As the DLC for Sword and Shield draws nearer, fans will grow more and more impatient about which Pokémon will be returning from past generations. About 200 will come back that were originally cut in Dexit, but the full list has not yet been revealed.
There are several fan favorites that people are hoping will come back, and other Pokémon that seemingly fit the “British” theme that Galar is meant to embody. But, some Pokémon may not ever return, leaving many disappointed. If only around 200 are coming back, that means there are a few hundred more that won’t. Here are some we hope to see again, and some we probably won’t.
10 Hope: Salamence & Dragonite
In the original cast of Pokémon that made it into the base game of Sword and Shield, a few pseudo-legendaries were included: Tyranitar, Kommo-o, Goodra, and Hydreigon. Sadly, Dragonite, Metagross, and Salamence were left out. Metagross has been confirmed as a returning Pokémon, but sadly, his Gen III buddy Salamence has not.
Furthermore, Dragonite, the OG pseudo, has not been confirmed. Considering Ash just made the news for catching one in the anime, perhaps it’ll lead to some love for this powerful dragon in the games as well. Maybe, with luck, the original eight pseudos will be reunited at last.
9 Fear: Fossils
Many generations have introduced fossil Pokémon. Some have better designs than others, but they all follow a common theme and aesthetic (and they’re all Rock-type). Sword and Shield did away with this, instead choosing to introduce some eldritch abominations that are extremely colorful and terrifying.
As the expansion passes draw nearer, it’s unclear if the old fossils will return to us and restore sanity. The returning Pokémon list does, admittedly, include Amaura and Aurorus. But, so far they’re the only two to be coming back, so there’s hope. Should the weight of fossil-dignity rest on these two alone?
8 Hope: Smeargle
Smeargle, thanks to its signature move Sketch, is able to copy most other Pokémon’s moves. From there, it can be used in breeding to pass on valuable egg moves. It’s a valuable tool with a wide variety of uses.
Furthermore, it’s just a fun mechanic. Being able to equip this small painting dog with insanely good moves like Aeroblast and Spacial Rend is just funny. It’s a classic character in Pokémon’s library of critters, and it’s been missed by many since Sword and Shield’s release. We can only hope it returns to Sketch the world’s moves again.
7 Fear: Mareep
Mareep has been paired with Wooloo constantly, thanks in part to them both being adorably fluffy sheep. Fan artists have been obsessed with pairing these two, making for some really great art over the past year. Wooloo plays a great role in the games, too, finding itself in the way of paths, or rolling around in gyms.
Of course, any reasonable person would love to see these two cuties together. But, with Wooloo existing and having a prominent role, it’s unlikely the developers would bring Mareep back in. It’s too bad because Ampharos is also a fan-favorite.
6 Hope: Swanna
Did you know the Queen of England owns almost all of the swans in the country? It’s a weird historical fact that many people associate with the country, and it’s become a symbol of English royalty. Why then, is Swanna not in Galar? It would make perfect sense, and it’s a head-scratcher that it was left out in the first place.
It would make perfect sense to see Swanna return to Galar’s skies. There are a ton of places where Ducklett could enjoy some time in the water before evolving into this beautiful bird.
5 Fear: All The Mythical Pokémon
It kind of makes sense that all the legendaries and mythicals from previous generations were cut. There are, of course, only one of each of these Pokémon (in most cases), so why would they be in Galar when they exist in their own regions and games?
But, the DLC announcement revealed that basically every legendary Pokémon would be returning. Among these, though, were zero mythical Pokémon. Shaymin, Darkrai, Genesect, and the rest were all absent. If the legendaries can return, can the mythicals? Perhaps they’ll be released through events as per usual, but we can only hope at this point, since we don’t know just yet.
4 Hope: Stoutland
What’s more British than a Scottish Terrier, a dog commonly associated with the British Isles? Stoutland’s lack of presence in Galar is confusing. It’s a proud, mustachioed dog with a clear British influence. It even managed to sweat it out in Alola in the last generation.
But, apparently, GameFreak thinks this dog is not British enough to belong in Galar. Hopefully, it will make an appearance, along with its pre-evolutions Lillipup and Herdier. Because if Mantine and Pangoro make sense in this region, then Stoutland’s exclusion is just insulting.
3 Fear: All The Starters
While Charizard was left in Sword and Shield (“of course,” many say), its Gen I friends Bulbasaur and Squirtle were noticeably absent. Also absent were the starters from Generations II to VII. Their status as fan-favorites and the faces of the Pokémon franchise was called into question.
But, fans were hopeful they might make a return in some capacity. Squirtle and Bulbasaur were then confirmed to be coming back, and with Gigantamax forms for their final evolutions. Will this mean that all the starters are coming back? It’s unlikely, and if they do, they probably won’t all get the Gigantamax treatment.
2 Hope: Snubbull
Much like Stoutland and its evolutionary family, Snubbull is a Pokémon that is based on a British dog breed, in this case, an English bulldog. It’s commonly portrayed as a lapdog for the elderly women of the Pokémon world, fitted with bows, jewelry, and snacking on expensive treats.
It fits into British upper-class culture perfectly, and even if it didn’t, it’s a species of dog that is commonly found in and associated with England. If anyone should return in the DLC expansions, it’s this angry little pink dog. Snubbull deserved better than this.
1 Fear: Jigglypuff
This might be a controversial hot take, but Jigglypuff and Clefairy belong in Sword and Shield together, and ‘puff’s absence is felt heavily. These pink Fairy-types are the OG mascots for Pokémon. Everyone remembers Jigglypuff from the anime, Smash Bros., and more, and it’s always been a symbol of the Pokémon world. Even people who know nothing about Pokémon know Jigglypuff.
These two are an inseparable pair, and despite Clefairy’s presence in Galar, the pair belong together, and in every game going forward. But, it’s unlikely we’ll see Jigglypuff in Galar. Hopefully she will have a word with the developers, permanent marker in-hand.
NEXT: Pokemon: The 10 Strongest Fairy Moves, Ranked