Throughout the lifespan of the Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield expansion pass, Game Freak has been slowly adding back Pokemon that were absent from the base game experience - remedying one of the biggest complaints fans had with Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield at launch. Now with the release of The Crown Tundra, the Expansion Pass has come to an end, but there are still 231 missing Pokemon from previous generations, which we will list below.
This list is based on which Pokemon cannot be transferred to Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield from Pokemon Home. Some Pokemon, like Victini, can be transferred in but cannot be caught in-game (yet), so they will not be a part of this list.
Updated by Kirkland Fortner on May 19, 2022: There is no doubt that plenty of great Pokemon have been left out of Sword and Shield. However, some of them are missed far more than others. All Pokemon are not created equal. Whether it's due to their Stats, Moves, Abilities, Typing, or some combination of these different aspects, some are far more useful than others. As such, we are updating this list to take a look at the top 2 Pokemon that were left out from each generation. These call-outs can be found at the end of the list in each section.
Generation 1 (Kanto)
The OG generation of Pokemon is missing a grand total of 34 of their original roster of 151. Some absences are surprising considering the other Pokemon currently in the game. Geodude and its evolutionary line are missing, despite it being seen as part of a trio with the Gastly line and the Abra line (both now in the game) due to their trade-evolution requirements. The snowy landscape of the Crown Tundra would have been perfect for Seel and Dewgong, but these Pokemon are also missing from the Galar Region.
The Legendary Bird Trio from Kanto also makes a triumphant return in this DLC, both in their natural form as well as new Galarian forms of all three birds. While it is great that these iconic birds made a comeback, several other iconic Pokemon from Gen 1 are still painfully absent from the games. Here are all the missing Pokemon from the Kanto region:
- Weedle
- Kakuna
- Beedrill
- Pidgey
- Pidgeotto
- Pidgeot
- Rattata
- Raticate
- Spearow
- Fearow
- Ekans
- Arbok
- Paras
- Parasect
- Venonat
- Venomoth
- Mankey
- Primeape
- Bellsprout
- Weepinbell
- Victreebel
- Geodude
- Graveler
- Golem
- Doduo
- Dodrio
- Seel
- Dewgong
- Grimer
- Muk
- Drowzee
- Hypno
- Voltorb
- Electrode
Golem
A physical beast, Golem has extremely high Attack and Defense stats, but very poor Special Defense and Speed. It is a Rock/Ground-type, a strong offensive combination that is rather abysmal defensively (Weaknesses to Ground, Fighting, Steel, Ice, and 2 4x weaknesses to Grass and Water). Its Ability Sturdy will keep it from getting KO'ed in one hit, allowing for more flexibility, or it could have Rock Head to let it use strong recoil moves with no drawback.
Victreebel
Victreebel acts as a slow, mixed, attacker with Grass/Poison being its type combination. With only 4 regular weaknesses and 5 resistances, it works very well defensively, though it can only hit 5 types super effectively in return. Victreebel's Ability in Chlorophyll doubles its Speed when the Sun is up, a very useful attribute, as its slowness is one of its pain points.
Generation 2 (Johto)
Pokemon Sword and Shield are still missing a fair number of the Pokemon introduced in Generation 2, clocking in with 44 Pokemon still absent from the Galar region. Many iconic Pokemon from that Generation came back, but some are missing.
While Slowking was introduced in Generation 2, Slowking was added back into Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield in Isle of Armor. However, The Crown Tundra DLC introduces Galarian Slowking which is a strange and interesting new take on the classic Pokemon. This DLC also reintroduces the iconic duo of Lugia and Ho-Oh through the Dynamax Adventure game mode, so players can get their hands on the majestic Legendary Birds of the Johto region. Overall, Johto is still on the higher end of missing Pokemon compared to other generations, though still not quite as bad as Hoenn still is. The Generation 2 Pokemon still missing are:
- Chikorita
- Bayleef
- Meganium
- Cyndaquil
- Quilava
- Typhlosion
- Totodile
- Croconaw
- Feraligatr
- Sentret
- Furret
- Ledyba
- Ledian
- Spinarak
- Ariados
- Mareep
- Flaaffy
- Ampharos
- Hoppip
- Skiploom
- Jumpluff
- Aipom
- Sunkern
- Sunflora
- Yanma
- Murkrow
- Misdreavus
- Unown
- Girafarig
- Pineco
- Forretress
- Gligar
- Snubbull
- Granbull
- Teddiursa
- Ursaring
- Slugma
- Magcargo
- Houndour
- Houndoom
- Phanpy
- Donphan
- Stantler
- Smeargle
Ampharos
Ampharos is very different from your average Electric-type, as it is quite slow, but it takes advantage of its good Special Attack stat and typing to make up for it. Pure Electric is a fantastic type, as it only comes with a single weakness to Ground, in addition to being able to hit Water and Flying for super effective damage, both good types. Static is also a very good Ability, having a chance to Paralyze any opponent who hits Ampharos with a contact move.
