Generation VIII (Japanese: 第八世代, Hepburn: Dai Hachi-sedai) is the eighth installment of the Pokémon franchise. It was first announced on February 27, 2019, with the announcement of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. This generation started with Pokémon Sword and Shield in 2019, following with the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass in 2020, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl in 2021, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus in 2022. This generation introduces the Galar region, based on the United Kingdom, and also prominently features the return of the Sinnoh region. It also introduces the Hisui region, a past version of Sinnoh.
Features[]
New Pokémon[]
76 new Pokémon species were introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield, and 8 more new Pokémon species were introduced in the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLC. 7 more new Pokémon species were introduced in Pokémon Legends Arceus.
Dynamax, Gigantamax, & Eternamax[]
Dynamax and Gigantamax are special phenomenon that can be used by a Pokémon if its Trainer is equipped with a Dynamax Band.
Eternamax is a phenomenon exclusive to the Legendary Pokémon Eternatus. It is only seen during the climax of the story, and cannot be achieved by the player.
Regional variant[]
Similarly to the Alolan Forms in Sun and Moon, Galar has its own regional form known as Galarian Forms. Unlike Alolan Forms, which are exclusive to Generation I's normal counterparts, Galarian Forms also have their normal counterparts from beyond Generation I. Galarian Forms even have the evolutions that are exclusive to the previous Generations' regional variant counterparts. For example, Galarian Zigzagoon evolves into Galarian Linoone, which then becomes an Obstagoon.
In Pokémon Legends Arceus, which takes place in feudal times when the Sinnoh region was known as the Hisui region, there are several Hisuian forms. Like the Galarian forms, some of the Hisuian forms have evolutions that their original forms do not.
Rotom Phone[]
Similarly to Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, there is also a Rotom Pokédex, but it instead possesses a phone. The phone can be attached to objects, such as bikes, to upgrade them.
Gym Leaders[]
Sword and Shield[]
| Leader | Type | Badge | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milo | Grass | Grass Badge | Turffield |
| Nessa | Water | Water Badge | Hulbury |
| Kabu | Fire | Fire Badge | Motostoke |
| Bea (Sword) | Fighting | Fighting Badge | Stow-on-Side |
| Allister (Shield) | Ghost | Ghost Badge | |
| Opal | Fairy | Fairy Badge | Ballonlea |
| Gordie (Sword) | Rock | Rock Badge | Circhester |
| Melony (Shield) | Ice | Ice Badge | |
| Piers | Dark | Dark Badge | Spikemuth |
| Raihan | Dragon | Dragon Badge | Hammerlocke |
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl[]
| Leader | Type | Badge | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roark | Rock | Coal Badge | Oreburgh City |
| Gardenia | Grass | Forest Badge | Eterna City |
| Maylene | Fighting | Cobble Badge | Veilstone City |
| Crasher Wake | Water | Fen Badge | Pastoria City |
| Fantina | Ghost | Relic Badge | Hearthome City |
| Byron | Steel | Mine Badge | Canalave City |
| Candice | Ice | Icicle Badge | Snowpoint City |
| Volkner | Electric | Beacon Badge | Sunyshore City |
Games[]
Main series and expansions[]
Pokémon[]
Galarian Forms[]
Gigantamax Forms[]
Hisuian Forms[]
Trivia[]
- Generation VIII is the first generation:
- To have a Mythical Pokémon as a game mascot for a core series game.
- To have the majority of its games take place in a past region instead of the new one it introduces.
- To not have the mascot Legendary Pokémon appear on the title screen.
- To have a new core series game set in a past region without said game being a remake.
- To have paid additional content for the core Pokémon series, replacing the usual enhanced versions.
- To introduce multiple new regions (if Hisui is counted as its own region).
- To not have the region's Pokémon Professor introduce the world of Pokémon to the player. Instead the role was done by Rose.
- The choosing of the player's gender and appearance as soon as you start up the game, rather than having the Pokémon Professor ask for it.
- To have a Pokémon Professor be a colleague to one from a spinoff game.
- To not have its main paired releases compatible with the entirety of the Pokémon species and moves existing as of its release.
- To introduce Fossil Pokémon that are genderless, cannot breed, and are not Rock-type.
- Unlike other Fossil Pokémon, they can be restored using two different fossils.
- To not introduce a dual Normal-type Pokémon with Normal as its primary type.
- To introduce a non-Legendary pure -type Pokémon.
- To not introduce a Pokémon with as its secondary type.
- To introduce a Gym Leader specializing in Dark-type Pokémon.
- To lower the base stat total of a pre-existing Pokémon.
- Where Pokémon can no longer lose access to moves by evolving.
- To put old Pokémon in new Egg Groups.
- To have no Pokémon that appear in the anime before their debut in a game.
- To introduce no new Mythical Pokémon at the time of the game's release.
- To add new Legendary Pokémon to an already existing trio.
- To feature a game that returns to a region featured in a previous generation without being a remake.
- Generation VIII is the first generation since Generation II:
- To not introduce any dual-typed evolved forms of starter Pokémon.
- To introduce only one new Mythical Pokémon.
- To not introduce a new Pokémon that gains the Fighting type upon evolution.
- The wolf heads on top of the sword and shield represent Zacian, Pokémon Sword, and Zamazenta, Pokémon Shield, respectively. Both Legendary Pokémon are also wielding their represented objects.
- The Gym Badges are named after the types in this region. This is the only region where this is the case.
- It is the first even-numbered generation that didn't introduce a new evolution for Eevee.