New features
- Introduction of the Ability Patch, an item that allows any Pokémon to change to its Hidden Ability.
- New two Regis, Regieleki (Electric) and Regidrago (Dragon), with new abilities and signature moves each.
- New Galarian forms for Articuno (Psychic/Flying), Zapdos (Fighting/Flying) and Moltres (Dark/Flying), each with competitive-focused abilities and signature moves.
- Return of some all-time VGC favorites, like Nidoking & Nidoqueen, Salamence, Metagross and Garchomp!
- Return of all legendary Pokémon, including:
- The Johto Legendary beasts, Raikou, Entei and Suicune
- The Eon duo, Latias and Latios
- The Lake guardians, Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf
- Other Sinnoh legendaries, Heatran, Regigigas and Cresselia
- The Forces of Nature, Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus
- The Guardian Deities, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini
- The Ultra Beasts, Nihilego, Buzzwole, Pheromosa, Xurkitree, Celesteela, Kartana, Guzzlord, Naganadel, Stakataka and Blacephalon
Competitive Highlights
| Pokémon | New competitive features |
|---|---|
 Zapdos | Ability Patch: unlocks HA Static. New moves: Hurricane (TR89), Rising Voltage (Tutor) |
 Entei | Ability Patch: unlocks HA Inner Focus. New moves: Helping Hand (TM41), Flare Blitz (TR55) |
 Raikou | Ability Patch: unlocks HA Inner Focus. New moves: Helping Hand (TM41), Aura Sphere (TR56), Scald (TR84) |
 Suicune | Ability Patch: unlocks HA Inner Focus. New moves: Helping Hand (TM41) |
 Cresselia | New moves: Cosmic Power (TR44), Stored Power (TR82), Expanding Force (Tutor) |
 Tornadus | Ability Patch: unlocks HA Defiant. New moves: Nasty Plot (TR68) |
 Thundurus | Ability Patch: unlocks HA Defiant. New moves: Rising Voltage (Tutor) |
 Tapu Koko | New moves: Close Combat (TR53), Play Rough (TR90), Rising Voltage (Tutor) |
 Tapu Lele | New moves: Stored Power (TR82), Expanding Force (Tutor) |
 Tapu Bulu | New moves: Close Combat (TR53), Play Rough (TR90), High Horsepower (TR94), Grassy Glide (Tutor) |
 Tapu Fini | New moves: Draining Kiss (TM87), Flip Turn (Tutor), Misty Explosion (Tutor) |
 Nihilego | New moves: Meteor Beam (Tutor) |
 Buzzwole | New moves: Close Combat (TR53), Darkest Lariat (TR93) |
 Pheromosa | New moves: Close Combat (TR53) |
 Xurkitree | New moves: Rising Voltage (Tutor) |
 Celesteela | New moves: Cosmic Power (TR44) |
 Kartana | New moves: Grassy Glide (Tutor) |
 Stakataka | New moves: Heavy Slam (TR79), Heat Crash (TR88), Body Press (TR99) |
The Ability Patch
A new item introduced in the Crown Tundra and similar to the Ability Capsule, the Ability Patch allows potentially any Pokémon to change to its Hidden Ability.
Once this change is made, the Hidden Ability can be passed down through breeding, assuming the species can breed (source).
Assuming it works on Legendary Pokémon, this opens up lots of new threats, such as Flash Fire Heatran or Defiant Tornadus and Thundurus. If we get a new GS Cup format, others like Regenerator Ho-Oh, Multiscale Lugia or Telepathy Dialga will join the fun as well.
New Pokémon
Regieleki
Regieleki
Base Stats: Unknown
Ability: Transistor (unknown)
Signature Move: Thunder Cage (Electric-type attack that damages with unknown BP and causes residual damage every turn for 4 to 5 turns. It also prevents the opponents from escaping)
Regidrago
Regidrago
Base Stats: Unknown
Ability: Dragon’s Maw (unknown)
Signature Move: Dragon Energy (Dragon-Type attack with variable BP depending on the user’s HP stat)
Calyrex
Calyrex
Base Stats: Unknown
Ability: Unnerve (Denies the opponents from consuming their berries)
Others: Legendary Pokémon (allowed only in GS Cup rulesets)
New Regional Forms
Galarian Slowking
Galarian Slowking
Ability: Curious Medicine (Resets the allies’ stat changes upon switching in)
Signature Move: Eerie Spell (Psychic-type special move that reduces the target’s last used move’s PP by 3)
Galarian Articuno
Galarian Articuno
Ability: Competitive (Raises the users’s Special Attack by two stages when any of its stats are dropped by an opponent)
Signature Move: Freezing Glare (Psychic-type special move that has a freeze chance)
Galarian Zapdos
Galarian Zapdos
Ability: Defiant (Raises the users’s Attack by two stages when any of its stats are dropped by an opponent)
Signature Move: Thunderous Kick (Fighting-type physical move that drops the target’s Defense by one stage)
Galarian Moltres
Galarian Moltres
Ability: Berserk (Raises the users’s Special Attack by one stage every time its HP drops below 50%)
Signature Move: Fiery Wrath (Dark -type special move that has a flinch chance)
Returning Pokémon
For the sake of convenience, only final evolutions have been listed.
