Pokémon Sword or Shield: version differences and exclusives explained

Pokémon Sword or Cuticle: which is the very best for you?

Pokémon Sword or Shield: version differences and exclusives explained

(Look-alike: © The Pokemon Company)

Pokémon Sword or Shield? It's a thug decision. At least, it's a tough decision if you've been thinking about jumping into the ordinal genesis of the Pokémon games.

Offering a choice betwixt two versions of the same game is a long-standing tradition for the Pokémon serial. It started with Red and Green in Japan for the GameBoy in 1996 and information technology continues through to these latest releases on Nintendo Switch. Then and instantly, the overall game is pretty much the same thoughtless of which variation you opt. But on that point are both differences and it's definitely not a hopeless idea to know what they are ahead you commit to Pokémon Sword Beaver State Shield.

There are really more version differences in Pokémon Sword and Shield than previous generations. Thither have always been version-exclusive Pokémon, maybe some version-inner locations, but Pokémon Steel and Shield direct that even further with edition-exclusive Gyms, characters and curry ingredients. These are things that it's really worthy looking into.

To help you decide whether you need Pokémon Sword or Shield, so, we've detailed the differences between both versions of the up-to-the-minute Pokémon games, as well as both DLC releases infra.

  • Here's our official list of the world-class Pokémon games
  • Looking more? These are the best Nintendo Switch games or so
  • Don't miss our Pokémon Sword and Shield review in full

Pokémon Sword or Shield: reading-exclusive Pokémon

Pokémon Sword or Shield: Galarian Ponyta

Galarian Ponyta john be caught in Pokémon Shield (Look-alike credit: The Pokemon Company/Game Freak)

From the early years, the main dispute 'tween the Pokémon releases has been that one version will have Pokémon the other doesn't and vice versa. The same is still trusty for Sword and Shield.

For some players this won't make an iota of difference, but if you induce a preferred tool that the game just isn't worth playing without, it's worth making sure they South Korean won't exist privileged to a particular variation earlier you make that Pokémon Sword or Shield decision. It's always feasible to find someone to trade with if you take missed out – and you can always buy both versions, if you deficiency to – simply that's a piece of a rigmarole and can be avoided if you want an easier spirit.

Under are the variant exclusive Pokémon for Sword and Cuticle, with their respective types.

Pokémon Sword exclusives:

  • Deino (Dark/Dragon)
  • Hydreigon (Dark/Dragon)
  • Jangmo-o (Dragon)
  • Kommo-o (Dragon/Fighting)
  • Hakamo-o (Dragon/War-ridden)
  • Farfetch'd (Normal/Flying)
  • Sirfetch'd (Fighting)
  • Zweilous (Morose/Dragon)
  • Gothita (Psychic)
  • Gothorita (Psychic)
  • Gothitelle (Paranormal)
  • Turtonator (Fire/Draco)
  • Seedot (Grass)
  • Nuzleaf (Grass/Dark)
  • Shiftry (Tell on/Twilit)
  • Mawile (Steel/Fairy)
  • Solrock (Rock/Paranormal)
  • Basculin (Water)
  • Darumaka (Ice)
  • Darmanitan (Ice)
  • Scraggy (Dark/Brawling)
  • Scrafty (Dark/Fighting)
  • Rufflet (Normal/Flight)
  • Braviary (Normal/Flying)
  • Swirlix (Fairy)
  • Slurpuff (Pou)
  • Passimian (Disorderly)
  • Coalossal, Gigantamax Raid native to Sword but can be common (Rock/Fire)
  • Flapple, Gigantamax Maraud native to Brand but can embody shared (Grass/Dragon)
  • Stonjourner (Tilt)
  • Indeedee, Male (Paranormal/Normal)

Pokémon Harbor exclusives:

  • Goomy (Dragon)
  • Sliggo (Dragon)
  • Goodra (Dragon)
  • Larvitar (Rock/Anchor)
  • Pupitar (Rock/Ground)
  • Tyranitar (Rock/Ground)
  • Galarian Ponyta (Psychic)
  • Solosis (Psychic)
  • Duosion (Psychic)
  • Reuniclus (Paranormal)
  • Drampa (Normal/Dragon)
  • Vullaby (Dark/Flying)
  • Mandibuzz (Dark/Flying)
  • Gengar, Gigantamax Raid native to Shield but commode be shared (Ghost/Poison)
  • Lapras, Gigantamax Foray into indigen to Shield only can be divided up (Water/Ice)
  • Cursola (Obsess)
  • Lotad (Water/Grass)
  • Lombre (Water/Grass)
  • Ludicolo (Water/Grass)
  • Sableye (Dark/Ghost)
  • Lunatone (Sway/Psychic)
  • Croagunk (Poison/Contend)
  • Toxicroak (Poisin/Fight)
  • Basculin, Blue-stripe form (Water)
  • Spritzee (Fairy)
  • Aromatisse (Faggot)
  • Oranguru (Natural/Mental)
  • Appletun Gigantamax Raid indigenous to Shield simply can be shared out (Grass/Flying lizard)
  • Eiscue (Ice)
  • Indeedee, Female (Mental/Normal)

Pokémon Sword or Shield: version-exclusive Gyms

Pokémon Sword or Shield: Gym Leaders Bea and Allister

Different versions have various Gymnasium Leaders (Image credit: The Pokémon Companion)

Sword and Shield also have version-exclusive gyms so, depending on which version you pick, you leave find oneself yourself facing an exclusive Gym Drawing card with their own type-focus.

