When to Embark on Your Isle of Armor Adventure in Pokémon Sword & Shield

The Isle of Armor, the first DLC expansion for Pokémon Sword and Shield, offers a vibrant new area to explore, Pokémon to catch, and challenges to overcome. A common question among players is: When is the best time to journey to the Isle of Armor? The straightforward answer is: You can access the Isle of Armor as soon as you reach the Wild Area in the main game, roughly two hours into your playthrough. However, the optimal time to visit depends on your play style and goals. Let’s delve into the nuances of this decision and explore the factors that influence it.

Early Access: Pros and Cons

Venturing to the Isle of Armor early in your adventure, even before earning any Gym Badges, is entirely possible. The game allows you to hop on a train at the Wild Area Station and immediately travel to the island. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach:

Pros of Early Access

• Early Access to New Pokémon: The Isle of Armor introduces a wide array of new and returning Pokémon to your game. Catching these Pokémon early can diversify your team and provide strategic advantages throughout the main storyline.
• New Items and TMs: The Isle of Armor offers unique items, such as the Armorite Ore, which can be used to teach your Pokémon powerful new moves. You can also find new TMs. Gaining access to these resources early can significantly boost your team’s capabilities.
• Kubfu and the Towers: The storyline on the Isle of Armor revolves around training Kubfu, a legendary fighting-type Pokémon. Obtaining Kubfu early allows you to integrate it into your team and train it alongside your other Pokémon. This also gives you the option of choosing one of the Towers early in the game, and evolving Kubfu into a Single Strike Style Urshifu (Dark-type) or Rapid Strike Style Urshifu (Water-type).
• A Change of Scenery: If you’re feeling burnt out on the main game’s storyline, a trip to the Isle of Armor can provide a refreshing change of pace. The new environment, characters, and challenges can rekindle your enthusiasm for the game.

Cons of Early Access

• Level Discrepancies: The Pokémon on the Isle of Armor scale to your progress in the main game, they can still be higher levels than your current team. This can make battles challenging, especially if you haven’t yet built a strong team or learned effective strategies. However, after you become champion everything becomes lv. 60.
• Limited Exploration: While you can explore a significant portion of the Isle of Armor without progressing far in the main game, some areas and story elements are locked behind progress. This can limit your ability to fully experience the DLC until you’ve become the Champion.
• Overpowering Your Team: Acquiring powerful Pokémon and items early on can inadvertently make the main game too easy. This can diminish the sense of accomplishment and challenge that the core game is designed to provide.

Mid-Game Access: A Balanced Approach

A more balanced approach is to visit the Isle of Armor after earning a few Gym Badges, perhaps around the midway point of the main game. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of early access without some of the drawbacks.

Advantages of Mid-Game Access

• A Stronger Team: By the mid-game, you’ll likely have a more well-rounded and higher-level team, making it easier to handle the challenges on the Isle of Armor.
• Greater Exploration: Having progressed further in the main game unlocks more options for your team.
• A More Meaningful Challenge: The Isle of Armor provides a fresh challenge that can test your skills and strategies in a way that complements your progress in the main game.

Disadvantages of Mid-Game Access

• Leveling Issues: After the champion is defeated, all wild Pokemon will be at least Lv. 60, even if your Pokemon are low levels.

Post-Game Access: A Dedicated Experience

Some players prefer to save the Isle of Armor for the post-game, after becoming the Champion. This allows them to fully focus on the DLC without feeling pressured to balance it with the main storyline.

Benefits of Post-Game Access

• Fully Leveled Team: After becoming the Champion, your team will be strong enough to handle any challenge on the Isle of Armor. This allows you to explore the area and complete the story at your own pace, without worrying about level discrepancies.
• Complete Exploration: With all areas of the game unlocked, you can freely explore the Isle of Armor and access all of its content, including post-game activities and challenges.
• A Focused Experience: By saving the Isle of Armor for the post-game, you can fully immerse yourself in the DLC’s story, characters, and challenges without being distracted by the main storyline.

Factors to Consider

Ultimately, the best time to visit the Isle of Armor depends on your personal preferences and play style. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:

• Your Play Style: Do you prefer a challenging experience, or do you prefer to breeze through the game with a powerful team?
• Your Team Composition: Do you want to diversify your team early on, or are you content with the Pokémon you’ve already caught?
• Your Goals: Do you want to complete the Isle of Armor story quickly, or do you prefer to explore the area thoroughly and complete all of its side quests and activities?

Conclusion

Whether you choose to visit the Isle of Armor early, mid-game, or post-game, the DLC offers a rewarding experience for Pokémon Sword and Shield players. Consider your personal preferences, play style, and goals when making your decision, and remember that there’s no wrong time to embark on your Isle of Armor adventure. Regardless of when you choose to visit, you’re sure to find new Pokémon, challenges, and experiences that will enhance your Pokémon Sword and Shield journey. You can explore the fun and exciting ways to engage with Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What level should my Pokémon be before going to the Isle of Armor?

The Pokémon levels on the Isle of Armor scale with your progress in the main game. However, having a team around level 20-30 will make the initial challenges more manageable. Keep in mind that the levels can go above this range.

2. Can I finish the Isle of Armor before beating the main game?

Yes, you can progress through a significant portion of the Isle of Armor’s story before becoming the Champion. However, certain elements and areas are locked until you’ve completed the main storyline.

3. What do I need to do before going to the Isle of Armor?

Preparing a strong team, stocking up on essential items like Poké Balls and Potions, and ensuring you have access to Pokémon with diverse type coverage are all beneficial. Also, consider replenishing your EXP Candies to expedite the leveling process for your new Pokémon.

4. How do I access the Isle of Armor?

After purchasing the Expansion Pass, simply head to the Wedgehurst Train Station. There, you’ll receive an Armor Pass, which allows you to travel to the Isle of Armor via the Wild Area Station.

5. Is the Isle of Armor worth it?

Yes, the Isle of Armor is a worthwhile addition to Pokémon Sword and Shield, offering a new area to explore, new Pokémon to catch, and a compelling storyline. It also introduces new gameplay mechanics and items that can enhance your overall experience.

6. What is the main story of the Isle of Armor?

The main story involves training under Mustard at the Master Dojo, battling your rival (Klara in Sword, Avery in Shield), and ultimately training Kubfu to evolve into Urshifu.

7. Which tower should I choose on the Isle of Armor?

The choice between the Tower of Darkness and the Tower of Waters depends on your preference for Urshifu’s Fighting/Dark-type or Fighting/Water-type evolution. The Tower of Darkness may be slightly easier due to Kubfu’s Fighting-type advantage against Dark Pokémon.

8. Can I catch Legendary Pokémon on the Isle of Armor?

Yes, the Isle of Armor introduces new and returning Legendary Pokémon, including Kubfu and Urshifu.

9. Is the Isle of Armor difficult?

The Isle of Armor’s difficulty is generally considered moderate. Trainers who have completed the main game will likely find the challenges manageable, while those who visit early may face a steeper learning curve. The Isle of Armor is pretty mediocre when it comes to difficulty level, and most trainers will easily cruise by all the challenges on the island. Trainers who have already defeated Leon will most likely obliterate all the opponents on the island.

10. How long does it take to complete the Isle of Armor?

Completing the main story of the Isle of Armor takes around 5 hours. Achieving 100% completion, including exploring all areas and completing all side quests, can take around 16 hours.

11. What level are the wild Pokémon on the Isle of Armor?

Before you become champion, the levels of the Pokémon depend on the area, with the areas further away from the Dojo having higher-level Pokémon. After you become champion, everything becomes lv. 60.

12. Does the Isle of Armor have post-game content?

Yes, the Isle of Armor offers post-game content, including additional challenges, activities, and the opportunity to further explore the area and its secrets.

13. Can I transfer Pokémon from other games to the Isle of Armor?

Yes, you can transfer Pokémon from other compatible games to Pokémon Sword and Shield, including the Isle of Armor, using Pokémon HOME.

14. Which version of the Expansion Pass do I need?

You need the Expansion Pass that corresponds to the version of the game you own. If you have Pokémon Sword, you need the Sword Expansion Pass. If you have Pokémon Shield, you need the Shield Expansion Pass.

15. What is the Crown Tundra, and when should I go there?

The Crown Tundra is the second DLC expansion for Pokémon Sword and Shield, featuring a snowy landscape and a focus on Legendary Pokémon. You can access the Crown Tundra after visiting the Wild Area in the main game, and the optimal time to visit is similar to the Isle of Armor – it depends on your play style and goals.