Isle Of Armor Expansion Pass LIVE: Release Date, Legendaries, New Pokemon List, Map, Gameplay, Guides, Price And More From The Pokemon Sword And Shield DLC

Published: 18 Jun 2020 12:19 PM +00:00 Updated: 08 Apr 2021 9:17 AM +00:00

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The Isle of Armor is now live for all to play and brings a new location added to the Galor region for the Pokemon Sword and Shield games and it arrives on the 17th June!

The franchise is introducing an Expansion Pass that will flesh out the Galar region, with The Crown Tundra expected later this year.

For those who won't be playing at launch, Pokemon have arranged a special livestream to detail what's new in the Isle of Armor.

Recent data mines have given us a host of new information about what is coming in our sunny Generation 8 adventure including moves, abilities and items!

After an official trailer released at the start of the month, Pokemon fans are eager to jump into the Isle of Armor and explore a whole new area and experience a fresh story.

Many would argue that the Sword and Shield's main game was a short but sweet tale that the expansion can help fulfil the empty feeling its ending left.

The Isle of Armor will bring a new adventure, new Pokemon for your Pokedex, and new costumes.

Be sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly for the latest information.

WATCH NOW: POKEMON SWORD AND SHIELD VIDEO GUIDES

You can find information about the following things here:

Latest News

Purchasing The Wrong Expansion Pass - 18th June

If you weren't already aware, there are two expansion passes available - one for each game.

It's important that you buy the correct expansion pass for your game, whether you own Sword or Shield.

If you have made this mistake, here's how to fix it.

Isle of Armor Is Live! - 17th June

The expansion pass is now LIVE for everyone to play!

Pokemon Presents - 16th June

A range of new games were announced today including Pokemon Sleep, Pokemon Cafe Mix, New Pokemon Snap and many updated to Pokemon GO.

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Level Scaling - 15th June

Isle of Armor will feature level scaling, which means no matter what level you are you won't need to worry about the level of your opponents.

Nintendo product marketing specialist Demetrius Boggs confirmed that Pokemon in the Wild Area and those belonging to trainers will scale alongside yours - they can scale up to level 100!

Ash Ketchum's Hat Available In Sword And Shield! - 15th June

Ash Ketchum's hat will be available in the Isle of Armor DLC - here's how to get it!

Evolution Guide - 14th June

Be ready for a whole host of new Pokemon in the Isle of Armor DLC. New Pokemon means new ways to evolve!

Here's our evolution guide.

New Isle Of Armor And The Crown Tundra Expansion Trailer - 2nd June

The new trailer shows off plenty of new gameplay and confirms the launch date for the 17th June.

You can check out new artwork here.

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Isle Of Armor Details Coming TOMORROW! - 1st June

New Isle of Armor details are coming tomorrow 2nd June.

The Official Japanese Pokemon Twitter account confirmed that the new details will be shown at 6am PT/9am ET/2pm BST regarding the Sword and Shield expansion pass.

New Items And Abilities Coming To Isle Of Armor - 28th May

Another Pokemon Home data mine has revealed that new items and abilities are arriving in the Isle of Armor expansion.

The new items are:

Max Honey
Max Mushrooms
Galarica Twig
Galarica Cuff
Style Card
Armor Pass
Exp. Charm
Armorite Ore
Mark Charm

The new abilities are:

Quick Draw
Unseen Fist

New Moves Coming To Isle Of Armor - 23rd May

21 new moves have been discovered in a recent data mine of Pokemon Home.

These moves are expected to arrive with the Isle of Armor update as we receive brand new Pokemon.

The new moves are:

Expanding Force
Steel Roller
Scale Shot
Meteor Beam
Shell Side Arm
Misty Explosion
Grassy Glide
Rising Voltage
Terrain Pulse
Skitter Smack
Burning Jealousy
Lash Out
Poltergeist
Corrosive Gas
Coaching
Flip Turn
Triple Axel
Dual Wingbeat
Scorching Sands
Jungle Healing
Wicked Blow
Surging Strikes

Nintendo Direct Mini Reveals More Footage For Isle Of Armor - 26th March

To wrap up the Nintendo Direct mini, more footage of the new game was revealed about the Isle of Armor.

It gave some more information about the legendary Pokemon, new costumes, a pre-order bonus AND a small update on the release date.

The Pokemon Sword and Shield information starts at 25.30!

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What Is The Isle Of Armor?

Isle of Armor is the first DLC from the Pokemon Sword and Shield expansion. The Isle of Armor appears to revolve around the theme of 'Growth'.

Set on an island, located to the east of the Galar region shores, players will be able to pick up from where their adventure left off in the main game.

