In this all new adventure, you’ll encounter new and familiar Pokémon as you catch, battle, and trade Pokémon while exploring new areas and uncovering an all-new story.

Unsheathe your sword and take up your shield!

The Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games take place in the Galar region. Galar is an expansive region with diverse environments— an idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forest, and craggy, snow-covered mountains. The people and the Pokémon who live there work together closely to develop the industries in the region. Fans will have the opportunity to visit various Gyms in the Galar region in their quest to become Champion. They will not be alone, since the newly discovered Pokémon they choose to be their first partner will be by their side.

The adventure begins in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield when players choose one of three new Pokémon—Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble. Grookey, a Grass-type Chimp Pokémon, is mischievous and full of boundless curiosity. Bursting with energy, Scorbunny, a Fire-type Rabbit Pokémon, is always running about. The stealthy Sobble, a Water-type Water Lizard Pokémon, shoots out attacks as it hides itself in water.

The Pokémon Company and Nintendo announced that The Crown Tundra, the second set of downloadable content for the blockbuster Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield video games, will launch on October 22.

This expansion is set in the snow-swept realm of the Crown Tundra featuring beautiful shining, silvery landscape.

In this frigid area, with its jagged winter mountains, people live in small communities where they support and rely on one another. A certain person will appoint the player as the leader of their exploration team in the Crown Tundra, where Trainers will be tasked with investigating the reaches of this frozen land. Here, Trainers will be able to explore the full depth of Pokémon Dens, which they’ve so far only been able to glimpse in Max Raid Battles.

The Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass and the Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass are available for purchase in Nintendo eShop. Starting on November 6, Trainers will have the opportunity to purchase bundle packs consisting of the Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield base game as well as that game’s corresponding Expansion Pass, which includes The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra. These bundle packs are well suited for Trainers who have yet to embark on their journeys in the Galar region.

The Pokémon Company also unveiled newly discovered Pokémon, new game features, and exciting in-game bonuses for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield or the Expansion Passes, as well as updates to Pokémon GO.

Newly Discovered Pokémon

Galarian Slowking
Category: Hexpert Pokémon
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175.3 lbs.
Type: Poison/Psychic
Ability: Curious Medicine

A Shellder bite set off a reaction between the chemicals secreted by Galarian Slowpoke’s brain and the spices inside its body, causing Slowpoke to gain the Poison type as it evolved into Galarian Slowking. Galarian Slowking have been observed uttering incantations in order to communicate with each other and appear to chant mysterious spells when using moves in battle. Galarian Slowking’s Ability, Curious Medicine, is a new Ability introduced in The Crown Tundra.

Gigantamax Melmetal
Height: 82'+
Weight: ????.? lbs.
Type: Steel
Ability: Iron Fist

While Gigantamaxed, the Mythical Pokémon Melmetal can use its flexible and elastic liquid-metal body to land punches even when opponents keep their distance. Steel-type attacks used by Gigantamax Melmetal will change to G-Max Meltdown, a powerful move that slams opponents with shock waves and swirling liquid metal. This move doesn’t only deal damage to opponents—it also prevents them from using the same move consecutively.

Dynamax Adventures

In Dynamax Adventures, players will team up with three other Trainers to explore a Pokémon Den where Dynamax Pokémon are said to lurk. Instead of their regular Pokémon team, players and their fellow Trainers will choose Pokémon that they can temporarily use for battle (rental Pokémon) to bring along into the depths of the den. Players will have to work together with their three teammates in a Max Raid Battle whenever they encounter a wild Dynamax Pokémon during their exploration. If they win the battle, players will have the opportunity to catch the Pokémon, and one Trainer on the team can swap the newly caught Pokémon for the Pokémon they had before. Trainers can delve even deeper into the den with Endless Dynamax Adventures, which enable the player to continue until they lose a battle.

Legendary Pokémon

With The Crown Tundra, Trainers will be able to encounter every Legendary Pokémon that’s appeared in the main series of Pokémon video games. Players can find—and catch—Legendary Pokémon during their travels in the Crown Tundra or while they’re on Dynamax Adventures.[3]

Special Event with Pikachu

To celebrate the launch of The Crown Tundra, there will be a special in-game event for players to receive eight different Pikachu for their teams. Beginning Tuesday, September 29, and up through Friday, October 30, Trainers can find special passwords in various places including the Play Pokémon Twitter feed, and the Pokémon Trainer Club e-mail newsletter. When Trainers enter the passwords into their Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield game, they can obtain Pikachu—and not just one but eight, each donning a different cap.

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are currently available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.