The Pokemon Company has finally announced the release date of the first expansion of Pokemon Sword and Shield, The Isle of Armor. The Isle of Armor expansion for Pokemon Sword and Shield will release on June 17, 2020, and all Season Pass holders will be able to jump in the expansion right after its release. Apart from the announcement of its release date, the developer has also shared tons of new information about the new Pokemon and features that will be part of the new expansion.
The Isle of Armor is the first new adventure for Pokemon Sword and Shield and it takes place in a brand new island, the island of Armor of the Galar region. It features lush nature where a lot of Pokemon make their home and this island also has a dojo for Pokemon battles. The master of this dojo is Mustard and players will train under him to become stronger and more powerful. The dojo will offer training for both the player and their Pokemon.
The Pokemon Company has also released tons of new information about different new Pokemon and features coming in the new expansion as well in the official press release. We’ve detailed them below:
Newly Discovered Pokemon
Galarian Slowbro
- Category: Hermit Crab Pokemon
- Type: Poison/Psychic
- Height: 5ʹ3″
- Weight: 155.4 lbs.
- Ability: Quick Draw
A Shellder bite set off a chemical reaction with the spices inside Galarian Slowpoke’s body, causing Galarian Slowbro to gain the Poison type. The Shellder that’s latched onto Slowbro sometimes unconsciously bites down harder on Slowbro’s arm, causing an itch that drives Slowbro to start wildly swinging its arm around and smashing its surroundings. With a speed that puts even the quickest reflexes to shame, Slowbro readies its Shellder and makes poisonous liquid shoot from the Shellder’s tip. This is Shell Side Arm, a Poison-type special move that may poison the target. The move inflicts either physical or special damage depending on which will damage the target more.
New Gigantamax Forms
Gigantamax Venusaur
- Type: Grass/Poison
- Height: 78ʹ9″+
- Weight: ????.? lbs.
- Ability: Overgrow
The power of Gigantamaxing has made Venusaur’s flower bloom so large that it covers the Pokemon’s body. During battle, the Pokemon uses these petals as a shield and swings its two thick vines around to thrash its target. Grass-type attacks used by Gigantamax Venusaur will change to G-Max Vine Lash. G-Max Vine Lash doesn’t just deal damage to an opponent when it hits—it will continue to deal damage for four turns to any Pokemon that isn’t Grass type.
Gigantamax Blastoise
- Type: Water
- Height: 82ʹ+
- Weight: ????.? lbs.
- Ability: Torrent
Blastoise’s shell has grown to match its body, and it boasts new extra-large water cannons as well. Gigantamax Blastoise can adapt to different situations by using different combinations of its 31 variously sized cannons. Gigantamax Blastoise can also move the 12 large cannons surrounding its central cannon independently, letting it orient its attacks in any direction, whether toward the ground or the sky. Water-type attacks used by Gigantamax Blastoise will change to G-Max Cannonade. G-Max Cannonade doesn’t just deal damage to an opponent when it hits—it will continue to deal damage for four turns to any Pokemon that isn’t Water type.
Legendary Pokemon Urshifu’s Exclusive Moves
Legendary Pokemon Urshifu has two forms—Single Strike Style and Rapid Strike Style—and each form can learn different moves and G-Max Moves. A Single Strike Style Urshifu that has followed the path of darkness can unleash a single, severe blow—a signature move known as Wicked Blow. This move always results in a critical hit, allowing Urshifu to attack while ignoring the target’s stat changes. A Rapid Strike Style Urshifu that has followed the path of water can unleash a flowing three-hit combo—a signature move known as Surging Strikes. This move always results in critical hits, allowing Urshifu to attack while ignoring the target’s stat changes.
Unseen Fist is a new Ability introduced with these expansions and one that only Single Strike Style Urshifu and Rapid Strike Style Urshifu possess. This Ability lets the Pokemon deal damage when it attacks with moves that make direct contact even if the target defends itself by using moves like Protect.
