Pokémon Sword & Shield: 10 Pokémon You Won't Believe Aren't In The Game

8. Articuno / Zapdos / Moltres

As with each generation's starters, Pokémon always likes to give the legendaries room to breathe in their own game. After all, as the name suggests these are Pokémon inherently tied to the mythos of a particular region, and more often than not they're as integral to the narrative as they are to the lore.

But the post-game lifespan of each iteration of Pokémon always needs fleshing out, and in years gone by Game Freak have always leaned on the legendaries of generation's past to help players keep going once the credits have rolled. Sometimes it's a bonus event, sometimes they're just out there somewhere.

Articuno Zapdos and Moltres are, for many gamers, the very definition of the legendary Pokémon. Not just because they were the first ones to feature, but because they've remained a constant presence in the franchise since. All three have become defining images of the game and their absence will (eventually) be massively felt here.