The much anticipated first part of the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass, The Isle of Armor, is fast approaching. This expansion is set to take place on a beautiful island full of new areas to explore, new trainers to battle and most importantly, new Pokémon to catch. According to the official Pokémon website, the expansion will re-introduce previous generations of Pokémon as well as new regional Pokémon, such as the already announced Galarian Slowpoke.

The real Phanpy in the room, however, is if Eevee will receive a new evolution in the expansion pass. This unique Pokémon has the unique ability to evolve into a variety of different "Eeveelutions" of different types. As of now, there are eight potential types: Water, Fire, Electric, Psychic, Dark, Grass, Ice and Fairy. While this Generation hasn't introduced a new one yet, it would be neat to see the Evolution Pokémon gain at least one new form in these games.

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Until this Generation, there was a pattern in which every other Generation introduced at least one new Eeveelution. After being introduced in the original games, Eevee gained new evolutions in Generations II, IV and VI. After Generation VII continued this trend by not adding a new type, many fans hoped Pokémon Sword and Shield would come with new Eeveelutions, but there were none to be found in the base game. However, with new Pokémon coming in the DLC, it's not out of the question that Eevee could gain at least one new evolution, thereby preserving the pattern.

With eight types already accounted for, a new Eeveelution would have to fall within the 10 remaining types: Bug, Dragon, Fighting, Ground, Rock, Flying, Ghost, Poison and Steel. Considering the setting of Isle of Armor, it seems fitting that a Fighting-type Eevee would be introduced. One of the big draws of Isle of Armor is a Dojo where both trainers and Pokémon can take up an apprenticeship. While it's unclear how the apprenticeship will work, it would be awesome if an Eevee were to evolve at the end of their training into a new Fighting-type variation.

In terms of appearance, perhaps a Fighting-type Eevee could have some kind of gi and headband, like Ryu from Street Fighter. It could also have multiple tails for punches or balance. It might also sport bandages of some kind to represent the grueling training it' has undergone to achieve the pinnacle of fighting form.

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Another Eevee type that could work for the Isle of Armor is a Ground type Eevee, as the island is full of scenic beaches with sand dunes to explore. With all the sand related terrain, it's only natural that an Eevee might adapt to its surroundings. A Ground-type Eevee would probably be a light tan or brown color in order to camouflage itself amidst the wispy sands. It also might posses abnormally large ears to dissipate heat, much like the real world Fennec fox. It could also have a lot of fur around its feet to protect against the heat of the sand and mask its footsteps.

If we don't get a new Eeveelution in the first part of the expansion, perhaps we'll have better luck in the Crown Tundra portion, slated to release in the Fall. At first glance, Crown Tundra's conditions are the polar opposite of the Isle of Armor. While the Isle of Armor has sun-scorched beaches and lush tropical forests, the Crown Tundra has chilled mountain sides and mysterious Pokémon dens. This drastic change in scenery will certainly dictate what kinds of Pokémon players will encounter and what types Eevee might evolve into.

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With the Crown Tundra being so frigid, it'd be easy to predict that Eevee would evolve into an Ice-type, but Eevee already has an Ice-type evolution in Glaceon. However, the Crown Tundra could also be home to a long-requested Eeveelution: a Dragon-type Eevee.

Though we don't know much about the Crown Tundra right now, it has been revealed that players will be able to explore the Pokémon dens that are used for Max Raid Battles in the base game. It's possible that any Eevee exposed to massive doses of Galar Particles could evolve into a Dragon-type. This would fit the Galar region's fairytale theming and match with the Legendary Pokémon most heavily associated with Galar Particles: Eternatus. In terms of appearance, a Dragon-type Eevee could have a more angular shape to its body and develop noticeable fangs and horns.

While new Eeveelutions have not been officially confirmed and we don't yet know if we'll see new Pokémon outside of regional variants and Legendaries, it's definitely within the realm of possibility considering the history of Eevee releases. Based on the themes of Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra, hopefully we'll get to witness a new Fighting, Ground or Dragon type Eevee make its way into our game and hearts.

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