Nintendo have announced the release of Sword and Shield for later in 2019. It was essentially a 'It's Coming' announcement which was to be expected and they shared a couple key bits of information. 8th Generation will be set in Galar, otherwise known as Merry Ol' England and also non-surprisingly there will be a Grass, Fire and Water pokemon. The Grass Monkey is known as Grookey, the Fire Rabbit is Scorbunny and the Water Tadpole (?) is Sobble.

"Oi mate, how do I make that bloody Snorlax bugger off?"



Pretty sure Sobble is supposed to be a lizard (maybe a chameleon?), Scorbunny is a double pun with Scorch and Score, it's basically a football bunny.

I'm excited, the game's look super pretty, and I'm always down for more Pokemon, my question is: will we get a Toast Sandwich Pokemon?

Yeah, Sobble is a lizard, according to the direct anyways.

I hated the Popplio line in Gen 7 (my least favorite of any of the starters), but Sobble looks adorable, and I'm def looking forward to seeing it's evolutions. Also liking the grass monkey, Grookey is so cute, must have both of them ASAP.

It's going to be an interesting couple of months, as they continue to reveal all the new Pokemon.

That's pretty embarrassing, I completely spaced on the section where Ohmori told the audience which species each Pokemon is. You're both right, he's a water lizard and judging from all the different naming conventions around the world, it's most likely a chameleon.

Which monster has your favourite design? While I'm a water loyalist, I think there's a reason why they opened with Scorbunny and that's because it seems to be the most unique to the Galar region.

Last generation, I thought Rowlet was far and away the best designed Pokemon - Sakurai be damned.

The more I look at that pix Nightwolf posted, the more I'm loving the design of Grookey, so that would be my fave.

Like you though Big Pete, I'm definitely more of a water starter type loyalist, though for Gen 7, I did go with Litten (eventually got a Popplio from wonder trade). I mentioned it before, but Popplio is my least favorite out of all the starter Pokemon, just hated the character designs for it, as well as it's evolutions, where as both Incineroar and Decidueye were pretty dope final evolutions.

Think I've only ever gone with grass once. And think it was just an experiment since I always alternate the others. Didn't care so I assume I didn't understand the pros of grass.

Over the years, my starters pick have been:

Gen 1: Squirtle
Gen 2: Totodile
Gen 3: Mudkip
Gen 4: Turtwig
Gen 5: Oshawott
Gen 6: Chespin
Gen 7: Rowlet

This time, I am undecided between Grookey and Sobble, so I will wait till they show their evolutions to make a decision, but all three starters are very good, imo.

@nighty , any chance we'll get a thread detailing your journey, like on the old site???

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As for me, it would be the following...

Gen 1: Squirtle
Gen 2: Totodile
Gen 3: Mudkip
Gen 4: Chimchar
Gen 5: Tepig
Gen 6: Froakie
Gen 7: Litten

So maybe not a super loyalist to the water starter Pokemon, having gone with the fire type three times before (and considering the grass type for this gen). Speaking of fire type starter Pokemon, I'm not digging Scorbunny at all, the other two are cute and adorable, and I can't wait to see their evolution's, but Scorbunny does absolutely nothing for me.

And because I'm bored, and actually enjoy talking about all things Pokemon, I'm just going to leave this here (a ranking of my favorite starter Pokemon, within each of their respective generation).

SPOILER: Click to show

Gen 1
1. Squirtle
2. Charmander
3. Bulbasaur

Gen 2
1. Totodile
2. Cyndaquil
3. Chikorita

Gen 3
1. Treecko 
2. Torchic
3. Mudkip

Despite Mudkip being the one I went with, when I played Sapphire for the first time all those years ago, I actually like both Treecko and Torchic more.

Gen 4
1. Chimchar
2. Piplup
3. Turtwig

Gen 5
1. Tepig
2. Snivy
3. Oshawott

Gen 6
1. Froakie
2. Chespin
3. Fennekin


Gen 7
1. Little
2. Rowlet
3. Popplio

Hate to chime in like an old timer, non loyalist BUT I just wanted to say I was always a Charmander guy to start with and it all happened in my first ever Pokémon game. The plan was to go Squirtle as I had the blue version and my sister had the red. To my disdain, my sister started with Squirtle so I couldn’t have the same starter as her. I quickly switched over to Charmander and was a Fire guy for life.

