The permanent “EXP Share” returns in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl; while TMs are single use again, and only statues decorate a Secret Base.
As reported by Serebii, several outlets have started to produce previews for the games; including Vooks, Nintendo World Report, and Polygon [1, 2]. These mention several quality of life features that were added to Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield.
Auto-save will return, and can be disabled; as can freely moving Pokemon between storage and their party even when not at a PC. The experience sharing mechanic will continue, and once again cannot be disabled.
In prior mainline Pokemon games, only Pokemon who participated in a battle would earn EXP, or if it was holding the Exp. Share item. In Pokemon X and Y, it became a key item that could share EXP among the entire party. While it could be disabled if players wished, it could not be disabled in Sword and Shield as “almost everyone already had it on before” according to Director Shigeru Ohmori.
In addition, type effectiveness is shown in battle, as it has been since Pokemon Sun and Moon. If players have already encountered a Pokemon, they will know its typing; and so their Pokemon’s Moves will note if the attack will be super or not very effective.
One feature that will not be returning is indestructible TMs. In Sword and Shield; TMs (Technical Machines) could be used as many times as players wished to teach Pokemon Moves. TRs (Technical Records) were also introduced, being single-use but offering more powerful moves.
A Nintendo representative told Vooks that players can get enough of every TM they would want. Vooks speculates this means players can earn TMs through other mechanics, such as walking with your Pokemon, or from the Grand Underground. TRs could previously be bought, and earned through Dynamax Battles with wild Pokemon, so it is a sound theory.
Speaking of the Grand Underground, the previews confirm that players will not have access to decorations for their “secret base” such as chairs and tables. As previously reported, players find statues to encourage wild Pokemon of the same types to appear in the Pokemon Hideaways (so a Gyarados statue would make more Water-Types appear).
It seems the flag capturing mechanic has also been dropped; where players would attempt to grab a flag from another player’s Secret Player’s base (through local wifi), and run back before being tagged. They would also need to avoid traps while running, which players could bury themselves. They could be bought with Spheres from NPCs, but those vendors would also exchange them for other items.
For comparison; Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Secret Bases did return from their original games. Along with players being able to decorate them with furniture, they could hire some NPC trainers to join; turning it into a Gym. Players could then share QR codes online, so players could fight their trainers and an AI controlled version of themselves.
Finally, players will once again be able to polish the Gym Badges they earn. In the original Diamond and Pearl, player’s Badges would grow dull over time. They could be polished to a mirror sheen, even changing their pitch when tapped. The full eight Gym Badges could practically act like a xylophone.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl launches November 19th on Nintendo Switch.
Image: Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl official website