Houndoom
Houndoom is a decently fast Dark/Fire-type mixed attacker. Dark/Fire is a really strong defensive pairing, coming with 4 weaknesses 6 resistances, and an immunity. Offensively, no type in the game can resist Dark and Fire simultaneously, which is a nice bonus. As for the Abilities, Early Bird is highly situational, seeing as its only effect is reducing the number of Sleep turns, but Flash Fire is very useful, giving Houndoom a second immunity and powering up its Fire-type moves when hit with one.
Generation 3 (Hoenn)
Generation 3 got quite a lot of love with the Crown Tundra DLC, bringing back several big-name Pokemon from that generation. Following the release of Isle of Armor, 86 Pokemon from Gen 3 were missing from Pokemon Sword and Shield. This time around, there are 47 Gen 3 Pokemon still missing. It is worth noting that Generation 3 still has the most missing Pokemon out of any Generation, but that is in part due to how many new Pokemon the franchise added that Generation.
Hoenn is a fan-favorite region for many reasons, and the large number of new Pokemon is one of them. It's a shame Slaking is still absent from the game because Slaking would pair really nicely with Galarian Weezing. Here are all of the Gen 3 Pokemon still missing from Pokemon Sword and Shield:
- Poochyena
- Mightyena
- Wurmple
- Silcoon
- Beautifly
- Cascoon
- Dustox
- Taillow
- Swellow
- Surskit
- Masquerain
- Shroomish
- Breloom
- Slakoth
- Vigoroth
- Slaking
- Nosepass
- Skitty
- Delcatty
- Meditite
- Medicham
- Plusle
- Minun
- Volbeat
- Illumise
- Gulpin
- Swalot
- Numel
- Camerupt
- Spoink
- Grumpig
- Spinda
- Cacnea
- Cacturne
- Zangoose
- Seviper
- Castform
- Kecleon
- Shuppet
- Banette
- Tropius
- Chimecho
- Clamperl
- Huntail
- Gorebyss
- Luvdisc
- Deoxys
Breloom
Breloom is a Grass/Fighting-type with Attack being its only good stat. Breloom can be an awkward Pokemon to use, because while Grass/Fighting does offer a healthy amount of resistance (6), it also comes with 6 weaknesses, one of which is a 4x weakness to Flying.
The real magic of Breloom is in its Abilities. It has access to 3 fantastic Abilities in, Effect Spore, Technician and Poison Heal. Effect Spore makes it so that if the opponent hits Breloom with a contact move, there is 9% chance to inflict them with the Poison status, a 10% chance of Paralyzing them, or an 11% chance of putting them to Sleep. Technician boosts the power of moves with 50 power or less, increasing the number of viable moves Breloom can use. Finally, Poison Heal makes it so that Breloom will recover 1/8th of its health at the end of each turn if it is Poisoned. This combines extremely well with the Toxic Orb item.
Slaking
Slaking is the sheer definition of a scary Pokemon. It has monstrous stats (rivaling that of some Legendaries), an insanely deep movepool and decent typing in pure Normal, giving it only a weakness to Fighting, with an immunity to Ghost, a strong type to ignore damage from. The catch? Slaking's only Ability is the absolutely terrible Truant, making it, so it can only attack every other turn after it's sent out. Slaking is a beast for sure, but it needs to work around its glaring flaw to do its job.
Generation 4 (Sinnoh)
Long-time Pokemon fans have been clamoring for a Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remake for some time now, and if these remakes were made and had Pokemon Sword and Shield integration, then it would be the perfect way to reintroduce the many Pokemon still missing from Generation 4 to Sword and Shield.
