Every Pokémon game has their own exclusive list of Pokémon to catch, and Sword and Shield are no exceptions.
Serebii.net, arguably the singular authority on information regarding the Pokémon franchise, has spent the past 24 hours updating his own database on confirmed information regarding Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. The results include a list of confirmed version exclusives for both games, including old and new Pokémon along with some Gigantamax forms being split down the middle.
The question now is, which Pokémon are in which game?
Pokémon Sword Exclusives
Pokémon Sword exclusives include 31 Pokémon and three Gigantamax forms, with a fourth Gigantamax form being shared by both games.
The first exclusives shown were two pseudo-legendary lines, the Deino and Jangmo-o lines. Along them, other returning Pokémon exclusive to Sword includes the Rufflet, Seedot, and Swirlix line, along with single-stage Pokémon such as Turtonator, Lunatone, and Passimian.
New Pokémon includes the Galarian Darumaka line, an Ice-type variant of Darumaka and Darmanitan, the Stonehenge inspired Rock-type Stonejourner, the previously revealed fighting-type Sirfetch'd, and the male form of the new Psychic/Normal-type Indeedee. One unique addition is Flapple, one of two evolutions possible for the Grass/Dragon-type Applin. To evolve Applin, you need one of two new held items - in this case the version exclusive Tart Apple - to acquire the Flapple
Box Legendary Zacian is also exclusive to Sword, and the three Gigtantamax forms exclusive to sword include one for Machamp, one for Coalossal, the final form of RolyColy, and one for Flapple.
The total list is as follows:
- Seedot
- Nuzleaf
- Shiftry
- Mawile
- Lunatone
- Basculin (Red-striped Form)
- Scraggy
- Scrafty
- Gothita
- Gothorita
- Gothitelle
- Rufflet
- Braviary
- Deino
- Zweilous
- Hydreigon
- Swirlix
- Slurpuff
- Passimian
- Turtonator
- Jangmo-o
- Hakamo-o
- Kommo-o
- Galarian Farfetch'd
- Sirfetch'd
- Galarian Darumaka
- Galarian Darmanitan
- Flapple
- Stonejourner
- Indeedee (Male Form)
- Zacian
- Gigantamax Machamp
- Gigantamax Coalossal
Pokémon Shield Exclusives
Pokémon Shield, like Pokémon Sword, contains 31 exclusive Pokémon and two Gigantamax forms ready to go for players. Much like Sword, Pokémon Shields earliest exclusives included the pseudo-legendary Larvitar and Goomy lines. Returning Pokémon include the Vullaby, Lotad and Spritzee lines, as well as single-stage counterparts like Solrock, Drampa, and Oranguru.
New Pokémon include Galarian forms for Ponyta and Rapidash, and Galarian Corsola and it's newly evolved form, Curseola. Both Corsola and Curseola are Ghost-types, mirroring Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd pure Fighting-type. New Pokémon include the Ice-type Eiscue, the female version of Indeedee, and of course, the box Legendary Zamazenta. Applin's other form, the more defensive and delicious-looking Appletun, is also a Shield exclusive. To acquire Appletun, you need to evolve Applin with the version exclusive Sweet Apple.
Finally, the two Gigantamax forms that are exclusive to Shield are both Kanto-favorites. Gigantamax Gengar and Gigantamax Lapras are natively only in Shield, but like Coalossal and Machamp, they can be shared through playing with others online.
Here is the full list of version exclusives in Pokémon Shield.
- Larvitar
- Pupitar
- Tyranitar
- Lotad
- Lombre
- Ludicolo
- Sableye
- Solrock
- Croagunk
- Toxicroak
- Basculin (Blue-Striped Form)
- Solosis
- Duosion
- Reuniclus
- Vullaby
- Mandibuzz
- Spritzee
- Aromatisse
- Goomy
- Sliggoo
- Goodra
- Oranguru
- Drampa
- Galarian Ponyta
- Galarian Rapidash
- Galarian Corsola
- Curseola
- Appletun
- Eiscue
- Indeedee (Female Form)
- Zamazenta
- Gigantamax Gengar
- Gigantamax Lapras
A Note About Version Exclusives for Pokémon Sword and Shield
It should be noted that the list of version exclusives can still change, as we are in the early hours of the game being released. While Serebii is currently updating all of the info found for Sword and Shield, it is possible more Pokémon and Gigantamax forms can be found to be exclusive to each game. Be sure to check out Serebii and other trusted sources for up to date information as it releases.
The question now though is which version do you feel has the better list of Pokémon to use? Leave your comments below.
