New Pokemon Sword and Shield Items Enhance Training

Published: November 7, 2019 8:00 AM /

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Pokemon Sword and Shield Items Sudo Bonk

Some new Pokemon Sword and Shield items have been announced via a press release and trailer and it looks like the trainer experience is getting a serious upgrade for the latest version of the game that's on the way.

Among the highlighted new Pokemon Sword and Shield items are special supplements, a new form of candy, and mints. Here's the shortlist of how things are going to work, after which you can see a new trailer showing off some of these new features.

  • Mints will change the stat-growth patterns which are determined by a Pokemon's Nature.
  • Special supplements like Protein and Iron can raise a 'mon's base points (which raise its stats in turn). There is no longer a limit to using these items; they can now max out a Pokemon's stats.
  • Exp. Candy will give Pokemon experience directly; it can be earned via Max Raid Battles.

Training has always been an involved process for people who like to perfect their Pokemon and these new items should make the process a heck of a lot easier.

Of course, that's not all that was announced today — a neat enhancement to breeding and something special for Gigantamax is also coming.

Egg Moves and A Better Chance for Gigantamax

Aside from these fancy new items, something called "Egg Moves" are going to be a part of the game. These are moves that a Pokemon wouldn't normally be able to learn through evolving or via a TM.

If you pair up two Pokemon of the same specis in a nursey, an Egg Move that one of them knows can be passed on to other Pokemon. Egg Moves can only be learned when a 'mon knows three or fewer moves.

Gigantamax, too, is getting a bit of a buff. Players will be more likely to encounter a Gigantamax Butterfree in Max Raid Battles from November 15, 2019, through early January 2020. Of course, you'll need an Internet connection to participate in these battles.

Pokemon Sword and Shield Items Pokemon Box

Pokemon Sword and Shield Items Supplemented by Pokemon Box Improvements

Another improvement of note is to Pokemon Storage. Previously, players had to go to a Pokemon Center (or a few rare other places) to access a PC and retrieve or store their Pokemon. Now, this can be accomplished on the move.

Pokemon can now be swapped in and out of your team at will while you're on the road. This isn't going to necessarily make the game easier, though — you'll still be restricted from swapping out Pokemon on the go in certain key mission areas, gyms, and other important places.

Autosave, Nicknames, and the Rest

Finally, some technical improvements will also be joining the game alongside the new Pokemon Sword and Shield items. The first is a long-requested feature: autosave.

Autosave will automatically save progress at various points; as an example, an autosave might occur when you enter a town or building. You'll still be able to save manually, and you can turn off the autosave function entirely if you prefer doing things the old way.

Nicknames, too, are getting a bit of a buff. If a Pokemon you've received via trade doesn't have a nickname, you'll have one chance to give the ma nickname. Pokemon you receive with a nickname can't have that name changed.

And that's it! Pokemon Sword and Shield is shaping up to be plenty interesting; you'll be able to get your hands on it when it launches on November 15, 2019.

What do you think of the new Pokemon Sword and Shield items? Are you going to make use of the autosave feature? Let us know in the comments below!

Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


A photograph of TechRaptor Senior Writer Robert N. Adams.
| Senior Writer

One of my earliest memories is playing Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I've had a controller in my hand since I was 4 and I… More about Robert N

More Info About This Game
Learn more about Pokémon Sword and Shield
Developer
Game Freak
Publisher
Nintendo
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Release Date
November 15, 2019 (Calendar)
Genre
Open World, RPG
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