The Internet hype train for Pokemon Sword and Shield's Expansion Pass, announced through a Nintendo Direct last week, has been steadily chugging along. One of the biggest pieces of fuel in the engine is the collection of seven new Gigantamax forms confirmed for the game. Some fans have been running with the possibility of new Gigantamax Pokemon by creating fan art, including impressive takes on Garchomp and Regigigas on Reddit.
Before Pokemon Sword and Shield were released on the Nintendo Switch last November, one of their biggest selling points was the addition of the "Dynamax phenomenon" to the series' tried-and-true formula. Major battles would take place in sports stadiums allowing trainers to turn their Pokemon into giants through a mysterious energy — with some of those Pokemon having unique Gigantamax forms and special attacks, somewhat in-line with previous battling gimmicks like Mega Evolution and Z-Moves.
Coming alongside the upcoming DLC is a free update adding 200 old Pokemon back into the Galar PokeDex, including fan favorites like Sinnoh Champion Cynthia's main partner Garchomp. Reddit user vanvanvan96 uploaded a mock-up of the Dragon/Ground-type Pokemon's potential Gigantamax form, one that combines design elements from the original form (like the fins on its arms) and the Mega Evolution form introduced in Pokemon X and Y (like the spikes around its chest).
I made a Gigantamax Garchomp because I'm 90% sure gamefreak's not going to. from PokemonSwordAndShield
Vanvanvan96 seems unsure about the potential of a Gigantamax Garchomp being added into Sword and Shield, but with remakes of Diamond and Pearl potentially on the horizon there might still be a chance; especially given Garchomp's connection to Cynthia.
Another big addition announced for the upcoming DLC is new Legendary Pokemon, including concept art for members of the Regi family introduced in Generation 3. Reddit user kremit_the_frog expanded on the idea of the Regis' heavier focus by sketching out a cycloptic and technological Gigantamax form of Regigigas.
Regigigas was first introduced to the Pokemon franchise alongside Garchomp in Generation 4, housed deep within a dungeon called the Snowpoint Temple. The potential location of the two new Regis is a red-and-yellow temple that is similar to Snowpoint Temple being added in the Crown Tundra Expansion, so it seems smart to latch onto Regigigas for special treatment.
Fans imagining potential new Gigantamax forms is not new to the wave of Sword and Shield DLC based on the Isle of Man and Scotland. One standout example from before the new year featured a new Ice-type Pokemon called Eiscue, for instance.
The influx of new monsters to Galar has clearly added a lot of possibilities for talented artists to jump on. Vanvanvan96 and kremit_the_frog are just a few of those people putting their ideas out there, so fans of the series can look forward to a lot of similar art keeping their hype trains chugging from here on out.
Pokemon Sword and Shield are out now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.