Every Pokemon DLC, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Daybreak update for Pokemon: Legends Arceus lacks depth compared to other expansions, ranking last among Pokemon DLC.
• The Isle of Armour DLC for Pokemon Sword and Shield offers heartwarming story, but falls short on content.
• The Crown Tundra expansion for Sword and Shield is the best Pokemon DLC, boasting rich content, new quests, and vast exploration

Downloadable content (DLC) is a relatively new concept for Pokemon. Introduced in generation 8 of Pokemon Sword and Shield games, DLC enabled players to access a trove of additional content outside the usual standard base games for the first time.

While previous titles in the series included post-game content, DLC expanded upon this idea, acting as post-game content on steroids. DLC also enabled the Pokemon Company to extend the shelf life of their games, offering incremental releases rather than developing standalone games annually. Pokemon DLC varies in quality and quantity, with some expansions being better than others across the games.

5 Daybreak

Less Developer Patch Than DLC

While not a fully-fledged DLC, Daybreak was a downloadable update for Pokemon Legends: Arceus as part of its 1.1.0 patch on 27 February 2022. The update, free for players, featured a whole host of new content, such as requests (the game’s quests) enabling players to explore outbreaks of Pokemon across the region of Hisui and a new event known as the Eternal Battle Reverie, which pitted players against the Pokemon god Arceus to refine their battle skills.

Other new features include a balloon race challenge in the Coronet Highlands, new battles in the Training Grounds, and added elements to Legends Arceus’s Photography Studio. Even though Daybreak is not a bad DLC, it lacks the quantity and quality of content compared to the other expansions on this list, ranking last among the Pokemon DLC.

4 The Isle of Armour

Charming, but Content-Light

Released in June 2020, The Isle of Armour was the first DLC expansion in Pokemon history as part of Pokemon Sword and Shield. Isle of Armour featured a new expanse for players to explore, rivals to defeat, and a new host of characters to converse with. Upon journeying to the island via Wedgehurst Station (after obtaining the armor pass), players enroll in the island dojo and quickly progress through its ranks, befriending the legendary Pokemon (and the DLC mascot) Kubfu, a cute bear-like karate warrior.

As the story of the expansion progresses, players are tasked with completing various challenges to increase the strength of Kubfu, such as climbing one of the Towers of Two Fists to evolve Kubfu into either a single or rapid strike Urshifu.

The Isle of Armour, at the time, was a great DLC that let players explore the open world of the island, helping to develop Sword and Shields‘s open-world environments as a first for the franchise. Similarly, the expansion had a heartwarming story – focused on the bond between Pokemon and trainers. However, it was let down by the lack of content offered to players, fizzling out after the final chapters of its story came to a close. Consequently, it lacks the depth of the other DLCs ranked higher on this list.

3 Teal Mask

Engaging, Rich in Content

The first expansion for Pokemon: Scarlet and Violet, Teal Mask, introduced the land of Kitakami, a new mountainous region with a host of new characters and Pokemon. The story follows the players as they discover the mysteries behind the Teal Mask, which involves an encounter with the legendary Pokemon Ogerpon and the resurrection of a group of legendary Pokemon known as the Loyal Three, which nearly ends in disaster.

The Teal Mask has a great story, a long list of returning and new Pokemon introduced in the DLC, and a range of new sidequests/minigames for players to explore. Overall, the Teal Mask is one of the best Pokemon expansions, featuring a great story and substantial content to satisfy Pokemon fanatics.

2 Indigo Disk

Expansive, but Repetitive

The final expansion of Pokemon: Scarlet and Violet, The Indigo Disk, follows on from the events of the Teal Mask, with the player traveling to the Unova region, and attending its Blueberry Academy. Upon joining the school and defeating its champion, Area Zero is unlocked, enabling players to access the area and face off against the numerous powerful Pokemon that lurk there. Area Zero is immense, featuring numerous open-world areas and new variations of Pocket Monsters known as Paradox Pokemon.

These creatures are variations of known Pokemon such as Entei and Raikou, featuring stronger move sets, levels, and abilities. A notable example is Raging Bolt, a paradoxical variation of Raikou obtainable at level 75 with electric dragon typing and signature moves such as Rising Bolt.

Alongside an extensive list of new and returning Pokemon, the DLC features new activities, such as a new Pokemon League to battle. While the Indigo Disk is more substantial than the Teal Mask, with greater levels of higher-quality content, it lacks the magic, mystery, and variation of missions and activities of The Crown Tundra, placing it second on this list.

1 Crown Tundra

The Best Pokemon DLC

The last DLC released for Sword and Shield, The Crown Tundra is the best Pokemon expansion. The Crown Tundra is a massive frozen expanse that features a boatload of new Pokemon, story missions, and a vast land to explore. The DLC includes three core quest lines: ‘The Sacred Bonds of Sovereign and Steed,’ The Terrible Titans Lurking Locked Away and A Legendary Tree of a Legendary Three!

The first quest involves the player working with the legendary Pokemon Calyrex to tame its lost horse. The mission involves hunting the creature alongside Calyrex and forging the Reins of Unity to tame the steed so that Calyrex can regain its complete strength. The second quest had players capture the Titan Pokemon, including the newly introduced Regidrago and Regieleki, which made their debut in the DLC.

The final mission had players capture and battle new Galarian forms of the Legendary Bird Pokemon, Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres – the mission involved traveling across Galar to capture the variants. Combined, the quality of the three quests incorporated with the sheer quantity of content, such as secrets and mysteries to uncover, makes the DLC not just the best expansion but one of the best pieces of content produced by the Pokemon Company. It is easily the best DLC on this list.