- On Regular Pokémon, all normal Pokémon and sub-legendaries (those permitted in VGC outside of GS Cup formats) are listed.
- On GS Cup Pokémon, the Legendary Pokémon only allowed in GS Cup formats are listed.
- Some legendary Pokémon, like Cobalion or Mewtwo, are already technically obtainable, and thus are not listed below.
Regular
GS Cup
Regular
| Regular Pokémon returning in the Crown Tundra | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Nidoqueen | Nidoking | Jynx | Omastar | Kabutops | Aerodactyl |
 |  | | | |  |
| Dragonite | Crobat | Raikou | Entei | Suicune | Raikou |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Blaziken | Swampert | Aggron | Altaria | Cradily | Armaldo |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Absol | Walrein | Relicanth | Salamence | Metagross | Regirock |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Regice | Registeel | Latios | Latias | Spiritomb | Garchomp |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Electivire | Magmortar | Uxie | Mesprit | Azelf | Heatran |
 | |  |  |  |  |
| Regigigas | Cresselia | Audino | Carracosta | Archeops | Cryogonal |
| |  |  |  |  |
| Tornadus | Thundurus | Landorus | Tyrantrum | Aurorus | Carbink |
| | | | | |
| Tapu Koko | Tapu Lele | Tapu Bulu | Tapu Fini | Nihilego | Buzzwole |
| | |  |  | |
| Pheromosa | Xurkitree | Celesteela | Guzzlord | Naganadel | Stakataka |
 | |||||
| Blacephalon | |||||
GS Cup
| GS Cup Pokémon returning in the Crown Tundra | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Lugia | Ho-Oh | Kyogre | Groudon | Rayquaza | Dialga |
 |  |  |  |  | |
| Palkia | Giratina | Xerneas | Yveltal | Zygarde | |
Regular
GS Cup
Regular
| Pokémon returning in the CT | ||
|---|---|---|
| | |
| Nidoqueen | Nidoking | Jynx |
| | |
| Omastar | Kabutops | Aerodactyl |
| | |
| Dragonite | Crobat | Raikou |
| | |
| Entei | Suicune | Raikou |
| | |
| Blaziken | Swampert | Aggron |
| | |
| Altaria | Cradily | Armaldo |
| | |
| Absol | Walrein | Relicanth |
| | |
| Salamence | Metagross | Regirock |
| | |
| Regice | Registeel | Latias |
| | |
| Latios | Spiritomb | Garchomp |
| | |
| Electivire | Magmortar | Uxie |
| | |
| Mesprit | Azelf | Heatran |
| | |
| Regigigas | Cresselia | Audino |
| | |
| Carracosta | Archeops | Cryogonal |
| | |
| Tornadus | Thundurus | Landorus |
| | |
| Tyrantrum | Aurorus | Carbink |
| | |
| Tapu Koko | Tapu Lele | Tapu Bulu |
| | |
| Tapu Fini | Nihilego | Buzzwole |
| | |
| Pheromosa | Xurkitree | Celesteela |
| | |
| Guzzlord | Naganadel | Stakataka |
| ||
| Blacephalon | ||
GS Cup
| GS Cup Pokémon in the CT | ||
|---|---|---|
| | |
| Lugia | Ho-Oh | Kyogre |
| | |
| Groudon | Rayquaza | Dialga |
| | |
| Palkia | Giratina | Xerneas |
| | |
| Yveltal | Zygarde | |
Movepool additions
The Pokémon list below is not comprehensive and represents the new moves available to the most common Pokémon in competitive VGC use, with the most relevant ones bolded. For the full list of TM/TR learnsets, please check Serebii.
