Generation VIII’s Pokémon Sword & Shield heralded the series’ first mainline entry on a home console. It’s controversial for its National Pokédex cuts and not really pushing any of Nintendo Switch’s power, but it’s been a barnstorming success for storied developers Game Freak.
As they journeyed across the new United Kingdom-inspired land of Galar, of course, fans discovered a bumper crop of new Gen VIII Pokémon. Players were keen to try them out and see which are likely to be meta mainstays going forward. Here are some of the strongest and most effective Pokémon that were introduced in Generation VIII.
Updated on December 16 2020 by Chris Littlechild: Those who haven’t played much of Sword & Shield since its launch in November 2019 might be surprised to see just how much has changed. The Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLC packs each added a crop of new and returning critters to the mix. The metagame is constantly in flux, as new strategies prove popular and super strong Hidden Abilities, new moves and Pokémon themselves are released. In that spirit, it’s high time to take another look at some of the most powerful Galar Pokémon, with these formidable new additions in mind.
15 Sirfetch’d
The poor, much-snarked Farfetch’d was one of the worst Gen I Pokémon (from a gameplay standpoint). Its reputation really didn’t improve in the two decades since, Until the new concept of Galarian forms finally gave it a chance to do… something.
Galarian Farfetch’d has a decent Attack stat, is Fighting-type, and evolves into the majestic Sirfetch’d. Its defenses and speed are still sub-par, but its base 135 Attack is formidable (higher than powerhouses like Garchomp). It’s tough to use, but props to Farfetch’d for making something of itself.
14 Polteageist
The people of the United Kingdom are known to be pretty darn fond of drinking tea. As a result, Sword & Shield features a tea-based Pokémon as an homage to this fact: Sinistea and its evolved form Polteageist.
These unique Ghost-types have unusual stat spreads, making them tough to fit into specific team roles. Polteageist, in particular, is sorely lacking in HP, Attack and Defense, and has middling Speed, but its Special Attack and Special Defense are very high (base 124 and 114 respectively). It’s quite limited in terms of coverage and its lopsided stats, but if players manage to pull off a Shell Smash against a worn-down team, Polteageist is capable of single-handedly cleaning up.
13 Hatterene
Hatterene, too, has a super awkward stat spread. It has reasonable Attack and Defense, above average Special Defense, Special Attack on par with Polteageist’s and Speed even lower than Snorlax’s.
In short, it’s a perfect Trick Room setter (a very strong Psychic/Fairy Pokémon) that can also cause some havoc of its own once the move is set up. It’s a darn scary thing to face, as the Pokédex explains (“If you’re too loud around it, you risk being torn apart by the claws on its tentacle. This Pokémon is also known as the Forest Witch,” Pokemon Shield reports). Having said that, it’s very vulnerable if Trick Room isn’t successful or expires.
12 Corviknight
Corviknight has a great typing, top-notch Hidden Ability in Mirror Armor (which reflects negative stat drops back at the opponent that inflicted them and is excellent against the very powerful Intimidate Ability) and access to great supportive moves like Defog and Tailwind.
It’s never really reliable, though. Its stats are all very solid, but it doesn’t excel in any one area. It needs momentum from things like Dynamax moves’ positive effects and suffers quite a lot without it. The Crown Tundra also saw the Ultra Beasts added back to the game, with fellow Steel/Flying Pokémon Celesteela stealing much of Corviknight’s thunder.
11 Regieleki
Veteran Pokémon fans already know that the Legendary Golems, or the Regi, all share some particular traits in common: they have a lot of HP, high defenses/one or the other high defense and they’re rather darn slow. This was the case until the Crown Tundra expansion, anyway, because Regieleki refuses to conform to any of this.
This odd-looking, shocking Electric-type is found in the Split-Decision Ruins. The choice between it and Regidrago is a tough one, but this speedster just clinches it for some with its lightning-fast speed. In fact, at base 200 Speed, it’s the fastest Pokémon ever (so far). It has solid-yet-unspectacular offenses, but its Transistor Ability boosts its STAB damage to frightening levels. In return, though, it has meager defenses and precious little coverage.
