Pokemon Sword and Shield, the next wave of Pokemon games from Nintendo, are out now on Nintendo Switch. The pair of RPGs mark the first time the mainline series has appeared on a home console rather than a portable console like the Game Boy or 3DS, making them a big deal for Pokemon fans who have been following the series for a long time.

　　In her Pokemon Sword and Shield review, Kallie Plagge wrote, "In collecting, battling, and exploring, Sword and Shield cut out the bloat and focus on what makes these pillars of the Pokemon games so captivating in the first place. You're not held back by overly complicated back-end systems or hoops to jump through; from the outset, you can start wandering the Galar region, seeing its new Pokemon, and trying out its new battle strategies with very little in your way. This leaves you free to enjoy what Pokemon is all about, and that makes for an incredibly strong showing for the series' proper debut on Switch." The game earned a 9/10 from GameSpot.

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　　Now Playing: Pokemon Sword And Shield Differences And Exclusives Explained

　　If that kind of praise piques your interest, we've rounded up everything you need to know about getting your copy, including what you can snag if you can get Pokemon Sword and Shield on launch day, before some of the bonuses disappear. There are tons of options, and with it being launch day, editions and prices are in flux; Amazon and Walmart briefly had a $20 discount on the Double Pack that got you both games and a special bonus, but that deal quickly sold out.

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　　Pokemon Sword and Shield brings trainers to the Galar Region, introducing a new generation of Pokemon, battle mechanics, legendaries, and a revamped Pokedex. As in previous games, you have three starter Pokemon to choose from: Grookey, a grass monkey; Scorbunny, a fiery rabbit; and Sobble, a shy water lizard. The Galar region is scattered with towns where humans and Pokemon live and work together, and they include huge Pokemon gyms where people gather to watch epic battles between trainers and gym leaders.

　　Sword and Shield introduces an interesting new battle mechanic: Dynamax, an ability that turns your Pokemon into a giant form of themselves for three turns. Available to use once per battle, Dynamax boosts your Pokemon's power and is triggered by a separate button, similar to Z-Moves. Outside of gym battles, you can also pair up with three other trainers (locally or online) to fight wild Dynamax battles against one giant Pokemon, which you can afterward catch. These encounters are called Max Raid Battles.

　　As was the case in Sun and Moon's Alola region, the Galar region has its own variants of classic Pokemon, such as a very dapper Weezing and black-and-white Zigzagoon. Sword and Shield also features new rivals, including a distinctly punk group of individuals called Team Yell. A 24-hour livestream in October revealed another region-specific Pokemon: a Psychic-type Galarian Ponyta, which is exclusive to Pokemon Shield.

　　Now that we've gotten a closer look at Pokemon Sword and Shield and have a better idea of what to expect from the games, you might be ready to throw your money at Nintendo and pre-order your copy now. In addition to ordering a single copy, Game Freak announced you'll be able to pre-order a double pack that contains both games. You can find everything you need to know about pre-ordering Pokemon Sword and Shield below.

　　Table of Contents [hide]Pre-order bonuses for Pokemon Sword and Pokemon ShieldUsing Nintendo's game vouchers for Pokemon Sword and/or ShieldWhere to buy Pokemon Sword and Pokemon ShieldGet Pokemon SwordGet Pokemon ShieldThe Pokemon Sword and Shield Double PackPre-order double pack (US)Pre-order dual pack (UK)

　　

Pre-order bonuses for Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield

The Pokemon Sword and Shield pre-order bonuses include:

　　Amazon: $10 credit (Prime members only) for pre-ordering one of the games; Gold Studded Leather Case DLC for pre-ordering the double packBest Buy: $10 credit (My Best Buy members only; creating an account is free); collectible coin for pre-ordering the double packGameStop: Double-sided wall poster for pre-ordering the double packWalmart: Keychain featuring all three starter Pokemon for pre-ordering the double packPokemon Center: Free keychain plush featuring one of the games' startersWhile not limited to pre-orders, a special bonus will come with downloadable versions of Pokemon Sword and Shield from the Nintendo Eshop: 12 Quick Balls, special Poke Balls that make your chances of catching a Pokemon higher at the start of a battle. You'll receive a code that allows you to start the game with 12 Quick Balls in your possession. To get this perk, you have to download Pokemon Sword or Shield from the Eshop before January 15, 2020. If you purchase a digital version of the double pack, you'll get two separate codes for each game.