Gen 4 has 43 Pokemon still missing from the roster, including some Legendary Pokemon that are surprisingly not included as part of the Dynamax Adventure. Arceus, Darkrai, and Manaphy are sadly absent from Pokemon Sword and Shield. Perhaps if the remakes do finally get made, then these Pokemon might be allowed back in the Galar region. Here are all the ones missing from Gen 4:
- Turtwig
- Grotle
- Torterra
- Chimchar
- Monferno
- Infernape
- Piplup
- Prinplup
- Empoleon
- Starly
- Staravia
- Staraptor
- Bidoof
- Bibarel
- Kricketot
- Kricketune
- Cranidos
- Rampardos
- Shieldon
- Bastiodon
- Burmy
- Wormadam
- Mothim
- Pachirisu
- Buizel
- Floatzel
- Ambipom
- Mismagius
- Honchkrow
- Glameow
- Purugly
- Chingling
- Chatot
- Finneon
- Lumineon
- Yanmega
- Gliscor
- Probopass
- Phione
- Manaphy
- Darkrai
- Shaymin
- Arceus
Staraptor
Despite being the "generic early Normal/Flying-type" archetype found in most Pokemon games, Staraptor should not be slept on. Normal is the most average type Flying can partner with, as neither type has much of a relationship with one another. While this keeps the combination from having major strengths, it lacks major flaws, too. Though it does come with immunities to Ground and Ghost, both strong types to resist. Staraptor uses its high Attack and Speed stats to go in, deal damage, and then switch out. Its Ability, Intimidate, helps it keep it alive, as it weakens any physical attackers just by sending it in.
Mismagius
Mismagius is a pure Ghost-type with high Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats. Pure Ghost is a wonderful type. Defensively, it's quite strong, as it comes with only 2 weaknesses to itself and Dark, resistances to Bug and Poison, and immunities to Normal and Fighting. Ghost is powerful offensively as well, being able to high Psychic and other Ghost-types, with only Normal and Dark resisting it. Mismagius uses its deep offensive movepool to hit many different types of Pokemon super effectively, and its Ability Levitate gives it a third immunity to Ground, arguably the best offensive type in the game.
Generation 5 (Unova)
Unova is in the middle of the road when it comes to missing Pokemon, clocking in with 31 missing in total. Some iconic Gen 5 Pokemon came back with the Crown Tundra, like Archeops and Cryogonal (who is very helpful when catching Regice), as well as the Swords of Justice. Unova was a hit-or-miss generation for some players. It's certainly the most different tonally, and many fans appreciate that. Here is the list of the Gen 5 Pokemon missing from the games:
- Snivy
- Servine
- Serperior
- Tepig
- Pignite
- Emboar
- Oshawott
- Dewott
- Samurott
- Patrat
- Watchog
- Pansage
- Simisage
- Pansear
- Simisear
- Panpour
- Simipour
- Blitzle
- Zebstrika
- Sewaddle
- Swadloon
- Leavanny
- Ducklett
- Swanna
- Deerling
- Sawsbuck
- Alomomola
- Tynamo
- Eelektrik
- Eelektross
- Meloetta
Eelektross
Eelektross is certainly an interesting one. It is the only Pokemon to have *zero* weaknesses, thanks to the fantastic combination that is the pure Electric-type with Levitate as its only Ability, making it immune to Ground. Outside of this, Eelektross serves as a slow mixed attacker with a wide movepool. It uses its lack of weaknesses to have better survivability than it otherwise would have.
Sawsbuck
Sawsbuck has a lot going for it. It's a very interesting idea for a Pokemon, to have a different design based on the seasons. It is the only Normal/Grass-type. This combination might not seem like much at first, but it has several handy resistances to Water, Grass, Electric, and Ground, with immunity to Ghost. In addition, Normal helps to patch up Grass' otherwise poor offensive value, making it so only Steel resists both types. But, Sawsbuck does come with one fatal flaw, the movepool. Despite being a Normal-type (a type well known for having big movepools), Sawsbuck movepool is quite small.
This fact becomes even more irritating when factoring in that Sawsbuck has the excellent Ability that is Serene Grace, doubling the chances of moves with benefits activating (Ex: Shadow Ball now has a 20% chance of lowering the target's Special Defense instead of its usual 10.) But again, due to the small movepool, Sawsbuck learns next to no moves that have benefits, making the Ability feel wasted.