LOL apparently I'm full of shit. I wanted to make a post showing who I chose with each gen, but turns out with the exception of Totodile in Pokemon Gold, I always went with fire. I think because I played through Gen 1 a few times I ended up a few Squirtle runs, so I must've throught it was more varied. I think the mental image of Charizard's badassery has always been implanted in my mind, so I naturally go for fire and then pick up a water one somewhere on my journey. In fact, my team is basically formed no later than gym 2... maybe 3. Once I have my core unit I don't really care about catching them for the Pokedex. I've never played through them to be a Pokemon Master. Just beating the game and completing the story. Always wanted to do a gimmick character like one of the Bug Catchers, Rock Climbers or other WWF New Gen character. Maybe with this game.

I was leaning towards Sobble, but I'm gonna try Grookey just because I've mostly neglected the grass type. I've chosen Bulby in a playthrough, but didn't think it was worth it. Didn't understand what strengths grass had versus the others. It also doesn't help that he doesn't really evolve. I know the others are just bigger versions, but they at least look different enough to me. We'll see if this mindset changes or if I just go with the asshole looking bunny and then get my basic bitch team going like I have every game.

My starters have been:

Gen1: Charmander
Gen 2: Cyndaquil
Gen 3: Treecko
Gen 4: Chimchar
Gen 5: Tepig
Gen 6: Froakie
Gen 7: Little

Already decided to go with Scorbunny for Sword & Shield.

Better question isn't starter, but is PW #TeamSword or #TeamSIERRAHOTELINIDAECHOLIMADELTA

It's way to early to say, as it really depends on which game, has the better legendary/exclusive Pokemon.

Shield.

Like Gold and Silver, I'm convinced this is one of those choices where one obviously seems better than the other, so the Poke Company will compensate.

Besides, I mostly play through the 'alt' version first.

I've gone Blue, Gold, Ruby, Fire Red, Pearl, Soul Silver, Black, White 2, Y, Alpha Sapphire and Moon. It's rarely been a concious decision either, just between both versions those are the choices that grab my eye.

I'm waiting to see the box Legendaries and overall exclusives, but right now I'm leaning Shield, simply because I know it will be the less popular and thus it's exclusives will be in demand online.

Gotta play the market.

Mar 1, 2019 1:43:43 GMT Lony said:

@nighty , any chance we'll get a thread detailing your journey, like on the old site???

I guess I could, given that Switch's screenshot functionality, not sure many people would be interested in it tho.

Team Shield and Sobble. Seems like they are a fit as a glove, both will cater to the annoying defensive strategies. Sobble seems like such a cute little coward, chameleon water sniper behind the scenes. Those type of pokemon who just want to be peaceful and don't want to be messed with end up being killers by their final evo. He put out reckless Scorbunny's fire, pokemon of the people.

Since returning to Pokemon two gens ago, I haven't rocked a water starter since my Totodile in Gen 2 going with Fennekin and Rowlet the past two times. Lets return to water.

This time unlike with Fennekin which took me TWENTY minutes to get a female version, I will be happy with a male Sobble unless we get what was Popplio and its final two forms. 

Past two gens have had one very feminine looking final evo with Braixen/Delphox & Brionne/Primarina being must have for females. Grass turn now. I wanna see a big mama ape. Grookey even has a stick as a headband. 

Interesting. I always went with the "cool" name, although stuff like legendaries and variety was never something I cared about anyway so I'll probably still go with Sword.

After the direct today, not going to lie I have to turn on Team shield because I MUST have Grey Wolf Sif on my team. It looks like a colorful baby Sif from Dark Souls. Don't get me wrong there is must to come but damn Sword got the better legendary for me IMHO. Sif is too good.

Pretty cool Pokémon direct aside though the Godzilla gimmick is sorta hokey IMO. Seems like it must be utilized to advance in the story. Wish we got to see the bad guys of this game though.

The new Pokémon look cool, hoping that crow Pokémon has an evolution.

I'm about to sit my ass down, and watch the new Pokemon direct video now.

Digging the looks for both Drednaw and Corviknight, though not completely sold on the other non-legendary Pokemon, that they revealed on this direct. As for the actual legendary Pokemon, neither one really wowed me, which kinda sucks as I usually get the game with the cooler looking Legendary Pokemon, so I guess I'm still undecided on which version to purchase.

Daynamxing, and the raid like feature seems interesting, though you would think the raiding thing would have been a better fit for the Let's Go games.

November 15th can't get here fast enough, as a long time fan of the franchise, this will be a day one buy for me.

