InPokemon SwordandShield, trainers step forth into the unfamiliar Galar region. In this generation, there areplenty of new Pokemon to find and capture. Right after beginning the game, players will leave their hometown of Postwick. Armed only with their starter Pokemon and a few pokeballs on hand, players will start a journey that has them catching both new and familiar faces, but with a new twist in the series.
As tradition for Pokemon games,Pokemon SwordandShieldhas Route 1 separating the player’s starting area from the next town over, Wedgehurst. Gone, however, are the random battles from previous games where trainers randomly encountered Pokemon walking through grass, caves, and other locations. Deviating from previous generations, Pokemon can be found in two ways: in the Overworld or Non-Overworld encounters. Spawn rates can vary from Pokemon to Pokemon and not all of them can be encountered both ways.
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Route 1 Overworld Encounters
Overworld encounters involve Pokemon that are physically visible on the Overworld map. This allows trainers to easily see what Pokemon it is and decide whether to fight or avoid it. On Route 1, Overworld encounters are limited toGeneration VIII Pokemon, those native to the Galar region:
Route 1 Non-Overworld Encounters
Alternatively, Non-Overworld encounters hide the Pokemon in rustling grass, covering it with a black outline until the battle begins. Trainers won’t be able to identify what Pokemon it is until the fight starts, a throwback to the random encounters from previous entries. On Route 1, Non-Overworld encounters include Galar region Pokemon as well as some old faces from the Kanto, Johto, and Alola regions.
In the end, Overworld and Non-Overworld encounters are just one ofthe many differences that Pokemon Sword and Shield brings to the series. But being able to identify the Pokemon from afar and choosing to fight or run around does give players an option where there wasn’t before. Furthermore, concentrating randomness onto specific points eliminates the frustration of searching for a rare Pokemon when previously other Pokemon in the area shared the encounter chance. For the time being, go find and catch that Hoothoot on Route 1!
Pokemon SwordandShieldare out now exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
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