| Pokémon | New moves |
|---|---|
| Nidoqueen | TM/TR: Sand Tomb, Mud Shot, Rock Blast, Hex, High Horsepower, Body Press Tutor: Scorching Sands |
| Nidoking | TM/TR: Sand Tomb, Mud Shot, Rock Blast, Hex, High Horsepower, Body Press Tutor: Scorching Sands |
 Articuno | TM/TR: Weather Ball, Icicle Spear, Air Slash, Brave Bird Tutor: Triple Axel, Dual Wingbeat |
| Zapdos | TM/TR: Hail, Weather Ball, Eerie Impulse, Air Slash, Brave Bird, Hurricane Tutor: Rising Voltage, Dual Wingbeat |
 Moltres | TM/TR: Hail, Weather Ball, Mystical Fire, Flare Blitz, Brave Bird Tutor: Burning Jealously, Scorching Sands, Dual Wingbeat |
| Dragonite | TM/TR: Fire Spin, Breaking Swipe, Hydro Pump, Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Air Slash, Body Press Tutor: Dual Wingbeat, Scale Shot |
| Entei | TM/TR: Helping Hand, Weather Ball, Agility, Flare Blitz Tutor: Scorching Sands |
| Raikou | TM/TR: Helping Hand, Electric Terrain, Eerie Impulse, Agility, Scald, Aura Sphere, Weather Ball Tutor: Scorching Sands |
| Suicune | TM/TR: Helping Hand, Weather Ball, Agility, Liquidation, Air Slash Tutor: – |
| Blaziken | TM/TR: Assurance, Revenge, U-Turn, Close Combat, Aura Sphere, Heat Crash Tutor: Coaching, Scorching Sands |
| Salamence | TM/TR: Air Slash, Breaking Swipe, Hurricane Tutor: Dual Wingbeat, Scale Shot |
| Metagross | TM/TR: Psycho Cut, Cosmic Power, Brutal Swing Tutor: Expanding Force, Steel Roller, Meteor Beam |
| Latias | TM/TR: Psycho Cut, Mystical Fire, Air Slash, Breaking Swipe, Agility, Tri Attack, Baton Pass, Future Sight, Dragon Dance, Aura Sphere Tutor: Dual Wingbeat, Scale Shot |
| Latios | TM/TR: Psycho Cut, Mystical Fire, Air Slash, Breaking Swipe, Agility, Tri Attack, Baton Pass, Future Sight, Dragon Dance, Aura Sphere Tutor: Dual Wingbeat, Scale Shot |
| Garchomp | TM/TR: Breaking Swipe Tutor: Scorching Sands, Scale Shot |
| Heatran | TM/TR: Self-Destruct, Body Slam, Heavy Slam, Heat Crash, Body Press Tutor: Burning Jealousy, Scorching Sands, Steel Roller |
| Cresselia | TM/TR: Power Swap, Guard Swap, Body Slam, Cosmic Power, Stored Power Tutor: Expanding Force |
| Tornadus | TM/TR: Scary Face, Weather Ball, Assurance, Body Slam, Endure, Nasty Plot Tutor: Lash Out |
| Thundurus | TM/TR: Scary Face, Weather Ball, Assurance, Eerie Impulse, Body Slam, Endure, Electro Ball Tutor: Rising Voltage, Lash Out |
| Landorus | TM/TR: Self-Destruct, Scary Face, Weather Bal, Sand Tomb, Body Slam, Endure Tutor: Scorching Sands |
| Tapu Koko | TM/TR: Rest, Swift, Assurance, Eerie Impulse, Endure, Close Combat, Stored Power, Play Rough Tutor: Terrain Pulse, Rising Voltage, Misty Explosion |
| Tapu Lele | TM/TR: Rest, Charm, Power Swap, Guard Swap, Speed Swap, Psycho Cut, Endure, Future Sight, Stored Power, Play Rough Tutor: Terrain Pulse, Expanding Force, Misty Explosion |
| Tapu Bulu | TM/TR: Mega Punch, Rest, Revenge, Bullet Seed, Power Swap, Guard Swap, Endure, Close Combat, Stored Power, Play Rough, Darkest Lariat, High Horsepower Tutor: Terrain Pulse, Grassy Glide, Misty Explosion |
| Tapu Fini | TM/TR: Rest, Dive, Guard Swap, Draining Kiss, Endure, Stored Power, Play Rough Tutor: Terrain Pulse, Flip Turn, Misty Explosion |
| Nihilego | TM/TR: Rock Slide, Rock Tomb, Cross Poison, Hex, Body Slam, Endure Tutor: Corrosive Gas, Meteor Beam |
| Buzzwole | TM/TR: Revenge, Body Slam, Close Combat, Darkest Lariat, High Horsepower Tutor: Coaching, Dual Wingbeat |
| Pheromosa | TM/TR: Assurance, Endure, Close Combat Tutor: Coaching, Skitter Smack |
| Xurkitree | TM/TR: Endure, Electro Ball Tutor: Rising Voltage |
| Celesteela | TM/TR: Self-Destruct, Body Slam, Endure, Megahorn, Cosmic Power Tutor: Grassy Glide, Steel Roller |
| Kartana | TM/TR: Solar Blade, Screech, Endure Tutor: Grassy Glide |
| Stakataka | TM/TR: Mega Kick, Body Slam, Endure, Heavy Slam, Heat Crash, High Horsepower, Body Press Tutor: Meteor Beam, Steel Roller |
Sources
- The official trailers and website for the Pokémon Sword: Expansion Pass and Pokémon Shield: Expansion Pass
- Datamined info known before release:
- @SciresM for the TM/TR learnset
- @Mattyoukhana_ for the Isle of Armor tutor compatibility list and the Ability Patch mechanism
