Pokémon Sword and Shield

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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

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.

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.

Plot

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

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.

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, battle, swap League Cards, and conduct a Surprise Trade.

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 and design their League Card.

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

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 composed one track.[4]

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.
    • Members of the Elite Four.
    • A third, sequel or remix follow up. having instead two DLCs, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra.

In other languages

Language Title
Japan Flag.png 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
France Flag.png French Pokémon Épée et Bouclier
Germany Flag.png German Pokémon Schwert und Schild
Italy Flag.png Italian Pokémon Spada e Scudo
South Korea Flag.png Korean 포켓몬스터소드・실드
Spain Flag.png 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


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