Galar
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Galar (Japanese: ガラル地方 Galar-chihō) is a region of the Pokémon world. It is the setting of Pokémon Sword and Shield. It was the eighth core series region to be introduced.
Etymology and design concept
Etymology
Galar may have been derived from gallant, gala (a special occasion), or Galahad. It can also come from an anagram of San-Graal, the French name of the Holy Grail.
Design concept
- Main article: Pokémon world in relation to the real world → Galar
Galar is based on the United Kingdom,[1] with the region focusing heavily on the island of Great Britain, flipped upside-down as if being viewed from the north. The main region itself is based mostly on England and Wales, while the Crown Tundra is based on Scotland. The Isle of Armor is based on the Isle of Man, which is a self-governing crown dependency of the United Kingdom.[2]
History
Dated history
- 20,000 years prior to the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, a meteorite containing Eternatus fell.
- c. 3,000 years prior to the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, a black storm called the Darkest Day occurred and was stopped by Zacian and Zamazenta.
Contemporary history
Victor/Gloria and Hop receive their starter Pokémon from Leon, the undefeated Champion, and meet a mysterious Pokémon in the Slumbering Weald. The two receive Pokédexes from Sonia, Dynamax Bands from Professor Magnolia, and endorsements from Leon to enter the Gym Challenge. They head on an adventure traveling across Galar challenging Gyms in order to earn eight Badges to enter the Champion Cup. Over the course of their journey, they encounter a group called Team Yell, whose members support Marnie in the Gym Challenge. They also encounter another group called Macro Cosmos, a conglomerate led by Chairman Rose, who has endorsed his ward Bede in the Gym Challenge. During the Champion Cup in Wyndon Stadium, Rose interrupts the Championship Match by reawakening Eternatus and bringing about the Darkest Day in an attempt to provide energy for the Galar region in 1,000 years. Victor/Gloria and Hop find a Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield and head to the Energy Plant in Hammerlocke, where they battle Rose and summon Zacian and Zamazenta. After defeating it, Victor/Gloria manages to catch Eternatus and returns to Wyndon to defeat Leon in the Championship Match, becoming the new Champion of Galar.
Cities, routes, and other locations
Galar has 11 cities and towns. Like in Unova, Kalos, and Alola, the routes of Galar start counting again from 1, likely to represent its geographical isolation from the original four regions. There are 10 routes in total.
In the anime, it was revealed Galar is far enough away from Kanto (and presumably Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh) to require flying between the two locations via airplane.
Demographics
The Galar region has a total population of 727, including all towns, cities, and other areas.
Cities and towns
| Map | City/Town | Population | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Postwick Hop Leon house SwSh.png | Postwick | 5 | A farming town since days of old, where people and their Pokémon live in close harmony. |
|
Wedgehurst | 31 | Our quiet borough is home to the esteemed Pokémon Research Lab. |
|
Motostoke | 120 | An industrial city studded with steam-powered marvels of modern engineering. |
|
Turffield | 36 | A town nestled within the nurturing bowl of our many terraced farming fields. |
|
Hulbury | 54 | A bustling seaport that many visit to see its lively market stalls and famed restaurant. |
|
Hammerlocke | 102 | A city of great history, living and thriving within castle walls that date back to the middle ages. |
|
Stow-on-Side | 44 | A vibrant town that has grown up around an ancient mural tucked away in the mountains. |
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Ballonlea | 31 | A charming town where the people make their homes among the trunks of the towering trees. |
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Circhester | 97 | Buildings from an age long gone still stand about the steaming hot spring that covers the town. |
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Spikemuth | 29 | This rocking town has a punk vibe and streets crammed with shops lined up cheek by jowl. |
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Wyndon | 157 | This booming metropolis was designed and developed by our very own Chairman Rose. |
Landmarks
Geography
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. |
Galar League
- Main article: Galar League
The Galar League is the regional Pokémon League of the Galar region. Trainers who have received a letter of endorsement may compete in the Gym Challenge. After obtaining the eight Badges of the region, a Trainer may participate in the annual Champion Cup at Wyndon Stadium.
