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While I’ve been spending a lot of time with Pokémon Shield, Natalie Degraffinried has been exploring Pokémon Sword. As is tradition for Pokémon, each version of this game has exclusive Pokémon, and this one has some version-exclusive gym leaders as well. We sat down to talk about what’s different between each version.While choosing a Pokémon game will ultimately come down to personal preference, Nat and I go into detail about how different they are from each other. In the process, we mention the evolutionary typing for some of the revealed Pokémon, as well as some of the Pokémon used by the version-exclusive gym leaders, so don’t read if you want to go in totally uninformed. And in case you just want a list of version-exclusive Pokémon, here that is:Pokémon Sword:DeinoZweilousHydreigonJangmo-oHakamo-oKommo-oFarfetch’dSirfetch’dPokémon Shield:LarvitarPupitarTyranitarGoomySliggooGoodraGalarian PonytaNatalie Degraffinried: We are here today to discuss the various differences between Pokémon Sword and Shield to help you figure out which one is right for you. I am here repping the Valiant Knights of Sirfetch’d on behalf of Pokémon Sword.Gita Jackson: And I’m here defending my sweet child Galarian Ponyta with the strength of Pokémon Shield.Natalie: So, there the first difference difference, and one I was admittedly sad about: If you want the adorable, Psychic-type Galarian Ponyta, you’ll need to grab Shield. If you want Sirfetch’d, the long-awaited evolution to Farfetch’d, a Pokémon that has been useless since it came out in the first generation, you’ll want to grab Sword. Have you been enjoying your Galarian Ponyta, Gita?MY CHILDIllustration: NintendoGita: Galarian Ponyta is everything I wanted and more. She looks like she’s made of cotton candy and she’s got a type combo after she evolves that makes her incredibly useful. A bit of a glass cannon, but my god is she ADORABLE.Galarian Ponyta is a Psychic type, and evolves into a Psychic/Fairy type, which gives it specific but very powerful applications. She mostly learns Psychic moves, though the fairy move Dazzling Gleam, which she learns after evolving into the resplendent beauty that is Galarian Rapidash, saved my entire ass in the final moments of the game. I also think she’ll be great for Max Raid battles, as she has a move that heals other Pokémon but not herself. But she is so fragile… I just want my child to be OK…Natalie: Yeah, that’s the thing about Psychic types. I admittedly am a little bit jealous of your Ponyta, though my Sirfetch’d is pretty awesome, too. The new Galarian Farfetch’d form is pretty cool—it walks softly and carries a big leek. That duck has seen some shit, man. I guess your Ponyta would win the type matchup there, since Galarian Farfetch’d and Sirfetch’d are Fighting types! Speaking of fighting, my fourth gym battle was Bea, the fighting-type gym leader, whom I LOVE. Your version had ghost-type Allister coming in fourth, correct?Gita: Yes! Allister gave me a “Whitney’s Miltank” moment with his team, but I appreciated the challenge. I also really loved him as a character, but I’m curious to
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