Sword & Shield will go down in gaming history. Not only for all the sweeping changes to the mainline Pokémon formula but for the infamous National Dex controversy. GameFreak’s Junichi Masuda announced earlier this year that there will not ꧂be a National Dex in🐷 the upcoming sequel.
Unfortunately, that means many players’ favorite Pokémon will not make the cut into the next mainline entry of the Pokémon saga. Datamined leaks reveal which the previous Pokémon will be included and which ones will not. While some are understandable, others are surprising given their histor𓆉y in the games, communit𝕴y, and competitive scene.
Here are the most shocking National Dex cuts players will see in Pokémon Sword & Shield.
Updated on November 6th, 2020 by Josh Davison: Since the publication of this article, Pokémon Sword and Shield have been released, played, and the expansions of Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra have been released. Those two expansions actually returned many cut Pokémon to the game, including most that were referenced on the original list such as the Hoenn starters, most of the fossil Pokémon, and even Lugia and Ho-Oh. These entries will remain for posterity, especially given that not everyone has been able to purchase the expansions. However, this list will receive an additional five entries to reflect Pokémon unfortunate enough to not be added back in with the two expansions.
15 Still M𝓀ost Of The Starters
Despite the return of the Hoenn starters with Crown Tundra, half of the starter Pokémon are still absent from Sword and Shield. The beloved Johto starters, the excellent Sinnoh starters, the memorable Unova starters, and even the fan-favorite Greninja are all absent from the ꦡGalar region in the games. It seems like such a bizarre oversight given how commonly beloved they are among fans. They're the Pokémon that first join a player on their exploration through a new region--why not just bring them all back?
14 Alolan Form Pokémon ꦚ
With many Generation I Pokémon receiving new life as regional forms with new types, it seems peculiar to cut some of them out with the next installment. That said, almost all Alolan Form Pokémon got their return in Sword and Shield and their expansions. The Geodude and Grimer evolution lines were stil🃏l left out. These two are especially odd given how iconic Geodude and Golem are and that the Galari🔥an Weezing feels a bit like an intended counterpart to Alolan Muk.
13 🍃 🅘 The Early Birds
Each generation has its own iteration of the Flying-Type bird Pokémon that the player can catch in the early game, but half have still been left out in Sword and Shield and the expansions. Pidgeot, Swellow, Staraptor, and Toucannon were left out--especially glaring given that Pidgeot was the fi🌄rst🌺 and made iconic thanks to the Pokémon anime.
12 ♏ Arceus, Deoxys, Darkrai, Hoopa, Manaphy, Phione, and Shaymin
Can you defy Poké God's will? Apparently, you can. Even after almost all of the prior Legendary Pokémon making a return with Crown Tundra, Arceus is still absent in Generation VIII. To add to that, the alien Deoxys, the nightmare-maker Darkrai, the prankster Hoopa, the sea royalty of Manaphy and Phione, and the adorable Shaymin are all still missing. Arceus, Darkrai, and Deoxys seem especially bizarre given how heavily they were pushed in the marketing of their generations. To add to the confusion of Arceus' return, a data-mining of Sword and Shield has found all of ♛the Plates used to change Arceus' type.
11 🅺 Mega Evolutions 🃏
The Mega Evolutions were a controversial addition to the Pokémon world. They're like Super Saiyan for Pokémon and can only be used once per battle, but they boost a Pokémon's powers through the roof while altering their physical appearance. It seemed like Nintendo was stepping back when no new Mega Evolutions were added with Sun and Moon and the whole mechanic seemed to be replaced with Z-moves. However, the Mega Stones were still available in Generation VII. Mega Stones and Z-Crystals were both completely removed with Sword and Shield--but that's not really the end of the saga. Data miners have found the 16 Mega Stones in the code of Sword and Shield, and the Mega Evolutions have returned in the ultra-popular Pokémon Go as well as Pokémon Masters EX. Nintendo seems to be aware of the popularity of Mega Evolutio💧ns but still seems pretty tenuous about bringing them back in the mainline games.
10 Fossil Pokémon ✅
Fossil Pokémon tend to be a hit or miss. They either have widespread popularity or appreciation in the community (e.g. Aerodactyl, Ar🦋maldo), or they fade into obscurity and maintain a very small fanbase. Either way, how trainers obtain them are the same: do something in the story, get some fossils, take it to someone who can restore them, ✅get Pokemon. Simple.
Sword/Shield could’ve been the opportunity to give some of these Fossil Pokémon new life. Instead of creating new Galarian forms for already well-known Gen 1 Pokémon, less popular fossil Pokémon could have different forms based on the fossil found. Let’s say for Archen, it can have another Form if a player got a Beak Fossil instead of a Plume Fossil. It’s a suggestion that probably won’t be ful💃filled.
9 ⛄ 🅺 Igglybuff Line
Jigglypuff is a curious choice to leave out, especially considering its popularity throughout the history of the franchise. In the early seasons of the anime, it was a recurring character that would draw on people’s faces. Jigglypuff was changed into a Fairy-type in X/Y, and it was even featured in the Detective Pikachu movie.
Since Jigglypuff did not make the cut, that also means Igglybuff and Wigglytuff will not make a return. People arguably care more for Jigglypuff than its other two forms, but it does n💎ot diminish the disappointment.
8 ♉ Happiny Line ♒
Like Jigglypuff, Chansey and its evolutions went from Normal-types to Fairy-types in Gen 6. Chansey is a classic 🐷Pokémon, associated with Nurse Joy and a caretaker-type of Pokémon. In actual gameplay, Chansey’s evolution Blissey is used as a tank Pokémon. Some competitive trainers will maximize her defenses and HP, spam stat-boosting mo🌞ves, and Baton Pass to another Pokémon.
Is it possible that the Happiny line was removed for this reason, but Blissey offers some strategical variety to the game. Most Pokemon that are used in competitive play are either weak hard-hitters or 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:overbearingly beefy and strong. Unfortunately, this pink Pokémon i𝄹s gone for🐓 now.
7 Zorua ﷽Line
Zorua and Zoroark were instrumental Pokémon when it came to the marketing of Pokémon Black & White for the Nintendo DS. They even had their own movie and tie-in events, akin to Lucario who was also used to market Pokémon Diamon & Pearl at the time. The Zorua line has its spಌecial pla🅠ce in the Pokémon fanbase.
Cue the𝓰 shock when fans found out that the Illusion Pokémon did not make the cut, even though Lucario did. Lucario is more viable competitively than Zoroark, who is too weak, and its gimmick isn’t that great. But obviously, that is not the reason it was cut. Fans of the vulpine Pokémon can only cross 🙈their fingers and hope they lurk around in the next entry.
6 🐽 Magby & Elekid Lines
You know those pairs of Pokémon that seem to be inseparable in each Generation? Espeon and Umbreon? Escavalier and Accelgor? Sawk and Throh? Magmar and Electabuzz were the original duo, representing the powerhouse Types of Generation 1: Fire and Electric. Their evolutions, Magmortar and Electrivire, burst onto the scene in Gen 4൩ with great stat boosts and powerful moves.
Since they’re listed in this article, their removal from the game was a real headscratcher. They’re not the best Pokémon, but they’re pretty powerful. They have amazing designs, were around when Pokémon GO first dropped, and newer p🌞layers can attach to them. Miss🌼ed opportunity, honestly.