The heavily-anticipated release of Pokémon Sword and Shield’s newest DLC expansion has players searching The Crown Tundra for Galar’s Legendary Birds. With a whole new area to explore, and plenty of Pokémon returning to the game, fans have their hands full with new content just in time for chilly weather. For most playing the DLC, the primary story has already been beaten, as well as the Isle of Armor content. This leaves players with high-level teams and the question of how powerful Legendary Pokémon like Zapdos might be in comparison to an already established party.
In past generations, the average level of Legendary Pokémon was set between 50 to 60. Because the games offered less options for high-level battling unless it was against another player with an advanced team, levels were balanced against where the player’s Pokémon would be right before or after tackling the Elite Four. Sword and Shield has taken time to expand Pokémon’s end game content after the main story has finished, and has opened the doors to higher level Legendary battles, as well as a much higher level for Pokémon in the overworld. By doing this, the level difficulty is matched with where the player is at in the game, and makes catching, training, and switching team members a much less grueling process.
The Crown Tundra’s Zapdos, like Zamazenta and Zacian, will be level 70 when players try to catch it. This leaves room to train and enjoy the legendary bird’s growth, but also prevents a steep level dip compared to other Pokémon in the player’s party. By increasing the overall levels of all catchable Pokémon after the primary story line, Pokémon has made an impressive step forward in listening to what gamers have been asking for with post game content. The expansions have created opportunities for what a player can do after they have become champion, and it keeps the hunt for completing the Pokédex a pleasant challenge, instead of a grind hunting low-level Pokémon.
Pokémon’s Crown Tundra Includes Higher Levels For Legendaries
Setting The Crown Tundra’s Legendary Pokémon at a higher level also improves the battle experience for players. A struggle that many players face in generations like Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire was accidentally knocking out the Pokémon attempting to be caught. In the case of Legendary hunting, players constantly had to keep lower levels in their party, or use special moves to ensure that the Legendary Pokémon wasn’t flattened in a single hit by a high-level party member. Pokémon Sword and Shield helps alleviate this accidental K.O. issue with higher level Legendary encounters. This makes for a better battle challenge for players, and the chance to use Pokémon they have put time into training on their Legendary hunts.
The inclusion of a higher catch level for Pokémon like Zapdos encourages players to play their best game. At level 70, this Legendary Bird with a sleek new look won’t be an easy catch to make. Pokémon Sword and Shield has continued to expand content for players who want to take their teams past the main story line. With the Crown Tundra released, players will be able to enjoy the new things to do and Pokémon to catch, as they await news on what might be next to come.
The Crown Tundra DLC is available today for the Nintendo Switch for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.