　　

Using Nintendo's game vouchers for Pokemon Sword and/or Shield

Remember Nintendo's limited-time game vouchers deal announced a while back? While the vouchers are no longer available for purchase, you can still redeem them on Pokemon Sword and Shield. As a reminder, here's how that works: Nintendo's pair of vouchers cost $100, so if you choose two full-price ($60) games, that'll end up saving you $20 total. The eligible games list for the vouchers also includes Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Super Mario Maker 2, the Pokemon: Let's Go titles, and many more Switch games, so you can mix and match however you like.

　　Note that if you plan to use Nintendo's game vouchers on both Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, you won't receive the special bonuses included with the double pack (detailed below).

　　See the full list of eligible titles

Where to buy Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield

Not sure which version to go for? Read up on all the Pokemon Sword and Shield version differences, including version-specific Pokemon.

　　

Get Pokemon Sword

Get it at Best Buy -- $60Get it at Amazon -- $60Get it at GameStop -- $60Get it at Walmart -- $60Get it at Target -- $60Get it at Pokemon Center -- $60Get it at GAME (UK only) -- £50

Get Pokemon Shield

Get it at Best Buy -- $60Get it at Amazon -- $60Get it at GameStop -- $60Get it at Walmart -- $60Get it at Target -- $60Get it at Pokemon Center -- $60Get it at GAME (UK only) -- £50

The Pokemon Sword and Shield Double Pack

The games will also be available as a dual bundle, and Nintendo's official website has confirmed its price: $120. For purchasing the double pack, you'll receive two codes (one per game) for special items called Dynamax Crystals, which will allow you to face Dynamax Larvitar and Dynamax Jangmo-o in special Max Raid battles. Normally, Jangmo-o is limited to Pokemon Sword and Larvitar is limited to Pokemon Shield, and neither can be encountered until much later in the game. But with these special bonus codes, you'll be able to quickly catch them in either version.

　　On top of that, several stores are also offering their own exclusive bonuses for those who buy the Double Pack:

　　GameStop is offering a double-sided wall banner (pictured above), with one side featuring the game's legendaries, Zacian and Zamazenta, and the other side displaying a colorful map of the Galar region. According to GameStop on Twitter, quantities are limited, so pre-ordering a copy or grabbing the game within the first few days of release would offer the best chance of securing the wall banner for yourself.

　　At Walmart, you'll get an exclusive keychain featuring the three starters when you pre-order the double pack.

　　Meanwhile, My Best Buy members can receive $10 reward credit and a collectible coin (pictured above) when pre-ordering the double pack. Unfortunately, Amazon's $10 reward credit offer only applies to the individual games, but you'll get the Gold Studded Leather Case DLC if you pre-order the double pack.

　　If you pre-order the double pack at Target, you'll get a golden steelbook case (shown below) that features Zacian on one side and Zamazenta on the other. It's a gorgeous case that is exclusive to Target in the US.

　　

Pre-order double pack (US)

Get it at Amazon -- $99.88Get it at Walmart -- $127.59Get it at Best Buy -- $120Get it at GameStop -- $120Get it at Target -- $120Pokemon Sword and Shield dual pack with golden steelbook and figurine - available in UKIn the UK, the dual pack includes the golden steelbook and an adorable Grookey, Scorbunny and Sobble figurine. While the steelbook is available at Target in the US, the figurine is UK exclusive.

　　

Pre-order dual pack (UK)

Get it at Amazon UK -- £100Get it at GAME -- £100Get it at Nintendo UK -- £100