Pokémon Sword and Shield Trailer Reveal

On August 7 at 6:00 A.M. PDT, a new trailer for the next generation mainline Pokémon game, Sword and Shield, had been posted on the Pokémon Company’s social media accounts. This trailer introduced a new team, Galarian Forms, two new Pokémon, and more rivals for the player character.

Let’s start off with the new Pokémon introduced. Regional variants of Pokémon have been around for quite a while, having been introduced back in Pokémon Sun and Moon (2016). For people who don’t know what a regional variant is, a regional variant is a Pokémon that has developed a new look and typing to adapt to that specific region. Keep in mind that these regional variants are for older Pokémon and not for the newer Pokémon. Three Pokémon will be gaining regional variants as revealed in the trailer: Weezing, Zigzagoon, and Linoone.  All three of these Pokémon have gained new typing and looks in addition of their previous ones (Weezing: Poison/Fairy; Zigzagoon: Dark/Normal; Linoone: Dark/Normal).

After the reveal of the Galarian Forms, there were 2 new Pokémon introduced, increasing the total of new Pokémon to 16. One of the new Pokémon is a new evolution from a previous Pokémon, Linoone, which also evolves from Zigzagoon (Zigzagoon –> Linoone). This new Pokémon’s name is Obstagoon, making it the third evolution of the Zigzagoon line. As with its previous evolutions, Obstagoon will have a Dark/Normal typing. This is the first cross-generation evolution Pokémon ever since Generation 6 back in 2013.

In every generation, there’s always a new Pokémon to be a part of the “electric mouse” family that was started by Pikachu and Raichu. This one is no exception, with the new Pokémon being Morpeko. This electric mouse stands out from other ones since it could change forms from “Full Belly Mode” to “Hangry”. Morpeko has a typing of Electric/Dark and a unique ability called “Hunger Switch”. When Hunger Switch gets triggered, Morpeko changes form and becomes “Hangry”. Coming with this unique ability, it also has a signature move called “Aura Wheel”, meaning the move is exclusive to Morpeko. As seen in the trailer, Aura Wheel is connected with Hunger Switch and the move turns from an Electric to Dark type move.

By the end of the trailer, two new rivals have been revealed, named Bede and Marnie. Both of these rivals were revealed after the introduction of the new Pokémon. There isn’t much information on Bede, other than that one of the Pokémon he will use is a Duosion, an evolved form of Solosis. Marnie, however, has more information, showing off her new Pokémon and the team the player character will go against. Marnie will be using Morpeko as her signature Pokémon. From the trailer, there will be three rivals that are confirmed to be going against the player characters.

There has been a new reveal on a new enemy team the player character will be going against called Team Yell. From the information leak on Pokémon Sword and Shield back in May, this confirms more of that list of leaks. Team Yell are revealed to be fans of one of the rivals, Marnie, meaning that the new team are going to be a frequent encounter alongside her. Judging from the leak of the new trailer, the teams are meant to be an annoyance to the player character.

This new trailer out of the recent four has brought the most information out of past trailers from June. The games are set to be released on November 15, 2019 on the Nintendo Switch. Both games are set to be $60 on release.