect the world from disaster!Sh
Band together in new co-op battles!
Features
The games mix some of the changes introduced in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! with the more traditional gameplay last seen in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Wild Pokémon now appear on the overworld, known as "symbol encounters", similar to the Let's Go games, as well as random encounters shaking in tall grass.
Known as the Gym Challenge, Gyms that the player must battle with the goal of becoming the Champion return to the games, after being replaced by trials in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. The challenge culminates in the annual Champion Cup tournament where the player may challenge the Champion.
Wild Area
- Main article: Wild Area
The Wild Area is a vast, open area that connects several towns in the Galar region. It is home to a wide variety of wild Pokémon.
Dynamax and Gigantamax
- Main article: Dynamax and Gigantamax
Dynamax is a new type of transformation that allows any Pokémon from the Galar region to power up and become larger using the Dynamax Band. After Dynamaxing, a Pokémon can use a Max Move.
Gigantamax is a special phenomenon that also changes the appearance of a few individuals of certain species of Pokémon. Like Dynamaxing, the Pokémon is increased in power and becomes bigger. A Gigantamax Pokémon can use a G-Max Move.
Max Raid Battles
- Main article: Max Raid Battle
Max Raid Battles are a new cooperative feature that allows up to four players to challenge a Dynamax Pokémon together over local wireless or Nintendo Switch Online.
Rotom Phone
- Main article: Rotom Phone
Replacing the Rotom Pokédex of the Generation VII games, the Rotom Phone acts not only as a Pokédex but also has additional features, such as the Town Map. It also acts as the main interface for the game's menu.
Y-Comm
- Main article: Y-Comm
The Y-Comm serves as an interface to connect with other players over local wireless or on the internet through Nintendo Switch Online. Players can trade (either a Link Trade or Surprise Trade), battle, swap League Cards, and join Max Raid Battles.
Battle Stadium
- Main article: Battle Stadium
Replacing the Battle Spot from the Generation VI and VII games, the Battle Stadium allows players to participate in battles over the internet through Nintendo Switch Online. Players can participate in Ranked Battles, Casual Battles, and Official Competitions as well as host or join Friendly Competitions.
Rotomi
- Main article: Rotomi
Rotomi replaces the PCs in previous games and has several features including allowing players to send their Pokémon on Poké Jobs, design their League Card, and draw for the Loto-ID.
Pokémon Camp
- Main article: Pokémon Camp
Pokémon Camp allows players can go camping and interact with their Pokémon, cook curry, and visit other player's camps.
Pokémon
Game-exclusive Pokémon
Main Game
Isle of Armor
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Crown Tundra
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- Wild male Indeedee is exclusive to Pokémon Sword, while wild female Indeedee is exclusive to Pokémon Shield. However, both genders can be obtained in either game through breeding.
- Wild male Meowstic is exclusive to Pokémon Sword, while wild female Meowstic is exclusive to Pokémon Shield. However, both genders can be obtained by evolving Espurr of the appropriate gender.
- Wild Sawk is exclusive to Pokémon Sword, while wild Throh is exclusive to Pokémon Shield. However, there is an in-game trade on Circhester where the player can trade a Vanillish to obtain ThrohSw/SawkSh.
- Cosmoem evolve into Solgaleo in Pokémon Sword, and Lunala in Pokémon Shield.
- With the exception of Zacian and Zamazenta, all of these Pokémon can be obtained in either version by joining other players' Max Raid Battles via the Y-Comm or Max Lair.
Game-exclusive Gigantamax Pokémon
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- During normal gameplay, Gigantamax Machamp are exclusive to Sword, and Gigantamax Gengar to Shield. However, they have been made available by Wild Area News. Additionally, if the player has purchased the Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass or the Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass, they can obtain any Gigantamax Pokémon by feeding their Pokémon Max Soup, regardless of which version they are playing.
Compatibility
Pokémon Sword and Shield can connect with Pokémon HOME. This allows it to store and receive Pokémon from Pokémon HOME, including Pokémon from previous generations that were transferred into Pokémon HOME. Users of HOME can transfer Pokémon freely between other Sword and Shield savefiles on the console, even if the files belong to different profiles. Through the mobile version of HOME, players can trade those Pokémon through the GTS, not natively featured in Sword and Shield, and the Wonder Box, a feature similar to Sword and Shield's Surprise Trade and the Wonder Trade of previous games.
