Should I buy Pokemon Sword or Shield?

“Should I buy Pokemon Sword or Shield?” is a totally normal question for any PokeFan to be asking. You see, there are a number of differences between the two versions that could make one appear to be “better” than the other. In this Pokemon Sword and Shield guide, we’ll give you all of the information you need to make that ultimate decision: Sword or Shield?

Should I get Pokemon Sword or Shield?

Should I buy Pokemon Sword or Shield

Should I buy Pokemon Sword or Shield?

We’d recommend taking a look at the exclusive Pokemon and gym leaders listed below, and decide using that information. Or, if you have a friend or family member who is also picking up the game, perhaps plan it out with them to get different versions. That way you’ll be able to trade the missing Pokemon and watch them fight the gym leaders who aren’t featured in your game.

ALSO: The 10 coolest Pokemon unique to Sword and Shield

Does Pokemon Sword have better Pokemon than Shield?

The two new Pokemon games that you need to choose from are Sword and Shield. Each comes with its own Legendary Pokemon and a number of version-exclusive creatures that you can only catch on that specific title. That means, in order to complete the Pokedex, you’ll need to make friends with someone who has the other version (or simply buy both versions yourself!).

New Pokemon Exclusive to Sword

Zacian (Legendary)
Galarian Farfetch’d
Sirfetch’d
Jangmo-o
Hakamo-o
Kommo-o
Rufflet
Braviary

New Pokemon exclusive to Shield

Zamazenta (Legendary)
Galarian Ponyta
Galarian Rapidash
Goomy
Sliggoo
Goodra
Vullaby
Mandibuzz

In addition to the above pocket monsters, a number of returning Pokemon are also distributed between Sword and Shield. Deino and its evolutions, for example, only pop up in Pokemon Sword, while Larvitar and its evolutions only appear in Pokemon Shield.

As more Pokemon are revealed after launch, we can update this list to be more complete. For now, use the officially confirmed information above to help you reach a decision.

Buy Pokemon Sword here

Buy Pokemon Shield here

Do Pokemon Sword and Shield have different gym leaders?

They won’t matter quite as much as exclusive Pokemon, but several of the gyms you face in Sword and Shield can differ depending on the version you are playing. We already know about Bea and Allister, but if a recent datamine proves accurate, there are even more exclusive gyms:

Pokemon gyms exclusive to Sword

Bea — Fighting Type Gym Leader
Opal — Fairy Type Gym Leader
Gordie — Rock Type Gym Leader

Pokemon gyms exclusive to Sword

Allister — Ghost Type Gym Leader
Sopp — Poison Type Gym Leader
Melony — Ice Type Gym Leader

When looking at the exclusive gym leaders, you’ll be wanting to focus on the type of Pokemon that they are using. This way, you’ll be able to plan a team around your chosen version’s gym leaders. Melony’s ice type Pokemon will take a beating from a team of fire types, for example, so if you’re planning to pick Scorbunny as your starter, then Pokemon Sword may be the better version for you.

Is Pokemon Sword better than Shield?

The question of whether one game is better than the other is difficult to answer, as it comes down to the player’s opinion. When looking at performance and overall gameplay, both Pokemon Sword and Shield should be exactly the same. There should be no objective advantage of one over another.

Like with previous games in the series, the choice is ultimately not all that significant, and the experience should largely be the same and equally enjoyable.