A new Max Raid Battle was recently added to Pokémon Sword and Shield, and the event gives players the opportunity to acquire a shiny variant of the Pokémon Grapploct. The most recent major installments in the iconic monster collection franchise, Sword and Shield released back in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch. The games continue to receive support from developer Game Freak in the form of updates and events for both Pokémon games.
Despite releasing almost two years ago, Pokémon Sword and Shield are still regularly maintained with new events to keep players returning to the British-inspired world of Galar. In April 2021 Game Freak put out an amusing April Fool's event which allowed players to battle a massive and uncatchable version of the Pokémon Magikarp. The aquatic fish Pokémon is a running joke amongst franchise fans, being largely useless in a fight but evolving into the terrifying sea monster Gyarados. A more recent and more serious event within Pokémon Sword and Shield filled the Galar region with the rare shiny variant of the Sheep Pokémon Wooloo. The event ran from May 20 to May 23, giving players the chance to encounter a rare monster for their collection.
A brand-new Max Raid event in Pokémon Sword and Shield will give players the opportunity to encounter octopus-inspired Pokémon such as Grapploct, Octillery, and Malamar. Dexerto reports that the Tentacle Event will increase the spawn rate of these eight-legged monsters within Max Raid Battles, allowing players to more easily capture them. Additionally, Grapploct's shiny variant will receive a 2% spawn rate, making the incredibly rare creature easier to find. The Tentacle Event will last from June 25 to June 27, so trainers should act quickly to capitalize on the opportunity.
While titles such as Pokémon Sword and Shield and Pokémon GO continue to receive support from developers, new installments in the franchise are always on the horizon. In June 2020 Nintendo announced Pokémon UNITE, an upcoming multiplayer battle arena game that tasks players with capturing wild Pokémon and scoring goals for their team. A public network test for Pokémon UNITE is currently available to Japanese Nintendo users, with the text ending on June 26.
Game Freak has managed to sustain the lifespan of Pokémon Sword and Shield through the release of events and updates, ensuring that the games are still relevant today. Max Raid Events are a perfect reason for players to return to the monster collection title, as they provide an easy way to acquire rare and unique Pokémon. The Tentacle Event's focus on octopus Pokémon is also quite unique, and the allure of a shiny Grapploct is sure to draw the attention of franchise fans.
Pokémon Sword and Shield are available on Nintendo Switch.
Source: Dexerto