Pokémon's newest generation, the one that brought a whole new meaning to the term ''bigger and better''. Battles have taken on a life of their own with an array of mechanics trainers haven't seen before, supercharging most aspects of the fight. Not only has it brought some new heavy hitters along the way, but even the iconic pokémon of old have been revved up to 100. Giving the old guard that fans had all but given up on a new lease has brought back some original fans with it, able to use the stars of previous generations once more.

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Battling is only a piece of the puzzle though, with all aspects of the game being improved upon, if only in a small way. The graphics are one of the most noticeable differences, giving trainers a sleek new world to roam in place of the rougher edges the previous generation delivered. If any players took a break from the franchise, it's a whole new world and one that will absorb them back into the series for good.

10 Dynamax/Gigantamax

Pokemon Sword & Shield Gigantamax battle

Taking a serious step up from the previous Mega Evolutions, both Dynamax and Gigantamax alter the size and aesthetic of the pokémon affected. A little different from the Mega Evolution due to the massive size gain and even more improved stats, they also have a much more limited time span and will fade after 3 turns.

Gigantamax not only boosts the power of the pokémon but gives them a new G-Max move, blowing regular attacks out of the water. It also gives the designers a chance to play with the designs of Pokémon fans have already grown to love instead of having to make an entirely new pokémon for no reason.

9 Poke Jobs

Pokemon Sword & Shield new mechanics

Another tool for getting an entire array of rewards, Poké jobs give players the chance to send away their pokémon to complete tasks for varying periods of time without wasting time themselves. For those pokémon that have been sat in the PC for a long while, this is the perfect time to actually get some use out of them rather than gathering dust.

Curry ingredients, Pokéballs, and money are all for grabs in reward, with more jobs becoming available when players beat a gym. The 4th gym is especially important because that unlocks EV training, a surefire way to get the most potential out of an individual pokémon. Something that players would have to catch multiple duplicates to achieve in earlier generations.

8 Pokémon Camp

New feature, Sword and Shield

The answer to what fans have always envied about the anime, players never used to be able to interact with their pokémon except for walking around or battles. Pokémon Camp lets the trainer play with their pokémon and let them rest, or cure a status effect they might have attained fighting. It makes the connection to the party of pokémon much stronger and has its own rewards waiting.

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Experience points and friendship can be built while playing with the team, offering 8 different toys available throughout the game. Also letting the player cook curry, something that will restore playfulness and maximize the results. Friendship comes with some very effective benefits that make Pokémon Camp one of the most useful mechanics in the game.

7 Max Raid Battles

Zeraora Gigantamax raid battle

Dynamax and Gigantamax have effected the game in more than one way, with certain areas allowing a team to go in against a permanently transformed pokémon, the effects lasting for the entire battle. 4 trainers are required and only 1 pokémon can fight for each, once it's taken down trainers will get reward items. Every one has 1 chance to catch it, with the host's chances being greater.

Certain Max Raid battles are woven into the story with a completely different ruleset, the biggest of which is the use of a trainer's entire party instead of 1. The wild area difficulty rating goes up to 5 stars, with corresponding rewards as it increases. The mechanics vary from barriers at certain stages to ability cancelling shockwaves, the unique stage makes for great gameplay.

6 Wild Area

Pokemon Sword and Shield Map

The Wild Area and the pokémon within it are dependent on the weather, usually found connecting certain towns in the game. Players also get the luxury of being able to rotate the camera angle while wandering the wilds, useful while on the hunt for the multiple hidden items located throughout each patch.

It's host to specific events like the Rotom Rally and makes up the 99 locations where players can join a Max Raid Battle. It's also home to pokémon of a significantly higher level than the regular tall grass, the more badges the trainer has will boost the level of the pokémon found inside.

5 Transferring Generations

Pokemon Home Generation Transfer

If players have access to Pokémon Home then the Pokédex gets blown wide open, able to drag pokemon from the 3rd generation all the way up to the 8th. The first 2 generations can even be accessed if players have the 3DS virtual console versions of the game, opening up the entire 25 year roster for the first time.

Part of what makes it great is the ease trainers can now access all the old favourites now that the storage has been moved to a 3rd party app. Avoiding the need to have to choose between generations, the old school pokémon can enjoy the much better aesthetics of generation 8 and all the perks that come with it.

4 Fossil Pieces

game freak dracozolt arctozolt dracovish arctovish

Finally putting an end to the limits the fossil pokémon used to have, now there are 4 separate pieces to be found and combined. This gives trainers complete control over the 4 choices ahead, with differing type combination to with them. The options are upgraded but putting hands on the pieces is a lot more difficult.

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2 different pieces available in the separate versions, it gets significantly harder to find the remaining 2. Usually, it comes down to paying off the Digging Duo for 500W, it's anything but guaranteed with multiple trips required. The 4 prizes are worth the effort though, with altering Electric, Dragon, Water, and Ice types being combined at the trainers will.

3 Champion's Cup

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For the first time since generation 1 trainers won't have the chance to test their skills against the Elite 4, instead opting for a Champion's Cup. Putting the trainer through a series of rival battles, gym leaders, and the champion. The finals present a series of fights that players have already seen with Gigantamax forms thrown in, all leading up to the champion.

Operating in a similar way to the rival of previous generations, he also owns the starter pokémon that the player's are weak against. A serious departure from previous titles and a little disappointing as it reduces the number of new opponents in the game, the Elite 4 will be sorely missed.

2 Wardrobe Upgrade

Unique Wardrobes in Pokemon

A choice in the base build of the character can finally be chosen, the first time in the entire series. Each gender will have 4 choices of varying skin tone, hair, and eye colour. This comes along with a boutique where trainers can change their hairstyle and colour, females can even select the area of hair they want to be chopped.

Makeup is a new feature that lets players choose the individual features they want to be changed including eyes and eyebrows. This is complemented by a much longer list of customizations available for the clothes and Rotom Bike, players now have free reign to choose their character more than they ever have.

1 Autosave

Sword/Shield save function

One of the most mindboggling parts of the list is the autosave feature, something that hasn't been available since 1995. It became such a part of the game that it's almost sad to see it go, leaving behind the days of a battery death or accidental shut down ruining the player's game. It gave the games a little character, some risk that forced fans to think.

This is especially helpful for the blunders that often happen throughout the game, allowing a restart that won't take the game back 5 hours. Not only is it saved at certain points but it's constantly running in the background, meaning the worry that was once a part of the package has disappeared. Luckily, those hardcore fans can turn the feature off to keep the authenticity alive!

NEXT: Top 10 Starter Pokémon