Generation VIII

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Generation VIII
SwordTitle.png
Title screen of Pokémon Sword
Debut EN November 15, 2019
JA November 15, 2019
Pokémon 898 (89 new, 664 available)SwSh
898 (493 available)BDSP
905 (7 new; 242 available)LA
Main games Sword and Shield (Expansion Pass)
Region(s) introduced Galar (Isle of Armor, Crown Tundra)
Hisui
Other RPGs Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus
Contains remakes of Generation IV
Storage games HOME
End EN November 18, 2022 (1099 days)
JA November 18, 2022 (1099 days)

The eighth generation (Japanese: 第八世代 eighth generation) of Pokémon games is the eighth installment of the Pokémon video game series. The eighth generation began with Pokémon Sword and Shield and then continued with the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass DLC packs, followed by Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and concluded with Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Released after the Let's Go remakes of Pokémon Yellow, Generation VIII is the first generation not to include every previously available Pokémon to obtain, the first generation to include paid DLC in lieu of an additional game, and the first to be released entirely on a home console system, the Nintendo Switch.

History

The eighth generation of Pokémon was announced with the reveal of Pokémon Sword and Shield on February 27, 2019. These games were released worldwide on November 15, 2019.

Since February 11, 2020, players have been able to store their Pokémon and trade with other players in the cloud-based application Pokémon HOME.

On January 9, 2020, the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass was announced, paid DLC for Pokémon Sword and Shield introducing new content to the games. Its first part, The Isle of Armor, was released on June 17, 2020, while its second part, The Crown Tundra, was released on October 22, 2020. Physical bundles of each game with its expansion pass were announced on September 29, 2020 and released on November 6, 2020.

In Pokémon Presents on February 26, 2021, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, remakes of the Generation IV games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, were announced, and they were released on November 19, 2021 worldwide. Pokémon Legends: Arceus was also announced during the same Pokémon Presents, and was released on January 28, 2022 worldwide.

Since May 18, 2022, players have been able to store their Pokémon from Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl and Legends: Arceus and trade with other players in Pokémon HOME.

Connectivity

Regarding connectivity with previous generations, users of Pokémon HOME can carry forward their Pokémon from Pokémon Bank, Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!, and GO to the application, allowing for a transfer of Pokémon that originate in core series games as early as Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, as well as the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console releases of the Generation I and II games.

Advances in gameplay

Alterations from Generation VII

Further additions in Sword and Shield updates

Version 1.1.0

Further additions in Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass DLC

The Isle of Armor (Version 1.2.0)

The Crown Tundra (Version 1.3.0)

Further additions in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Further additions in Legends: Arceus

Region

 
Galar

Galar

Main article: Galar

The Galar region was introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield. This region appears to be a sprawling continent with a wide range of environments.

First partner Pokémon

The first partner Pokémon of the eighth generation, like the first partners of the previous seven regions, follow the Grass-Fire-Water trio, with Grookey the Grass-type, Scorbunny the Fire-type, and Sobble the Water-type.

 
Grookey
 
Scorbunny
 
Sobble
Grass Fire Water
  Thwackey   Raboot   Drizzile
Grass Fire Water
  Rillaboom   Cinderace   Inteleon
Grass Fire Water

Gym Leaders

In Galar, most Gym Leaders are challenged in special stadium-style Gyms built on Power Spots that facilitate the use of Dynamax.

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

Sinnoh

Main article: Sinnoh

Sinnoh was featured in Generation VIII in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, which are remakes of the Generation IV games Diamond and Pearl.

First partner Pokémon

The first partner Pokémon featured in the remakes are the same as the original Generation IV titles, following the series' usual Grass/Fire/Water setup. The player is given a choice between Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup.

 
Turtwig
 
Chimchar
 
Piplup
Grass Fire Water
  Grotle   Monferno   Prinplup
Grass Fire Fighting Water
  Torterra   Infernape   Empoleon
Grass Ground Fire Fighting Water Steel

Gym Leaders

Sinnoh League
Generation VIII Region: Sinnoh
Gym Leader
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Badge
 
Roark
ヒョウタ Hyouta
Oreburgh City
クロガネシティ
Kurogane City
Rock  
Coal Badge
 
Gardenia
ナタネ Natane
Eterna City
ハクタイシティ
Hakutai City
Grass  
Forest Badge
 
Maylene
スモモ Sumomo
Veilstone City
トバリシティ
Tobari City
Fighting  
Cobble Badge
 
Crasher Wake
マキシマム仮面 Maximum Mask
Pastoria City
ノモセシティ
Nomose City
Water  
Fen Badge
 
Fantina
メリッサ Melissa
Hearthome City
ヨスガシティ
Yosuga City
Ghost  
Relic Badge
 
Byron
トウガン Tougan
Canalave City
ミオシティ
Mio City
Steel  
Mine Badge
 
Candice
スズナ Suzuna
Snowpoint City
キッサキシティ
Kissaki City
Ice  
Icicle Badge
 
Volkner
デンジ Denzi
Sunyshore City
ナギサシティ
Nagisa City
Electric  
Beacon Badge

Hisui

Main article: Hisui

Hisui was introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It is what the Sinnoh region used to be called before gaining its current name.

First partner Pokémon

The first partner Pokémon featured in the game follow the series' usual Grass/Fire/Water setup. The player is given a choice between Rowlet, Cyndaquil, or Oshawott.

 
Rowlet
 
Cyndaquil
 
Oshawott
Grass Flying Fire Water
  Dartrix   Quilava   Dewott
Grass Flying Fire Water
  Hisuian
Decidueye
  Hisuian
Typhlosion
  Hisuian
Samurott
Grass Fighting Fire Ghost Water Dark

Noble Pokémon

The player confronts these noble Pokémon as part of the story of Pokémon Legends: Arceus in order to quell their frenzies. Each victory is rewarded with a Plate.

Location Noble Pokémon Plate Warden
Grandtree Arena
Obsidian Fieldlands
黒曜の原野 Obsidian Fields
Lord of the Woods
 
Kleavor
 Bug  Rock 
 
Insect Plate
 
Lian
キクイ Kikui
Brava Arena
Crimson Mirelands
紅蓮の湿地 Crimson Wetlands
Lady of the Ridge
 
Lilligant
 Grass  Fighting 
 
Meadow Plate
 
Arezu
ヒナツ Hinatsu
Molten Arena
Cobalt Coastlands
群青の海岸 Ultramarine Coast
Lord of the Isles
 
Arcanine
 Fire  Rock 
 
Flame Plate
 
Palina
ガラナ Garana
Moonview Arena
Coronet Highlands
天冠の山麓 Tengan Foothills
Lord of the Hollow
 
Electrode
 Electric  Grass 
 
Zap Plate
 
Melli
ツバキ Tsubaki
Icepeak Arena
Alabaster Icelands
純白の凍土 Pure White Tundra
Lord of the Tundra
 
Avalugg
 Ice  Rock 
 
Icicle Plate
 
Gaeric
ハマレンゲ Hamarenge
  • In the post-game, Calaba acts as Lady Lilligant's warden on Arezu's behalf, as she is working as a hairdresser in Jubilife Village.


Title screens

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Japanese SwSh Champion title screens; Japanese BDSP title screens, Japanese LA title screen, Alternate LA Screens

English title screens

Pokémon Sword Pokémon Shield
   
Pokémon Sword
(After defeating Leon)
Pokémon Shield
(After defeating Leon)
   
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond Pokémon Shining Pearl
   
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
 

Japanese title screens

Pokémon Sword Pokémon Shield
   

Trivia



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.