10 Galarian Articuno
In truth, any of the Galarian forms of the Legendary birds is a worthy pick. Galarian Zapdos is a speedy and powerful physical attacker with rare Fighting/Flying typing, the handy Defiant Ability, and a very nice signature move in Thunderous Kick (which reduces the target’s Defense). The Dark/Flying Galarian Moltres, meanwhile, has proven a very popular pick too, with its AoE signature move Fiery Wrath and the chance to gain an automatic sneaky Special Attack boost when its HP is reduced to half (thanks to Berserk).
Galarian Articuno, however, may be the most intriguing prospect of all. This Psychic/Flying critter boasts the only non-Ice-type move with a chance to Freeze (Freezing Glare), while its Competitive Ability lets it get a huge Special Attack buff from stat drops (which are often inflicted by Max moves). A Special Attacker not to be underestimated, those again not at the very cream of the crop when it comes to damage output.
9 Duraludon
Lots of super strong Pokémon were introduced in Generation VIII (Dracovish and its Fishious Rend shenanigans, for instance), but when it comes to the all-around package, Duraludon could be one of the very best. Its excellent Steel/Dragon typing gives it nine resistances and only two weaknesses, and with its high defenses, it can stick around for a long time.
Dynamax and Gigantamax Duraludon magnifies these traits, also boosting its stats and its allies’ further just by attacking (as can any other Dynamax Pokemon, of course). With base 120 Special Attack, it’s certainly no offensive slouch either. It’s been a very popular competitive pick so far, and rightly so. There are still some even mightier critters of the Galar region that have it beaten, though.
8 Barraskewda
When they fished up Arrokuda quite early in their Sword & Shield adventure, fans would be forgiven for having underestimated it. It’s a little generic-looking, as far as fishy Pokémon go, and that’s not really something veterans need any more of in their lives.
Looks can be deceiving, though. Arrokuda soon evolves into Barraskewda, which is one heck of a spinny-tailed powerhouse to deal with. Its defenses are very low, but its base 123 Attack, 136 Speed, great coverage and Swift Swim Ability make it a real nightmare to face, especially under rain. Its paper-thin defenses certainly hold it back, but it can be monstrously effective. It also has the option of the Propeller Tail Ability, preventing opposing support Pokémon from redirecting its attacks in doubles matches.
7 Rillaboom
Of course, Rillaboom is a Pokémon that will be familiar to almost all players. After all, it’s the final evolution of Grookey, the adorable Grass-type addition to the latest trio of starter Pokémon. Rillaboom rose to become a competitive mainstay, however, after its Hidden Ability was released.
With Grassy Surge, it automatically sets Grassy Terrain, which offers passive healing as well as a significant buff to the damage of its Grass-type moves. Couple this with Rillaboom’s base 125 Attack (the highest physical Attack of any starter to date) and the new Isle of Armor tutor move, Grassy Glide (which has priority while the grass is on the field) and this beast is a tremendous physical threat with solid bulk to boot. It’s rather predictable and has limited coverage, however, which holds it back a bit.
6 Zamazenta
Zamazenta is a force to be reckoned with, as all mascot Legendary Pokémon are, but it falls a little short in terms of sheer competitive presence compared to its counterpart Zacian.
It’s more defensively-oriented (easily surmised from the fact that… well, it’s got a huge shield where its face should be). A Fighting/Steel Pokémon (in Crowned Shield form) with base 145 defenses, it can take a lot of punishment. Its attack power takes a hit in return, though, and it doesn’t have reliable healing or any major support moves. It’s a great Pokémon, but in terms of raw impact on a match, it struggles to compete with the very top of the Galar pops.
5 Galarian Darmanitan
Like Farfetch’d, Darumaka was given a Galarian form and a matching evolution in Sword & Shield. Darmanitan, however, had already existed in its familiar fiery form since Generation V. It’s always been a powerhouse (usually seen sporting a Choice Scarf and flattening foes with its base 140 Attack), but Galarian Darmanitan really is a cut above.