Gym Leaders
| Galar League | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generation VIII | Region: Galar | |||||
| Gym Leader Japanese |
Location Japanese |
Type | Badge | |||
 Milo ヤロー Yarrow |
Turffield ターフタウン Turf Town |
 Grass |
 Grass Badge | |||
 Nessa ルリナ Rurina |
Hulbury バウタウン Bow Town |
 Water |
 Water Badge | |||
 Kabu カブ Kabu |
Motostoke エンジンシティ Engine City |
 Fire |
 Fire Badge | |||
 Bea サイトウ SaitōSw |
 Allister オニオン OnionSh |
Stow-on-Side ラテラルタウン Lateral Town |
 Fighting |
 Ghost |
 Fighting Badge |
 Ghost Badge |
 Opal ポプラ Poplar |
 Bede ビート Beet |
Ballonlea アラベスクタウン Arabesque Town |
 Fairy |
 Fairy Badge
| ||
 Gordie マクワ MakuwaSw |
 Melony メロン MelonSh |
Circhester キルクスタウン Circus Town |
 Rock |
 Ice |
 Rock Badge |
 Ice Badge |
 Piers ネズ Nezu |
 Marnie マリィ Mary |
Spikemuth スパイクタウン Spike Town |
 Dark |
 Dark Badge
| ||
 Raihan キバナ Kibana |
Hammerlocke ナックルシティ Knuckle City |
 Dragon |
 Dragon Badge | |||
Champion Cup
| Galar League | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation VIII | |||
| Member Japanese |
Type | ||
| Semifinals | |||
 Marnie マリィ Mary |
Dark | ||
 Hop ホップ Hop |
Various | ||
| Interruption | |||
| Bede ビート Beet |
Fairy | ||
| Finals | |||
| Nessa ルリナ Rurina |
Water | ||
| Bea サイトウ SaitōSw |
Allister オニオン OnionSh |
Fighting | Ghost |
| Raihan キバナ Kibana |
Dragon | ||
| Championship Match | |||
 Champion Leon ダンデ Dande |
Various | ||
Trivia
- The adjectival form of Galar is "Galarian", as seen in the term Galarian.
- Galar is the only core series region:
- To have all of its Gym Badges named after their respective Gym's type.
- To not have an "o" anywhere in its English name.
- To not have a Victory Road.
- To not have an Elite Four.
- A similar role is fulfilled by the Champion Cup.
- Only be on the Switch(Kanto, the location of Let's GO, is also on Gameboy and the DS).
- To contain no settlements that end in "Town" or "City" in their English names.
- To introduce no Mythical Pokémon at the time of its release.
- To contain a single landmass the map of which does not fit on the screen. Previous regions with multiple maps either contained or were archipelagos.
- To introduce four fossils, the most of any region.
- To have two Gym Leaders resign from their posts over the course of a single game's plot.
- To not have an anime series solely dedicated to Ash Ketchum fully exploring the region in a journey.
- To have the three starter types as it's first three gyms which you can fight separately. (Cilan, Cress, and Chili are technically one gym, and you can only fight one of them in Black and White)
- Galar is the first region to have a Dark-type Gym.
- Galar has the fewest numbered routes of any core series region, with a total of ten.
- Galar's Team Yell is headed by Piers, similar to how Team Rocket was led by Giovanni.
See also
In other languages
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| French, German, Italian, Spanish |
Galar | From its Japanese and English name |
| Korean | 가라르 Galar | Transliteration of its Japanese name |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 伽勒爾 / 伽勒尔 Jiālè'ěr | Transliteration of its Japanese name |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 伽勒爾 Gālahkyíh | Mandarin-based transliteration of its Japanese name |
| Russian | Галар Galar | Transcription of its English name |
References
| Regions in the Pokémon world | ||
|---|---|---|
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This article is part of Project Locations, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every location in the Pokémon world. |