Pokémon Sword and Shield

Gyms in packed stadiums and the most practical way into competitive play.

Release: 2019
Console: Nintendo Switch
Region: Galar
Generation: VIII
Style: Classic RPG
Category: Main series

Attribute hexagon of Sword and Shield. Scores: Competitive 5, Exploration 3, Freedom 2, Difficulty 2, Story 2, Nostalgia 1.

Reading the profile

Scores from 1 to 5, in the atlas's own assessment.

Competitive score 5 out of 5 Mints and capsules made team building more accessible than ever.
Exploration score 3 out of 5 Sits at the average of the games in the atlas.
Freedom score 2 out of 5 There is only one path.
Difficulty score 2 out of 5 It rarely gets you stuck.
Story score 2 out of 5 The story is a backdrop.
Nostalgia score 1 out of 5 It is something new, with no longing involved.

In Galar, a gym battle is an arena sport, with a crowd and giant Pokémon for three turns. The Wild Area is the first open space in the series, with a free camera and weather that changes the species of the day.

What aged best was behind the scenes: Mints, capsules and items that cut the work of preparing a competitive team from weeks to hours. The Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra expansions add two whole open areas.

It is for you if you

Want to start playing competitively
Like cooperative online raids
Want a brisk campaign

Maybe not, if

You expect deep exploration outside the Wild Area
You insist on every species: not all of them are in the game

Where it takes place

Galar

Long from south to north, from countryside to industrial cities, with packed stadiums on battle day.

Open the map of Galar

Specimens from this game

Official art of Zamazenta — No. 889 Zamazenta

Pokédex

Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra are the two paid expansions. When a species has a regional form native to this game, that is the one shown, with its types. Pick a species to open its page.

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400 species