The Pokémon series has never been more popular and the franchise has been able to expand itself in new ways, bringing in a larger audience while still maintaining the integrity of the brand. Pokémon Sword and Shield introduce a whole collection of new Pokémon within the Galar region.
Pokémon is a natural fit on the Nintendo Switch and the new Crown Tundra DLC adds even more to Pokémon Sword and Shield’s impressive package. This new expansion brings back 119 old Pokémon — and while a more complete Pokédex is always a good thing, there are some inclusions here that may surprise (or disappoint) Pokémon fans.
10 Smoochum
There is definitely a number of Pokémon that are meant to come across more as punchlines or material for memes than Pokémon that are actually useful to the player. Smoochum has become a major joke because it’s a Pokémon that’s so adorable it almost implodes from the intense levels of cuteness. Smoochum looks like a joke, but the Pokémon isn’t very powerful, either.
9 Carbink
Carbink is a Pokémon introduced in Generation VI that’s largely forgettable. It’s a Pokémon that takes its cues from rocky terrain and its natural camouflage seems fit for a cave. Carbink is rather inconsequential, so it feels like an unusual addition for Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra expansion. Carbink is a Rock- and Fairy-type Pokémon, and although it bears a resemblance to Diancie, it’s a Pokémon that doesn’t have any other evolutionary forms. This makes Carbink easy to skip, even if Fairy-type Pokémon aren’t super common.
8 Zubat
Pokémon Sword and Shield do an impressive job with how much of the original Red and Blue Pokédex that they incorporate. The Crown Tundra DLC takes great strides in this department, and while it’s satisfying to see a level of completion with the Generation I creatures, there are still plenty of Pokémon from that period that aren’t exactly noteworthy.
Red and Blue’s Zubat is the scourge of many caves and it’s a very common and pedestrian Pokémon. Zubat’s evolved forms are slightly more interesting, but it still feels like a Pokémon that could be skipped.
7 Aron
Many of the new Pokémon in Generation III are hit or miss, but Aron is a Pokémon that’s easy to forget exists even before the size of the general Pokédex balloons out of control. A Steel- and Rock-type Pokémon can be a little redundant in some cases and Aron is just a meek presence. Granted, the Pokémon’s final form, Aggron, is decent, but it takes a long time to get there and even Lairon feels bland. Aron and his evolutionary line are Pokémon that just feel like they’re meant to fill up the gaps in a Pokédex.
6 Beldum
There are so many Pokémon out there that it’s not a major risk if the series wants to get particularly weird with a certain Pokémon’s design. Some Pokémon are full of emotion and personality, but there are others that don’t even look like they’re… well, based on much of anything. Beldum is a particularly depressing Pokémon that first appears in Generation III. Beldum is a Psychic- and Steel-type Pokémon, which is actually a decent combination. It’s just hard to take Beldum seriously considering that his evolved forms are a hassle to reach and aren’t necessarily worth the work.
5 Nidoran
The Pokémon franchise has been able to grow and incorporate more depth to its mechanics over the course of its many games. Pokémon breeding has become a large aspect of the series, but before gender was an area of consideration in the games there was Nidoran from Pokémon Red and Blue, which was the only Pokémon to feature a male and female version.
Nidoran is a notable Pokémon for this reason, but it’s not exceptionally strong or unique anymore. It’s become a Pokémon that’s less relevant in the franchise’s much-expanded scope.
4 Spheal
A particularly overpopulated variety of Pokémon that unnecessarily flood the Pokédex are the many aquatic creatures that have been added over the years. Much like with insect Pokémon, there’s an excess of water-based Pokémon and many of them feel derivative of previous Pokémon designs. Spheal from Generation III is incredibly cute, but it’s far from the only seal Pokémon and there’s nothing original that’s going on here. Even its combination of Ice- and Water-types isn’t very creative. Spheal’s evolved form, Sealeo, feels just as much like a joke.
3 Audino
Normal-type Pokémon don’t always stand out among the crowd and Audino is an especially odd Pokémon from Generation V. Known as the Hearing Pokémon, Audino is actually a creature that’s more prevalent in the Pokémon anime and it’s used as an aid in hospital settings with its stethoscope-like appendages. That’s a lot less practical in a Pokémon video game and this one feels like it has unfulfilled potential. Audino is able to go through a Mega Evolution with the use of Audinite, but even then it’s not the most exciting Pokémon.
2 Omanyte
There has been an increasing number of Fossil Pokémon through the many Pokémon titles. But back during Generation I it was much rarer, being a Pokémon variety that only fit with a select few. Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra DLC brings in all of Pokémon Red and Blue’s Fossil Pokémon, which is appreciated, but not all of them are groundbreaking Pokémon. A behemoth like Aerodactyl is a worthy addition to Sword and Shield, but Omanyte and Omastar are considerably less inspired. It feels like their presence is more to complete a checklist than a rampant demand for more Omanyte.
1 Magby
Not every new idea that the Pokémon series incorporates is a success, but the advent of Baby Pokémon is something that audiences seem to either love or hate. In theory, it’s appealing to learn about new pre-evolved forms to existing Pokémon, but a lot of these Baby Pokémon are so infantile that they’re mostly useless in battle are more meant to be gawked at. Magby, which adds to the original Pokémon, Magmar, doesn’t feel necessary. It’s a Pokémon that comes across as a way to feature a cute version of a formerly ugly Pokémon.
NEXT: 10 Pokémon That Absolutely Need To Show Up In The Crown Tundra
