During Nintendo's January 9 Pokemon Direct, the company showed off everything from Pokemon Home to a new Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, but the focus was on the Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass. Each game has its own, complete with Pokemon and characters unique to that title, but each are getting two big expansions in the form of the Isle of Armor and Crowned Tundra as well. Amongst that, it was also revealed that Pokemon Sword and Shield's starters - Grookey, Sobble, and Scorbunny - will also be getting Gigantamax forms.
Grookey's final evolution, Rillaboom, doubles down on its drums. It essentially expands into a one-man band with its drums becoming a more prominent feature than even Rillaboom. It maintains its heavy grass and wood features, and if players look at the top right of the Pokemon Sword and Shield image below, it seems that its G-max move could potentially do something with the drum.
Inteleon, Sobble's final form, takes on a twisted body form supported by an incredibly long tail and is shown shooting water from its finger. It's not the most detailed Gigantamax form, but it does work with Inteleon's spy and espionage theme that has been prevalent so far in Pokemon Sword and Shield. Scorbunny's final form Cinderace, on the other hand, has elongated ears, some expanded facial markings, and seemingly sits on top of a massive fireball. It stands to reason that its G-max move will likely have something to do with treating that fireball as a soccer ball, but of course, that remains to be seen.
Gigantamax Rillaboom
Official description:
Rillaboom’s tree-stump drum has grown rapidly—to the point that it now resembles a small forest on its own. Gigantamax Rillaboom has merged with this forest of drums and become even more powerful. It can control its sticks as if they were its own limbs and will demonstrate transcendental drumming techniques. Gigantamax Rillaboom will focus completely on playing its drums, compelled by the power welling up inside it. The sound can reach across oceans and be heard by those living in other regions. It’s said that those who hear the beat will begin to dance uncontrollably, overwhelmed by a rhythm that surges from inside them.
Gigantamax Inteleon
Official Description:
Inteleon has gained an extremely long tail thanks to Gigantamaxing. The tail’s length is said to be over 130 feet. While Gigantamaxed, Inteleon will stretch its long tail out and hold it straight to form a pillar, and Inteleon will take up a battle position at the top. This Pokémon has an incredibly sharp mind and calculates the precise effects that gravity will have on the trajectory of its shots, enabling it to be an extremely effective sniper. Inteleon has many hidden tools within its body, and these have also been enhanced due to its Gigantamaxing. The nictitating membranes on its eyes not only allow it to measure the distance to the target—they now let Inteleon detect temperature, air pressure, and even humidity. Inteleon is a skilled sniper as well—easily hitting a Berry that’s rolling around over nine miles away.
Gigantamax Cinderace
Official description:
The burning ball at Cinderace’s feet has grown to massive proportions thanks to Gigantamax energy. If Gigantamax Cinderace kicks the ball using its well-honed techniques, its fighting spirit will possess the ball and cause the ball to pursue opponents as if it had a mind of its own. Gigantamax Cinderace boasts incredible leg strength–in fact, its legs are said to rank among the strongest of all Pokémon. Even without its gigantic Pyro Ball, it can deliver powerful kicking moves that overwhelm other Dynamax Pokémon.
For now, Pokemon Sword and Shield players will need to wait some time before getting their hands on these G-max forms. The first major DLC of Sword and Shield's Expansion Pass, Isle of Armor, releases in June 2020, and the second, Crowned Tundra, releases in the fall of 2020. Luckily, these Gigantamax forms will come in the first round of DLC, appearing in the Isle of Armor expansion.
Either way, it's a nice addition to an already rather loaded DLC run. With 200+ new and returning Pokemon, including old and new legendaries, G-max forms of Venusaur and Blastoise, and new Galarian Pokemon, it seems safe to say that the Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass is well worth its $30 price tag. And this Pokemon Direct delivered, even if it wasn't everything fans were hoping for.
Pokemon Sword and Shield are available now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.