When it was revealed thatPokemon SwordandShieldwould have raids, the reaction was a tad mixed. Many felt as if it were a ripoff ofPokemon GOand the Gigantamax feature didn’t sit right with them. After all, the Gigantamax gimmick doesn’t really play a big role in battles, just the story, and it pales in comparison toMega Evolutionand the like. However, many were willing to give it a shot and discovered that the raid mechanic feels natural in the new world ofPokemon.
That doesn’t mean it’s perfect though, and it’s clear now thatPokemon SwordandShieldhave a raid problem. While the very concept of a raid seemingly fits, the mechanics thereof do not really sit well. For the most part, a few tweaks and updates would likely go far, but the biggest possible fix is far off.
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Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Raid Problem
As with a majority ofPokemongames, the online connectivity withPokemon SwordandShieldstill leaves a lot to be desired, which means for those who want to do a massive raid battle, matchmaking can be a problem. This was highlighted in theMewtwo raid battles, as those who couldn’t get in a match would have to do so with AI. These AI trainers are surprisingly bad, and even a regular raid, it is often up to the player to carry these AIs. Having a partner using a Magikarp in a raid example is basically just one less participant in the overallPokemon SwordandShieldraid.
The above is likely exacerbated by those who jump the date and time inPokemon SwordandShieldto pursue specific weather, Pokemon, or raids; this practice, while beneficially for the one doing it, could be a huge detriment. Having to change the date and time to find a raid a player wants is just a symptom, though, not the root of the problem. This is due to the fact that incentive for the raids come and go.
In most games, raids serve as pinnacle, endgame content designed to push players—that’s what it should do inPokemon SwordandShield. Yet, aside from new limited-time things such asnew Gigantamax Pokemon, the content isn’t really worth in participating in raids, especially those that are just 1 star. Mewtwo was a step in the right direction when it comes to raid content, yet the fact that he couldn’t be captured soured the experience just a bit. As aforementioned, a few tweaks could address most of these concerns, yet the biggest fix comes in the form of the Crown Tundra DLC.
Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra DLC
It has been confirmed that the Crown Tundra will feature a co-op mode that allows players to explore an underground den. This is where Raid Pokemon emerge from, so in essence, it sounds like a newWild Areabut exclusively for legendary Pokemon. As of now, here are the confirmed catchable and “allies” that can be found there:
This is notable for so many reasons. First, if these Pokemon are as challenging as the initial release of Mewtwo, that means thatPokemon SwordandShieldplayers will get that pinnacle endgame content that raids should be. Secondly, with a plethora of catchable legendaries (presumably at all times), there’s little reason to mess with time and date settings, so matchmaking could be improved. It’s also possible that this new mode has a way to circumvent the terrible AI, since this will be a little different from standard raids, and so fans should be excited for this DLC, even if they dotransfer legendaries from Pokemon Home.
That said, it is going to be a wait. Isle of Armor is set to drop this summer, withCrown Tundranot releasing until this fall. There’s a good chance some fixes will go live that will address some raid issues prior to then, but for now, fans have a wait for the biggest possible fix forPokemon SwordandShield’s raid problem.
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