November is wrapping up, but Thanksgiving is still to come in the States. Nintendo Switch owners can be extra grateful this week, as the handheld console is getting ports of the infamous Five Nights at Freddy’s series, Zelda-like adventure Decay of Logos, and survival game Pine. PS4 and Xbox One gamers can get their hands on The Escapists Double Pack, which includes The Escapists 1 and 2. Indie darling Where The Water Tastes Like Wine is also getting console ports this week. Sorry, PC gamers–things will pick up for you in December!

Pine — November 26

Available on: Switch

Pine is a survival game set in a world where humans are not at the top of the food chain. To protect your tribe, you’ll have to craft weapons, trade goods, and befriend or betray other animal races as you journey to safety. Your actions have an effect on the world’s ecology too.

The Escapists Double Pack — November 26

Available on: PS4, Xbox One

Both of The Escapists titles give you the same task: escape from prison. Doing so requires a combination of planning, crafting, sneaking, and working together with your fellow inmates. The second game lets you do all that with friends in co-op, too. It also goes beyond earthly prisons, asking you to escape your cell in crazy locations like a moving desert train, a snowy mountain, and even outer space.

More Coverage:

• The Escapists Review

• The Escapists 2 – Multiplayer Trailer

Decay of Logos — November 26

Available on: Switch

Taking cues from The Legend of Zelda series, Decay of Logos is full of dungeons to explore, puzzles to solve, and a variety of weapons and magic to try out in combat. As you journey to fight the Crimson Knights, you’ll ride atop your elk companion. The more you learn about the world, the stronger the bond with your elk will grow.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 1-4 — November 29

Available on: Switch

The Five Nights at Freddy’s games are pretty ubiquitous at this point, but here’s the elevator pitch: terrifying, malfunctioning animatronic mascots are out to get you. Thing is, they can’t move if you’re watching them. You’ll have to juggle security cameras and lock the doors if you hope to survive the night.

More Coverage:

• Five Nights at Freddy’s Review

• Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 – Official Trailer

Where The Water Tastes Like Wine — November 29

Available on: Xbox One, Switch

Where The Water Tastes Like Wine is set in the United States during the Great Depression. As you travel around the country, you’ll encounter a cast of intriguing characters–though not all of them are even human. Each has a story to tell, and the more you talk to them, the more they’ll open up to you about their history.

More Coverage:

• Where The Water Tastes Like Wine Review: Hard Travelin’

• PS4, Xbox One, And Switch Are Getting Indie Narrative Adventure Where The Water Tastes Like Wine Very Soon

November is coming to a close, but 2019 still has one month left. The next episode of New Releases will be the final one of the year, and we’ll take a look at some anticipated December games like SaGa: Scarlet Grace – Ambitions and Wattam.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/top-new-game-releases-on-switch-ps4-and-xbox-one-t/1100-6471665/

Black Friday 2019 already some great deals on the PS4 PlayStation VR headset, but it’s not the only headset with some discounts. The Facebook-owned Oculus has announced a new Oculus Quest Black Friday, as well as Oculus Go, Portal camera, and Oculus Rift S deals. After Valve announced Half-Life: Alyx (a new, VR-only game in the series set between Half-Life and Half-Life 2) is compatible with the Oculus Quest and Oculus Rift S headsets, you might be more tempted to pick one up, which makes the timing of these minor deals fortuitous.

Oculus is bundling its all-in-one Oculus Quest headset with all three episodes of its Star Wars VR series, Vader Immortal until January 31. You’ll need to activate your Oculus Quest within 30 days of your purchase to get Vader Immortal for free, with March 2 being the last possible day to redeem the offer.

While the Quest doesn’t receive a special price, Oculus is discounting the rest of its VR headsets for Black Friday. Starting November 28 until December 2, the Oculus Rift S and both versions of the Oculus Go will be discounted by $50.

Facebook also plans to discount its Portal devices, which are touchscreen displays that let you video call your friends and family, display photos, and control your smart home with built-in Alexa support, in addition to a lot more. The Portal, Portal Mini, and Portal TV are all discounted by $50, while the Portal Plus sees a price cut of $30. You can see the full list of deals below.

