The Pokémon Eternatus nearly managed to destroy the region of Galar twice, once before and once during Pokémon Sword and Shield, but not without the help of Chairman Rose. The majority of Pokémon Sword and Shield’s plot focuses on the Galar Gym challenge, during which competitors who have been sponsored by established Trainers travel the Galar region to obtain the Gym Badges. Trainers who can earn all the Gym Badges from the Pokémon Gyms compete in a tournament for the chance to battle the famous Champion Leon himself. But the region is placed in dire straits when Chairman Rose revives Eternatus to recreate the Darkest Day.
Throughout Pokémon Sword and Shield, the player and their rival Hop help Professor Magnolia’s assistant Sonia in uncovering the truth behind Galar’s history. They also work together to discover the origins of the Dynamax phenomenon that occurs nowhere else in the Pokémon world. Although at first it seems extraneous to the player’s goal of defeating Leon, it turns out Galar’s history is intrinsically linked to the energy that allows Pokémon to Dynamax and Gigantamax.
Dynamax energy comes from none other than Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Eternatus, and that energy is what Chairman Rose wants to further harness for his goals. The way Eternatus nearly destroyed all of Galar is tied to the region’s history and its present regarding its renowned Gym challenge. The player, Hop, and Sonia uncovering the region’s true history allows them to put a stop to Eternatus and Chairman Rose in the end.
Eternatus Nearly Destroyed Galar In Pokémon Sword & Shield's Past
Eternatus caused the Darkest Day in Galar 3,000 years ago when it tried to absorb the region’s energy to sustain itself. During the Darkest Day, Pokémon underwent Dynamax and Gigantamax and lost control of themselves. Their rampaging threatened to destroy the entire region.
It was initially thought that two young heroes stopped the Darkest Day, which referred both to the dark storm caused by Eternatus and the new Pokémon Eternatus itself. Ancient tapestries kept in the Hammerlocke vault portray two heroes witnessing Eternatus descending to the Earth, the beginning of the Darkest Day, the heroes fighting and defeating Eternatus, and the heroes being crowned. It’s later discovered that the heroes were actually the legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta. After they defeated Eternatus, they sealed it away in the center of the region, and Zacian and Zamazenta went to rest in the Slumbering Weald.
The Events Leading To Eternatus' Revival In Pokémon Sword & Shield
Before the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, Eternatus’ energy started to leak out of openings in the Earth in the form of Pokémon Dens. Eternatus’ energy allowed Pokémon to Dynamax and Gigantamax, and Trainers who can defeat these Pokémon in a Max Raid Battle are given the chance to capture them. Some areas in Galar also feature a large concentration of Eternatus’ power; these places, called Power Spots, had Gyms built over them so that Gym battles could incorporate the Dynamax phenomenon. This made the Gym system incredibly popular, turning the region’s Gym challenge into a sports-like spectacle.
While Eternatus’ body remained deep under the Galar region, parts of its body still remained in the sky from when it first arrived on Earth. Parts of its body would break away into Wishing Stars and Wishing Pieces that then fell to Earth. These rock-like pieces also contain Dynamax energy; the Wishing Pieces can be used to call raid Pokémon to Pokémon Dens, while the Wishing Stars are attached to Dynamax Bands. Wearing a Dynamax Band allows Trainers to Dynamax their Pokémon at a Power Spot, making them crucial for Trainers who want to make the most of their Gym challenge.
Although the Gym challenge was designed by (and successful thanks to) Chairman Rose, the excessive use of Eternatus’ energy started to worry him greatly. He determined that the Galar region would face an irreversible energy crisis in one thousand years’ time, and felt it was his responsibility to prevent it. He began plotting his plan which would serve as the basis for Pokémon Sword and Shield’s major conflict.
How Eternatus Almost Destroyed Galar During Pokémon Sword & Shield
During the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, Chairman Rose sponsors the Pokémon Trainer and rival Bede to participate in the Galar Gym challenge. Rose also requests that Bede collect Wishing Stars throughout the region. Being parts of Eternatus’ own body, Rose plans to use the Wishing Stars to rejuvenate and revive Eternatus, causing a second Darkest Day. So long as Rose can control Eternatus in its Eternamax form, the Galar region would have access to infinite power.
Rose’s plan doesn’t pan out the way he hopes, however. Leon, being more excited about the Championship match than Rose’s idea, doesn’t agree to help when Rose confides in him. As the Gym challenge draws to a close and the player is set to challenge Leon, Pokémon Sword and Shield’s villain Chairman Rose awakens Eternatus but is unable to control it. The second Darkest Day plays out like the first: Pokémon begin to Dynamax and Gigantamax and lose control of their actions, bringing great danger to Galar.
Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon generally stand at around 100 feet tall, and their moves become powerful Max Moves or G-Max Moves that can’t even be fully protected against. In Max Raid Battles, four Trainers working together can still struggle against these colossal monsters, so it’s no wonder the Darkest Day places Galar in such grave danger. While the region’s Gym Leaders work to calm the rampaging Pokémon, Sword and Shield’s Champion Leon weakens Eternatus as Rose wanted him to, but isn’t able to capture it, causing the Darkest Day to continue.
Thankfully, because the player, Hop, and Sonia discovered the true identity of the heroes who defeated Eternatus 3,000 years ago, they can call upon Zacian and Zamazenta for help to stop the Darkest Day. When the two legendary Pokémon arrive to fight alongside the player and Hop, they use the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield to return to their Crowned Sword and Crowned Shield forms, giving them their signature moves Behemoth Blade and Behemoth Bash. In these powerful forms, their new Pokémon type matchups give them an advantage over Eternatus: their Steel-typing grants them immunity to Eternatus’ Poison-typing, and Zamazenta resists and Zacian is immune to its Dragon-typing. Working together with the player and Hop, they can put a stop to Eternatus once again.
To ensure Eternatus can’t threaten the Galar region ever again, the player successfully captures it. His plan thwarted, Chairman Rose turns himself in to the custody of the region’s police. Although the player saved Galar from certain destruction in Pokémon Sword and Shield, the Championship match between them and Leon still proceeds out of custom. Whether the player uses Eternatus against Leon or not, they’ve no doubt earned the title of both hero and Champion after ending the second Darkest Day.