Pokémon Sword and Shield brought one of the most famous gaming franchises onto the Nintendo Switch. With their release came a bevy of new Pokémon that quickly became fan favorites.
One of the most surprising reveals from its DLC, however, was the inclusion of two new Regis: Regieleki and Regidrago. These two caused a large amount of speculation before their official release. Both being so different from their third-generation cousins, many were uncertain how they would compare. Now, players have the opportunity to get a deeper understanding of the two as they make their way across the Galar region.
10 Both Reside In The Crown Tundra
The first thing to note is that both Regieleki and Regidrago rest deep in the Crown Tundra. In this DLC expansion, players can find the Split-Decision Ruins on the rightmost side of the tundra's map. Navigate the Roaring Sea Caves first, then bike through the ice floes on the other side to Three-Point Pass. Some powerful Pokémon wander about here, so stay alert and keep a good team ready. Unfortunately, the Split-Decision Ruins won't be readily available to those who come here right away.
9 You Must Catch The Other Regis First
In order to unlock the tower, the other legendary golems must be captured first. Regirock, Regice, and Registeel all have their own ruins scattered about the tundra.
Luckily, none of these ruins require anything too extensive to unlock. Once inside, battle and catch all three. It may be difficult without a proper team, so keep their weaknesses and learned moves in mind. Also, make sure to stock up on an assortment of Poké Balls, especially Ultra Balls and Dusk Balls. The Split-Decision Ruins will open when visited again.
8 You Can Only Catch One
Inside the ruins, an array of dots litters the floor. They need to be lit in a specific pattern for either Regi to appear. Once the player settles on one, however, that's it; the other cannot be caught in the same game. Making an "X" pattern causes Regieleki to arrive. To summon Regidrago, make a three-pronged fork symbol and remove the center dot in the upper-middle row. Consider which one to catch before interacting with the statue at the back of the room.
7 They Have Interesting Stat Spreads
Unlike the other golems, Regieleki and Regidrago don't have impressive defenses. In fact, both sport base 50 Defense and Special Defense, making them incredibly frail. Both also have middling offensive capabilities, as their Attack and Special Attack stats are base 100. Their HP and Speed stats, on the other hand, are either average or ridiculously high, depending on the Regi. Overall, these stats make them fairly similar as far as playstyle goes. They aren't likely to stay on the field for long, but they have the potential to dish out some good damage.
6 Regieleki Is The Fastest Pokémon
Regieleki has a base Speed stat of 200. This makes it the fastest Pokémon in the game, outspeeding even Deoxys in its Speed Forme. With the right mix of Nature and EVs, this zippy bundle of bolts will almost always go first, even against most opponents holding a Choice Scarf.
This speed, of course, comes at a cost. Its base HP stat of 80, combined with its meager defenses, mean that it won't take much to knock Regieleki out. If it hits something, it better count.
5 Regidrago Has A Ton Of HP
Regidrago flips the HP and Speed stat of Regieleki. With a base HP stat of 200, it has the fifth-highest amount of health across the entire Pokédex. This provides the draconic golem with a bit of the longevity it would otherwise lack. A base 80 Speed stat is serviceable, as well, though it will still struggle against threatening dragons like Garchomp and Dragapult. Thankfully, Regidrago's useable offensive stats mean it can return the threat with both physical and special moves.
4 Both Have Strong Abilities
Some of the most defining traits for both Regis, however, are their signature Abilities. While both serve a similar function, they increase the damage output for their same-types moves by a significant amount.
Regieleki's Ability is Transistor, which serves to increase the power of Electric-type attacks. Likewise, Regidrago's Dragon's Maw boosts the strength of Dragon-type attacks. As they both learn plenty of powerful Electric and Dragon moves, respectively, these Abilities quickly make their threat levels go from average to imposing.
3 Their Learnsets Are Shallow
Unfortunately, neither of the new Regis learn many attacking moves outside of their typing. Regieleki gains access to some Rock, Flying, and Normal moves. But none of those really check its major weakness, that being Ground-type Pokémon. Regidrago has some decent Fire, Dark, and Fighting coverage, but nothing to outplay its major Fairy weakness. This makes both Regis fairly predictable and easy to counter. Anything with an immunity to Electric or Dragon moves will likely soak up their alternative attacks quite handily.
2 Encounter Either Multiple Times
Despite their shortcomings, catching them can still prove challenging without the proper team. Avoid taking damage with a Ground or Fairy Pokémon (depending on which one is summoned) and use moves like False Swipe to avoid knocking them out. In the event that the Regis do faint, however, worry not! Just like the other legendary golems in the Crown Tundra, Regieleki and Regidrago regenerate. Fight them as many times as deemed necessary. This is mostly beneficial for EV training, though one other use comes to mind...
1 Both Can Be Shiny
Possibly the most unique aspect about these two is their shiny variants. Both Regieleki and Regidrago are not shiny locked; these are the only two legendary Pokémon introduced in the Crown Tundra that have a chance to be shiny when encountered. Regieleki's blue coils turn a pure white, and Regidrago's dragon skull gains a bluish-gray pallor. Since they can be fought multiple times, trainers can knock the golems out and try again for the shiny form. No need for soft-resets here!