Seeing as the two things we know are exclusive to Sword - Bea's Gym and Sirfetch'd - are Fighting-type, it's probably safe to assume Bea will have a Sirfetch'd. So I was thinking perhaps in Shield, Galarian Rapidash will be Psychic/Ghost and Allister will have one?
I don't think they're counterparts to each other, Sirfetch'd and Galarian Rapidash. Rather, I think Allister's signature Pokémon will be something we haven't seen yet.
Even if there was one other non-Kanto regional variant in the game at launch, it would still suck if that was in comparison to like 6-7 Kanto regional variants. It's a big fear for me right now that like 80%-90% of the unrevealed gigantamax and regional forms are Kanto and whatever remaining percentage is going to be the scraps thrown towards gens 2-7.
No, I have a strong feeling they're focusing on Kanto Pokémon because those are the biggest sellers. Generation I has by far the most recognizable Pokémon. Many, many people fell off after that or were not happy with them introducing more Pokémon.
That, and Game Freak is still trying to repair the damage done with
Pokémon Black and White, in which there were a lot of players who were VERY angry they couldn't use their old favorites. To them,
Pokémon Black and White was like playing a new Street Fighter game, except it begins with 30 new fighters and old favorites like Ryu, Guile, and Zangief have to be unlocked by playing for many hours. Love it or hate it, Pikachu, Meowth, and Charizard are the Ryu, Guile, and Zangief of Pokémon.
On a side not I feel the reason we have seen mostly Kanto stuff again is purely marketing reasons. Which is to say there probably are new non Kanto forms, both Galarian and other but they are keeping Mum about it until the games come out. Because of previous marketing not just to people who grew up with Gen 1 but also because of the Let's go Eevee and Pikachu games which were used to gather interest from the people who joined playing Pokemon via Pokemon go. My other reason for believing this because of the route the anime seems to be taking. They don't just show Galar and Kanto in that poster for the anime after all. So at the very least I am expecting to see some from at least gens 2 and 3. Maybe 4 because of them being the next due remakes. With then maybe added forms for other gens in later games or even in those remakes depending how much Gamefreak want to mix things up.
As for Pokemon I would like to see get new forms:
Houndour line: the lack of seeing it worries me but ever since mega forms it has sort of been paired with the Electrike line as a version exclusive. Also there are a lot of ghost or what are referred to as black dogs in British folklore. Such as Church Grimm, Padfoot (you can tell where J.K got some of her mythos from), Muckle Black Tyke and Gwyllgi just to list four of them. So I would like to see it gain the ghost type, either becoming our second water/ghost line or maybe becoming pure ghost. Maybe our first ghost/rock type. Though this might not fit as well depending which one they base it off of.
Ducklett line: the only Pokemon line that game out after gen 3 and the least likely in my opinion on this wish list. We are an island with a lot of different water and costal birds, the Queen and royal family are so attached to Swans it is illegal to hunt or kill a swan as they are protected by the Queen. I feel this should keep the water typing but become part Fairy instead.
Phanpy line: this is partly assuming the mystery Pokemon we saw Chairman Rose throw out is not related to Polteageist is some way. I would love to see something to to recognize the connects and history between Britain and India. Based on the colour ofthe mystery Pokemon and Electirc/fire type would be interesting.
Aron line: in my mind when this line evolves it already looks Knight like. So maybe make it more so and give it Steel/fighting.
As for out new Ponyta form I really love the fact that not only did they surprise a lot of us with the Psychic typing which also makes sense lore wise. As I also thought it would be Fairy type too. But I am excited to see what the new Rapidash looks like.
Exactly. They're promoting the Pokémon that they know have sold games in large quantities in the past. The purpose of putting Gigantamax Pikachu, Eevee, and Charizard (and to a lesser extent Meowth and Butterfree) are to sell to fans of these Pokémon. To that end, it would be pointelss if they were NOT shown off prior to release. They want to excite fans of these Pokémon.
Look at Mega Evolutions. You have favorites like Charizard, Lucario, Gardevoir, and Blaziken getting Mega Evolutions. Then you have mostly forgotten Pokémon like Pinsir (which, might I add, is a Generation I Pokémon), Ampharos, Lopunny, and Altaria getting Mega Evolutions.
I would like an alternate type for Houdour/Houndoom. Gives more type variety and makes it so I can make a better dog-themed team. (This is assuming more Pokémon themed on domesticated dogs get in. So far, we have the Yamper line, the Growlithe line, and the Electrike line. Granbull would be needed for its valuable Fairy-type; as they're based on bulldogs, I'm sure they'll get in. They're also likely to receive a Galarian counterpart (Or Furfrou would get one.)