Originally reported in an exclusive interview with Game Informer was that the latest Pokemon games, Sword and Shield, would offer a massive 18 different Pokemon Gyms for players to take on during their adventures in the Galar region. Apparently, that information appeared to be a mistranslation on the publication's part, as The Pokemon Company International has stepped in to correct the original story. In an official statement, the company clarified that there are indeed 18 Pokemon Gyms in the Galar region, however, they exist to "contribute to the background setting of the story". As in previous Pokemon games, there are only 8 Gym Leaders you'll be able to take on, though they will be different depending on which game you choose.

In the Galar region, Pokémon Gym Battles are popular sporting events, and the 18 different types of Gyms that exist in Galar contribute to the background setting of the story in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. In each game, Trainers must collect eight Gym Badges to complete the Gym Challenge and earn the opportunity to participate in the Champion Cup.

Over the course of the main story, Trainers will challenge eight Gyms, which are all in the Major League. Which Gyms appear in the Major League and Minor League will differ between Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. For example, depending on the version of the game, Trainers will be able to challenge different Gym Leaders, such as Bea or Allister.

Each version will have eight Gyms and eight Gym Leaders that Trainers can battle for a traditional Gym Challenge experience that fans have enjoyed throughout the Pokémon video game series.

Source

 

[TunaKetchup]

Of course not

 

[Xzi]

At least they let us know right away that the national dex would be excluded, this annoys me a bit more because of how the information was (mis)handled.

 

[Jiehfeng]

Then where did the 18 figure come from? 8+8=16, what happened to the remaining 2? Or am I misunderstanding something here

 

[DSoryu]

This game's marketing has been beyond ridiculous since the E3 2019 presentation.

 

[Deleted member 506316]

Maybe I should be the President of Nintendo and fix this.

 

[Budsixz]

Then where did the 18 figure come from? 8+8=16, what happened to the remaining 2? Or am I misunderstanding something here

maybe they wrote 18 instead of 8 by adding the 1 infront

 

[MohammedQ8]

Does it mean gyms will change type randomly every month or depends on the starter you chose?

 

[Jiehfeng]

maybe they wrote 18 instead of 8 by adding the 1 infront

As the OP quoted though, there are 18 gyms, just 16 are playable. Maybe the other two are some kind of secret gyms.

 

[AlexMCS]

https://pokemon.fandom.com/wiki/Types

There are 18 types, ergo, 18 gyms.

 

[GothicIII]

Of course not

This is the last nail into the coffin. Got pretty interested when I read there are 18 gyms.
I'll pass on again like with (ultra)-sun/moon.

Rediculous how they program games against the community.

 

[Jiehfeng]

https://pokemon.fandom.com/wiki/Types

There are 18 types, ergo, 18 gyms.

You're kidding or? A few of those won't be used as the theme of the gyms, as only 8 are in one game.

 

[Rahkeesh]

There are still 16 gyms if you buy BOTH games for a mere $120!

 

[Flame]

lmao.....

just when we thought gamefreak was doing something good. back to square one for the fans.

#bring_back_the_national_dex

 

[Deleted member 373223]

8 gym leaders, if each game had a gym with no gym leader it'd fit with the "all types" 18 gyms thing.

 

[Nekomaru]

I can call myself a prophet, wrote it on Tuesday
"Maybe it's an error in translation and he meant 9 gyms per game? 18 sounds like some effort on their part"

 

[codezer0]

more gyms doesn't excuse arbitrarily blocking a complete 'dex. Not to mention, this is game freak. They're pathological about their laziness; they'll put more effort into being as lazy as possible than actually work to make a game right, anymore. Which is ridiculous because with the embarrassing amounts of money that are flying out of everyone's pockets for Pokemon there, they could easily afford to sublet studios for A+ tier work to give us a truly legendary core game.

 

[DCG]

So journalists reading stuff wrong?
Was reading the story on nintendosoup and it clearly stated "will have 18 gyms between the two", so I read it as sword will have 9 and shield will have 9 different ones.

 

[b17bomber]

This deal is getting worse all the time.

 

[DuoForce]

18 gyms in LORE? Give me a good reason we can’t battle them?