Only Pokémon in the Galar Pokédex and a select few "foreign" Pokémon can be transferred to Pokémon Sword and Shield. Two patches were released with each iteration of the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass which increased the number of Pokémon that can exist in Pokémon Sword and Shield, regardless of whether or not the player purchased the Expansion Pass.
Supported Pokémon
All Pokémon in the Galar Pokédex, Isle of Armor Pokédex, and Crown Tundra Pokédex (including all regional forms) can be transferred to Pokémon Sword and Shield.
In addition to Pokémon in the Galar and Isle of Armor Pokédexes, the following select Pokémon can also be transferred to Pokémon Sword and Shield.
| Gdex | Ndex | MS | Pokémon | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #0150 | 
|
Mewtwo | Psychic | ||
| #0151 | 
|
Mew | Psychic | ||
| #0243 | 
|
Raikou | Electric | ||
| #0244 | 
|
Entei | Fire | ||
| #0245 | 
|
Suicune | Water | ||
| #0249 | 
|
Lugia | Psychic | Flying | |
| #0250 | 
|
Ho-Oh | Fire | Flying | |
| #0251 | 
|
Celebi | Psychic | Grass | |
| #0252 | 
|
Treecko | Grass | ||
| #0253 | 
|
Grovyle | Grass | ||
| #0254 | 
|
Sceptile | Grass | ||
| #0255 | 
|
Torchic | Fire | ||
| #0256 | 
|
Combusken | Fire | Fighting | |
| #0257 | 
|
Blaziken | Fire | Fighting | |
| #0258 | 
|
Mudkip | Water | ||
| #0259 | 
|
Marshtomp | Water | Ground | |
| #0260 | 
|
Swampert | Water | Ground | |
| #0380 | 
|
Latias | Dragon | Psychic | |
| #0381 | 
|
Latios | Dragon | Psychic | |
| #0382 | 
|
Kyogre | Water | ||
| #0383 | 
|
Groudon | Ground | ||
| #0384 | 
|
Rayquaza | Dragon | Flying | |
| #0385 | 
|
Jirachi | Steel | Psychic | |
| #0480 | 
|
Uxie | Psychic | ||
| #0481 | 
|
Mesprit | Psychic | ||
| #0482 | 
|
Azelf | Psychic | ||
| #0483 | 
|
Dialga | Steel | Dragon | |
| #0484 | 
|
Palkia | Water | Dragon | |
| #0485 | 
|
Heatran | Fire | Steel | |
| #0486 | 
|
Regigigas | Normal | ||
| #0487 | 
|
Giratina | Ghost | Dragon | |
| #487O | Giratina | Giratina | Ghost | Dragon | |
| #0488 | 
|
Cresselia | Psychic | ||
| #0494 | 
|
Victini | Psychic | Fire | |
| #0641 | 
|
Tornadus | Flying | ||
| #641T | Tornadus | Tornadus | Flying | ||
| #0642 | 
|
Thundurus | Electric | Flying | |
| #642T | Thundurus | Thundurus | Electric | Flying | |
| #0645 | 
|
Landorus | Ground | Flying | |
| #645T | Landorus | Landorus | Ground | Flying | |
| #0647 | 
|
Keldeo | Water | Fighting | |
| #0649 | 
|
Genesect | Bug | Steel | |
| #0716 | 
|
Xerneas | Fairy | ||
| #0717 | 
|
Yveltal | Dark | Flying | |
| #0718 | 
|
Zygarde | Dragon | Ground | |
| #718T | Zygarde | Zygarde | Dragon | Ground | |
| #718C | Zygarde | Zygarde | Dragon | Ground | |
| #0719 | 
|
Diancie | Rock | Fairy | |
| #0721 | 
|
Volcanion | Fire | Water | |
| #0785 | 
|
Tapu Koko | Electric | Fairy | |
| #0786 | 
|
Tapu Lele | Psychic | Fairy | |
| #0787 | 
|
Tapu Bulu | Grass | Fairy | |
| #0788 | 
|
Tapu Fini | Water | Fairy | |
| #0722 | 
|
Rowlet | Grass | Flying | |
| #0723 | 
|
Dartrix | Grass | Flying | |
| #0724 | 
|
Decidueye | Grass | Ghost | |
| #0725 | 
|
Litten | Fire | ||
| #0726 | 
|
Torracat | Fire | ||
| #0727 | 
|
Incineroar | Fire | Dark | |
| #0728 | 
|
Popplio | Water | ||
| #0729 | 
|
Brionne | Water | ||
| #0730 | 
|
Primarina | Water | Fairy | |
| #0789 | 
|
Cosmog | Psychic | ||
| #0790 | 
|
Cosmoem | Psychic | ||
| #0791 | 
|
Solgaleo | Psychic | Steel | |
| #0792 | 
