These Pokemon have not appeared in a new main series Nintendo Switch game
Today, we’re looking at all the unlucky Pokemon who have not been obtainable in any main series Nintendo Switch games.
The Nintendo Switch has seen two generations of Pokemon so far – three if you count the Let’s Go games. We’ve got the eighth generation, which includes Sword and Shield, Legends: Arceus, and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. And then there’s the ninth generation, which so far only includes Scarlet and Violet but will eventually include Legends: Z-A when it releases in 2025. With all those different games, though, there are still quite a few Pokemon that haven’t been usable in any new main series titles. To clarify what that means – today, we’re going to go over every Pokemon that has not appeared in Sword, Shield, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet, or Violet. Since Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are remakes, we aren’t counting them for this list even though they are technically main series games. One final note before we begin – The Pokemon Company has clarified that the Legends games do in fact count as main series.
Pokemon that haven’t appeared in main series Switch games
From Kanto, here’s a full list of Pokemon evolutionary lines that don’t appear on the Switch outside of remakes: the Weedle line, the Pidgey line, the Rattata line, and the Spearow line. Every other evolutionary line from Kanto has appeared in a new Switch game in some way, shape, or form. If you count Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee despite their status as remakes, then every Pokemon has appeared on Switch. Maybe The Pokemon Company thinks people have grown tired of the same “early-game” Pokemon, which is why Weedle, Pidgey, Rattata, and Spearow have sat out this console generation for the most part. Caterpie has appeared in Pokemon Sword and Shield (and Butterfree even received a new Gigantamax form), so perhaps that’s the most popular early-game evolutionary line outside of the starters.
We’re only missing two Pokemon from Johto, however: Ledyba and Ledian. It’s well-known that Ledian is an incredibly weak Pokemon thanks to its pitiful attacking stats, but apparently The Pokemon Company specifically dislikes these two. Or maybe it’s an unfortunate coincidence? It’s important to note that Unown has only appeared in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and due to its gimmicky nature (and Hidden Power, a move not in Sword, Shield, Scarlet or Violet being its only move) may not make many appearances in the future. From Hoenn, we’re missing the Taillow line, the Skitty line, Spinda, Castform, Kecleon, and the Clamperl line. Most of these are Normal-types, interestingly enough.
Moving on to Sinnoh, we actually aren’t missing any Pokemon on Nintendo Switch thanks to Legends: Arceus counting as a brand new title. If you don’t count that, though, and are only thinking of Sword, Shield, Scarlet, and Violet, then we’re missing the Bidoof and Glameow lines. Sinnoh is still well-represented! The same can’t quite be said for Unova, however. We’re currently missing the Patrat line, the Pansage line, the Pansear line, and the Panpour line. That’s not a ton of missing Pokemon, but it’s definitely clear that the developers aren’t the biggest fans of the elemental monkeys. From Kalos, we’re missing Furfrou. We expect that to change when Pokemon Legends Z-A releases next year. And from Alola, we’re not missing anything!
Overall, The Pokemon Company seems to have made a specific effort to include as many Pokemon in their main series games as possible. After all, Pokemon Bank won’t be open forever – and when it does eventually close, you’ll no longer be able to transfer Pokemon from the 3DS titles to the Nintendo Switch games. Many of the Pokemon we covered today are available in remakes, and the only ones unavailable on Switch in any capacity are the Patrat line, all six of the elemental monkeys, and Furfrou. As we mentioned earlier, we do think Pokemon Legends Z-A will have to include some of these Pokemon in some way so that they’re obtainable on Switch ahead of Pokemon Bank’s eventual closure.
Did any of these exclusions surprise you? Are you as confused as us that Elgyem is available in a new main series game on Switch, but not Pidgey? If so, feel free to let us know in the comments down below. You can check the official website for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet right here.
