Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield has grown quite popular among fans of the series, and has the impressive sales numbers to prove it, due to its innovations on certain elements of the longstanding Pokemon formula. However, one black mark on these titles comes in the form of its removal of many Pokemon from previous generations.

Game Freak is slowly remedying this by adding Pokemon back in the game through DLC, but there are still many Pokemon missing. While the upcoming Crown Tundra DLC is set to introduce a fair number of returning Pokemon once again, it will likely not be bringing back all of the missing Pokemon from the games in one go. However, if Game Freak continues to make DLC for the games, it could very well add several more installments of Pokemon to the game, and we're here to break down which ones will likely come back next.

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Rumored Returning Pokemon in The Crown Tundra

pokemon sword shield expansion pass the crown tundra returning legendary pokemon

According to a datamine of one of the most recent Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield updates, the Crown Tundra DLC will supposedly see the return of 119 Pokemon from previous generations - the vast majority being Legendary Pokemon and a sizable chunk from Generation 1 and Generation 3. The supposed returning Pokemon are:

  • Nidoran (Female)
  • Nidorina
  • Nidoqueen
  • Nidoran (Male)
  • Nidorino
  • Nidoking
  • Zubat
  • Golbat
  • Jynx
  • Electabuzz
  • Magmar
  • Omanyte
  • Omastar
  • Kabuto
  • Kabutops
  • Aerodactyl
  • Articuno
  • Zapdos
  • Moltres
  • Dratini
  • Dragonair
  • Dragonite
  • Crobat
  • Smoochum
  • Elekid
  • Magby
  • Raikou
  • Entei
  • Suicune
  • Lugia
  • Ho-Oh
  • Treecko
  • Grovyle
  • Sceptile
  • Torchic
  • Combusken
  • Blaziken
  • Mudkip
  • Marshtomp
  • Swampert
  • Aron
  • Lairon
  • Aggron
  • Swablu
  • Altaria
  • Lileep
  • Cradily
  • Anorith
  • Armaldo
  • Absol
  • Spheal
  • Sealo
  • Walrein
  • Relicanth
  • Bagon
  • Shelgon
  • Salamence
  • Beldum
  • Metang
  • Metagross
  • Regirock
  • Regice
  • Registeel
  • Latias
  • Latios
  • Kyogre
  • Groudon
  • Rayquaza
  • Spiritomb
  • Gible
  • Gabite
  • Garchomp
  • Electivire
  • Magmortar
  • Uxie
  • Mesprit
  • Azelf
  • Dialga
  • Palkia
  • Heatran
  • Regigigas
  • Giratina
  • Cresselia
  • Victini
  • Audino
  • Tirtouga
  • Carracosta
  • Archen
  • Archeops
  • Cryogonal
  • Tornadus
  • Thundurus
  • Landorus
  • Genesect
  • Tyrunt
  • Tyrantrum
  • Amaura
  • Aurorus
  • Carbink
  • Xerneas
  • Yveltal
  • Zygarde
  • Diancie
  • Volcanion
  • Tapu Koko
  • Tapu Lele
  • Tapu Bulu
  • Tapu Fini
  • Nihilego
  • Buzzwole
  • Pheromosa
  • Xurkitree
  • Celesteela
  • Kartana
  • Guzzlord
  • Poipole
  • Naganadel
  • Stakataka
  • Blacephalon

Clearly, there are a large number of Legendary Pokemon returning in the upcoming DLC thanks to the new co-op game mode coming in the Crown Tundra. Generation 3 got some love from Game Freak this DLC, though there are still a lot of Gen 3 Pokemon still missing-in-action. It seems like the general pattern of the DLCs is to add approximately 100-110 Pokemon from previous Generations, then add a few new Pokemon in the form of either Galarian forms or new Legendaries. The Crown Tundra is adding new Galarian Forms for Slowking and the three Kanto Legendary Birds, then two new Regis and Calyrex. If Game Freak were to make another round of DLCs through a second Season Pass, then another couple hundred Pokemon could be added through two more DLCs.

 

Post-Crown Tundra DLC Content

pokemon sword and shield the crown tundra

By starting the trend of doing DLC content instead of a new "definitive" third version of the game, Game Freak opens the door to keep Sword and Shield going for years if it wants to. If the datamine is to be believed and the above Pokemon are all that are returning in The Crown Tundra, then that will leave 233 Pokemon left to join the game. This would make a near-perfect distribution for two more DLCs each featuring approximately 115 returning Pokemon. Breaking it down by Generation, Generations 2, 3, and 4 are all missing a good chunk of Pokemon still due to the fact that they each added a fair amount in their respective regions that were missing from the base game of Sword and Shield.

The Isle of Armor had a good spread of Generation 1 and Generation 5 Pokemon, with some other Generations making minor appearances, so the DLCs aren't usually just one region. If Game Freak were to pick a region to try to make up for, Generation 3 would still be missing the most Pokemon - clocking it at 48 missing Pokemon. However, since Crown Tundra has a strong Hoenn presence in returning Pokemon, it would be unlikely that Game Freak would add a lot of Hoenn Pokemon in the next DLC as well (though many fans probably wouldn't complain).

Not counting Hoenn, Johto (Gen 2) is missing the most Pokemon at 45. Johto hasn't had much of a presence in the first two DLCs, so perhaps that may be the next region to get an influx of Pokemon coming into Sword and Shield. Sinnoh (Gen 4) is missing 43 Pokemon, so that could also be a strong contender. A Sinnoh-focused DLC would pair well with the rumored Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes that fans so desperately want.

The classic Gen 1 is still missing 34 Pokemon. Generations 6 and 7 are only missing 21 and 11 Pokemon respectively, so they're more likely to be scattered in with another Generation rather than being the focus of a DLC. Generations 2 and 4 are also likely as it seems that a set of old starters are introduced with each new DLC, and Generations 1, 3, and 7 are already in (or coming to) the games.

 

In all, with the remaining 233 Pokemon that are missing from Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, it's likely that if two more DLCs were to happen, the DLCs would each feature a focus of two Generations, with a few miscellaneous Pokemon from the more-represented Generations mixed in. Generations 1, 2, 3, and 4 all are missing over 30 Pokemon and need to be represented in the next DLCs (if they were to happen).

Generations 2 and 4 are most likely to receive some love next as those two generations are in the spotlight by fans wanting remakes of these beloved Pokemon games. Gen 3 is getting some love in Crown Tundra, so they'll likely not have a big presence in whatever comes after The Crown Tundra. But who knows, perhaps Game Freak will do a large-scale DLC after the Season Pass is over to add all of the remaining Pokemon in a bigger setting. Fans will just have to wait and see what Game Freak has in store for Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield.

Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield are available now for Nintendo Switch.

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