|
Lunala | Psychic | Ghost | |
| #0793 | 
|
Nihilego | Rock | Poison | |
| #0794 | 
|
Buzzwole | Bug | Fighting | |
| #0795 | 
|
Pheromosa | Bug | Fighting | |
| #0796 | 
|
Xurkitree | Electric | ||
| #0797 | 
|
Celesteela | Steel | Flying | |
| #0798 | 
|
Kartana | Grass | Steel | |
| #0799 | 
|
Guzzlord | Dark | Dragon | |
| #0800 | 
|
Necrozma | Psychic | ||
| #800DM | Necrozma | Necrozma | Psychic | Steel | |
| #800DW | Necrozma | Necrozma | Psychic | Ghost | |
| #0801 | 
|
Magearna | Steel | Fairy | |
| #0802 | 
|
Marshadow | Fighting | Ghost | |
| #0803 | 
|
Poipole | Poison | ||
| #0804 | 
|
Naganadel | Poison | Dragon | |
| #0805 | 
|
Stakataka | Rock | Steel | |
| #0806 | 
|
Blacephalon | Fire | Ghost | |
| #0807 | 
|
Zeraora | Electric | ||
| #0808 | 
|
Meltan | Steel | ||
| #0809 | 
|
Melmetal | Steel | ||
Unusable moves
- Main article: List of moves by availability (Generation VIII)
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, many moves are no longer usable. Pokémon do not normally learn these moves in the game, and if a Pokémon does know one of these moves (e.g. due to being transferred from Pokémon HOME), it will not be able to use it. If the move is forgotten, Jack will not be able to teach it again, even if it is a special move that the Pokémon normally would be able to relearn.
In lieu of their usual descriptions, most of these moves instead have the following generic description: "This move can't be used. It's recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can't be remembered." The unusable moves that do not have this description are usually moves that cannot be legitimately known by any Pokémon that exists in Pokémon Sword and Shield, typically being signature moves or moves which only a small group of Pokémon can know.
| Move | Type | Generic description |
|---|---|---|
| Assist | Normal | ✔ |
| Baddy Bad | Dark | ✔ |
| Barrage | Normal | ✔ |
| Barrier | Psychic | ✔ |
| Beak Blast | Flying | ✘ |
| Bestow | Normal | ✔ |
| Bide | Normal | ✔ |
| Bone Club | Ground | ✔ |
| Bouncy Bubble | Water | ✔ |
| Bubble | Water | ✔ |
| Buzzy Buzz | Electric | ✔ |
| Camouflage | Normal | ✔ |
| Captivate | Normal | ✔ |
| Chatter | Flying | ✘ |
| Chip Away | Normal | ✔ |
| Clamp | Water | ✔ |
| Comet Punch | Normal | ✔ |
| Constrict | Normal | ✔ |
| Dark Void | Dark | ✘ |
| Dizzy Punch | Normal | ✔ |
| Double Slap | Normal | ✔ |
| Dragon Rage | Dragon | ✔ |
| Egg Bomb | Normal | ✔ |
| Embargo | Dark | ✔ |
| Feint Attack | Dark | ✔ |
| Flame Burst | Fire | ✔ |
| Flash | Normal | ✔ |
| Floaty Fall | Flying | ✔ |
| Foresight | Normal | ✔ |
| Freezy Frost | Ice | ✔ |
| Frustration | Normal | ✔ |
| Glitzy Glow | Psychic | ✔ |
| Grass Whistle | Grass | ✔ |
| Heal Block | Psychic | ✔ |
| Heal Order | Bug | ✔ |
| Heart Stamp | Psychic | ✔ |
| Hidden Power | Normal | ✔ |
| Hyper Fang | Normal | ✘ |
| Hyperspace Fury | Dark | ✘ |
| Hyperspace Hole | Psychic | ✘ |
| Ice Ball | Ice | ✔ |
| Ice Hammer | Ice | ✘ |
| Ion Deluge | Electric | ✔ |
| Judgment | Normal | ✘ |
| Jump Kick | Fighting | ✔ |
| Karate Chop | Fighting | ✔ |
| Light of Ruin | Fairy | ✘ |
| Lucky Chant | Normal | ✔ |
| Magnet Bomb | Steel | ✔ |
| Magnitude | Ground | ✔ |
| Me First | Normal | ✔ |
| Meditate | Psychic | ✔ |
| Miracle Eye | Psychic | ✔ |
| Mirror Move | Flying | ✔ |
| Mirror Shot | Steel | ✔ |
| Mud Bomb | Ground | ✔ |
| Mud Sport | Ground | ✔ |
