The wave of pre-launch Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield leaks appears to have revealed another major aspect of the two games. The exclusive Pokemon for both Pokemon Sword and Shield appear to have been collected in their entirety, allowing prospective players the chance to see which version they prefer. Both Pokemon Sword and Shield seem to have 22 version-exclusive Pokemon for players to catch, matched both in terms of evolutions, Galarian-region exclusives, and Galarian forms.
To start off, there are 15 familiar Pokemon from the franchise's past that are exclusive to each version. Pokemon Sword's include Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon, Gothita, Gothorita, Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o, Kommo-o, Gothitelle, Mawile, Passimian, Rufflet, Braviary, Solrock, and Turtonator. Pokemon Shield's include Drampa, Goomy, Sliggoo, Goodra, Lunastone, Oranguru, Pupitar, Larvitar, Tyranitar, Sableeye, Solosis, Duosion, Reuniclus, Vullaby, and Mandibuzz. That should be more than enough exclusive Pokemon for Pokemon Sword or Shield players to make a decision from.
That isn't it for exclusive Pokemon, however. That's just the list of older Pokemon that will be returning. Pokemon Sword and Shield both have new Galarian forms of older Pokemon, too, with each version getting two different evolution lines and five more exclusive Pokemon total. Pokemon Sword will receive Galarian Darumaka and Darmanitan, as well as Galarian Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd. Pokemon Shield will have Galarian Corsola and Cursola, as well as Galarian Ponyta and Rapidash.
If that isn't enough, both Pokemon Sword and Shield have a couple of entirely exclusive brand new Pokemon, too. The two leaked Pokemon are Sword's Flapple and Shield's Appletun, both reportedly Grass and Dragon types. As for the other two, Pokemon fans who have been paying attention will already know about the Legendary Pokemon Zacian and Zamazenta, the Sword and Shield mascot dogs. But it's also been leaked that both Legendaries now have two forms, one that's just their base type of Fairy or Fighting, and one with a secondary type of Steel.
Pokemon Sword and Shield will also each have exclusive gyms and gym leaders, though recent leaks have added some confusion to the subject. The only officially confirmed exclusive gym leaders are Bea and her Fighting-type gym in Sword and Allister and his Ghost-type gym in Shield. Early leaks insinuated a second exclusive gym, Gordie's Rock gym in Sword and Melony's Ice gym in Shield. But an altogether new leak insinuates three exclusive gyms for each version. Further confirmation is going to be needed on this subject, but both Bea and Allister's exclusive gyms are official.
Hopefully that's more than enough information for fans to make a decision between Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield release November 15 exclusively on Nintendo Switch.