Sword & Shield box art
Generation VIII · Galar / Sinnoh / Hisui

Sword & Shield

Gen VIIINintendo SwitchWorldwide simultaneous

Galar's stadium battles and regional culture.

At a glance

Developer
Game Freak
Publisher
Nintendo / The Pokémon Company
Platform
Nintendo Switch
First released
15 Nov 2019 (Worldwide)
Genre
Role-playing game
Generation
Gen VIII · Galar / Sinnoh / Hisui

Release dates

Sword & Shield launched simultaneously worldwide on 15 Nov 2019.

🇯🇵
Japan
15 Nov 2019
First
🇺🇸
North America
15 Nov 2019
Same day
🇪🇺
Europe
15 Nov 2019
Same day
🇦🇺
Australia
15 Nov 2019
Same day

Key innovation

Dynamax and Gigantamax, the Wild Area, and the shift to HD on Switch.

Critical reception

80

Sword & Shield holds a Metascore of 80/100 on Metacritic, indicating generally favourable reviews for its original Nintendo Switch release. See the reviews on Metacritic →

About Generation VIII

The main series moved to Nintendo Switch with open Wild Areas and Dynamax battles in stadiums, followed by faithful Sinnoh remakes in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Legends: Arceus then broke the formula entirely with a semi-open survey of feudal-era Hisui.

Gym Leaders & Elite Four

The 7 key trainers you battle in Sword & Shield, with their teams, levels and known movesets. Sprites via Pokémon Showdown.

Nessa
Nessa
Hulbury Gym Leader · Galar
Pelipper
PelipperLv. 60/72
Quagsire
QuagsireLv. 61/73
Drednaw
DrednawLv. 62
Golisopod
GolisopodLv. 72
Toxapex
ToxapexLv. 73
Gigantamax
GigantamaxLv. 74
Kabu
Kabu
Motostoke Gym Leader · Galar
Ninetales
NinetalesLv. 60/72
Salazzle
SalazzleLv. 61/73
Centiskorch
CentiskorchLv. 62
Torkoal
TorkoalLv. 72
Arcanine
ArcanineLv. 73
Gigantamax
GigantamaxLv. 74
Opal
Opal
Ballonlea Gym Leader · Galar
Mawile
MawileLv. 36
Weezing
WeezingLv. 68
Togekiss
TogekissLv. 69
Gigantamax
GigantamaxLv. 70
Piers
Piers
Spikemuth Gym Leader · Galar
Scrafty
ScraftyLv. 60/72
Malamar
MalamarLv. 60/72
Skuntank
SkuntankLv. 73
Toxtricity
ToxtricityLv. 73
Obstagoon
ObstagoonLv. 74
Raihan
Raihan
Hammerlocke Gym Leader · Galar
Sandaconda
SandacondaLv. 46
Torkoal
TorkoalLv. 60/74
Turtonator
TurtonatorLv. 61/75
Goodra
GoodraLv. 74
Flygon
FlygonLv. 75
Gigantamax
GigantamaxLv. 76
Gordie
Gordie
Circhester Gym Leader · Galar
Barbaracle
BarbaracleLv. 40
Shell Smash · Rock Tomb · Razor Shell
Shuckle
ShuckleLv. 40
Power Split · Stone Edge · Struggle Bug · Rock Tomb
Stonjourner
StonjournerLv. 41
Stealth Rock · Rock Tomb · Body Slam · Wonder Room
Gigantamax
GigantamaxLv. 42
Tar Shot · Max Guard · Stealth Rock · Heat Crash · Max Flare · Rock Tomb · G-Max Volcalith
Melony
Melony
Circhester Gym Leader · Galar
Frosmoth
FrosmothLv. 40
Icy Wind · Feather Dance · Bug Buzz · Hail
Darmanitan
DarmanitanLv. 40
Icicle Crash · Headbutt · Taunt · Fire Fang
Eiscue
EiscueLv. 41
Amnesia · Freeze-Dry · Hail · Icy Wind
Gigantamax
GigantamaxLv. 42
Icy Wind · G-Max Resonance · Ice Beam · Surf · Max Geyser · Sing · Max Guard
View the full Sword & Shield gym & Elite Four guide →
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