Pokémon Black and White had a standardized scenario where, contingent which version you picked, you found yourself battling either Drayden or Fleur-de-lis. That said, both Drayden and Iris used Dragon-types, so you likely weren't having a hugely different know.

This time, though, the version-exclusive Gymnasium Leadership are different people World Health Organization also use up different types.

Pokémon Sword's exclusive gyms are:

  • Bea, the Fighting-type leader
  • Gordie, the Rock-type leader

While in Pokémon Shield you'll embody battling against:

  • Allister, the Wraith-type leader
  • Melony, the Ice-eccentric leader

If facing off against any of these detail Pokémon types makes you break out in hives, then it could really supporte you in your decision whether to go for Pokémon Brand operating theatre Harbour. If you hate them all then we don't know what to allege – go for the small of two evils?

Pokémon Blade or Buckler: Legendary Pokémon

Pokémon Sword or Shield: trainer throwing PokéBall

(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

Other classic version deviation is in the Fabled Pokémon that plays the biggest break u in your Pokémon adventure. Traditionally, the Legendary Pokémon conspicuous along the cover of the bet on is a Pokémon you'll be able to catch in your version of the game and this remains true in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

For Pokémon Sword, this is Zacian, a Pokémon carrying a blade in its mouth that can cut through opponents. For Pokémon Shield it's Zamazenta, a defence-based Pokémon whose shield-like body can reflect attacks back on opponents.

The Pokémon Company is providing players an opportunity to mother the Shiny version of the unreal they didn't have entree to in their new game as part of a temporary promotion starting Oct 22 2021 and running done Nov 2021. Yes, that's right. If you've got Pokémon Sword, you could get down your hands along a Shiny Zamazenta while Pokémon Shield players buns get Shiny Zacian. The Pokémon will be detached and can be added to your game via a code that's claimed in-game in the Mystery Gift menu. Where and when you can set about that code depends on where you're living.

In North America, it's an in-memory GameStop tender. In the US, Zacian is available until 11 November spell Zamazenta's code can cost obtained between November 12 and 26. In Canada Zacian is only acquirable until 4 November with Zamazenta available from November 5 to 18. In the UK and Ireland, some Pokémon are available concurrently in Brave and GameStop stores respectively.

Pokémon Sword operating room Screen: version-unshared dress ingredients

These exclusives are more minor than the others but on that point are version-exclusive dress ingredients in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Fortuitously, there's only when deuce total.

Those playing with Pokémon Brand vex Bob's food atomic number 5 to cook with, while those playing with Shield gravel Bach's food canniste. Some can equal bought from the ingredients sellers in the Pealing Hills and Hammerlocke sections of the Wild Sphere in your interlingual rendition of the game.

For those who desire to experiment with the ingredient that's not in their adaptation in order to expand their CurryDex, you tin can either trade Pokémon to get one holding that ingredient, or you can cook with a player who has the opposite edition of the game equally recipes you create while cookery with others will embody added to your CurryDex.

Pokémon Sword or Shield: Isle of Armour DLC differences

Pokémon Sword or Shield: Isle of Armor artwork

Isle of Armor (Image credit: Nintendo)

Pokémon Sword and Buckler's first expansion, Isle of Armor, is out now and is available for some versions of the game. The Pokémon DLC brings with information technology a new mentor, dogo master Mustard greens, unused Pokémon (including the return of more or less auld favorites) and new rivals.

But, while the Islet of Armor message for Pokémon Sword and Shield is bad much the homophonic, which reading of the courageous you have will determine which rival you face-off against.

Owners of Pokémon Sword will get Klara, a poison-type trainer, as their rival; while owners of Pokémon Carapace will confrontation against Avery, a psychic-typecast-trainer.

Pokémon Sword Beaver State Shield: Crown Tundra DLC differences

Pokémon Sword or Shield: The Crown Tundra artwork

The Crown Tundra (Image credit: Nintendo)

Pokémon Blade and Shield's secondment expanding upon, The Crown Tundra, is out instantly and is free for both versions of the game. Larger than Isle of Armor, The Crown Tundra takes players to colder climes where they'll be appointed as the leader of an exploration team tasked with investigation the farthest reaches of the land, including its underground Pokémon Dens.

Ilk Isle of Armour, the content in The Crown Tundra is quite similar for Pokémon Sword and Shield. In terms of version exclusive Pokémon, Sword players will Be able to catch Omanyte, Omastar, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence.  Buckler players but then will be able to watch Kabuto, Kabutops, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp.

A more notable divergence 'tween the Steel and Shield versions are the Legendary Pokémon you'll be able to skirmish in the game's new Dynamax Adventures. Steel has the legendaries Ho-Oh, Latios, Groudon, Dialga, Tornadus, Reshiram, Xerneas and Solgaleo, while Shield has Lugia, Latias, Kyogre, Palkia, Thundurus, Zekrom, Yveltal and Lunala.

This posterior be worked around, though, as you can merely join in the Dynamax Gamble of someone with the opposite edition to you in consecrate to try and catch that version's exclusive Legendaries in a team Dynamax Risk.

Best Pokémon Sword and Shield deals

Do you now own a major idea of whether Pokémon Sword or Shield is for you? Maybe it's both? Either way, we've included the best prices on both Pokémon Sword and Shield below:

  • Pokémon Sword and Shield review
Emma Boyle

Emma Boyle is TechRadar's ex-Gaming Editor, and is now a satisfied developer and freelance journalist. She has written for magazines and websites including T3, Stuff and The Independent.

Pokémon Sword or Shield: version differences and exclusives

Source: https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-decide-between-pokemon-sword-and-shield-exclusives-and-gym-leaders-explained