Generation 6 (Kalos)
Pokemon X and Pokemon Y have recently come into the spotlight thanks to the growing rumors that Pokemon Sword and Shield will get a Kalos DLC following the release of The Crown Tundra. While these rumors are currently just speculation at best, it's certainly gained a following among fans of the series. It also may mean the reintroduction of Mega Evolution, which was painfully absent from Sword and Shield. If this DLC were to come to fruition, it would make sense that these 21 missing Kalos Pokemon would finally make their return:
- Chespin
- Quilladin
- Chesnaught
- Fennekin
- Braixen
- Delphox
- Froakie
- Frogadier
- Greninja
- Scatterbug
- Spewpa
- Vivillon
- Litleo
- Pyroar
- Flabebe
- Floette
- Florges
- Skidoo
- Gogoat
- Furfrou
- Hoopa
Pyroar
Pyroar is a Fire/Normal-type Pokemon with high Special Attack and Speed. Fire/Normal is a strong combination, having only 4 weakness, 6 resistances and an immunity to Ghost. Pyroar also has access to the strong Ability that is Unnerve, making so opponents cannot eat their Berries as long as its on the field. Unfortunately, like with Sawsbuck, Pyroar suffers from a limited movepool.
Florges
Florges is a pure Fairy-type with very high Special Attack and Special Defense. Pure Fairy is a very good type, only having 2 weaknesses to Poison and Steel, and being able to hit most types for neutral damage. Florges' Abilities are only useful in Doubles, as Flower Veil prevents the lowering stats of its Grass-type partners, and Symbiosis passes on Florges' item to its partner after it has been consumed. Florges does come with a lacking offensive movepool however, so that is worth keeping in mind. Fairy being a strong offensive type somewhat mitigates this.
Generation 7 (Alola)
Alola wasn't missing too many Pokemon, to begin with prior to the release of The Crown Tundra, but now with the return of the many Ultra Beast Pokemon, that number is even smaller. Gen 7 is missing the least amount of Pokemon, sitting at a measly 11 missing from Sword and Shield. Additionally, all the Tapus made a return, as well as Necrozma, Solgaleo, and Lunala (and of course Cosmog). Unfortunately the magnificent Toucannon is still absent, as well as the flashy Oricorio, but it's a pretty short list for Gen 7's missing Pokemon:
- Pikipek
- Trumbeak
- Toucannon
- Yungoos
- Gumshoos
- Crabrawler
- Crabominable
- Oricorio
- Minior
- Komala
- Bruxish
Minior
Minior is a Rock/Flying-type Pokemon. This combination is very "give and take," as it comes with 5 weaknesses, but also 5 resistances and an immunity to Ground. Minior's most defining feature is its unique Ability, Shields Down. When above half health, Minior will stay in its "Meteor Form", where it has high defensive stats and not much else. When below half heath however, it will enter its "Core Form" where it suddenly gains very strong attacking stats and high speed, making it a forced to be reckoned with. Its good offensive movepool and the move Shell Smash also helps it out quite a bit.
Toucannon
Toucannon is a Normal/Flying-type with a high Attack stat. That Attack stat is all it has going for it on that end and with Normal/Flying being a very neutral typing, it would be fair to assume Toucannon doesn't stick out much. However, Toucannon has access to 2 very good Abilities, Skill Link and Sheer Force. Skill Link makes multi-hit moves (such as Bullet Seed) always hit 5 times, making them quite potent, while Sheer Force will remove the benefit of any move that has one (such as a chance of lowering the opponent's Defense), for a 30% power increase.
Toucannon also has a signature move, Beak Blast. This Physical Flying-type move has 100 Base Power and Accuracy. It will always go last and takes 2 turns to execute, but if the opponent hits Toucannon with a contact move on the first turn, they will be inflicted with a Burn.
And those are all 231 Pokemon still missing from the Pokemon Sword and Shield roster. If Game Freak decides to make more DLCs for Sword and Shield instead of moving on to the next title, then there is a good chance that more of these Pokemon will make a return. However, fans will unfortunately just have to wait to see what Game Freak has in store for the series going forward.
Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield are available now for Nintendo Switch.