As part of the Pokemon Sword and Shield expansion pass announcement, Game Freak revealed that a lot of previously excluded Pokemon are being added to the game. Which Pokemon do we know are returning, though?
During the Pokemon Direct, Shigeru Ohmori shared that 200 species would be returning across the two DLCs. “On The Isle of Armor and in The Crown Tundra, you’ll see some familiar Pokemon that didn’t appear in the Galar region before,” the Game Freak director said. “There will be more than 200 Pokemon species that appear in these areas and you can add to your team.”
The first of those 200 will come in Pokemon Sword and Shield’s first DLC, The Isle of Armor and the rest in the second one, The Crown Tundra. Is it unknown how many of the 200 will come in each expansion pack, though.
Which of the 200 Pokemon do we know?
While the 200 have yet to be announced, several of these Pokemon have been seen in the trailer and through earlier datamines. Here’s a list of all the known Pokemon and where their eventual addition to the game was revealed.
Officially announced
Some have also been revealed in an official capacity through the official Pokemon Sword and Shield website. Which expansion pack they’ll be released was also confirmed:
Isle of Armor
- Slowbro
- Magnemite, Magneton, Magnezone
- Happiny, Chansey, Blissey
- Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra
- Azurill, Marill, Azumarill
- Zorua, Zoroark
- Larvesta, Volcarona
- Dedenne
- Rockruff, Lycanroc
Crown Tundra
- Nidoran, Nidorino, Nidoking
- Zubat, Golbat, Crobat
- Slowking
- Elekid, Electabuzz, Electivire
- Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein
- Beldum, Metang, Metagross
- Gible, Gabite, Garchomp
- Cryogonal
- Amaura, Aurorus
So, super officially we have 42 of the 200 revealed.
Legendary species returning
Aside from the National Pokedex fiasco, one of the more shocking parts of the Pokemon Sword and Shield reveal was the distinct lack of legendary Pokemon. The only legends in the game were actually from Gen 8 itself.
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This seemed a strange decision from Game Freak but given the news of the expansion pass, the decision to initially omit them makes more sense now. Here is the list of returning legends. You can check out the full list of returning legendary Pokemon broken down by generation, too. It has also been confirmed that Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres will be returning with Galarian forms.
- Articuno
- Zapados
- Moltres
- Mewtwo
- Raikou
- Entei
- Suicune
- Lugia
- Ho-Oh
- Regirock
- Regice
- Registeel
- Latias
- Latios
- Kyogre
- Groudon
- Rayquaza
- Uxie
- Mesprit
- Azelf
- Dialga
- Palkia
- Heatran
- Giratina
- Cresselia
- Tornadus
- Thundurus
- Landorus
- Reshiram
- Zekrom
- Kyurem
- Xerneas
- Yveltal
- Zygarde
- Tapu Koko
- Tapu Lele
- Tapu Bulu
- Tapu Fini
- Cosmog, Cosmoem
- Solgaleo, Lunala
- Necrozma
Datamine confirms additional returning Pokemon
Finally, a datamine revealed 435 Pokemon within the Sword and Shield code. This is 35 more than the Galar region Pokedex.
While there is some overlap with the Pokemon above, it is interesting to see the 35 nonetheless. It as follows:
- Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur
- Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise
- Mewtwo
- Mew
- Celebi
- Jirachi
- Cobalion
- Terrakion
- Virizion
- Reshiram
- Zekrom
- Kyurem
- Keldeo
- Rowlet, Dartrix, Decidueye
- Litten, Torracat, Incineroar
- Popplio, Brionne, Primarina
- Cosmog, Cosmoem
- Solgaleo, Lunala
- Necrozma
- Marshadow
- Zeraora
- Meltan, Melmetal
That’s a lot of Pokemon to look forward to – maybe Game Freak planned this National Pokedex controversy all along!
There’s more to come though, as that is only 109 of the slated 200. We’ll be sure to hear more nearer the time of the Pokemon Sword and Shield expansion pass release.