Pokemon Sword / Shield Reveal Region-Exclusive Galarian Forms, And One Is An Amazing Weezing

One of the biggest innovations that Pokemon Sun and Moon brought to the series was Alolan forms--regional-exclusive variants of some older, well-known Pokemon. Not only would these monsters boast a different appearance than their standard forms, they would also often have different types and stats. The upcoming Pokemon Sword and Shield for Nintendo Switch will continue this feature with their own regional-exclusive variants, and we got a look at a couple of them in the games' latest trailer.

First is Galarian Weezing, which could very well be this generation's equivalent of the wonderful Alolan Exeggutor. Galarian Weezing has smokestacks atop its two heads that resemble long top hats, while the smog around its mouths looks like facial hair. You can see the dashing Pokemon for yourself below.

We also got a look at Galarian Zigzagoon and Galarian Linoone. Unlike standard Zigzagoon and Linoone, these forms have black and white fur rather than brown, giving them a distinctly punk aesthetic. Intriguingly, Galarian Linoone is capable of evolving into an entirely new Pokemon named Obstagoon. The official Pokemon website explains that "some regional forms have developed unique Evolutions unseen in any other region," which suggests that other regional variants may also be capable of evolving into brand-new Pokemon.

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Beyond that, the latest trailer revealed an entirely new Gen 8 Pokemon named Morpeko, which appears to be this generation's adorable Electric rodent Pokemon. Interestingly, Morpeko is able to change between "Full Belly" and "Hangry" modes, the latter of which turns it into a Dark-type and gives it a more menacing appearance. The trailer also introduced two new rival characters named Bede and Marnie, as well as this generation's villainous team, Team Yell, who appear to be more like hooligans than an actual criminal organization.

Pokemon Sword and Shield arrive for Nintendo Switch on November 15. A few days prior to their launch, Nintendo will release a special edition Pokemon-themed Nintendo Switch Lite that features the games' Legendary Pokemon, Zacian and Zamazenta, on the console. For more on the titles, be sure to check out our Pokemon Sword and Shield pre-order guide.