The Nintendo Switch is getting its first mainline Pokémon game on November 15, 2019, in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. We already know quite a bit about this game, thanks to a Nintendo Direct last month, but a recent trailer has given us even more information that was previously unknown, specifically a feature called Gigantamaxing.
Gigantamaxing seems to be very similar to Dynamax, which was featured in the June 5 Direct, but the Pokémon also changes forms and gets an exclusive move.
Here are a few more details outlined on the Pokémon website:
While Dynamaxing seems to be a phenomenon common to the Pokémon from Galar, it’s been discovered that there’s a special phenomenon known as Gigantamaxing, too! Only certain species of Pokémon can Gigantamax—and even among such species, only rare specimens will be able to Gigantamax. The majority will keep their usual appearance when they Dynamax. Gigantamax Pokémon become bigger, and just like normal Dynamaxing, Gigantamaxing boosts the power of the Pokémon. It also allows each Gigantamax Pokémon to use a unique move known as a G-Max Move! Each G-Max Move is particular to a specific species of Gigantamax Pokémon, and regular Dynamax Pokémon can’t use G-Max Moves at all! Regular Drednaw and Corviknight can Dynamax, but there are some special members of these species that can Gigantamax. You can catch Gigantamax Pokémon for your team by participating in Max Raid Battles, but it seems they’re very rare—finding one won’t be easy!
The video also features the Gym Challenge. Chairman Rose is the head of the Galar Pokémon League and also the president of a huge business conglomerate. Pokémon Trainers must first be endorsed in addition to having eight gym badges before entering the Gym Challenge. The Champion Cup is open to those who beat the Gym Challenge, which allows you to then compete against the reigning champion.
We also got to see two more Gym Leaders. Bea is a fighting-type expert, and Allister is a ghost-type expert. Interestingly enough, they are version-specific leaders. Bea is only in Sword, and Allister is only in Shield.
There were also new views of the Galar region, Pokémon, and the gyms.
Are you looking forward to playing Pokémon Sword or Shield? Which version are you going to get? And what do you think of these new features? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
[Source: Pokémon Website]
Steve is the Senior Editor of NintendoFuse and co-host of the NintendoFuse Podcast. He’s been a Nintendo gamer since age 6 and has been on staff with NintendoFuse since 2008.