Pokémon Sword & Shield vs. Pokémon Black 2 & White 2: Full Comparison

With every new Pokemon release, the question is always the same: what’s the difference? Each title in the franchise can alter between slight variations and extreme formula changes. In less than a decade, Pokemon games have gone from small handheld RPGs to large open-world environments.

Today, we examine one of the most significant changes in the franchise between Sword/Shield and Black/White 2. By the end of this article, you’ll figure out which game is best for you and which one to put away for later. After all, newer doesn’t always mean better, especially when it comes to video games.

Games

Sword/Shield is the first mainline Pokemon game on the Nintendo Switch (that isn’t a remake). For the first time, fans could see the potential and future of the franchise, playing Pokemon on a portable device that handles advanced graphics and settings.

The game was released in 2019 and sold over 25 million copies worldwide, making it the second best-selling Pokemon game. While this may surprise some, the success of the Switch and a return to the formula in the series meant Sword/Shield was destined to be a hit.     

While there have been sequels in the past, Pokemon Black/White 2 are the first numbered sequels in the franchise. Most sequels are actually enhanced versions of their original games, such as Emerald or Platinum. These tell the same story but make tweaks to improve the quality and performance.

However, Black/White 2 told a new story taking place two years after Black/White and made significant changes to the game. Although the games didn’t sell as well (7 million copies compared to 16 million), they made a lasting impact on the series. 

Regions 

Black/White 2 takes place in the Unova region, the same as Black/White. The region has one of the greatest ranges in the franchise, with small rural towns and large metropolis areas. This is because it was inspired by New York and New York City, which has a large mix of residential neighborhoods and industrial zones.

The sequels include new areas not present in the original games and expand on the territory. Since the developers wanted to make Generation V as unique as possible, they set Unova far away from other regions like Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh.

Sword/Shield are set in the Galar region, an area based on the United Kingdom. The UK represents “strength” and “greatness,” which are the themes of the titles. The region is a long island with multiple environments, such as countryside towns, modern cities, and frigid mountains. Its location is near the Kalos region from Pokemon X/Y.   

The games also features DLC, adding new areas like The Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra. The Isle of Armor is a large island with tropical weather and some extreme terrain. The same goes for the Crown Tundra, as the icy climate can cause blizzards and hail. While not the largest region in the franchise, it’s one of the most diverse and expansive. 

Features 

Sword/Shield are the first games in the series to receive DLC, a feature that has become standard now. After feedback from Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee, the first Pokemon game on the Switch, the games sought to return to a more traditional style that fans were used to. However, like most titles, they added innovations and new mechanics to give them their charm.

• New Forms: Dynamax and Gigantamax forms were added. Using a Dynamax Band, Dynamax allows Pokemon from Galar to become larger and stronger with Max Moves. Gigantamax is similar but changes the Pokemon’s appearance while making them stronger.  
• Max Raid Battles: Up to four players can work together to challenge a Dynamax Pokemon. The feature works locally and on Nintendo Switch Online.
• Wild Pokemon: An all-new wild area features roaming Pokemon and random encounters in the tall grass. These areas connect towns and give the best of both worlds when wanting to battle wild Pokemon.  
• Battle Stadium: Battle Stadium is an online mode that allows Trainers to battle one another. There is also a ranked mode for more serious players. 
• They added a Pokemon Camp, enabling players to interact with their Pokemon and visit friends.

Most features in Black/White 2 stem from Black/White but have some unique mechanics of their own.

• They introduced a Challenge Mode and an Easy Mode, which raise and lower the strength of opposing Trainers.
• Pokemon World Tournament: Players can battle Gym Leaders and Champions from all five regions, bringing back classic characters. 
• Pokestar Studios: A new feature that allows players to make their own movies with Pokemon. 
• Trainers can earn medals, which act as achievements in-game. 
• Every Trainer in the game has their own battle animations, along with the Pokemon.
• Move Tutors return from Pokemon Platinum that teaches moves for Shards. 
• During the two-year time skip, Ghetsis formed a new Team Plasma, and he once again led the team.
• Several areas previously limited to the post-game of Black/White are now part of the main story.

Gym Battles

Both games feature the classic eight Gym Leader Battles but differ in the Elite Four encounters. Sword/Shield removes the Elite Four entirely in place of a new challenge format. Players have to battle other Trainers in a tournament-style match-up to battle the Champion. The winner of the tournament gets the chance to compete for their title. 

In Black/White 2, players still get to battle the Elite Four but can choose to battle every Leader and Champions from previous games. This means Generation I-IV battles are playable, giving more variety and post-game content to complete.  

Pokemon 

Pokemon Black/White introduces an entirely new cast of Pokemon for players to catch. This is the first time in the franchise a game didn’t use previous characters, adding to the uniqueness of Generation V. Sword/Shield features 400 Pokemon plus many more if you get the DLC, bringing the total to over 600. This doubles the amount of Pokemon available from Black/White 2 to Sword/Shield.      

Pokemon Black/White 2 Pokedex

Pokemon Sword/Shield Pokedex