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IconPKMBuy - Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Keep Sword and Shield's Best Gym Battle Feature

Pokémon Sword and Shield paved the way for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet on the Nintendo Switch, and while Generation 8 brought the mainline Pokémon series to the next-gen console, it retained much of the gameplay and story structure. Game Freak has learned from Gen 9's mistakes. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet revolutionized the series with an open-world environment and a non-linear story structure that took better advantage of the new hardware. But while Gen 9 may try to distance itself from the creative choices made in Gen 8, it retains the best change its predecessor brought to the series: gyms.

Gen 8's most important mechanic: Gigantamaxing

Gyms in the Pokémon franchise are positioned as places of sportsmanship and public value; they're usually the largest buildings in their town, and their leaders are often community leaders as well. In Gen 1, Team Rocket captain Giovanni ran Viridian City's gym, while in Gen 4 Volkner has the power to control Sunnyshore City's power supply. Despite this, gyms often feel empty. The only ones among them are the leader himself and a few other trainers who offer an extra challenge. Gyms thus failed to earn the reverence associated with them in games before newer titles like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet came along.

Pokémon Sword and Shield's Gym Takes Viewers to Gym Battles

Pokémon Sword and Shield makes the gym even better, though. Gen 8's gyms are located in huge arenas filled with avid Pokémon fans. The inclusion of an audience helps convey the importance of gyms and Pokémon battles in a way the series hasn't done before; it actually feels like the game's world-worthy Pokémon battles. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet - while not having the same audience numbers as Pokémon Sword and Shield - made an excellent choice in retaining this aspect of Gen 8.

Gym battles for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet learned from Gen 8's Spectacles

Pokémon Sword and Shield's gyms offer more than just spectators, though. The size of the arena itself can turn a stadium match into a grand one; rather than showcasing battles in a small, calm room, the arena creates an electronic atmosphere reminiscent of the best battles in the Pokémon anime. Most importantly, the size of the gym provides space for Gen 8's most important mechanic: Gigantamaxing. The process by which a Pokémon reaches its Gigantamax form is impossible in smaller arenas; furthermore, the grand space and Gigantamax Pokémon only add to the sense of wonder.

Gym leaders also add to the fun of Pokémon Sword and Shield's gym battles. Instead of being led by mysterious community leaders, Gen 8's gyms sometimes pit them against characters like Marnie, who players can take on in a rematch after she replaces her brother Piers. Fighting her throughout the match is only to end the rivalry in an epic gym fight that makes gym fights as exciting as it gets in YouTuber Mixeli's videos.

Package deals for spectators, gym settings, and story-related gym leaders all work towards making gym battles in Pokemon Sword and Shield more entertaining and engaging than ever before. Although Pokémon Scarlet and Violet failed to bring them all back, the crowd continued to help make the gym fight more believable. Future games will wisely continue to integrate this small extra important fight.

Trainers need to buy Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Shiny to pkmbuy.com. Many old users are already very familiar with pkmbuy, and we will carry out Pokemon promotions on holidays and special days. The Pokémon Guide will also be updated all the time, bookmark the URL, and it is not easy to miss exciting content.