Complete with new Pokemon, characters and costumes, the Isle of Armor is full of beautiful nature.

It also features a Dojo for Pokemon battles, where you'll take up an apprenticeship under the person that runs it - his name being Mustard. Mustard is your new mentor and the former mentor of champion Leon.

The expansion will feature open and seamless gameplay, much like the wild area, allowing players to roam around freely and control the camera; Max raid battles will also return.

The Isle of Armor is inspired by the Isle of Man.

Map

The Isle of Armor is set off the shore of the main Galar region.

So far a few landmarks stick out such as:

The Dojo - located towards the south of the map.
Wild Area - stretches down the coasts of the island
Towers of Two Fists - The red one is the tower of darkness, which is located to the north and the blue one is the tower of water, which is located to the west.
Cave - The cave can be found at the very north of the Island.

When Is The Isle Of Armor Release Date?

Pokemon Sword and Shield's expansion pass will launch on the 17th June 2020.

The expansion pass will launch with The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra will arrive later in Autumn 2020.

Guides

Be sure to check out our Isle of Armor related tips, tutorials and guides:

Platforms

The game is only available on the Nintendo Switch, through the Nintendo eShop.

Trailer & Gameplay

The trailer and gameplay were shown in the most recent Pokemon Direct on the Nintendo YouTube channel.

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You can check out the full Pokemon Direct here:

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New Features

New features in the game include:

New costumes
New Pokemon and legendaries
A new area to explore
New Gigantamax forms

There are also plenty of new features that we want to see such as a new evil team, improved Raid battles and a bigger challenge.

You can read about the new changes we want to see here.

New Pokemon

Within the Pokemon Expansions, there will be new Pokemon.

The expansion pass will bring different Pokemon to each version of the game and has brought forward 200+ well-known Pokemon from past entries.

While we can confirm at least 80 Pokemon, there is plenty still to be announced - although many have been released into the game already.

check out the Pokemon we would like to see return here.

Here is the list of confirmed new Pokemon, based on the Pokemon Direct and the recent trailer:

Galarian Slowpoke
Galarian Slowbro
Galarian Slowking
Larvesta
Volcarona
Horsea
Seadra
Kingdra
Dedenne
Rockruff
Lycanroc (Day, Night and Dusk form)
Bulbasaur
Ivysaur
Venusaur (Gigantamax)
Squirtle
Wartortle
Blastoise (Gigantamax)
Magnemite
Magneton
Magnezone
Happiny
Chansey
Blissey
Regice
Regirock
Registeel
New Electric Regi Pokemon (Unconfirmed)
New Dragon Regi Pokemon (Unconfirmed)
Galarian Slowpoke
Galarian Slowbro
Galarian Slowking
Amaura
Auroras
Nidoran (Male)
Nidorino
Nidoking
Spheal
Sealeo
Walrein
Gible
Gabite
Garchomp
Zubat
Golbat
Crobat
Elekid
Electabuzz
Azurill
Marill
Azumarill
Beldum
Metang
Metagross
Zorua
Zoroark
Cryogonal
Fletchling
Fletchinder
Talonflame
Absol
Shinx
Luxio
Luxray
Tauros
Scyther
Whismur
Loudred
Exploud
Druddigon
Sandile
Krokorok
Krookodile
Rufflet
Braviary
Tangela
Tangrowth
Oranguru
Exeggcute
Exeggutor
Poliwag
Poliwhirl
Poliwrath
Politoed
Wailmer
Wailord
Kangaskhan
Bouffalant
Emolga
Mienshao
Dragalge
Staryu
Starmie
Wingull
Pelipper
Scraggy
Scrafty
Frosmoth
Relicanth
Swablu
Altaria
Magby
Magmar
Magmortar
Sandshrew
Sandslash
Igglybuff
Jigglypuff
Wigglytuff
Psyduck
Golduck
Abra
Kadabra
Alakazam
Tentacool
Tentacruel
Cubone
Marowak
Lickitung
Lickilicky
Heracross
Skarmory
Porygon
Porygon2
Porygon-Z
Carvanha
Buneary
Lopunny
Happiny
Foongus
Amoonguss
Mienfoo
Clauncher
Clawitzer
Klefki
Fomantis
Lurantis
Comfey
Sandygast
Palossand
Magearna
Pinsir

New Legendaries

The new Pokemon Sword and Shield expansions will feature the following new legendary Pokemon:

Isle of Armor

Kubfu
Urshifu

The Crown Tundra

Galarian Articuno
Galarian Moltres
Galarian Zapdos
Calyrex
Mewtwo
Lugia
Ho-oh
Entei
Suicune
Raikou
Groudon
Kyogre
Rayquaza
Uxie
Mesprit
Azelf
Dialga
Palkia
Tornadus
Thundurus
Landorus
Zekrom
Reshiram
Xerneas
Yveltal
Zygarde
Tapu Koko
Tapu Lele
Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini
Solgaleo
Lunala
Latias
Latios
Cresselia
Lillipup
Herdier
Stoutland
Venipede
Whirlipede
Scolipede
Petilil
Lilligant

Most legendary Pokemon that are available in The Crown Tundra will be obtained through co-op play.

