Pokemon Sword and Shield are the two newest titles in the franchise. It is coming out on November 15th, 2019 for the Nintendo Switch. This new generation of Pokemon is making changes to the franchise and is bound to catch the interest of new and old fans alike. It has many more online components built into the game and it has a new free roaming world component. This being said, there is bound to be issues with lag in the game. Since some of the battles are timed, lag could hurt your chances of winning. A VPN can help you fix this and more. If you connect to a VPN location close to the game server then you can reduce lag, improve ping, and protect yourself from DDoS attacks.
People who find that their game is blocked at school or work can get past the firewall restrictions using a VPN. You can also get around the geographic restrictions put in place. This means you can catch Pokemon that are only available at a specific time of year or day by changing locations. You can also play with friends from other countries. Please join us as we tell you the best VPN for Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield.
Pokemon Sword and Shield VPN Quickstart
Here is a quick guide to get you started playing Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield with a VPN.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Download the ExpressVPN app and connect to a server in the region you wish to play in.
- Console users can set up the ExpressVPN MediaStreamer feature to change your DNS location. Otherwise you can run the VPN through your router.
- Launch the game and enjoy!
Pokemon Shield and Sword Game Info
Before I get into the best VPNs for Pokemon Sword and Shield let me tell you about the game. Pokemon Sword and Shield takes place in the Galar Region. This is a new place in the Pokemon world that has a lot of things to add to the series. Firstly, the wild areas are free roaming regions that have different Pokemon in them depending on the weather in the area. These regions connect all the cities and there are a wide variety of Pokemon to encounter. The second new thing is the Dynamax, which is an ability that will increase the stats and attacks of your Pokemon and supersize them. This ability can be used once every battle. One of the most important changes is the new Pokemon. In this generation you can choose from the grass type Grooke, fire type Scorbunny, or water type Sobble as your stater.
As for online play you can take to battling trainers. You can also trade with others online. This will let you get the Pokemon exclusive to each game. A new mode that combines team battles and Dynamax with online play is Max Raid Battles. Up to four team mates can find a raid battle and challenge a giant Pokemon. These are very powerful and teamwork is necessary. These Pokemon will be very powerful and if you win then you have a chance at catching them.
Game Server Locations
Nintendo seems to use Google to host their game servers. This is great as Google Cloud servers are located very close to ExpressVPN’s servers. We recommend connecting to a VPN server in Kansas City, Atlanta, Singapore, Amsterdam, or London for the best performance.
Here are the best VPNs to use with Pokemon Sword and Shield.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our choice for best VPN. It allows you to unblock content from all over the world. You will be able to play with friends from completely different regions. You can also get around geo-restrictions to play any games. Split tunneling will allow you to select which apps pass through the VPN connection. ExpressVPN has 160 server locations across 94 countries. It will allow you to play in regions that you would not normally be able to. If you want a harder gaming experience, the Asian servers host some of the most hardcore gamers. ExpressVPN will mask you location, while allowing you to unblock content around the world.
ExpressVPN is an excellent service to use when gaming. They help you gain discounts and early access to new titles. ExpressVPN provides extra protection against DDoS attacks and reduces lag. All our readers will be happy to learn that we have an exclusive discount for you to use. ExpressVPN will give you 49% off a year of VPN and receive another 3 months of VPN for free. This is coupled with their 30 day money back guarantee so you can test out the service for a month and see how it can improve your online experience.
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is another great choice for gaming online. They might not have performed quite as well as ExpressVPN in our test, but they still offer fast gaming at an affordable price. Like many VPN companies, NordVPN prioritizes privacy. They will encrypt your data and protect you from DDoS attacks. NordVPN has servers in 59 countries, which means most of your major gaming regions are covered. They also have an easy to use app for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. Those who have a more technical background can run NordVPN through their router to play on consoles like Xbox One, PS4, or Nintendo Switch. It helps to have DD-WRT or Tomato firmware on your router. NordVPN is an excellent choice, but takes a little more technical background for console users.
NordVPN is a reliable VPN service that values privacy. You can feel safe knowing that your data will be encrypted while connecting to one of their over 5000 servers located globally. Take advantage of regional game discounts and use the service across multiple devices at once. NordVPN also has 24/7 support if you ever need more help. This includes lice chat support for quick answers. They will also give you a 30 day back guarantee. I hope you enjoy using NordVPN when gaming.
3. Private Internet Access
PIA is our third option for great VPNs to use when gaming online. Private Internet Access will help you avoid ISP throttling. This occurs when a server gives your traffic lower priority. They will also help you gain access to regionally restricted DLC, games, and content. PIA will give you an IP in the location where it is unblocked and keep your identity anonymous. This can also be used to take advantage of regional price differences. Many times countries have limited editions of games that give you extra benefits, while others just simply pay less for titles. Australia is not a good country to connect to for taking advantage of price differences, but its is great for gaining access to games early.
Private Internet Access is an affordable VPN that keeps you protected. You can improve your gaming experience by avoiding ISP throttling. PIA can also help you take advantage of regional price differences through connecting to one of their over 3000 servers across 48 countries. PIA has a 30 day money back guarantee. This will give you a chance to see all of the benefits a VPN can bring to your gaming experience. One of PIA’s biggest goals is that you are safe online. Their VPN service will protect you from DDoS attacks.
Why are Games Blocked at School or Work?
Most gamers have experienced the frustration of network restrictions. Whether it’s a firewall at school or work, you will find that popular game servers and social media sites are often blocked. A VPN will hide your traffic so that the network can not detect that you are playing a game or visiting your favorite sites like YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, etc. The VPN will encrypt your data which will stop it from being blocked by your network administrator.
Why is the Game Restricted by Region?
You will find that many games (and streaming sites like Netflix) have set restrictions based on the region of the world you are in. For example, Rainbow Six has servers in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Players are restricted to playing in their own region. What if you want to play with friends in another country? The solution is to use a VPN. Simply connect to a VPN server in the region you wish to play in. Preferably as close to the game server as possible for the best performance. You can also use a VPN to buy and play games that are not otherwise available in your region.
Not All VPNs Support Fast Online Gaming
It doesn’t help to have a VPN that won’t place you in the proper geographic region or isn’t fast enough for gaming. There are literally hundreds of VPN services that won’t cut it for online gaming. There are very few that support the speeds necessary to fix lag issues and provide the proper IP location. The key is using a leading VPN and making a connection close to the game server you wish to play on. The difference in routing can boost your speed. We recommend using ExpressVPN for the best performance.
