Pokémon Sword and Shield
| 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
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| 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.
Plot
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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
Game-exclusive Pokémon
- 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
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| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
First trailer
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| 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 a Victory Road.
In other languages
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References
- ↑ Pokémon Sword and Shield Review - IGN
- ↑ https://www.cnet.com/news/pokemon-sword-and-shield-sell-6-million-copies-during-launch-weekend-nintendo-switch/
- ↑ We Interview Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori about Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield | Pokemon.com
- ↑ A Special Letter and Song from Undertale Game Creator Toby Fox | Pokemon.com
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This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |
