The eighth generation (Generation VIII) of the Pokémon franchise features 96 titular species of creatures introduced to the core video game series, including 89 in the 2019 Nintendo Switch games Pokémon Sword and Shield as of version 1.3.0 and 7 further species introduced in the 2022 Nintendo Switch game Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The temporary Dynamax and Gigantamax transformations were also introduced. The Pokémon Sword and Shield starter Pokémon were the first Pokémon of the generation to be revealed on February 27, 2019.

A notable change in the eighth generation compared to previous ones is that new Pokémon and forms were introduced via game patches rather than new games.

Design and development Pokémon are a species of fictional creatures created for the Pokémon media franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games Pokémon Red and Green for the Game Boy, which were later released in North America as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998. In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Some Pokémon can transform into stronger species through the process called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items. Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon. A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.

The development of Pokémon Sword and Shield began in 2016, immediately following the development period of Pokémon Sun and Moon. The conceptual phase lasted approximately a year, and the debugging process continued into 2019. With the Galar region based in Great Britain, some of the native Pokémon draw inspiration from British fauna, folklore, and mythology. The legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta resemble real-world wolves, drawing inspiration from wolves that frequently appear in British mythology. Shigeru Ohmori, the director for Sword and Shield, stated that the design team keeps a Pokémon's habitat in mind when coming up with its design so as to make the Pokémon believable.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus introduces the Hisui Region, based on the real-world Japanese island of Hokkaido. The Hisui Region is a reimagining of the Generation IV games' Sinnoh Region set in the past prior to the events of those games.

Like the previous generation, redesigned versions of previously released Pokémon ("Galarian Forms" and "Hisuian Forms") were included alongside brand-new creatures.

For the first time, many new Pokémon and regional forms were added to the generation through game patches rather than through the release of a new game. Acquiring these Pokémon requires purchasing an add-on downloadable content pass separate from the base game or utilizing the in-game trade feature. Further patches added other new species, including legendary and mythical Pokémon Kubfu, Urshifu, and Zarude in June 2020 and Regieleki, Regidrago, Glastrier, Spectrier, and Calyrex in October 2020.

List of Pokémon

Grookey Thwackey Rillaboom Scorbunny Raboot Cinderace Sobble Drizzile Inteleon Skwovet Greedent Rookidee Corvisquire Corviknight Blipbug Dottler Orbeetle Nickit Thievul Gossifleur Eldegoss Wooloo Dubwool Chewtle Drednaw Yamper Boltund Rolycoly Carkol Coalossal Applin Flapple Appletun Silicobra Sandaconda Cramorant Arrokuda Barraskewda Toxel Toxtricity Sizzlipede Centiskorch Clobbopus Grapploct Sinistea Polteageist Hatenna Hattrem Hatterene Impidimp Morgrem Grimmsnarl Obstagoon Perrserker Cursola Sirfetch'd Mr. Rime Runerigus Milcery Alcremie Falinks Pincurchin Snom Frosmoth Stonjourner Eiscue Indeedee Morpeko Cufant Copperajah Dracozolt Arctozolt Dracovish Arctovish Duraludon Dreepy Drakloak Dragapult Zacian Zamazenta Eternatus Kubfu Urshifu Zarude Regieleki Regidrago Glastrier Spectrier Calyrex Wyrdeer Kleavor Ursaluna Basculegion Sneasler Overqwil Enamorus

+ List of Pokémon species introduced in Generation VIII (2019–2020; 2022) Name Type(s) Evolves from Evolves into Notes Grookey(0810) ||align=center| Grass Thwackey (#811) The Grass-type starter in Pokémon Sword and Shield, Grookey is a mischievous and curious monkey-like Pokémon. It carries a special stick from the forests where its species live. Using energy from the sun transferred through Grookey, this stick can revitalize plants in the area where Grookey uses it as a drumstick. In a poll held by The Pokémon Company International's official Twitter account, Grookey was the least popular of the three starters, receiving only 25% of the vote. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Grookey is a spirit along with Scorbunny and Sobble. Thwackey(0811) ||align=center| Grass Grookey (#810) Rillaboom (#812) Grookey's evolution, Thwackey, is a monkey-like Pokémon that is able to use its two sticks to practice its drumming. It keeps the beat alive during its daily life. Rillaboom(0812) ||align=center| Grass Thwackey (#811) Gigantamax Thwackey's evolution, Rillaboom, is a monkey-like Pokémon (also sharing apparent design traits from the Gigantopithecus) who has been given a drum resembling a tree stump in addition to its two sticks. It uses this drum to unleash powerful sound waves during battle. This Pokémon has a gentle nature. Scorbunny(0813) ||align=center| Fire Raboot (#814) The Fire-type starter in Pokémon Sword and Shield, Scorbunny are energetic rabbit-like Pokémon said to always be running. It can run long and fast enough for the soles of its feet to ignite fires. They also have a fire-sac in their chest which becomes more powerful the more Scorbunny runs. In a Twitter poll held by The Pokémon Company on the three starters, Scorbunny came in second receiving 37% of the vote, just shy of Sobble. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Scorbunny is a spirit along with Grookey and Sobble. Raboot(0814) ||align=center| Fire Scorbunny (#813) Cinderace (#815) Scorbunny's evolution, Raboot, is a rabbit-like Pokémon with thick fur that enables it to survive in cold weather. It never seems to use its hands, instead preferring its feet not just in battle, but even while eating, which it accomplishes by juggling Berries into its mouth. Cinderace(0815) ||align=center| Fire Raboot (#814) Gigantamax Raboot's evolution, Cinderace, is a rabbit-like Pokémon with exceptional physical abilities, such as jumping and kicking. It can use its fire energy on a stone in order to transform it into a flaming ball. It somewhat resembles a soccer player. Sobble(0816) ||align=center| Water Drizzile (#817) The Water-type starter in Pokémon Sword and Shield, Sobble are timid, chameleon-like Pokémon that can blend into their surroundings when exposed to water. Sobble frequently start crying, which causes those around it to start crying in return, in order to distract opponents and escape conflict; its tears are said to be as potent as 100 onions. In a Twitter poll held by The Pokémon Company on the three starters, Sobble was the most popular, receiving 38% of the vote. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Sobble is a spirit along with Grookey and Scorbunny. Drizzile(0817) ||align=center| Water Sobble (#816) Inteleon (#818) Sobble's evolution, Drizzile, is a chameleon-like Pokémon that can use its tongue for eating and attacking. It is a smart Pokémon in battle, often using water-based strategies. Inteleon(0818) ||align=center| Water Drizzile (#817) Gigantamax Drizzile's evolution, Inteleon, is a chameleon-like Pokémon with a spy-like demeanor; so much so that its Pokédex category is listed as "Secret Agent Pokémon". It is able to fire water from its fingertips at Mach 3 and is also proficient at finding the weaknesses of its opponents. Skwovet(0819) ||align=center| Normal Greedent (#820) Skwovet is a small, gluttonous squirrel Pokémon. It likes to stuff berries in its cheeks to munch on. If either its cheeks become empty or it cannot find any more berries, it becomes uneasy to the point of stuffing gravel into its cheeks to quell its cravings. Greedent(0820) ||align=center| Normal Skwovet (#819) An overweight squirrel Pokémon, Greedent stuffs as much food as it can in its tail. Although most of the food can and will fall out, Greedent does not really seem to care or notice. Whenever it is damaged in-game, this can be seen as a berry falls out of its tail. Rookidee(0821) ||align=center| Flying Corvisquire (#822)Rookidee is a nimble chickadee-like Pokémon that is willing to challenge even the most powerful opponents; even if it loses, this only benefits it, as it still gets stronger little by little. Along with its evolution Corvisquire, are the first ever regional birds to be pure Flying-type and the second and third Pokémon to be pure Flying-type after Tornadus. Corvisquire(0822) ||align=center| Flying Rookidee (#821) Corviknight (#823)A raven-like Pokémon, Corvisquire is very intelligent and is smart enough to use tools like rocks and rope in combat. Corviknight(0823) ||align=center| Flying / Steel Corvisquire (#822) Gigantamax Corviknight are large, raven-like Pokémon with steel bodies resembling knightarmor who are frequently used to taxi people around the Galar region through the transit system known as Flying Taxi. This job cannot be done in the Paldea region because they are popular targets for Tinkaton. Their design draws inspiration from the legend of ravens guarding the Tower of London. Certain Corviknight are capable of Gigantamax and grow to more than in height. The energy produced by Gigantamax Corviknight causes its steel feathers to form "blade birds" that fly around the creature and can be used to attack. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Corviknight is a spirit. Corviknight was officially revealed on June 5, 2019, after which it quickly became a fan favorite among most Pokémon fans. Blipbug(0824) ||align=center| Bug Dottler (#825)A larva-like Pokémon, Blipbug is very smart and intelligent. However it is not very strong. It uses its hairs to see where it currently is. Dottler(0825) ||align=center| Bug / Psychic Blipbug (#824) Orbeetle (#826)Dottler has an orange, blob-like body, though most of it is covered by its geometric-shaped, radome-like shell, with only its face and underside visible. It has cyan, beady, crystalline eyes similar to those of its pre-evolved form; a pair of blue feelers in a V-shape on each side of its face and four blue feet under its body. Its shell is made up of yellow triangular surfaces with blue circles around the points where the edges of the triangles meet. These blue circles constantly flash from top to bottom. The shell on Dottler's back is so heavy, it prevents it from getting food to eat and water to drink, leaving very small holes to breathe through. While growing inside, Dottler uses its shell to examine its environment, using its psychic powers to keep itself protected and gather information about its habitat until it evolves. Orbeetle(0826) ||align=center| Bug / Psychic Dottler (#825)GigantamaxOrbeetle is a ladybug-resemblant Pokémon with a dome-shaped wing case. It is known for its incredibly high intelligence and psychic power. Nickit(0827) ||align=center| Dark Thievul (#828)Resembling a red fox, Nickit steals food from unsuspecting people and Pokémon, while using its bushy tail to brush away its footprints and cover its tracks. Thievul(0828) ||align=center| Dark Nickit (#827)Thievul uses a scent-tracking technique to stalk its targets and steal from them. Its design seems to be influenced by common depictions of burglars and robbers. Gossifleur(0829)