Dark-type attacks used by Single Strike Style Gigantamax Urshifu will change to G-Max One Blow. Water-type attacks used by Rapid Strike Style Gigantamax Urshifu will change to G-Max Rapid Flow. G-Max One Blow and G-Max Rapid Flow can deal damage even if a target defends itself by using moves like Max Guard or Protect.
New Adventuring Features Introduced In The Isle Of Armor
Cram-o-matic
The dojo on the Isle of Armor houses a unique take on recycling in the form of a device called the Cram-o-matic. If players feed it four items, it will combine them and give out a new item in exchange. Trainers can receive any of a variety of items, including Poké Balls, PP Ups, and more. Some combinations might even produce rare items.
Tutor Moves
Completely new tutor moves will also be available on the Isle of Armor. Trainers can have their Pokemon learn them in exchange for Armorite Ore, a substance that can be found on the Isle of Armor through Max Raid Battles and other means.
Burning Jealousy is a new Fire-type move that can be taught starting with these expansions. When it hits, it deals damage to all opposing Pokemon and burns all opposing Pokemon that have had their stats boosted during the turn.
Grassy Glide is a new Grass-type move that can be taught starting with these expansions. This move has high priority when used on Grassy Terrain.
Max Soup
Max Soup is a special dish made from rare ingredients you can gather on the Isle of Armor. If a Pokemon with great hidden potential drinks Max Soup, it will become a special Pokemon capable of Gigantamaxing.
Some Pokemon that Trainers are already traveling with may also gain the ability to Gigantamax.
The Crown Tundra
The second area unlocked by the Expansion Pass is the snow-swept realm of the Crown Tundra. In this frigid yet beautiful landscape—with its jagged winter mountains and shining, silvery landscape—people live in small communities where they support and rely on one another. A man named Peony will appoint the player as the leader of his exploration team in the Crown Tundra and task them with investigating the reaches of this frozen land. Players will also be able to explore the depths of the Pokemon Dens seen during Max Raid Battles. What’s more, it seems several previously unseen Legendary Pokemon make the Crown Tundra their home.
Newly Discovered Legendary Pokemon
Regieleki
- Category: Electron Pokemon
- Type: Electric
- Height: 3ʹ11″
- Weight: 319.7 lbs.
- Ability: Transistor
Regieleki absorbs electrons to live. Regieleki’s signature Electric-type special move, Thunder Cage, fires furious bolts of electricity from its lower half, trapping opponents directly below it in a cage of lightning. Thunder Cage doesn’t only deal damage to opponents when it lands—the electrified cage will also cause damage every turn for four to five turns and prevent opponents from fleeing or being swapped out.
Regidrago
- Category: Dragon Orb Pokemon
- Type: Dragon
- Height: 6ʹ11″
- Weight: 440.9 lbs.
- Ability: Dragon’s Maw
Regidrago’s body is composed of crystallized dragon energy. With Regidrago’s signature move, Dragon Energy, the Pokemon assumes a shape similar to a dragon’s head, then fires intense dragon energy from its mouth. The more HP the user has remaining, the higher the move’s power.
Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres?
Legendary Pokemon bearing strong resemblances to Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres have been spotted in the Crown Tundra. These Pokemon seem to bear Ice-type, Electric-type, and Fire-type characteristics, respectively, and were previously thought to be the same as the Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres seen in other regions. Recently gathered data from reported sightings and other sources about the Pokemon have bolstered the theory that they are, in fact, distinct variants.
Galarian Articuno
- Category: Cruel Pokemon
- Type: Psychic/Flying
- Height: 5ʹ7″
- Weight: 112.2 lbs.
- Ability: Competitive
Once every several decades, this migratory Pokemon appears in the Crown Tundra. Galarian Articuno’s signature move, Freezing Glare, is a Psychic-type special move in which the Pokemon attacks by firing psychic power from both eyes. This move may also leave the target frozen.
