Pokémon Sword and Shield DLC Part 1 Releases June 17

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Pokémon Sword and Shield brought the franchise to home consoles for the first time in series history but left many wanting more. The easy gameplay, lack of extensive postgame and removal of over half of all Pokémon made the game feel incomplete. Releasing a new update on the Sword and Shield DLC, the Pokémon Company brought to light new story elements and features that are expected to elevate the entire Sword and Shield experience.

The first update of two-part DLC pack, The Isle of Armor, will bring trainers to an island off the mainland of the Galar region. The area, according to the January Pokémon Direct, will be all Wild Area and bring trainers to new areas like “wave-swept beaches, forests, bogs, caves, and sand dunes.”

More information about the added story and Pokémon were revealed in the trailer. For instance, previously uncatchable Pokémon like Zorua, Kingdra, and Azurill will all be found within the wild. Additionally, Galarian forms of Pokémon like Slowpoke/Slowbro and the three legendary birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres will roam around the Isle of Armor. Gigantamax forms of all three Galar starters, as well as for Blastoise and Venasaur, were seen in action.

Although the story of The Isle of Armor DLC was previously announced, the trailer gave further glimpses and gameplay moments. For example, the specific towers trainers enter in to raise Kubfu in were showcased. Between battling a Poliwhirl and a Scraggy, it appears the towers are heavily leaning into their water and dark type themes respectively.

The trailer also showed a bit about The Crown Tundra, or the second part of the DLC, but remained largely elusive in terms of story content. However, it is confirmed that essentially all “box” legendary Pokémon (the legendary Pokémon on the box of the games) from all generations will have some sort of den battle.

More information on The Crown Tundra DLC will likely come later in the year, but for fans dying for more Pokémon content, The Isle of Armor DLC will be available June 17.