The next generation of Pokémon games have released, but there are still some tasks that players can accomplish in Pokémon Sword & Shield before moving on. Scarlet and Violet have received overwhelmingly positive reviews, but the technical state of the games may have left many wary of purchasing them right away. However, devoted players can still see Sword and Shield through to the end before making the next step.
Sword and Shield are among the Pokémon titles with the greatest amount of content to date. In addition to the standard eight gyms, there is also the expansive Wild Area as well as the Galar League tournaments that the player can take part in. Not to mention, the game also has two DLC expansions that received plenty of attention, expanding Sword and Shield's Pokédex while also offering further challenges for players. With some Sword and Shield online features shutting down, players may feel like the game is over, but there are still a few missions left for devoted players.
Sword & Shield's Postgame Legendary Quest Is Exciting
Postgame content has become commonplace in Pokémon games. Once the player beats the Elite Four and becomes champion, it gives them something to do afterward. For example, Sword and Shield gave the player the chance to start tracking down Ultra Beasts after they became champion. Of course, the most famous piece of postgame content in Pokémon is likely the battle against Red on Mt. Silver in Gold and Silver. Sword and Shield's Legendary Quest is an exciting journey in its own right.
The Legendary Quest is a mission where the player has to stop the plans of two new characters, Sordward and Shielbert. Their motivations are petty and ridiculous, and Scarlet and Violet don't need villains like them, but they kick off a good postgame quest for the player. Due to Sordward and Shielbert's machinations, Dynamax Pokémon begin rampaging in Galar, taking residence in the gyms that the player defeated along their journey. Taking a trip to all the old gyms can be good for nostalgia, and winning the Dynamax fights is a great test of the players skills. Once Sordward and Shielbert have been successfully repelled for the final time, the player will get the chance to finally catch their version-exclusive legendary.
Zacian and Zamazenta are both incredibly cool Pokémon, and well-deserved rewards for such a quest. The Legendary Quest also features some good cameos, including a fight against newly minted gym leader Bede and an assist from Sword and Shield's best NPC, Piers, who made good on his promise to retire after the championship. As a final tour around Galar, the Legendary Quest is a satisfying challenge to overcome.
Isle of Armor's Dojo Questline Is A Phenomenal Challenge
The Isle of Armor was Sword and Shield's first DLC release, and it brought a lot of things to the game. In addition to a selection of new hairstyles and Pokémon for the player to play around with, it also provided its own story. The player gets a new rival, either the manipulative Poison trainer Klara for Sword, or the arrogant Psychic trainer Avery in Shield. As soon as the player sets foot on the Isle, they have a slew of new challenges to tackle, culminating in one of the game's toughest tests.
In addition to Isle of Armor bringing back several returning Pokémon, it offers the player the chance to the Master Dojo, run by a former champion of Galar named Mustard. The player will need to perform several tasks across the Isle for the sake of their training, but their version's rival will cause some complications, largely due to their envious nature. Even after the final battle with the dojo rival, the player still has to achieve the true rewards from the Isle of Armor. First is Kubfu, a rare Pokémon based on martial arts that will evolve into one of two forms of Urshifu depending on which tower on the Isle the player brings them two. Second is the dojo's final challenge, a battle with Mustard's strongest team, anchored by whatever Urshifu form the player didn't choose.
Although the player can fly to the Isle of Armor at any time once the Wild Area has been unlocked, it's best to save the dojo plot until the post game. That way, the opponents' Pokémon will have gotten a significant boost in power. In addition, Mustard's team in his final battle is always guaranteed to be at least over Level 70, so the player would almost definitely need to wait until the postgame to have a chance at beating him anyway.
Players Can Catch Every Legendary In Crown Tundra's Dynamax Adventures
After Isle of Armor turned out to be a solid addition to Sword and Shield, Crown Tundra had a high bar to clear in order to prove its worth. Not only did it do so with flying colors, but it introduced what may be one of the best additions to any Pokémon game. Not only did Crown Tundra add 210 Pokémon to Galar, its Dynamax Adventures offered players more chances at Legendary Pokémon than ever before.
Dynamax Adventures, accessible in the Crown Tundra area, are a combination of a boss rush and dungeon crawler. The player chooses a rental Pokémon and fights through a series of Dynamax battles, either with a party of players or NPCs, and faces off with a legendary Pokémon at the end, with the player having the option to keep any Pokémon they defeat. The legendary Pokémon available are from every generation, from Gen 1's legendary birds all the way to Gen 7's Ultra Beasts, with only Mythical Pokémon missing. This makes Sword and Shield the Pokémon games with the most catchable legendaries.
Dynamax adventures are difficult, but the opportunity to catch every legendary Pokémon, barring a few version exclusives, is unparalleled, making Crown Tundra the best Sword and Shield DLC. Finally, players can collect a long list of legendaries without having to migrate Pokémon from other games. This makes Crown Tundra's Dynamax Adventures the best goal for players to accomplish before Scarlet and Violet.
Sword and Shield were excellent additions to the Pokémon franchise, and they will have a good place in the memories of many fans. Between the base game and the expansions, they gave players a lot of ways to spend their time in the land of Galar. Before jumping into Scarlet and Violet, players should get the best out of what Pokémon Sword and Shield has to offer.