Pokémon Sword and Shield

Revision as of 00:54, 26 January 2020 by Glik (talk | contribs) (→‎Plot: charming, but not remotely acceptable)

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
Sword EN boxart.png
Pokémon Sword's boxart, featuring Zacian
Pokémon Shield
ポケットモンスター シールド
Shield EN boxart.png
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
Sword JP boxart.png
Pokémon Sword Japanese boxart
Shield JP boxart.png
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 9 January 2020, and adds two new post-game areas to the game, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra.

Plot

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So, you are this 10 year old kid who can finally get a Pokémon, but your friend, Hop says his bro, aka the champion, Leon is coming over to his place to visit, so you go with him and you get a Pokémon, yay! So you go to town to get a Pokedex and move on, you go to the professor's house and find a wishing star which will turn into a dynamax band, then you get on a train, but oh no, Wooloo! You cannot get to Motostoke, at least not on the train. You go through the wild area and sign up for the Gym Challenge. You also meet another rival, Marnie! Now you gotta go to each gym and get a badge, but before you get a gym badge you meet another rival! Bede! Get those gyms done and boom, you get on a train, this is where it gets juicy, then you are soon in Wyndon and go to the quarter-finals and face the rivals, except Bede, he was kicked out, then you have dinner with Leon, but he does not show up! You have to find a employee and get his key-card to get in the Rose Tower. Then you do a few battles. Then you see Rose and Leon talking to each other, but you shrug it off, in the semi-finals, you face off against three of the gym leaders, but Bede cuts in for a final battle, then the final match, you versus Leon. But Rose releases the Darkest Day, a historic event in the Galar Region, you have to stop Rose in Hammerlocke, then you battle the third legendary, Eternatus, but you have to battle Eternamax Eternatus, then back to the final match, you beat Leon, you are now the champion of Galar!

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 mixes 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 will return to the games, after being replaced by trials in Pokémon Sun and 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. 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

See Category:Generation VIII Pokémon

Game-exclusive Pokémon

Sword
0068   Machamp
Fighting
0083   Farfetch'd
Fighting
0273   Seedot
Grass
0274   Nuzleaf
Grass Dark
0275   Shiftry
Grass Dark
0303   Mawile
Steel Fairy
0338   Solrock
Rock Psychic
0550   Basculin
Water
0554   Darumaka
Ice
0555   Darmanitan
Ice
0559   Scraggy
Dark Fighting
0560   Scrafty
Dark Fighting
0574   Gothita
Psychic
0575   Gothorita
Psychic
0576   Gothitelle
Psychic
0627   Rufflet
Normal Flying
0628   Braviary
Normal Flying
0633   Deino
Dark Dragon
0634   Zweilous
Dark Dragon
0635   Hydreigon
Dark Dragon
0684   Swirlix
Fairy
0685   Slurpuff
Fairy
0766   Passimian
Fighting
0776   Turtonator
Fire Dragon
0782   Jangmo-o
Dragon
0783   Hakamo-o
Dragon Fighting
0784   Kommo-o
Dragon Fighting
0839   Coalossal
Rock Fire
0841   Flapple
Grass Dragon
0841   Flapple
Grass Dragon
0865   Sirfetch'd
Fighting
0874   Stonjourner
Rock
0888   Zacian
Fairy
Shield
0077   Ponyta
Psychic
0078   Rapidash
Psychic Fairy
0094   Gengar
Ghost Poison
0131   Lapras
Water Ice
0222   Corsola
Ghost
0246   Larvitar
Rock Ground
0247   Pupitar
Rock Ground
0248   Tyranitar
Rock Dark
0270   Lotad
Water Grass
0271   Lombre
Water Grass
0272   Ludicolo
Water Grass
0302   Sableye
Dark Ghost
0337   Lunatone
Rock Psychic
0453   Croagunk
Poison Fighting
0454   Toxicroak
Poison Fighting
0550   Basculin
Water
0577   Solosis
Psychic
0578   Duosion
Psychic
0579   Reuniclus
Psychic
0629   Vullaby
Dark Flying
0630   Mandibuzz
Dark Flying
0682   Spritzee
Fairy
0683   Aromatisse
Fairy
0704   Goomy
Dragon
0705   Sliggoo
Dragon
0706   Goodra
Dragon
0765   Oranguru
Normal Psychic
0780   Drampa
Normal Dragon
0842   Appletun
Grass Dragon
0842   Appletun
Grass Dragon
0864   Cursola
Ghost
0875   Eiscue
Ice
0889   Zamazenta
Fighting
  • 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.

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. However, only Pokémon in the Galar regional Pokédex and the listed "foreign" species can be transferred to Pokémon Sword and Shield. The list of compatible foreign species is expected to expand in conjunction with the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass releases.

Additionally, several moves from past core releases cannot be used or learned in Sword and Shield. If a Pokémon knowing any of these moves is migrated into Sword or Shield, it will not be able to use these moves in battle; the moves' description will also recommend that these moves be forgotten.

For a full list of unavailable moves, see list of moves by availability (Generation VIII).

Reception

Pokémon Sword and Shield received positive reviews among release. IGN rated the games a 9.3/10,[1] praising the simple battling system and Dynamaxing, but criticizing the basic graphics and lack of a full Pokédex.

Sales

The games sold 6 million units in their launch weekend.[2]

Staff

Main article: Staff of Pokémon Sword and Shield

Music

The game's music was primarily composed by Gō Ichinose and Minako Adachi.[3] Additional music was composed by Keita Okamoto and Toby Fox, the latter of which only composing one track.[4]

Version history

Version Release date Official changelog More information
1.0.0 November 15, 2019 N/A Initial release
1.1.0 January 9, 2020 N/A
  • Galarian Slowpoke is added to the game, and can be obtained through a new event added to Wedgehurst Station. Its Kantonian counterpart is also added into the game's code.
  • Expansion passes for The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra are now available for purchase, and show in the X menu. Two outfits have also been added to the game as a pre-order bonus, and can be redeemed via Mystery Gift code.


Trailers

Teaser

By Pokemon
This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.


First trailer

By Pokemon
This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.


Gallery

Logos

Icons

Trivia

  • These are the first core series games to not feature:
    • A Victory Road.
    • A named mountain.
    • An Elite Four.
      • A similar role is fulfilled by the Champion Cup, although no new characters are introduced at that point in the game.
  • This region introduced the most rival characters with five.

In other languages

Language Title
  Japanese ポケットモンスター ソード・シールド
Chinese Cantonese 寶可夢 劍/盾
Mandarin 寶可夢 劍/盾
宝可梦 剑/盾
  French Pokémon Épée et Bouclier
  German Pokémon Schwert und Schild
  Italian Pokémon Spada e Scudo
  Korean 포켓몬스터소드・실드
  Spanish Pokémon Espada y Escudo

References


Generation I: Red & GreenBlue (JP)Red & BlueYellow
Generation II: Gold & SilverCrystal
Generation III: Ruby & SapphireFireRed & LeafGreenEmerald
Generation IV: Diamond & PearlPlatinumHeartGold & SoulSilver
Generation V: Black & WhiteBlack 2 & White 2
Generation VI: X & YOmega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Generation VII: Sun & MoonUltra Sun & Ultra Moon
Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee!‎
Generation VIII: Sword & Shield (The Isle of Armor / The Crown Tundra)
Brilliant Diamond & Shining PearlLegends: Arceus
Generation IX: Scarlet & Violet (The Teal Mask / The Indigo Disk)
Legends: Z-A
Pokémon game templates


  This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.