Galar Pokédex
Dynamax, the Wild Area, and the great Dex cut.
Sword, Shield · Released 2019
About Generation 8
Galar is the Gen 8 region, the first mainline Pokémon on the Nintendo Switch, and the most controversial generation in franchise history. Sword & Shield introduced Dynamax (temporarily gigantic Pokémon with rebranded 'Max' moves), the Wild Area (a semi-open overworld with free camera control), and Gigantamax forms. It is also the first mainline game where not every previous Pokémon is available — Game Freak cut the National Dex, limiting transferrable species to those with Gen 8 3D models.
Galar lore & design
Galar is based on the United Kingdom — Wyndon is London, the Stow-on-Side market is a Cotswolds village, Spikemuth is a grunge-industrial town in the North, and the Crown Tundra DLC is the Scottish Highlands. Zacian and Zamazenta reference Arthurian legend (the sword and shield of British mythology).
Did you know?
The 'Dexit' controversy (Game Freak cutting hundreds of Pokémon from Sword & Shield) was the largest player backlash in franchise history. Director Shigeru Ohmori publicly apologised, and Gen 9 Scarlet & Violet expanded the roster back with DLC — but Gens 1-7 have still never been fully returned to the main series.
Dynamax, and the National Dex cut
Sword and Shield introduced Dynamax — a three-turn transformation that roughly doubles a Pokémon's HP and converts its moves into more powerful Max Moves with secondary field effects. Certain species also have Gigantamax forms with distinctive appearances and signature G-Max moves.
The generation is better remembered for what it removed. For the first time, the National Pokédex was not fully transferable: several hundred Pokémon simply could not be brought into the game. The reaction was severe enough to acquire its own name in the community, and Game Freak has used a paid-DLC model to restore species in subsequent titles.
The Wild Area, an open zone with free camera control and visible overworld encounters, was the clearest step toward the fully open-world design that followed in Paldea.
Galar in competitive play
Dynamax was divisive competitively — it rewards aggressive, high-risk play and effectively gives every team a once-per-battle burst of power, which many players felt reduced the value of careful positioning. Several formats banned it outright.
The Pokémon themselves were strong. Dragapult's Speed made it a defining threat of the generation, Corviknight and Toxapex anchored defensive cores, and Galarian Darmanitan's combination of Ice typing and enormous Attack was potent enough to be banned from standard play.
All Galar Pokémon (96)
#0810grookey
#0811thwackey
#0812rillaboom
#0813scorbunny
#0814raboot
#0815cinderace
#0816sobble
#0817drizzile
#0818inteleon
#0819skwovet
#0820greedent
#0821rookidee
#0822corvisquire
#0823corviknight
#0824blipbug
#0825dottler
#0826orbeetle
#0827nickit
#0828thievul
#0829gossifleur
#0830eldegoss
#0831wooloo
#0832dubwool
#0833chewtle
#0834drednaw
#0835yamper
#0836boltund
#0837rolycoly
#0838carkol
#0839coalossal
#0840applin
#0841flapple
#0842appletun
#0843silicobra
#0844sandaconda
#0845cramorant
#0846arrokuda
#0847barraskewda
#0848toxel
#0849toxtricity amped
#0850sizzlipede
#0851centiskorch
#0852clobbopus
#0853grapploct
#0854sinistea
#0855polteageist
#0856hatenna
#0857hattrem
#0858hatterene
#0859impidimp
#0860morgrem
#0861grimmsnarl
#0862obstagoon
#0863perrserker
#0864cursola
#0865sirfetchd
#0866mr rime
#0867runerigus
#0868milcery
#0869alcremie
#0870falinks
#0871pincurchin
#0872snom
#0873frosmoth
#0874stonjourner
#0875eiscue ice
#0876indeedee male
#0877morpeko full belly
#0878cufant
#0879copperajah
#0880dracozolt
#0881arctozolt
#0882dracovish
#0883arctovish
#0884duraludon
#0885dreepy
#0886drakloak
#0887dragapult
#0888zacian
#0889zamazenta
#0890eternatus
#0891kubfu
#0892urshifu single strike
#0893zarude
#0894regieleki
#0895regidrago
#0896glastrier
#0897spectrier
#0898calyrex
#0899wyrdeer
#0900kleavor
#0901ursaluna
#0902basculegion male
#0903sneasler
#0904overqwil
#0905enamorus incarnateCommonly Asked Questions About Galar
What is the difference between Dynamax and Gigantamax?
Dynamax is available to almost every Pokémon and increases size and HP for three turns while converting moves into Max Moves. Gigantamax is limited to specific species, changes the Pokémon's appearance entirely and grants a unique G-Max move. Both last three turns and are exclusive to Generation 8.
Why were some Pokémon missing from Sword and Shield?
Sword and Shield were the first mainline games without a complete National Pokédex — several hundred species could not be transferred in. Game Freak cited development constraints, and later restored a portion of the missing species through paid expansion content.
How many Pokémon are in the Galar Pokédex?
89 new Pokémon, numbered #810 Grookey through #898 Calyrex, including the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra expansions, plus a set of Galarian regional variants catalogued separately.