Black Friday Oculus Rift VR deals

Oculus Quest 64 GB or 128 GB + Vader Immortal bundle | $400 or $500

Oculus is bundling all three episodes of its Star Wars VR series, Vader Immortal, with every purchase of the Oculus Quest headset until January 31. The Oculus Quest is an all-in-one, completely cord-free VR headset–no PC required–that comes with 64 GB or 128 GB of storage. There’s no discount, but you save $30 getting the Star Wars VR series for free. On top of that, Vader Immortal is a great way for Star Wars fans to experience virtual reality.

Oculus Rift S | $350 ($400)

Oculus Rift S is the latest revision of Oculus’s PC VR headset. You’ll need a PC with the hardware specs to run the VR headset and its software, but everything else comes with the package, including the Touch controllers. Starting on November 28, the Oculus Rift S will be $350.

Oculus Go 32 GB or 64 GB | $150 ($200) or $200 ($250)

The Oculus Go is a completely portable headset that’s better used for movies, shows, and other media than gaming. It’ll be available for $150 for the 32 GB version or $200 for the 64 GB version on Black Friday from November 28 to December 2.

Portal | $130 ($180)

Facebook’s Portal is a 10-inch, touchscreen display that lets you video chat with friends and family through Facebook’s Messenger and WhatsApp–thankfully, they can use any device they want to communicate with you. The cool thing about the Portal is that the Smart Camera automatically follows your position by panning and zooming to get you in the frame. On top of all that, you can control your smart home and listen to music with Alexa support as well as display photos while you’re not talking to anyone. For Black Friday, the Portal will be $130 from November 28 to December 2.

Portal Mini | $80 ($130)

The Portal Mini is exactly like the regular Portal–except it’s mini. The eight-inch Portal does everything the 10-inch does, including the Smart Camera movement, Alexa support, and photo display. From November 28 to December 2, it’ll cost $80.

Portal TV | $100 ($150)

The Portal TV plugs into your television, turning your television into a Portal device. It also gives you the ability to watch and listen to streaming services like Prime Video, CBS Access, and Spotify. Like other Portal devices, it features the Smart Camera, Alexa support, and more. It’ll cost $100 during Black Friday, from November 28 to December 2.

Portal + | $250 ($280)

The Portal Plus features everything the other portals do except with a much bigger, 15.6-inch 1080p screen. It also comes with two 20w speakers that offer richer sound than the other Portal devices. For Black Friday, it’ll cost $250 from November 28 to December 2.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-black-friday-vr-deals-2019-oculus-quest-rif/1100-6471547/

Like most major retailers, GameStop has revealed all of its deals for Black Friday 2019. The full GameStop Black Friday ad shows a ton of deals that will be available starting Wednesday, November 27 at 9 PM Eastern Time. GameStop also released a flyer for its “early deals,” which will be available for a full week.

GameStop has finally revealed its plans for Black Friday 2019. GameStop’s Black Friday ad has a ton of deals starting Wednesday, November 27 at 9 PM Eastern Time. If that’s too far away, you can browse some GameStop Early Black Friday deals–these discounts aren’t messing around, either.

Nintendo Switch offers are noticeably light in GameStop’s Black Friday deals. If you’re looking for a Switch Lite, You can get a $25 gift coupon when you buy any new Switch Lite. Otherwise, you’re stuck with Nintendo’s official Black Friday 2019 bundle: the launch-model Switch (without improved battery life) with a digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for $300. GameStop will also have some first-party Switch games for $40 each and discounts on Switch accessories like the Poke Ball Plus.

Keep in mind GameStop has deals going live next Wednesday, plus limited-time deals that will likely launch on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Check out GameStop’s full Black Friday schedule below, and read on for the best Black Friday deals we know about so far.

GameStop Black Friday 2019 schedule

Online

• Live Now: Early deals, including PS4 and Xbox One console bundles, available online
• November 27: Black Friday online deals go live on GameStop.com beginning at 8 PM PT / 11 PM ET

Store hours

• Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28: 3 PM – 10 PM
• Black Friday, Nov. 29: 7 AM – 10 PM
• Saturday, Nov. 30: 10 AM – 9 PM
• Sunday, Dec. 1: 11 AM – 7 PM

GameStop’s Black Friday 2019 deals

GameStop’s early deals largely include the official deals from PlayStation and Xbox, such as the PS4 Slim holiday bundle with three console-exclusive games and the Xbox One X bundle for $350. Note that the following deals will be available at nearly all major retailers, so if something sells out at GameStop, you should check Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. The early deals will be available until December 2 (or while supplies last). Meanwhile, GameStop’s full Black Friday sale begins November 27, and we’ve also outlined those deals below.

To be clear: We haven’t included everything that’ll be on sale at GameStop; we’ve just highlighted some of the most notable deals below. Be sure to check the full GameStop Black Friday ad for a more extensive list of deals.

Game deals

Early deals from November 24-December 2:

Nintendo Switch:

• AI: The Somnium Files — $30
• Guacamelee: One-Two Punch Collection — $25
• Steins;Gate Elite — $30
• Will: A Wonderful World — $25

PS4:

• AI: The Somnium Files — $30
• Bloodborne — $10
• Concrete Genie — $20
• Days Gone — $20
• God of War — $10
• Gran Turismo Sport — $10
• Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition — $10
• The Last of Us Remastered — $10
• Little Big Planet 3 — $10
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition — $20
• MediEvil — $20
• Nioh — $10
• Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight — $20
• Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight — $20
• Shenmue I & II — $15
• Steins;Gate Elite — $30
• Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection — $10
• Uncharted: The Lost Legacy — $10
• Yakuza Kiwami 2 — $14.97
• Yakuza 6: The Song of Life — $15

Xbox One:

• Crackdown 3 — $15
• Forza Horizon 4 — $25
• Gears 5 — $30
• Sea of Thieves — $25
• Shenmue I & II — $15

Black Friday deals starting Nov. 27 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET online:

Nintendo Switch:

• Aladdin and The Lion King collection — $20**
• Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II, Enhanced Editions — $30**
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night — $20**
• Cities Skylines — $20**
• Civilization VI — $20
• Collection of Mana — $25
• Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled — $25
• Dead by Daylight: Definitive Edition — $20**
• Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster — $25
• Friday the 13th: The Game — $20**
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — $40
• Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle — $20
• Mortal Kombat 11 — $28
• NBA 2K20 — $28
• Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch — $30
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy — $25*
• Terraria — $20**
• Trine 4 — $20**
• Vampyr — $40**
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition — $50
• Wolfenstein Youngblood – Deluxe Edition — $20

PS4:

• Anthem — $5
• Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II, Enhanced Editions — $30**
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night — $20**
• Borderlands 3 — $30
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 — $28*
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare — $38
• Catherine: Full Body — $30
• Control — $20**
• Dark Pictures: Man of Medan — $15**
• Devil May Cry 5 — $20
• Diablo III: Eternal Collection — $17
• The Division 2 — $12
• Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age — $20**
• Dragon Quest Builders 2 — $25**
• FIFA 20 — $28
• Ghost Recon Breakpoint — $28
• Judgment — $30
• Kingdom Hearts 3 — $25
• Madden NFL 20 — $28
• MLB The Show 19 — $20
• Metro Exodus — $20
• Monster Hunter World: Iceborne – Master Edition — $40
• Mortal Kombat 11 — $28
• NBA 2K20 — $28
• Need for Speed Heat — $40
• Nier Automata: Game of the Yorha Edition — $20
• Persona 5 — $10
• Rage 2 — $20
• Red Dead Redemption II — $30
• Resident Evil 2 — $20
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — $28
• Shenmue III — $40
• The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series — $30**
• Wolfenstein Youngblood – Deluxe Edition — $20

Xbox One:

• Anthem — $5
• Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II, Enhanced Editions — $30**
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night — $20**
• Borderlands 3 — $30
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 — $28*
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare — $38
• Control — $20**
• Dark Pictures: Man of Medan — $15
• Devil May Cry 5 — $20
• Diablo III: Eternal Collection — $17
• The Division 2 — $12
• FIFA 20 — $28
• Gears 5 — $30
• Ghost Recon Breakpoint — $28
• Kingdom Hearts 3 — $25
• Madden NFL 20 — $28
• Metro Exodus — $20
• Monster Hunter World: Iceborne – Master Edition — $40
• Mortal Kombat 11 — $28
• NBA 2K20 — $28
• Need for Speed Heat — $40
• Rage 2 — $20
• Red Dead Redemption II — $30
• Resident Evil 2 — $20
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — $28
• The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series — $30**
• Wolfenstein Youngblood – Deluxe Edition — $20

PC:

• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night — $20**
• Borderlands 3 — $30
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 — $28*
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare — $38
• Fallout 76 — $12
• FIFA 20 — $28
• Madden NFL 20 — $28
• Rage 2 — $20
• Wolfenstein Youngblood – Deluxe Edition — $20

Pre-owned games:

• Buy two, get one free on all pre-owned PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and 3DS games
• Buy one, get one free on all pre-owned Xbox 360, PS3, DS, Wii, Wii U, and PS Vita games

*only available 11/28-11/30

**only available 11/28-12/1

Consoles and accessories

Early deals from November 24-December 2:

PS4 Slim bundle with God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and The Last of Us Remastered – $200

PS4 Slim holiday bundle | $200 ($300)

This official PlayStation bundle includes three excellent, PS4-exclusive games–God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition, and The Last of Us Remastered–along with the base console for $200, an excellent deal for anyone buying a PS4 for the first time.

PS4 Pro (Glacier White Edition) – $300

PS4 Pro Glacier White | $300 ($400)

The powerful PS4 Pro is on sale for an excellent price during Black Friday, selling for $300 rather than $400. GameStop’s offer includes the stunning Glacier White model, which comes with a matching controller.

DualShock 4 wireless controllers – $39

DualShock 4 Wireless Controllers (various colors) | $39 each ($60-$65)

PS4 controllers will be $39 each at GameStop during Black Friday, the same price as at Walmart. Other stores will have them for $40 during Black Friday week, but colors available may vary between retailers. GameStop’s flyer includes the new Fall 2019 colors shown above, which normally go for $65 each.

• Titanium Blue
• Electric Purple
• Rose Gold
• Red Camo

PS Plus one-year membership – $45

PlayStation Plus 12-month membership | $45 ($60)

The official PlayStation Black Friday offer for PS Plus is $45 for a yearly membership. That’s not quite as low as we’d hoped, but if you need to renew your membership (remember PS Plus subscriptions do stack), this is still a nice deal to snag.

PSVR bundle with five games – $200

PlayStation VR Mega Pack | $200 ($300)

This is the best PSVR deal we’ve seen in a long time. For $200, you’ll get the PSVR headset and PlayStation Camera along with five of the system’s best games.

PSVR bundle with Blood & Truth and Everbody’s Golf – $250

PlayStation VR bundle with Blood & Truth, Everybody’s Golf VR | $250 ($350)

This bundle is slightly pricier than other PSVR bundles during Black Friday, but that’s because it comes with two PlayStation Move motion controllers (which can cost as much as $100 a pack). Another bundle includes Beat Saber and Borderlands 2 VR instead, if those are more up your alley.

PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset with Fortnite content – $70

Fortnite Neo Versa Bundle With PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset | $70 ($100)

The discount on this PlayStation Gold wireless headset isn’t exceptional on its own, but if you’re a Fortnite fan, the included Neo Versa bundle is a nice perk that comes with the Epic Neo Versa Outfit, Epic Neo Phrenzy Back Bling, and 2,000 V-Bucks.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Xbox One X bundle – $200

Xbox One S bundle with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition | $200 ($300)

Get the newest Star Wars adventure on Xbox One with this Xbox One S bundle for only $200, available at many retailers including GameStop.

NBA 2K20 Xbox One X special-edition bundle – $350

Xbox One X special-edition bundle with NBA 2K20 | $350 ($500)

Quite a few Xbox One X bundles will be on sale for Black Friday, but this GameStop-exclusive, special-edition Xbox One X with NBA 2K20 has to be the prettiest with its paint splash design.

Xbox One S All-Digital Edition – $150

Xbox One S All-Digital Edition | $150 ($250)

Not a fan of buying physical games? Then the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition was made for you, but please be aware there’s no disc drive, removing the option entirely to play physical games or Blu-ray discs. The bundle comes with three games: Sea of Thieves, Minecraft, and bonus content for Fortnite: Battle Royale–2,000 V-Bucks and the Legendary Rogue Spider Knight outfit. At just $150, the All-Digital Edition is a much more appealing offer for primarily digital gamers.

Xbox One wireless controllers – $10 off

Xbox Wireless Controllers (various colors) | $10 off

Multiple Xbox controllers will be on sale for $10 off during Black Friday, including the special-edition Gears 5 controller for $65 (previously $75) and other colors for $60 (previously $70 each). It’s worth noting Microsoft’s official Black Friday sale is advertising Xbox controllers for “up to $20 off,” so you may want to compare prices before grabbing one of these from GameStop.

• Gears 5 Special Edition
• Ocean Shadow
• Sport Blue
• Red

GameStop in-store offer on collectibles and apparel

In-store deal: Get 25% off everything you can stuff in this bag

This is fairly self-explanatory, but from November 24-27, GameStop stores will let you fill a bag with as many collectibles and apparel as you can and get 25% off the entire bag (which you have to buy on its own for $5). Games and hardware are excluded as well as clearance items.

Online deal: Get 25% off collectibles when you spend $100 or more

GameStop is as known for selling gaming, anime, and comics merch as much as they are for selling games, and if you’re planning to spend big on status, Funko Pops, and more, you can save a significant amount of cash when you spend $100 or more.

Black Friday deals starting Nov. 27 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET online:

Nintendo Switch with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and $25 gift coupon – $300

Nintendo Switch (older model) with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, $25 gift coupon | $300

*Only available on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday

GameStop is offering the same Nintendo Switch bundle every other store is because it’s Nintendo’s official console offer this year–just as it was in 2018. While an appealing offer last year, this bundle isn’t quite as impressive in 2019 because a new, improved Switch has since released and has longer battery life. This bundle gets you the older model and a digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which commonly goes for around $50 these days. It’s not a bad deal if you love Mario Kart, but just be aware that you’re getting the launch model Switch. That said, GameStop is throwing in a $25 gift coupon to sweeten the deal, so if you love Mario Kart, this is the offer you’d want to take advantage of.

Nintendo Switch Lite with $25 gift coupon – $200

Nintendo Switch Lite (multiple colors) with $25 gift coupon | $200

*Only available on November 30 and December 1

Outright discounts for the new Switch Lite are rare, but if you’re hankering to pick up Nintendo’s handheld-only Switch this holiday season, you can at least get a $25 gift coupon with the offer at GameStop.

HTC Vive Pro VR starter kit – $800

HTC Vive Pro VR Starter Kit | $800 ($1,100)

With the announcement of Half-Life: Alyx, some people may be persuaded to finally pick up a VR headset this holiday season, and luckily, the HTC Vive Pro will be cheaper at GameStop for Black Friday. Normally sold for $1,100, you’ll find the HTC Vive Pro Starter Kit–which includes the headset, two SteamVR base stations, and two Vive controllers–for $800. Alternatively, the headset by itself will be on sale for just $600 (normally $800).

HTC Vive Cosmo VR headset – $600

HTC Vive Cosmo VR System | $600 ($700)

The HTC Vive Cosmos will be $100 off for Black Friday. It includes six tracking cameras, Steam and Viveport library access, 12 months of Viveport Infinity (with access to more than 700 games and apps), and more.

Holiday Thanos – $12

Buy two, get one free on all $12 Funko Pop figures

We’ve seen this deal at GameStop before, but it’s a nice offer for Funko Pop collectors. All $12 Funko Pop figures, like this festive Thanos, will be eligible as part of this buy two, get one free deal.

Nerf Fortnite Supply Drop set – $80

Nerf Fortnite Legendary Supply Drop | $80 ($100)

Inspired by the blasters used in Fortnite, this set includes four Nerf Fortnite blasters, 30 Nerf darts, two Nerf rockets, and three bush targets for practicing your aim. Normally sold for $100, it’s down to $80 for Black Friday.

Mario Wired Fight Pad Pro for Nintendo Switch – $15

Wired Fight Pad Pro for Nintendo Switch (Mario or Luigi designs) | $15 ($25)

Fans of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate can take advantage of a nice discount on wired Fight Pad Pro controllers for Nintendo Switch, which mimic the design of a traditional GameCube controller and come wired to avoid input lag. Normally sold for $25, they’ll be $10 off for Black Friday.

Lego Star Wars Yoda – $75

Get 25% off all Lego sets

Lego sets are always a popular gift for the holidays, and they can get quite pricey, like this Yoda set that usually sells for $100. GameStop will be offering 25% off all Lego sets for Black Friday, including sets from Star Wars, Overwatch, Minecraft, and more.

Dragon Ball Z ornaments – $10.20

Get 40% off all holiday apparel, calendars, and ornaments

Festive collectibles, like this set of Dragon Ball Z Christmas tree ornaments, are a great way to get in the holiday spirit and decorate with products from Star Wars, Fortnite, Marvel, and more.

Funkoverse Strategy Game – $28

Get 30% off all board games, puzzles, and Funkoverse strategy games

Tabletop fans will find a nice selection of board games and card games marked down, like the Funkoverse strategy games and the 80th anniversary Marvel Monopoly board game.

Super Mario Bros. waffle maker – $20

Super Mario Bros. 1Up Waffle Maker | $20 ($35)

Normally sold for $35, this Mario-themed waffle maker will be on sale for $20. Delicious.

My Hero Academia All-Might T-shirt – $7.97

Buy one, get one free on all T-shirts

Now’s a great time to stock up on new tees for 2020, like this one featuring All Might from My Hero Academia. GameStop’s entire T-shirt collection is eligible for this offer, encompassing categories like anime, Marvel, Nintendo, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and more.

Magic: The Gathering Core Set 2020 Booster Pack (assortment) – $7.49

Buy one, get one 50% off all trading cards

Whether you play Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, or Pokemon TCG, you can stock up on new cards at a discount during Black Friday.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamestop-early-black-friday-2019-deals-ps4-pro-xbo/1100-6471559/

Pokemon Sword and Shield mark the eighth generation of Pokemon games, and they of course introduce new features and Pokemon to the series. One of the biggest additions is the Wild Area, an open-world stretch of land in which you and wild Pokemon can roam freely. It covers the space between the bottom part of the map and Motostoke and then extends up along the eastern side of Motostoke to Hammerlocke. This space is home to a wide variety of Pokemon that come and go with the weather, and you’ll even encounter Pokemon so powerful that you won’t be able to fight them at first.

On top of that, the Wild Area is also home to the new Max Raids. These 4v1 battles pit you and three other players (or NPCs) against one Dynamaxed Pokemon, which is both enormous and extra powerful. They start out easy, but make no mistake–the high-level raids can be intensely challenging. Here’s everything you need to know about Max Raids.

Playing Online

First things first–you can do raids solo with NPCs, but it’s a lot easier with at least one other real person. By pressing Y and going to the social screen, you can connect to the internet and interact with other people online. From this screen, you can join other people’s raids provided they’re seeking help and there’s still room. In order to invite others to your raid, you have to initiate a raid from a den and select “invite others,” and other players can join both locally and online.

Max Raid Basics

Raid Pokemon are separate from the powerful Pokemon you see walking around. You have to go up to a raid den to start a raid–you’ll know a Pokemon is inside if there’s a red or pinkish-purple beam of light shooting out of it. When you interact with the den, you’ll see a screen showing the silhouette of the raid Pokemon and its type so you can prepare. Max Raids vary in challenge from one star to five stars, which will be indicated on this screen as well.

In a Max Raid, four players fight one Dynamaxed (or Gigantamaxed) Pokemon. By virtue of being Dynamaxed, these Pokemon get boosts to their moves and stats, and they will often move twice in a row or put up shields. If you defeat the raid Pokemon, you get a chance to catch it. You can decide whether you want to do the raid solo (with three NPCs) or search for other players locally or online; each person only brings one Pokemon. The battle is over when 10 turns go by or Pokemon faint four times–a fainted Pokemon will automatically be revived after a turn, so it could be any combination of Pokemon fainting, even if it’s the same Pokemon fainting multiple times.

One Pokemon on your side is allowed to Dynamax during the raid. The player who initiated the raid has the opportunity to Dynamax first, but if they don’t, the Dynamax power moves to the next person on the list (including NPCs) until someone uses it. While the raid Pokemon will be Dynamaxed the whole time, the Pokemon on your side will only remain Dynamaxed for three turns as normal.

If you defeat the Pokemon, you have a chance to catch it. If you defeat it and fail to catch it due to bad luck, the Pokemon will be gone (though you still get all the other rewards, like berries and TRs); if you simply lose, you can try again from the same raid den. You can use a Wishing Piece, which you can find or buy from various Wild Area vendors using Watts, to trigger a raid even if the den is currently empty, though it may not even be the same species of Pokemon.

Max Raid Battle Tips

Max Raid battles themselves work mostly like normal battles. Each of the five Pokemon on the field will move according to their speed stat, though the raid Pokemon gets to cheat and use moves multiple times in a turn. After it’s been damaged a bit, the raid Pokemon will put up a shield, which can take anywhere from two to six hits to break down; this shield blocks it from most damage and all status effects. A Max move from a Dynamaxed Pokemon on your side will take down two shield slots, though moves that hit multiple times, like Fury Swipes or Double Kick, will only break one shield slot.

The raid Pokemon will occasionally nullify all stat changes on your side of the field, so powerup moves like Dragon Dance aren’t recommended. Instead, super-effective attacks are your best bet, as strong ones will usually cause a bit of damage even through a shield. Breaking a shield will damage the Pokemon and lower its defenses, too, so you’ll want to prioritize breaking the shield with standard attacks rather than using something like Helping Hand to power up an ally’s moves.

You’re also better off using a move with middling damage over an all-out move that causes damage to the user, like Wild Charge. Staying alive is paramount, as four faints will get you tossed out of the raid den, so moves that heal allies, like Life Dew, can be helpful too–you can only use items from your bag to heal your own Pokemon.

For especially tough raids, you should also take into account the raid Pokemon’s stats–Turtonator, for example, has extremely high defense but much lower special defense (on average), so using special attacks can make all the difference.

Wishing Pieces And Triggering More Raids

Only a few dens in the Wild Area will be “active” at a time. If you want to trigger a raid encounter at an inactive den, you can throw a Wishing Piece in it to instantly spawn a raid Pokemon. You can buy Wishing Pieces from various vendors around the Wild Area–see our guide on Watts and where to spend them for more details.

Each raid den has a set of Pokemon that can spawn there, and some only spawn during specific weather patterns. Wishing Pieces are useful for initiating a raid at a specific den, but if you just want more raids, you can also complete all the existing raids, at which point more will pop up throughout the Wild Area–and at least one should be a strong purple pillar of light, which signals a rare Pokemon.

Rare Pokemon, Gigantamax Forms, And Purple Beams Of Light

The Pokemon you catch in raids are much likelier to have perfect stats and hidden abilities, and the likelihood goes up as the difficulty of the raid goes up. Every five-star raid Pokemon I’ve caught has had several perfect stats, and the maximum I’ve seen is five out of six perfect stats from a raid. You might also see a strong purple pillar of light instead of the usual red one; that means the raid Pokemon there is more likely to be a rare spawn, and there are some rare Pokemon you can only find in raids.

At the five-star tier, you may also encounter Gigantamax Pokemon, which are individual Pokemon of select species that change forms when Dynamaxed. See our Gigantamax guide for more details on how to find these Pokemon.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-sword-and-shield-max-raid-guide/1100-6471678/