The Galar region of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield is an exciting place filled with new friends and rivals, as well as exciting new features that will change the way we interact with the world of Pokémon. We’ve learned a bit more about Nessa, one of the Galar region Gym Leaders, and the Wild Area, where you can engage in multiplayer Max Raid Battles and challenge powerful Dynamax Pokémon!
Introducing Nessa
Your goal in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield is to become the Champion of the Galar region, but
in order to do so, you must challenge the Pokémon Gyms in stadiums located throughout
the region, and defeat powerful opponents known as Gym Leaders!
Nessa is an expert on Water-type Pokémon and one of the Gym Leaders you must face on your adventure. Her calm and collected attitude hides a competitive spirit and indomitable will. She will overwhelm any opponent in battle by blasting them with powerful Water-type moves.
The Wild Area
There is a vast expanse of land in the Galar region known as the Wild Area. The Wild Area is full of nature as far as the eye can see, and it is home to a wide variety of Pokémon. In the Wild Area, there is a chance that you’ll run into powerful wild Pokémon! These Pokémon are constantly on their guard—in fact, you won’t even be able to throw a Poké Ball at them when first starting your adventure.
The weather in the Wild Area can change depending on where you are or what time of day it is. You’ll see sunshine and rain and might even run into more uncommon weather patterns such as thunderstorms. You’ll find different Pokémon depending on the weather!
Max Raid Battles
You’ll be able to meet up with other players and have fun with them in the Wild Area via local or online communication! One way to have fun is to join up with three other players and take on powerful Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles!
The Wild Area is full of what are known as Pokémon Dens. Sometimes, you’ll come across a Pokémon Den that is releasing a red pillar of light. Dynamax Pokémon of different species and varying strength are hiding in them, and you’ll be able to attempt a Max Raid Battle by investigating these dens.
In Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, there is a feature called Y-Comm. With it, you can do things like trade Pokémon and have Link Battles via the internet or local communication. If you see a stamp pop up while you’re on your adventure, it might be a sign that another player is looking for somebody to connect with! You’ll see a stamp when someone is looking for participants for a Max Raid Battle, too, so check the stamp on the Y-Comm screen to join in!
Dynamax Pokémon
Wild Dynamax Pokémon are extremely powerful. Some might use multiple moves in one turn, neutralize your Pokémon’s Ability, or even remove all stat changes you’ve worked to put in place! Some wild Dynamax Pokémon will create a mysterious barrier that prevents almost all damage. In order to properly inflict damage on Pokémon protected this way, you’ll need to break down the barrier by attacking it a certain number of times.
Even if your Pokémon is knocked out in Max Raid Battles, you’ll still be able to cheer on other players! Cheering your team on might help turn things around!
If you manage to defeat a Dynamax Pokémon in a Max Raid Battle, you’ll get a chance to catch it for your team. Each participant in the battle will be able to throw one Poké Ball in an attempt to catch the Dynamax Pokémon. Victories in Max Raid Battles can reward you with many useful items, too!
There are even more exciting things to discover about the Galar region, so stay tuned, Trainers! Be sure to visit the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield official site for more details.
