Generation VIII

The subject of this article has no official name.
The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information.

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Generation VIII

Logos of Pokémon Sword and Shield

Debut	EN	November 15, 2019
Debut	JA	November 15, 2019
Pokémon		436 (as of Patch 1.1.0) (96 new)
Main games		Sword and Shield
Region(s) introduced		Galar
Storage games		HOME
Current length	EN	1841 days
Current length	JA	1841 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. Unlike previous generations, game updates and DLC were used to introduce new content instead of additional games set in the same region. The games of the eighth generation are presented on 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, Sword and Shield players are able to store their Pokémon and trade with other players in the cloud-based application, Pokémon HOME, released on Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Regarding connectivity with previous generations, users of Pokémon HOME can carry forward their Pokémon from Pokémon Bank, Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, and (in the future) GO to the application. Through the combined use Pokémon Bank, Poké Transporter, Pokémon HOME, and other inter-generational transfer methods, allows players to transfer forward Pokémon from as early as Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire to as late as Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, as well as the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console releases of the Generation I and II games.

Advances in gameplay

The addition of 86 new Pokémon, bringing the total to 890.
The addition of 80 new moves, bringing the total to 781.
The addition of 26 new Abilities, bringing the total to 258.
A new region to explore, the Galar region, based on the United Kingdom.
A new open area with several landmarks and Pokémon, and connecting several towns, known as the Wild Area.
The addition of Y-Comm, which allows trainers to battle and trade Pokémon locally or online with Nintendo Switch Online.
A new villainous team, Team Yell.
The introductions of the Rotom Phone, which functions as a menu, and the Rotom Bike, an upgraded version of traditional bikes that can grant a speed boost and move on water.
Fourteen new regional forms, now including Pokémon from Generations II, III, and V as bases, and being the first generation to have forms from multiple generations.
- In addition, the introduction of cross-generational evolutions exclusive to regional forms.
The introduction of 70 new forms for Alcremie, the most forms a Pokémon has ever had.
Similarly, the introduction of several other new forms.
Many animations for characters and Pokémon are refined and expanded to be more expressive.
Ten new Gyms, four of which have different type specialties depending on which version the player has.
A new battle mechanic, Dynamax, which increases the size of a Pokémon and allows them to use Max Moves for three turns. Gigantamax expands on this mechanic by also changing a Pokémon's form and turning moves of a certain type into G-Max Moves
The introduction of downloadable content in the form of the Sword and Shield Expansion Pass.

Alterations from Generation VII

Pokémon that are not present in a game's current patch cannot be transferred into it.
Many moves from earlier games have been deprecated, and cannot be used or learned in Sword and Shield.
The Town Map is now a part of the menu, and the player can use the replacement for Poké Ride Charizard Glide, Flying Taxi, at the start of the game.
The abandonment of the following elements:
- The Moss Rock, Ice Rock, and special magnetic field.
- Trial Captains, Totem Pokémon, and Island Kahunas.
- Battle Royal and SOS Battle.
- Mega Evolution and Z-Moves.
The island challenge have been replaced by the Gym Challenge.
Certain Pokémon can evolve from a preexisting evolutionary stone which could not do so before, including evolutions into Leafeon, Glaceon, Darmanitan, and Charjabug.
The Elite Four is replaced by the Champion Cup.
Poké Pelago is replaced by Poké Jobs.
Pokémon Refresh is replaced by Pokémon Camp.
Trainer Cards are replaced by League Cards.

Region

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.

Starter Pokémon

The starters of the eighth generation, like the starters 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 Saitō^Sw	Allister オニオン Onion^Sh	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 Makuwa^Sw	Melony メロン Melon^Sh	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

Trivia

Generation VIII is the first generation:
- To not have its main paired releases compatible with the entirety of the Pokémon species and moves existing as of its release.
- To introduce Fossil Pokémon that are genderless, cannot breed, and are not Rock type.
- To not introduce a Normal/Flying-type Pokémon.
- To introduce a non-Legendary pure Flying-type Pokémon.
- To introduce a Gym Leader specializing in Dark-type Pokémon.
- To not introduce any dual-typed starter Pokémon since Generation II.
- To lower the base stat total of a pre-existing Pokémon.
- Where Pokémon can no longer lose access to moves by evolving.
- To put old Pokémon in new Egg Groups.
- To not release a Pokémon that evolves by Trading.
Generation VIII is the first even-numbered generation to not introduce a new Eeveelution.
At the time of its debut, Generation VIII introduced no new Mythical Pokémon.