With the dreaded Dexit cuts to the base game of Sword & Shield, many fan-favorites and competitively viable Pokémon were cut from the series — seemingly permanently. Fortunately, though, the new expansion that just released, the Isle of Armor, has brought back just over a hundred older-generation Pokémon that did make it into the base game.
The most recent generation before this one, Generation VII, in Alola, lost a surprising amount of representation given its recent release. However, a handful of Alolan Pokémon have reappeared in the Isle of Armor. Unfortunately, it's only a few. Here are all of the Pokémon originally discovered in the Alola Region that have returned as part of the Isle of Armor.
Note: Magearna has returned as an available Pokémon, but is currently only obtainable via Pokémon HOME transfer.
5 Fomantis and Lurantis
Serving as one of the Totem Pokémon in the Island Trials, Lurantis is a Grass-type Pokémon that resembles an Orchid Mantis and other types of insects, as well as some flowers. This pink Pokémon was the Totem Pokémon for Mallow's Grass Trial on Akala Island in the Lush Jungle.
Lurantis evolves from Fomantis, a smaller green and white Grass-type. Fomantis will evolve at level 34 in the daytime. Find it in the Fields of Honor, Soothing Wetlands, Challenge Beach, or the Forest of Focus during Intense Sun. It won't appear at all in other weather conditions. If you don't feel like finding a Fomantis to evolve, Lurantis can also be found. Head to the Forest of Focus or Challenge Beach during Intense Sun and it may be wandering around as a strong encounter.
4 Comfey
Taking over some of Chansey and Blissey's responsibilities as an assistant in the Pokémon Centers to Nurse Joy is Comfey. It takes on this role because of its natural healing powers. In Sun and Moon, Comfey could be found in the Lush Jungle, similar to Fomantis and Lurantis. Comfey was unfortunately cut from Sword & Shield in the base game but has since made its appearance on the Isle of Armor.
If you're looking to find a Comfey for yourself, it's not too difficult. In basically any weather, Comfey can be found as a wandering spawn in a few places: The Fields of Honor, Soothing Wetlands, Forest of Focus, Challenge Beach, Training Lowlands, Insular Sea, or Honeycalm Island. Note that some of these places require it to be Foggy. Comfey does not evolve into any other Pokémon, so its evolutionary family's Dex section will be pretty easy to fill in.
3 Sandygast and Palossand
One of the most interesting concepts for a Pokémon design in recent memory is Sandygast, which is based on a possessed sandcastle. Its evolution, Palossand, takes the concept even further, resembling a large sand sculpture that might win your local sandcastle building competition. These Ground/Ghost-types are pretty creepy, draining smaller Pokémon of their life force and keeping their bones hidden underneath themselves. Regardless of their horrific natures, these two are pretty cool Pokémon that were initially found in the Alola Region.
On the Isle of Armor, you can now find these two after they were cut as part of Dexit. Head to Loop Lagoon and you should see plenty of Sandygast roaming around the beaches. Palossand can also be found here under most weather conditions as a strong wandering spawn.
2 Rockruff and Lycanroc
One of the more shocking cuts from the past generations in Sword & Shield was the Rockruff line, originally introduced in Alola. These fan-favorite Pokémon were popular for their designs and competitive viability. The developers even seem to push these as some of the unofficial mascots of Generation VII. However, they were sorely missed in Gen VIII. Luckily, they've made a return in the Isle of Armor DLC. Now, Rockruff and its evolution Lycanroc — in all three of its available forms — can be found.
To find a Rockruff, simply take a walk around, as they're very common. This small Rock-type dog can be found in the Fields of Honor, Soothing Wetlands, Challenge Road, or Loop Lagoon in a wide variety of weather conditions. Evolve it into one of its three forms by leveling it up under certain conditions, or catch them in the wild where they can be found as a wandering spawn. To evolve Rockruff into Midday or Midnight Lycanroc, level it up in the day or night, respectively. For Dusk Form, evolve a Rockruff with the ability Own Tempo between 7 p.m. and 7:59 p.m.
1 Alolan Forms
Before there were Galarian forms for many Pokémon, there were Alolan forms. These regional forms were entirely for Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region. In Alola, they have different physiology, appearances, and typing. Some of the Kanto Pokémon that were reintroduced as part of the Isle of Armor expansion are the ones that received Alolan forms in Generation VII. These include Exeggutor, Sandshrew, Sandslash, and Marowak.
These Alolan forms, which are now available to players of the expansion, can all be found through the same method. The Diglett Master will give out these Alolan forms after returning certain numbers of his Diglett — 30 for Sandshrew, 50 for Marowak, and 75 for Exeggutor. Sandshrew can then be evolved with an Ice Stone into Alolan Sandslash.