Honestly, looking back at the gen 8 pokemon list feels a bit like looking at a high school yearbook. Some designs were instant hits, others were... well, they were Eiscue. But if you think Generation 8 was just about a handful of British-themed starters and some big "Dynamax" clouds, you're missing about half the story.
Galar was a weird time for the franchise. It was the first time we saw "Dexit"—that controversial moment when the National Dex was cut—but it also gave us some of the most mechanically broken creatures to ever touch a competitive ladder. We're talking about 96 new species in total, including the DLC additions from the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra.
The Galar Starters and the Early Game Hustle
Most people start their journey with the big three: Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble.
You've probably seen Cinderace everywhere if you play Pokemon GO or the VGC. It’s basically the James Bond of bunnies, but with a soccer (football, excuse me) twist. Then there’s Rillaboom. He’s not just a gorilla with a drum; he’s the reason Grass-type teams actually became terrifying thanks to his Grassy Surge ability.
But the early-route "filler" is where Galar gets charming. Wooloo became a meme for a reason—it’s just a ball of fluff. Then you have Rookidee, which evolves into Corviknight. If you aren’t using a giant steel raven as your primary taxi service and physical wall, are you even playing the game?
Standout Designs from the Mainland
- Toxtricity: An Electric/Poison type that’s literally a punk rocker. It comes in two forms, Amped and Low Key, depending on its nature.
- Dragapult: This thing is a Dragon/Ghost type that shoots its own children (Dreepy) out of its horns like literal missiles. It’s peak Pokemon design, frankly.
- Grimmsnarl: The first Dark/Fairy type. It looks like a goblin made of hair, and it single-handedly kept Prankster-based strategies alive for years.
- Falinks: It’s not one Pokemon; it’s a tiny squad of brass-helmeted troopers.
That Bizarre Fossils Situation
We have to talk about the fossils. Cara Liss, the NPC in the game, basically just slapped random halves of ancient creatures together. It resulted in Dracovish, Arctovish, Dracozolt, and Arctozolt.
They look like they’re in constant pain.
Dracovish, specifically, became a competitive nightmare. Its move Fishious Rend deals double damage if it moves first. Pair that with a Choice Scarf, and you have a fish head on a dragon body that can one-shot almost anything that doesn't resist water. It’s ugly, it’s weird, and it’s arguably the most "Gen 8" thing on the entire gen 8 pokemon list.
Regional Variants and the Evolution of Old Favorites
Galar didn't just bring new faces; it brought the "Galarian Form." This wasn't a new concept (shoutout to Alola), but Galar took it further by giving these forms unique third-stage evolutions.
Galarian Linoone evolves into Obstagoon, a Dark/Normal type that looks suspiciously like a member of the band KISS. Galarian Farfetch'd finally got its due by evolving into Sirfetch'd, a Fighting-type knight wielding a massive leek lance and shield.
Then there’s the Ghost-type Galarian Corsola. It’s a literal piece of bleached, dead coral, which is a pretty grim nod to real-world climate change. It evolves into Cursola, a haunting mass of ectoplasm that was an absolute tank in the early Sword and Shield meta.
Legendaries: From Swords to Space Dragons
The legendary gen 8 pokemon list is surprisingly long thanks to the DLCs. You have the box mascots: Zacian and Zamazenta. Zacian, the Fairy/Steel type with the sword in its mouth, is widely considered one of the strongest Pokemon ever made. Its Intrepid Sword ability gives it an immediate attack boost the second it enters the field.
Eternatus is the "hidden" legendary of the main story. It’s a massive, skeletal poison-dragon from space that powers the Dynamax phenomenon.
The DLC Expansion Pack Legendaries
The Isle of Armor gave us Kubfu and its evolution Urshifu. Urshifu is unique because it has two styles: Single Strike (Fighting/Dark) and Rapid Strike (Fighting/Water).
The Crown Tundra went even harder. It reintroduced the Regi trio but added two more: Regieleki (Electric) and Regidrago (Dragon). Regieleki is currently the fastest non-boosted Pokemon in existence. We also got the "King of Bountiful Harvests," Calyrex, which can literally ride either Glastrier (Ice horse) or Spectrier (Ghost horse) to form a single, terrifyingly powerful unit.
The 2026 Competitive Landscape
As of early 2026, the meta has shifted significantly, but Gen 8's influence is still massive. With the launch of the 2026 Championship Series, we're seeing a lot of these Galar natives making a comeback in the Pokemon Champions format.
One thing most players forget is that Gen 8 introduced Heavy-Duty Boots. This single item changed the game forever by making Pokemon immune to entry hazards like Stealth Rock. It's why Pokemon like Charizard or Frosmoth (another Gen 8 addition) are actually viable in high-level play now.
Quick Stats for Collectors
- Total New Pokemon: 96 (810 through 905, though some Hisuian forms are debated as Gen 8/9 crossover).
- New Type Combinations: Poison/Fairy (Galarian Weezing), Dark/Fairy (Grimmsnarl line), and Electric/Poison (Toxtricity).
- Gigantamax Forms: 33 unique forms that changed the appearance and moves of specific Pokemon.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re looking to complete your Galar Dex or dive into the 2026 competitive scene, don't just focus on the legendaries. Start by breeding a solid Corviknight or Grimmsnarl. These "utility" Pokemon often provide more value in a long-term team than a raw powerhouse like Zacian, especially when navigating the current Swiss-style tournament brackets.
👉 See also: Why Sandman’s ReShade Preset GTA 5 is Still the Best Way to Play in 2026
Check your Pokemon HOME storage for any Galarian variants you might have missed during the original Sword and Shield run. With the 2026 meta leaning heavily into regional diversity, those Galarian Weezings with Neutralizing Gas are becoming worth their weight in Gold Bottles Caps again.