New Area, Story, & Pokemon
Everything New in the Crown Tundra DLC
Obviously, in Pokemon Sword & Shield’s Crown Tundra DLC, you’ll be going to a brand new area in the Galar region. This time you’ll be heading to a snowy mountainous area where you’ll meet up with a fellow named Peony. Peony will set you up on an expedition to explore this frozen land, and also delve deeper into Pokemon Dens. More on that later.
In addition to running around a new snowy wild area, players will be able to capture three genuine new Pokemon never seen before in the game (shown above):
- Regieleki the Electron Pokemon (Electric)
- Calyrex the King Pokemon (Psychic/Grass)
- Regidrago the Dragon Orb Pokemon (Dragon)
The two new Regis will each have their own signature move. Regieleki will get Thunder Cage, which deals damage initially, and over time, while trapping enemies. Regidraco will get Dragon Energy, a powerful attack that grows stronger the more HP Regidraco has left.
Dynamax Adventures
Everything New in the Crown Tundra DLC
One of the two big gameplay additions will be the new Dynamax Adventures. While we don’t know a ton yet about them, we do know that they will see players working together to explore a Pokemon Den.
Teams will be able to choose between different paths to influence the Pokemon they will encounter. The goal is not only running through (and hopefully capturing) a set of powerful Dynamaxed Pokemon but also, to encounter some of the returning legendary Pokemon.
Speaking of which that leads us to…
Legendaries & New Galarian Forms
Everything New in the Crown Tundra DLC
Everyone. Is. Here. Yes, even Landorus. Shutter under its meta-defining might!
Crown Tundra will see every single known legendary Pokemon added to the Galar region. The exact method for acquiring them is unknown, but Nintendo has hinted that the Dynamax Adventure dens will be where players can find them.
The legendary bird trio from Pokemon Red and Blue will of course be included in that, but they will also get their own Galar region forms as well.
Articuno will be Psychic/Flying now and will have a new signature move, Freezing Glare. This unique move will do Psychic special damage with a chance to freeze Pokemon.
Zapdos will become Fighting/Flying and will gain a signature move Thunderous Kick which will do physical Fighting damage that lowers Defense.
Finally, Moltres will become Dark/Flying and will get the signature move Fiery Wrath. This move will do special Dark damage while having a chance to make the opponent flinch.
In addition to the three legendary birds, Slowking will get a new Galarian form, turning it into a Psychic/Poison Pokemon.
Lots of Returning Pokemon
Everything New in the Crown Tundra DLC
In addition to the returning legendary Pokemon that are being added in Crown Tundra, a hefty heaping of non-legendary Pokemon are also being invited into the Galar region.
There’s a lot of returning Pokemon being added this time around, more than we can list here.
Serebii, an excellent Pokemon resource, has a mega list here that you can check out should you decide you want to check the full list.
Non-Galar Pokemon such as the original Kanto starters and Melmetal will also get new Gigantamax forms as well.
Galarian Star Tournament
Everything New in the Crown Tundra DLC
Finally, the other key gameplay feature being added into Pokemon Sword and Shield: Crown Tundra is the anticipated Galarian Star Tournament.
This is designed to be the true test of a player’s skill in the game, and will hopefully bolster an endgame that could use a little, well, bolstering.
In the Galarian Star Tournament, players can team up with an NPC from Sword and Shield to compete in a doubles tournament against pairs of gym leaders and other familiar faces from the game’s story.
Again, we’ll have to wait and see how it pans out, but it looks like it could finally be something that could keep the most hardcore of the hardcore Pokemon Sword and Shield fans busy.
Crown Tundra will be out for all Sword and Shield expansion pass owners by tomorrow Oct. 23.
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