Pokémon launched its first-ever DLC this year with the Expansion Pass to Sword an♑d Shield, the newest generation of games. Fans continue their journeys through the Galar region by first exploring the new Isle of Armor. Later this year, they'll get the chance to navigate the in the second phase of the DLC.
The response has been mixed so far. Some players love the added perks, such as the return of the buddy Pokémon, while others still do𒈔n't thi♏nk it's up to snuff. Here is a breakdown of the best improvements and making up the Expansion Pass.
10 ꦬ Improvement: Expanded Map 🌳
It's always exciting to find a new area to explo✱re in the . This has been done in previous installments, but never to this extent. The Expansion Pass not only adds new Dynamax dens to explore, but entirely new environments, such as coastlines and islands.
If the Wild Area seemed akin to 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:The Legend of Zelda's 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Breath of the Wild, then the Isle of Armor almost seems like Pokémon's answer to Black Flag in the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Assassin's Creed series. With small islands to which players can swim, lagoons to navigate, and a wind🐲ing forest to fight through, the DLC outdid itse♛lf. And there's even in the fall.
9 🍰 Decline: Diglett Mini Game 🐭
Very early into exploring the island, players come across a trainer who's lost . They're identifiable by the three little hairs on their heads, sticking out of the ground. They're scattered across the new area. It's a pesky mini game that takes players on a goose c🔯hase all around the Isle of Armor.
In exchange, he gives away Alolan Pokémon. While that may seem worthwhile, it's a lot of work to collect them. What's worse, it's not even the 🎀only way to get these Alolan variants; there are often trainers around the Isle who will trade them to players for their Kantonian and Galarian counterparts.
8 ꦺ Improvement: More Pokémon
One of the main game's biggest downfalls was "Dexit," the controversy that exploded over the exclusion of scores of Pokémon, including many fan favorites and se🌃ries staples. The DLC rectified this situation by adding over 100 Pokémon back into the game.
Even better, some gained new Gigantamax forms, which also can be acquired through the addition of Max Soup. Those special Pokémon include the new starters as well as the originals from gen one, Venusaur and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Blastoise.
7 Decline: Pokédex Fees ♔𝓀
It's easy to find out which Pokémon are in the area: the Pokédex is a suref♎ire way to identify them, and the internet is a treasure trove of guides for players. For some reason, the Expansion Pass decided to add a new, convoluted 🍬method.
Trainers are stationed around the island claiming they've seen an exciting, amazing Pokémon and they want to show it off. Players have 💝to pay them 100 watts to see a Pokémon available on that day, in that area, during that weather pattern. But there are easier, free methods.
6 🌠 Improvement: Bonus Items
With a new expansion comes new items, and this DLC is full of it. In addition to a pre-order bꩵonus of uniforms, the Expansion Pass added a slew of new clothing items, accessories, and hairstyles, which can be found in boutiques son the mainland🅘 or even in the salon that can be added to Master Dojo.
There are plenty of hidden items scattered around Isle of Armor that players can pick up through the subtle sparkles on the ground. They also added neᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚw currency, such as th💫e Armorite Ore that plays an important role in the game, and even brought back classic items like Apricots.
5 Declin🅺e: Digging Pa And Ma ও
As if the Digging Duo on the mainland wasn't bad enough (if they have so much skill and stamina, why do they turn up one item at a time?), players get to meet the extended family on t෴he Isle of Armor. Unfortunately, they're not nearly as useful. Whereas the Digging Duo can turn up hard-to-find specialty items, that's not the case with Digging Pa and Ma.
In exchange for valuable Armorite Ore, Pa digs up Watts (which can be found much more easily than Armorite Ore through den raids). Meanwhile, Ma hides around the Isle, digging up Armorite Or🎃e...in exchange for Armorite Ore. But if her shovel breaks, youꦺ get nada.
4 Impro🌜vement: More Interactive
The Wild Area was all-new terrain for both The Pokémon Company and🍬 its players. Fans were astounded by the expansive environment, which had never been seen before ꦅin a Pokémon game. The Isle of Armor does one better by introducing even more detailed areas.
Fans latched onto the hyste𝄹rical Sharpedo animations, where it tunnels through the water to strike 🎉trainers at high speeds. In the Forest of Focus, Emolgas stand atop tree branches and descend on unwitting passersby. These new elements helped bring the game alive, breathing life into a decades-old franchise.
3 Decline: Watts For 💙Master Dojo
The DLC places too high a value on Watts. They are used for muc🦋h more on the Isle of Armor than on the mainland. Here's a brief list of what trainers will have to turn them over for: the makeshift Cramorant machine, recipes for♚ the machine, and last but farthest from least, the Master Dojo improvements.
Even if trainers brought over hundreds of thousands of Watts accumulated from den battles on the mainland, they will ge🐎t wiped when Honey makes them fork Watts over for these improvements, which are worthwhile but play out like a 𒈔frustrating mini game.
2 Improvement: Buddy Pokémon 🗹
It was the best part of Pokémon Let's Go, the franchise's most recent in🌸stallment. It was a highlight going all the way back to Pokémon Yellow, too. Now, it's back: the . Online, players were sharing screenshots of their partners, w𓂃ho are permitted to wander the Isle upon completion of the Master Dojo trials.
It was a surprise addition to the Expansion Pass that had not been included in marketing materials up until its release. So, one can imagine ♊the delight of fans everywhere when they could walk around with their favor๊ite Pokémon. It is easily the best improvement on the main game.
1 🦂 Decline: Armorite O🦩rbs
This is an instance of another new currency with too high a value. Armorite Orbs, which are even harder to collect than W൩atts, get used for a multitudeꦜ of purposes in the DLC. This was not the case in the main game.
Players can trade Armorite Orbs for new moves, EV resets, and even more Armorite Orbs. Ther🎃e were already multiple currencies in play that the game could have used for some of these, such as money or Watts. It does not add 🦩to the series to make Armorite Orbs so important.