This whimsical-looking Ice-type has exactly the same base stats as its Unovan counterpart, but has a secret weapon: Gorilla Tactics. Powerful Pokémon’s Abilities can sometimes be hit and miss, but this excellent one has the same effect as a Choice Band: Galarian Darmanitan is given a 50% damage boost, but can’t switch moves. This actually stacks with a Choice Band itself, giving this critter truly terrifying stopping power. It’s a bit one dimensional as it’s really only its Attack that stands out, but this Pokémon is truly among Galar’s very strongest. Only the most elite Legendaries in the game (and one competitive mainstay) really outrank it overall.
4 Cinderace
With the sheer strength of Pyro Ball and its incredible new Hidden Ability, some fans have claimed that Scorbunny is Game Freak’s favorite Galar starter. Whatever the truth may be with regards to that debate, Cinderace certainly has a lot of unique assets.
It also has a second unique move: Court Change. This interesting Status move exchanges the effects on one side of the field with the other side’s (if the opponent has set Stealth Rock or Reflect, say, the hazard will affect their team, while the defensive barrier will benefit the other side of the field instead). This is very situational, as battlers might have set up some of these effects themselves, but it can pay dividends. Cinderace’s Hidden Ability, meanwhile, is Libero, which grants it STAB on everything just like Protean. Fans know how powerful that effect is on a Pokemon as offense-oriented as Cinderace. This beastly bunny has been tearing up the metagame for some time now. Its only real drawbacks are its vulnerability if speed control isn’t on its side, as well as the fact that it can’t cover everything with its four move slots.
3 Ice Rider Calyrex
In this case, too, it’s very difficult to separate Ice Rider and Shadow Rider Calyrex. Both, along with Calyrex, Glastrier (Ice-type) and Spectrier (Ghost-type) themselves, were introduced in the Crown Tundra expansion. While the enigmatic Calyrex has super underwhelming stats of its own, it becomes a completely different prospect when combined with its noble steed using the Reins of Unity.
Ice Rider Calyrex is Psychic- and Ice-type, while Shadow Rider Calyrex is Psychic/Ghost. Both have incredible base stat totals of 680 (as befits a mascot Legendary Pokémon) and are absurdly strong, but the former’s stat distribution is just silly. Competitive players have found Glastrier to be a huge roadblock due to its power and bulk (Trick Room nicely compensates for its low Speed), and this form just emphasizes these traits further. With 100 base HP, 150 base Defense and 130 base Special Defense, it’s incredibly tanky, and 165 base Attack makes it astonishingly powerful too. Its Speed and common weaknesses (Psychic and Ice is a horrible defensive combination) can let it down in a big way, however.
2 Zacian
Pokémon Sword players really do have a powerhouse on their hands. Zacian is a Fairy- and Steel-type Legendary Pokémon (in Crowned Sword form) that lacks the defensive stats of Zamazenta (though base 115 in both is still super solid). In exchange, though, its Attack is a whopping base 170.
That’s not all. Its Ability, Intrepid Sword, gives it a +1 to its Attack simply for switching in. Combine that with powerful STAB moves and great coverage like Close Combat, and the result is a Pokémon that’s tough for even the staunchest of physical walls to stand up to.
1 Eternatus
The final Legendary Pokémon of the main story Sword and Shield, Eternatus, is absolutely never to be trifled with. It’s a unique and very powerful critter, a rare Poison- and Dragon-type Pokémon with base 130 Speed, 145 Special Attack and 140 HP. It also has an interesting exclusive move, Dynamax Cannon, which hits for twice the damage on a target in Dynamax or Gigantamax form.
It has another ace up its sleeve, too. Near the end of the main story, the player faces off against Eternamax Eternatus, a truly monstrous creature that is Eternatus’ form when it was pushed too far by Chairman Rose’s plans. In this form, it has the highest base stat total any Pokémon in the series has ever had (1125 compared to Mega Rayquaza’s total of 780), with a focus on its titanic defenses. This is to ensure the theatrical battle goes on as long as possible, of course.
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