Galarian Zapdos
- Category: Strong Legs Pokemon
- Type: Fighting/Flying
- Height: 5ʹ3″
- Weight: 128.3 lbs.
- Ability: Defiant
Once every several decades, this migratory Pokemon appears in the Crown Tundra. Galarian Zapdos’s signature move, Thunderous Kick, is a Fighting-type physical move that overwhelms the target with lightning-like movement before delivering a kick. This also lowers the target’s Defense stat.
Galarian Moltres
- Category: Malevolent Pokemon
- Type: Dark/Flying
- Height: 6ʹ7″
- Weight: 145.5 lbs.
- Ability: Berserk
Once every several decades, this migratory Pokemon appears in the Crown Tundra. Galarian Moltres’s signature move, Fiery Wrath, is a Dark-type special move in which the Pokemon transforms its wrath into a fire-like aura to attack. It may also make opposing Pokemon flinch.
New Characters
Upon arriving in the Crown Tundra, players will encounter Peony, who has brought his daughter along on an adventure to find the truth behind tales of Legendary Pokemon in the area. Listening isn’t his strong suit, and his bold behaviour draws plenty of attention, but he has a kind side and plenty of affection for his daughter.
Dynamax Adventure
Trainers can team up with three other players to go on a Dynamax Adventure, where they will be able to venture into Pokemon Dens and even encounter Dynamax Pokemon. If Trainers do encounter a Dynamax Pokemon during their exploration, they’ll need to work together in a Max Raid Battle. Trainers will get a chance to catch the Dynamax Pokemon for their team if they triumph in the battle, but they’ll be kicked out of the den should they lose.
Galarian Star Tournament
Once Trainers progress far enough in their adventure in the Crown Tundra, they’ll be able to participate in the Galarian Star Tournament, held in the city of Wyndon. In this tournament, Trainers will battle with various characters they met in Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield—but not just as opponents. They can also pick a teammate and tackle the tournament together.
Transfer Bonus In Pokemon Home
Starting Tuesday, June 2, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. BST, if Trainers transfer one or more Pokemon from Pokemon Sword or Pokemon Shield to the Nintendo Switch version of Pokemon HOME, they will be able to receive a Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble with their Hidden Abilities as Mystery Gifts in the mobile device version of Pokemon HOME.
Grookey
Grookey’s Hidden Ability is Grassy Surge. It’s a rare Ability that normally wouldn’t be available.
- Level: 5
- Ability: Grassy Surge
- Moves: Scratch, Growl
Scorbunny
Scorbunny’s Hidden Ability is Libero. It’s a rare Ability that makes its first appearance in Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield.
- Level: 5
- Ability: Libero
- Moves: Tackle, Growl
Sobble
Sobble’s Hidden Ability is Sniper. It’s a rare Ability that normally wouldn’t be available.
- Level: 5
- Ability: Sniper
- Moves: Pound, Growl
GIGANTAMAX FESTIVAL
From Monday, June 1 PDT until Monday, June 30, at 00:59 a.m. BST, many different Gigantamax Pokemon can be encountered in Max Raid Battles in Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield. Some different Gigantamax Pokemon will appear depending on the version of the game being played.
The following Gigantamax Pokemon will appear in both versions of the game:
- Snorlax
Gigantamax Pokemon that will appear only in Pokemon Sword:
- Gengar
- Kingler
- Lapras
- Garbodor
- Corviknight
- Appletun
- Amped Form Toxtricity
- Centiskorch
- Grimmsnarl
- Alcremie
- Duraludon
Gigantamax Pokemon that will appear only in Pokemon Shield:
- Charizard
- Butterfree
- Machamp
- Orbeetle
- Drednaw
- Coalossal
- Flapple
- Sandaconda
- Low Key Form Toxtricity
- Hatterene
- Copperajah
Are you looking forward to playing Pokemon Sword and Shield The Isle of Armor when it comes out later this month? Let us know in the comments section below.