Kubfu/Urshifu

In the Isle of Armor, your new mentor Mustard will intrust Kubfu to you. Kubfu is a fighting type Pokemon that evolves into Urshifu.

Once you have Kubfu, you will take on the Towers of Two Fists. You will enter either the Tower of Darkness or the Tower of Water (you may only choose one).

Kubfu must face this challenge alone and once it has conquered one, it will evolve into Urshifu.

Urshifu has two distinct styles and will learn one depending on which tower you take on:

Single-strike style (Tower of Darkness) - a Fighting and Dark-type style that delivers a single strike at lightning speed
Rapid-strike style (Tower of Water) - a Fighting and Water-type style that focuses on unleashing a torrent of rapid strikes.

He also has a Giganatamax form with a brand new ability and a new move for each of its two styles.

Zarude

Zarude is a genderless rogue monkey Pokemon - a Dark/Grass Pokemon.

Zarude is set to feature in the 23rd Pokemon movie and its currently unknown when or how it will feature in the games; could it appear in the expansion pass?

You can read all about Zarude here.

Starter Pokemon Gigantamax

Your starter Pokemon will gain a Gigantamax form as reward for their adventure on the Isle of Armor.

All three will have powerful and unique moves:

Rillaboom - G-Max Drum Solo
Cinderace - G-Max Fireball
Inteleon - G-Max Hydrosnipe

Mega Evolution

Despite Game Freak deciding not to include Mega Evolutions, instead opting to have Dynamaxing, it seems some items have eluded to a potential return in the Expansion Passes.

Here's what data miners found:

Blue Orb and Red Orb – help Groudon and Kyogre to undergo Primal Reversion
All Mega Stones – this could point to the return of Mega Evolutions in Pokemon Sword and Shield

New Rivals

If you have Pokemon Sword your new rival will be Klara, who is a poison type user.

If you have Pokemon Shield your new rival will be Averym, who is a psychic type user.

New Costumes

New costumes will be arriving in Pokemon Sword and Shield's expansion pass.

There are now 100+ new ways to customize your look with clothing items and hairstyles added via the two expansions.

Price

The price for the expansion pass will be $29.99 and is available for pre-purchase.

The Expansion pass will cost £26.99 in the UK.

It is unknown whether you can purchase the two expansions separately.

Sword And Shield Updates

Pokemon Sword and Shield has also introduced a few new updates to the base game.

Rillaboom, Cinderace and Inteleon will receive brand new Gigantamax forms that can be used in new locations.

Sword and Shield also plan to introduce three new features:

Tutor Moves - including all new moves
Apricorns - can be made into Poke Balls
Exp Charm - Earn more Exp. Points for your team

New costumes, accessories and looks will also be available for your bike.

Even if you don't have the expansion pass, you'll be able to get the new Pokemon only obtained through the expansion pass via Link Trades.

You will have an increased chance of running into Gigantamax:

Coalossol (Sword)
Lapras (Shield)
Flapple (Sword)
Appletun (Shield)

A software update that goes live today will go live today.

When you receive it head to Wedgehurst station where you will be Klara (Sword) or Avery (Shield). You'll then be able to encounter a Galarian Slowpoke, which you can catch.

You can then evolve with a specific item. It will evolve into Galarian Slowbro on the Isle of Armor and Galarian Slowking in The Crown Tundra.

Players can also now access the Nintendo eShop from the in-game menu. When you purchase the expansion pass you will gain access to a Pikachu and Eevee costume.

Isle of Armor VS The Crown Tundra

The new Sword and Shield expansion will bring so many new features. While the expansion is separated into two separate stories, they will share a lot of similarities and differences.

But which one will be better? We analysed the pros and cons for each expansion here.

Pokemon Home

Pokemon Home is now live and players can happily transfer their Pokemon from the app to their Sword and Shield game.

It's a great opportunity to prepare your team for the new expansion, as older Pokemon (not previously included in the game) will now be available.

We've also received information on new moves, abilities and items thanks to dataminers!

You can read more about Pokemon Home here.

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