Generation VIII

Generation VIII; 第八(だいはち)世代(せだい)
	Pokémon Sword and Shield logos
Information
EN	November 15, 2019
Pokémon	900 (91 new)
Region	Galar
EN	Unknown
Game Information
Main Game(s):	Sword and Shield; Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl; Legends: Arceus
Battle Arena Games:	Unknown

Generation VIII (第八(だいはち)世代(せだい) 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 Shield. This generation started with Pokémon Sword and Shield in 2019, following with the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass in 2020, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl in 2021, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus in 2022. This generation introduces the Galar region and also prominently features the return of the Sinnoh region.

Features

New Pokémon

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.

Rotom Phone

Similarly to Pokémon Sun and 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

Leader	Type	Badge
Milo	Grass	Grass Badge
Nessa	Water	Water Badge
Kabu	Fire	Fire Badge
Bea (Sword)	Fighting	Fighting Badge
Allister (Shield)	Ghost	Ghost Badge
Opal	Fairy	Fairy Badge
Gordie (Sword)	Rock	Rock Badge
Melony (Shield)	Ice	Ice Badge
Piers	Dark	Dark Badge
Raihan	Dragon	Dragon Badge

Games

Main series and expansions

Pokémon

Galarian Forms

Gigantamax Forms

Trivia

Generation VIII is the first generation:
- To have a Mythical Pokémon as a game mascot for a core series game.
- 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 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.
  - Due to this, it is also the first generation to not introduce a new Normal/Flying-type Pokémon and the first to introduce a Normal/Psychic-type Pokémon with Psychic as its primary type.
- To introduce a non-Legendary pure Flying-type Pokémon.
- To not introduce a Pokémon with Flying 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.
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.

Generation Navigation

I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII