Pokemon Sword and Shield is finally here for the Nintendo Switch as of November 15th, 2019! For those of you that will only be choosing one of those games and aren’t quite sure yet which one to go for, I’ve made a list of exclusives to help! There will be different things in either Sword or Shield which are as follows: Gym Leaders, Exclusive Pokemon, Legendary Pokemon, and Gigantamax Pokemon with a higher rate of appearance in Max Raid Battles.

Gym Leaders

You probably already knew that you’d have some Pokemon to choose from if you’re only purchasing one of the two games. However, did you know that you also have two exclusive Gym Leaders to choose from in each game? Consider which type of Pokemon you would rather battle against!

• Pokemon Sword: Bea the Fighter Gym Leader and Gordie the Rock Gym Leader

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• Pokemon Shield: Alister the Ghost Gym Leader and Melony the Ice Gym Leader

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Exclusive Pokemon

Probably one of the toughest decisions is to decide between the two Galarian exclusives of first generation Pokemon; Galarian Ponyta (Shield) and Sirfetch’d (Sword). However, there are also many other Pokemon to consider that can only be found in one or the other!

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• Pokémon Sword:
  • Deino (Dark/Dragon)
  • Hydreigon (Dark/Dragon)
  • Jangmo-o (Dragon)
  • Kommo-o (Dragon/Fighting)
  • Hakamo-o (Dragon/Fighting)
  • Farfetch’d (Normal/Flying)
  • Sirfetch’d (Fighting)
  • Zweilous (Dark/Dragon)
  • Gothita (Psychic)
  • Gothorita (Psychic)
  • Gothitelle (Psychic)
  • Turtonator (Fire/Dragon)
  • Seedot (Grass)
  • Nuzleaf (Grass/Dark)
  • Shiftry (Grass/Dark)
  • Mawile (Steel/Fairy)
  • Solrock (Rock/Psychic)
  • Basculin (Water)
  • Darumaka (Ice)
  • Darmanitan (Ice)
  • Scraggy (Dark/Fighting)
  • Scrafty (Dark/Fighting)
  • Rufflet (Normal/Flying)
  • Braviary (Normal/Flying)
  • Swirlix (Fairy)
  • Slurpuff (Fairy)
  • Passimian (Fighting)
  • Coalossal (Rock/Fire)
  • Flapple (Grass/Dragon)
  • Stonjourner (Rock)
  • Indeedee, Male (Psychic/Normal)
• Pokemon Shield:
  • Goomy (Dragon)
  • Sliggo (Dragon)
  • Goodra (Dragon)
  • Larvitar (Rock/Ground)
  • Pupitar (Rock/Ground)
  • Tyranitar (Rock/Ground)
  • Galarian Ponyta (Psychic)
  • Solosis (Psychic)
  • Duosion (Psychic)
  • Reuniclus (Psychic)
  • Drampa (Normal/Dragon)
  • Vullaby (Dark/Flying)
  • Mandibuzz (Dark/Flying)
  • Gengar (Ghost/Poison)
  • Lapras (Water/Ice)
  • Cursola (Ghost)
  • Lotad (Water/Grass)
  • Lombre (Water/Grass)
  • Ludicolo (Water/Grass)
  • Sableye (Dark/Ghost)
  • Lunatone (Rock/Psychic)
  • Croagunk (Poison/Fight)
  • Toxicroak (Poisin/Fight)
  • Basculin, Blue-stripe form (Water)
  • Spritzee (Fairy)
  • Aromatisse (Fairy)
  • Oranguru (Normal/Psychic)
  • Appletun (Grass/Dragon)
  • Eiscue (Ice)
  • Indeedee, Female (Psychic/Normal)

Legendary Pokemon

There are always two different Legendary Pokemon to choose from in every Pokemon title and this one is no different. Zacian is a fairy-type and Zamazenta is a fighting-type!

• Pokemon Sword: Zacian

• Pokemon Shield: Zamazenta

Max Raid Battles

According to Pokemon’s official website, from Friday, November 15th, 2019, until early January 2020, players will be more likely to encounter Gigantamax Butterfree in Max Raid Battles. Below are the confirmed Pokemon that are more likely to appear for both games during that same time period.

• Pokemon Sword: Gigantamax Drednaw

• Pokemon Shield: Gigantamax Corviknight

If you aren’t even sure about purchasing Pokemon Sword and Shield at all today, take another look at everything we know and have covered on these titles here!