| Natural Gift | Normal | ✔ |
| Needle Arm | Grass | ✔ |
| Nightmare | Ghost | ✔ |
| Odor Sleuth | Normal | ✔ |
| Ominous Wind | Ghost | ✔ |
| Pika Papow | Electric | ✔ |
| Powder | Bug | ✘ |
| Psycho Boost | Psychic | ✘ |
| Psywave | Psychic | ✔ |
| Punishment | Dark | ✔ |
| Pursuit | Dark | ✔ |
| Rage | Normal | ✔ |
| Razor Wind | Normal | ✔ |
| Refresh | Normal | ✔ |
| Relic Song | Normal | ✘ |
| Return | Normal | ✔ |
| Revelation Dance | Normal | ✘ |
| Rock Climb | Normal | ✔ |
| Rolling Kick | Fighting | ✔ |
| Rototiller | Ground | ✔ |
| Sappy Seed | Grass | ✔ |
| Secret Power | Normal | ✔ |
| Seed Flare | Grass | ✘ |
| Sharpen | Normal | ✔ |
| Signal Beam | Bug | ✔ |
| Silver Wind | Bug | ✔ |
| Sizzly Slide | Fire | ✔ |
| Sketch | Normal | ✔* |
| Sky Drop | Flying | ✔ |
| Sky Uppercut | Fighting | ✔ |
| Smelling Salts | Normal | ✔ |
| Snatch | Dark | ✔ |
| Sonic Boom | Normal | ✔ |
| Sparkly Swirl | Fairy | ✔ |
| Spider Web | Bug | ✔ |
| Spike Cannon | Normal | ✔ |
| Splishy Splash | Water | ✔ |
| Spotlight | Normal | ✔ |
| Steamroller | Bug | ✔ |
| Synchronoise | Psychic | ✔ |
| Tail Glow | Bug | ✘ |
| Telekinesis | Psychic | ✔ |
| Toxic Thread | Poison | ✘ |
| Trump Card | Normal | ✔ |
| Twineedle | Bug | ✔ |
| Veevee Volley | Normal | ✔ |
| Wake-Up Slap | Fighting | ✔ |
| Water Sport | Water | ✔ |
| Wring Out | Normal | ✔ |
| Zippy Zap | Electric | ✔ |
- In addition, all Z-Moves are also unusable in these games.
- In version 1.2.0, which was released alongside The Isle of Armor, several previously unusable moves were made usable again. These were mostly signature moves of Pokémon that were added in that update. Further moves were made usable in version 1.3.0, coinciding with The Crown Tundra.
| Move | Type | Enabled in |
|---|---|---|
| Aeroblast | Flying | 1.3.0 |
| Bonemerang | Ground | 1.2.0 |
| Conversion | Normal | 1.2.0 |
| Conversion 2 | Normal | 1.2.0 |
| Core Enforcer | Dragon | 1.3.0 |
| Crush Grip | Normal | 1.3.0 |
| Diamond Storm | Rock | 1.3.0 |
| Dragon Ascent | Flying | 1.3.0 |
| Dragon Hammer | Dragon | 1.2.0 |
| Fiery Dance | Fire | 1.2.0 |
| Fleur Cannon | Fairy | 1.2.0 |
| Floral Healing | Fairy | 1.2.0 |
| Geomancy | Fairy | 1.3.0 |
| Head Charge | Normal | 1.2.0 |
| Heart Swap | Psychic | 1.2.0 |
| Kinesis | Psychic | 1.2.0 |
| Land's Wrath | Ground | 1.3.0 |
| Lovely Kiss | Normal | 1.3.0 |
| Lunar Dance | Psychic | 1.3.0 |
| Luster Purge | Psychic | 1.3.0 |
| Magma Storm | Fire | 1.3.0 |
| Milk Drink | Normal | 1.2.0 |
| Mind Blown | Fire | 1.3.0 |
| Mist Ball | Psychic | 1.3.0 |
| Nature's Madness | Fairy | 1.3.0 |
| Oblivion Wing | Flying | 1.3.0 |
| Origin Pulse | Water | 1.3.0 |
| Precipice Blades | Ground | 1.3.0 |
| Roar of Time | Dragon | 1.3.0 |
| Sacred Fire | Fire | 1.3.0 |
| Searing Shot | Fire | 1.3.0 |
| Shadow Bone | Ghost | 1.2.0 |
| Shadow Force | Ghost | 1.3.0 |
| Shore Up | Ground | 1.2.0 |
| Spacial Rend | Dragon | 1.3.0 |
| Steam Eruption | Water | 1.3.0 |
| Techno Blast | Normal | 1.3.0 |
| Thousand Arrows | Ground | 1.3.0 |
| Thousand Waves | Ground | 1.3.0 |
Reception
Pokémon Sword and Shield received positive reviews among release, but lower than most other core series releases. Gaming magazine Famitsu gave them a score of 38 out of 40.[1] IGN rated the games a 9.3/10,[2] praising the simple battling system and Dynamaxing, but criticizing the basic graphics and lack of a full Pokédex.