Yeah, I usually wait on my games but for Pokemon I think I'll be dayoneish.

SPOILER: Click to show

I wanted to look up the release date to get hype and this image was on one of the first results on google. How can I not go with fire now? Spoilered for size.

So apparently outside of version exclusive Pokemon, Sword and Shield will also have version exclusive gyms. A couple of new Gen 8 Pokemon has also been revealed... Alcremie (fairy type), Yamper (electric type), RolyColy (rock type), and of course Duraludon (steel/dragon type).

Alcremie is pretty adorable, however, I think my favourite out of the new Pokemon design wise, is Duraludon.

My favorite so far is Rolycoly, it's a Wheelie from Kirby made out of coal lol

Like Lony said, we now have exclusive gym leaders per version, they also showcased the first version exclusive mon.



I am still leaning Shield, personally.

Shield has the better psuedo legendaries wow. Tyranotar is a beast and Goomy's final one was good too. No idea who those two that Sword gets LOL. I guess they're Gen 3,4,5, do not recognize them from Gen 1, 2, 6 or 7.

The exclusive gym leaders are dumb as hell. I hate that. I like Bea I guess but Allistar is cool too. Don't know why they opted to do different gym leaders.

Jul 9, 2019 19:18:21 GMT Blindy said:

Don't know why they opted to do different gym leaders.

Yes You Do.

Jul 9, 2019 19:59:45 GMT @ness said:

Jul 9, 2019 19:18:21 GMT Blindy said:

Don't know why they opted to do different gym leaders.

Yes You Do.

Nice vile avatar Ness.

And yeah I guess, shameful. How does that even make sense from a lore standpoint? Does Allistair not exist in Sword's world and Bea in Shield's world?

Jul 9, 2019 19:18:21 GMT Blindy said:

Shield has the better psuedo legendaries wow. Tyranotar is a beast and Goomy's final one was good too. No idea who those two that Sword gets LOL. I guess they're Gen 3,4,5, do not recognize them from Gen 1, 2, 6 or 7.

The exclusive gym leaders are dumb as hell. I hate that. I like Bea I guess but Allistar is cool too. Don't know why they opted to do different gym leaders.

The black and blue Pokemon is Deino (Gen 5), which evolves into Zweilous and in turn Hydreigon. I actually really like the Deino line of Pokemon, it's basically a take on Cerberus in dragon form. The other one is Jangmo-o (Gen 7) which evolves into Hakamo-o followed by Kommo-o.

I think I might actually be leaning towards Shield, out of the four Pokemon, Tyranitar is the one I would want on my team the most, also starting to come around on Shield's legendary Pokemon more than I am with Sword's legendary exclusive.

Anyone sticking with Sword? Don't leave me!

Jul 9, 2019 21:48:31 GMT Lony said:

Jul 9, 2019 19:18:21 GMT Blindy said:

Shield has the better psuedo legendaries wow. Tyranotar is a beast and Goomy's final one was good too. No idea who those two that Sword gets LOL. I guess they're Gen 3,4,5, do not recognize them from Gen 1, 2, 6 or 7.

The exclusive gym leaders are dumb as hell. I hate that. I like Bea I guess but Allistar is cool too. Don't know why they opted to do different gym leaders.

The black and blue Pokemon is Deino (Gen 5), which evolves into Zweilous and in turn Hydreigon. I actually really like the Deino line of Pokemon, it's basically a take on Cerberus in dragon form. The other one is Jangmo-o (Gen 7) which evolves into Hakamo-o followed by Kommo-o.

I think I might actually be leaning towards Shield, out of the four Pokemon, Tyranitar is the one I would want on my team the most, also starting to come around on Shield's legendary Pokemon more than I am with Sword's legendary exclusive.

Oh I should have recognized the Jangmo-o one, LOL. 

Tyranitar is my boy though. Crunch was a game breaker for Gen 2 and it being a rock/dark at the time was pretty cool. Thing was a tank. Dragonite still has a special place in my heart of those 3 stage psuedo late game legendaries so I pray Dratini is available.

Surprised the 2nd and 3rd evo of the starters hasn't been leaked, still hanging tight on Team Sobble. 

Jul 9, 2019 22:23:26 GMT @ness said:

Anyone sticking with Sword? Don't leave me!

I think I am just for Sif alone. 

Have they ever done exclusive fossil pokemon, I always thought that would be up for being done. 

EDIT: Gen IV has it, again these gens were at a time I didn't play much LOL.