10 Controversies That Have ALREADY Hurt Pokemon Sword & Shield
4. No Regional Variants
While Dynamaxing is the main attraction this time around, in Sun & Moon one of the big new features was Regional Variants. These Pokémon were ones we’d seen before, but they’d adapted to the new environment and thus earned new typings.
It was a great way to reinvent some Pokémon who’d been forgotten or seemed no longer viable in a strong, rounded team, and generally were well received.
It hasn’t officially been confirmed that we won’t be getting any new ones, but with several ‘mon announcements flying by without even a mention of Regionals, it appears they’ve been retired after just one outing.
It’s a shame because there was a lot of potential there, and the way it was used in Alola was a little restrictive too. It only happened to Kanto Pokémon, adding more Fairy, Steel, Psychic, Dark and Electric types, as well as separating Rock from Ground, Ghost from Poison and offering more offensively minded Ice types.
Basically, it felt like a way of diversifying Kanto’s roster for any future remakes; you’ll even find NPCs who’ll trade with you in Let’s Go for them.
Despite Britain offering opportunities to boost some less popular Pokémon’s stock through Regionals, it seems they’re not happening.