They are the lowest-rated first paired games in a generation from aggregate critic scores.[3]
Sales
The games sold 6 million units in their launch weekend.[4] In the fiscal year of their release, they sold 17.37 million units.[5] As of September 30, 2020, Pokémon Sword and Shield have sold 19.02 million copies worldwide.[6]
Japanese sales
Pokémon Sword and Shield sold 894,123 individual units on their first week on the Japanese market, being 534,306 from Pokémon Sword and 359,817 from Pokémon Shield, with a sell-through of 84.96% and 90.26% respectively.[7] By December 29, 2019, the end of their 7th week, they had sold 2,170,364 copies, being 1,306,211 from Pokémon Sword and 864,153 from Pokémon Shield.[7]
Pokémon Sword and Shield Dual Pack sold 329,525 units on its first week, with a sell-through of 73.46%.[7] By December 29, 2019, the end of its 7th week, it had sold 492,789 copies.[7] Combining all releases, the games sold 3,155,942 units, being 1,799,000 from Pokémon Sword and 1,356,942 from Pokémon Shield.
Staff
- Main article: Staff of Pokémon Sword and Shield
Music
The game's music was primarily composed by Gō Ichinose and Minako Adachi.[8] Additional music was composed by Keita Okamoto and Toby Fox, the latter only composing one track.[9]
Version history
| Version[10][11] | Release date | Official note | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 | November 15, 2019 | N/A | Initial release |
| 1.1.0 | January 9, 2020 |
|
|
| 1.1.1 | March 17, 2020 |
|
|
| 1.2.0 | June 16, 2020 |
|
|
| 1.2.1 | July 7, 2020 |
|
|
| 1.3.0 | October 22, 2020 |
|
Trailers
| |
| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
First trailer
| |
| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
Gallery
Logos
English Sword logo
English Shield logo
Japanese Sword logo
Japanese Shield logo
Icons
Sword Home Menu icon
Shield Home Menu icon
Japanese Sword Home Menu icon
Japanese Shield Home Menu icon
Trivia
- These are the first core series games to not feature:
- The game mascot in the title screen.
- A Victory Road.
- An Elite Four.
- A similar role is fulfilled by the Champion Cup, although no new characters are introduced during the tournament.
- Ace Trainers.
- An Electric-type specialist.
- These are the first core series games to feature:
- An Expansion Pack.
- Version-exclusive rivals.
- Version-exclusive Gym Badges.
- A Dark-type Gym.
- An introduction made by an antagonist.
- Completely new Pokémon introduced mid-generation that can be traded to, battled against, or otherwise seen by all games in that generation.
- If one were to use Google Lens on the box art, it will play a short video.
In other languages
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References
- ↑ Famitsu review scores - 12/4/19 - Nintendo Everything
- ↑ Pokémon Sword and Shield Review - IGN
- ↑ Metacritic - Pokémon Shield
- ↑ Pokémon Sword and Shield sell 6 million copies in launch weekend - CNET
- ↑ Fiscal Year Ended March 2020 - Financial Results Explanatory Material - Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- ↑ Top Selling Title Sales Units - Nintendo Switch Software
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Media Create Sales: CY 2019 (2018 Dec 31 - 2019 Dec 29) Sales | ResetEra
- ↑ We Interview Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori about Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield | Pokemon.com
- ↑ A Special Letter and Song from Undertale Game Creator Toby Fox | Pokemon.com
- ↑ Nintendo Support: How to Update Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield
- ↑ How to Update Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield | Nintendo Switch | Support | Nintendo
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This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |