Pokémon Sword and Shield

Sword and Shield redirects here. For the TCG expansion, see Sword & Shield (TCG). For the Pokémon Adventures chapter, see Sword & Shield chapter (Adventures).

Pokémon Sword ポケットモンスター ソード
Pokémon Sword's boxart, featuring Zacian
Pokémon Shield ポケットモンスター シールド
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 Pokémon Sword Japanese boxart 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.

The Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass was revealed during a Pokémon Direct on January 9, 2020; it adds two new areas to the game, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra.

Plot

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

The player is a young child who lives with their mother in the town of Postwick in the Galar region. One day, the player's friend Hop invites them to meet his big brother Leon, the Champion of the Galar League, so that they both can receive a starter Pokémon from him. After receiving their starters, the player and Hop follow a runaway Wooloo into the Slumbering Weald. Inside the foggy forest, they encounter a mysterious Pokémon that is completely unaffected by moves. They are soon rescued by Leon, and then they set out to receive an endorsement from him so that they can participate in Galar's Gym Challenge. After some convincing by Professor Magnolia, Leon agrees to give both the player and Hop an endorsement. Just then, two Wishing Stars fall out of the sky, and Professor Magnolia converts them into Dynamax Bands for the player and Hop, allowing them to Dynamax their Pokémon. The player and Hop then travel together to Motostoke to attend the Gym Challenge's opening ceremony, where they meet Rose, the president of Macro Cosmos and the chairman of the Galar Pokémon League, as well as a band of hooligans known as Team Yell.

After the opening ceremony, the player sets out to collect the eight Badges required to compete in the Champion Cup tournament from Gym Leaders across the region. Along the way, Professor Magnolia's granddaughter and assistant Sonia tells them about Galar's history and a mysterious event known as the Darkest Day. The player ends up uncovering pieces of the Darkest Day's history during their journey, much to Sonia's pleasure. Eventually, the player manages to successfully collect the eight Badges and travels to Wyndon, where the Champion Cup is held. They win their way through the Champion Cup semifinals, where they defeat Hop and end his dream of surpassing his brother. After confronting Macro Cosmos's vice-president Oleana at Rose Tower, the player participates in the Champion Cup finals and wins their way through it, earning themselves the right to challenge Leon.

However, just before the player and Leon's battle can begin, Rose makes a public announcement, revealing that he's going to bring about the second Darkest Day to save Galar from an energy crisis a thousand years in the future. To stop Rose's plans, the player and Hop travel to the Slumbering Weald again to seek help from the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta, one of whom had been the mysterious Pokémon they saw at the start of their journey. They find and take along a Rusted Sword and a Rusted Shield from the heart of the forest and go to confront Rose in Hammerlocke, where it is revealed that the Darkest Day is the result of Rose awakening a Legendary Pokémon known as Eternatus. After defeating Rose, the player and Hop go to face Eternatus at the top of the Hammerlocke Stadium, where Leon unsuccessfully tries to catch it, forcing the player to battle it. Once Eternatus seems to have been defeated, however, it suddenly transforms into its even more powerful Eternamax form. However, thanks to the sword and the shield they found, the player and Hop are able to summon Zacian and Zamazenta to their aid, and together, they defeat Eternatus in a Max Raid Battle, allowing the player to catch it and thus end the crisis. Three days later, the player finally takes on Leon in a battle at Wyndon Stadium and defeats him, ending his career as the undefeated Champion and making the player the new Champion of Galar.

During the post-game, the player and Hop travel to the heart of Slumbering Weald to return the Rusted Sword and the Rusted Shield, only to be confronted by the rich brothers Sordward and Shielbert, who try to steal the artifacts. Although the player manages to defeat one of the brothers and recover one of the stolen items, the two still manage to get away with the other one. The player and Hop are then forced to travel around Galar to stop the Dynamax Pokémon the brothers have let loose at the Gym Stadiums. They finally confront them again at Hammerlocke Stadium, where they reveal their plan being to reinstate the Galarian monarchy and denigrate Zacian and Zamazenta. Using the artifact they stole, the brothers lure in one of the Legendary Pokémon and drive it berserk, forcing the player to battle it. After it has been defeated, the other Legendary Pokémon appears as well, which the player battles and catches. During the battle, Hop follows the first Legendary to the heart of Slumbering Weald, where he successfully calms it down. Deeming Hop worthy of its trust, the Legendary Pokémon then willingly joins his party. The player and Hop then battle for one last time, after which Hop declares that his new dream is to become a Pokémon Professor, and Sordward and Shielbert briefly reappear to apologise for their actions.

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 mix 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 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 0083 Farfetch'd Fighting 0127 Pinsir Bug 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 0692 Clauncher Water 0693 Clawitzer Water 0766 Passimian Fighting 0776 Turtonator Fire Dragon 0782 Jangmo-o Dragon 0783 Hakamo-o Dragon Fighting 0784 Kommo-o Dragon Fighting 0841 Flapple Grass Dragon 0865 Sirfetch'd Fighting 0874 Stonjourner Rock 0888 Zacian Fairy

Shield 0077 Ponyta Psychic 0078 Rapidash Psychic Fairy 0214 Heracross Bug Fighting 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 0690 Skrelp Poison Water 0691 Dragalge Poison Dragon 0704 Goomy Dragon 0705 Sliggoo Dragon 0706 Goodra Dragon 0765 Oranguru Normal Psychic 0780 Drampa Normal 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 Throh^Sw/Sawk^Sh.
• Cosmoem that are imported into the games via Pokémon HOME evolve into Solgaleo in Pokémon Sword, and Lunala in Pokémon Shield.
• With the exception of Zacian and Zamazenta, all of these Pokémon can be obtained in either version by joining other players' Max Raid Battles via the Y-Comm.

Game-exclusive Gigantamax Pokémon

Sword 0068 Machamp Fighting 0839 Coalossal Rock Fire 0841 Flapple Grass Dragon

Shield 0094 Gengar Ghost Poison 0131 Lapras Water Ice 0842 Appletun Grass Dragon

• During normal gameplay, Gigantamax Machamp are exclusive to Sword, and Gigantamax Gengar to Shield. However, they have been made available by Wild Area News. Additionally, if the player has purchased the Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass or the Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass, they can obtain any Gigantamax Pokémon by feeding their Pokémon Max Soup, regardless of which version they are playing.

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. Users of HOME can transfer Pokémon freely between other Sword and Shield savefiles on the console, even if the files belong to different profiles. Through the mobile version of HOME, players can trade those Pokémon through the GTS, not natively featured in Sword and Shield, and the Wonder Box, a feature similar to Sword and Shield's Surprise Trade and the Wonder Trade of previous games.

Only Pokémon in the Galar Pokédex and a select few "foreign" Pokémon can be transferred to Pokémon Sword and Shield. Patches are set to be released with each iteration of the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass will increase the number of Pokémon that can exist in Pokémon Sword and Shield, regardless of whether or not the player has purchased the Expansion Pass.

Supported Pokémon

All Pokémon in the Galar Pokédex and Isle of Armor Pokédex (including all regional variants) can be transferred to Pokémon Sword and Shield.

In addition to Pokémon in the Galar and Isle of Armor Pokédexes, the following select Pokémon can also be transferred to Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Gdex	Ndex	MS	Pokémon	Type
	#0150		Mewtwo	Psychic
	#0151		Mew	Psychic
	#0251		Celebi	Psychic	Grass
	#0385		Jirachi	Steel	Psychic
	#0638		Cobalion	Steel	Fighting
	#0639		Terrakion	Rock	Fighting
	#0640		Virizion	Grass	Fighting
	#0643		Reshiram	Dragon	Fire
	#0644		Zekrom	Dragon	Electric
	#0646		Kyurem	Dragon	Ice
	#646B	Kyurem	Kyurem	Dragon	Ice
	#646W	Kyurem	Kyurem	Dragon	Ice
	#0647		Keldeo	Water	Fighting
	#647R	Keldeo	Keldeo	Water	Fighting
	#0722		Rowlet	Grass	Flying
	#0723		Dartrix	Grass	Flying
	#0724		Decidueye	Grass	Ghost
	#0725		Litten	Fire
	#0726		Torracat	Fire
	#0727		Incineroar	Fire	Dark
	#0728		Popplio	Water
	#0729		Brionne	Water
	#0730		Primarina	Water	Fairy
	#0789		Cosmog	Psychic
	#0790		Cosmoem	Psychic
	#0791		Solgaleo	Psychic	Steel
	#0792		Lunala	Psychic	Ghost
	#0800		Necrozma	Psychic
	#800DM	Necrozma	Necrozma	Psychic	Steel
	#800DW	Necrozma	Necrozma	Psychic	Ghost
	#0801		Magearna	Steel	Fairy
	#0802		Marshadow	Fighting	Ghost
	#0807		Zeraora	Electric
	#0808		Meltan	Steel
	#0809		Melmetal	Steel

Unusable moves

Main article: List of moves by availability (Generation VIII)

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, many moves are no longer usable. Pokémon do not normally learn these moves in the game, and if a Pokémon does know one of these moves (e.g. due to being transferred from Pokémon HOME), it will not be able to use it. If the move is forgotten, the Move Reminder will not be able to teach it again, even if it is a special move that the Pokémon normally would be able to relearn.

In lieu of their usual descriptions, most of these moves instead have the following generic description: "This move can't be used. It's recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can't be remembered." The unusable moves that do not have this description are usually moves that cannot be legitimately known by any Pokémon that exists in Pokémon Sword and Shield, typically being signature moves or moves which only a small group of Pokémon can know.

• In addition, all Z-Moves are also unusable in these games.
• In version 1.2.0, which was released alongside The Isle of Armor, several previously unusable moves were made usable again. These were mostly signature moves of Pokémon that were added in that update.

Formerly unusable moves

Move	Type
Bonemerang	Ground
Conversion	Normal
Conversion 2	Normal
Dragon Hammer	Dragon
Fiery Dance	Fire
Fleur Cannon	Fairy
Floral Healing	Fairy
Head Charge	Normal
Kinesis	Psychic
Milk Drink	Normal
Shadow Bone	Ghost
Shore Up	Ground

Reception

Pokémon Sword and Shield received positive reviews among release, but lower than most other core series releases. Gaming magazine Famitsu gave them a score of 38 out of 40. IGN rated the games a 9.3/10, praising the simple battling system and Dynamaxing, but criticizing the basic graphics and lack of a full Pokédex.

They are the lowest-rated first paired games in a generation from aggregate critic scores.

Sales

The games sold 6 million units in their launch weekend. As of March 31, 2020, Pokémon Sword and Shield have sold 17.37 million copies worldwide.

Staff

Main article: Staff of Pokémon Sword and Shield

Music

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

Version history

Version	Release date	Official note	More information
1.0.0	November 15, 2019	N/A	Initial release
1.1.0	January 9, 2020	Added a feature to jump to the eShop Added a bonus for Expansion Pass purchasers Additional Pokémon will be added Fixed various issues to improve gameplay	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. Sucker Punch and Quash glitch is fixed.
1.1.1	March 18, 2020	Fixed several issues to improve gameplay experience.	Fairy Lock crash glitch is fixed.
1.2.0	June 17, 2020	Part 1, The Isle of Armor, has been released as downloadable content Customers who have purchased an Expansion Pass can now enjoy adventures on the Isle of Armor. You can learn more about the Isle of Armor here: https://swordshield.pokemon.com/en-us/expansionpass/the-isle-of-armor/ Additional Pokémon now appear Even without purchasing an Expansion Pass, customers can use network connections to play and have additional Pokémon appear. Link Codes are now 8-digits long Link Codes used in the Y-Comm or set for Max Raid Battles are now 8 digits instead of 4. Battle regulation marks Pokémon carried over from other regions via Pokémon HOME can now participate in online competitions and ranked battles. A battle regulation mark can be replaced on the Pokémon at the Battle Tower in order to participate in online competitions and ranked battles. Please check game news for more information. Addressed issue with online battles We've fixed an issue with online battles where the battle results could be arbitrarily invalidated. Additional updated content In addition, various issues were addressed to create a more enjoyable gaming experience.
1.2.1	July 7, 2020	A bug in regards to the number of digits for password settings has been fixed. In regards to the passwords that can be set for Y-Comm and Max Raid Battles, we fixed the bug where players could be matched with others whose passwords were not coinciding. Other updated content We fixed several other issues to improve game play experience.

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

• 

  English Sword logo

• 

  English Shield logo

• 

  Japanese Sword logo

• 

  Japanese Shield logo

Icons

• 

  Sword Home Menu icon

• 

  Shield Home Menu icon

• 

  Japanese Sword Home Menu icon

• 

  Japanese Shield Home Menu icon

Trivia

• These are the first core series games to not feature:
  • The game mascot in the title screen.
  • A Victory Road.
  • An Elite Four.
    • A similar role is fulfilled by the Champion Cup, although no new characters are introduced during the tournament.
  • Ace Trainers.
  • A burial ground.
  • An Electric-type specialist.
• These are the first core series games to feature:
  • An Expansion Pack.
  • Version-exclusive rivals.
  • Version-exclusive Gym Badges.
  • A Dark-type Gym.
  • An introduction made by an antagonist.
  • Completely new Pokémon introduced mid-generation that can be traded to, battled against, or otherwise seen by all games in that generation.

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 포켓몬스터 소드・실드 Spanish Pokémon Espada y Escudo

References

Core series games and DLC

Gen I

Red

Green

Blue^JP

Red

Blue

Yellow

Gen II

Gold

Silver

Crystal

Gen III

Ruby

Sapphire

FireRed

LeafGreen

Emerald

Gen IV

Diamond

Pearl

Platinum

HeartGold

SoulSilver

Gen V

Black

White

Black 2

White 2

Gen VI

X

Y

Omega Ruby

Alpha Sapphire

Gen VII

Sun

Moon

Ultra Sun

Ultra Moon

Let's Go, Pikachu!

Let's Go, Eevee!

Gen VIII

Sword

Shield

+

Sword and Shield Expansion Pass (DLC)

The Isle of Armor

The Crown Tundra

Brilliant Diamond

Shining Pearl

Legends: Arceus

Gen IX

Scarlet

Violet

+

The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (DLC)

The Teal Mask

The Indigo Disk

Legends: Z-A

Pokémon games

Core series • Side series • Spin-off series • Pokémon mini • Individual spin-offs • Betas • Demos

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