Pokémon Sword and Shield: What we know so far


On November 15, 2019, the latest entries in the Pokémon series – Sword and Shield – will release on the Nintendo Switch. They were first mentioned at E3 2017, and fans have been waiting a long time for them to arrive. They’re a completely new entry for the franchise, meaning players will get to explore a different region filled with unfamiliar characters, mechanics, and – of course – Pokémon. How much do we actually know about these next games, though?

Pokémon Sword and Shield: What we know so far

It’s (probably) inspired by Britain

While Pokémon games are always set in fictional regions, they’re usually inspired by real-world locations. That was clear in Sun and Moon – the franchise’s last major entries – which took inspiration from Hawaii. Evidently, this theme is continuing with Sword and Shield’s Galar region.

From an industrial town to a Pokémon that looks like a corgi, there are elements in the new releases that appear to be quintessentially British. Although nothing official has been said, there are definite similarities between the real world and the Galar region. So, if you enjoy tea and crumpets, you might feel right at home in this game.

A huge new mechanic

Every new Pokémon game seems to introduce a new mechanic to spice things up and stop everything from becoming too repetitive. For this generation, players will have the opportunity to take advantage of the Dynamax feature.

In certain parts of the Galar region, you’ll be able to use this mechanic during a battle to get a leg up on your opponent. The feature basically makes your Pokémon supersized and gives it an insane power boost. That can really come in handy if you find yourself struggling, although you can only utilize it once per battle.

There are Pokémon Go elements

While it might not have the player base it used to, Pokémon Go was and still is a phenomenon. It took the world by storm three years ago, and it continues to provide entertainment to millions of people. That’s why it’s not surprising that Sword and Shield seem to incorporate some of its features.

This includes max raid battles which will allow you and three other players to fight against Dynamax Pokémon in the wild. It’s something that’s never been seen before in one of the franchise’s mainline games, and it shows Nintendo’s dedication to increasing multiplayer experiences.

Pokémon Sword and Shield: What we know so far

It’s more open world than before

When Pokémon games first came out, it was hard to imagine them ever being open world and 3D. However, a lot has changed in the last few decades. Sword and Shield will be the most ambitious releases in the franchise so far thanks to its incorporation of these elements.

Certain areas in the Galar region will offer a more open-world experience where Pokémon can be found in their droves. You can explore to your heart’s content here, even having the freedom to control the camera in whatever way you want. The variety of Pokémon in these areas is also incredibly diverse, with their appearance influenced by things like weather patterns.

There’s so much to look forward to in these new games that it’s impossible to cover everything at once. However, in addition to all that we’ve mentioned, you can also expect Galarian forms of existing Pokémon, the return of gym battles, and plenty of new creatures to catch. Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble are your starters for this generation, but the question is, which one will join you on your next adventure?

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