Shadow Pokémon are a special typing within Pokémon Go. Here is everything a beginner would need to know about them.
While there are many different types of Pokémon that appear in Pokémon GO, the Shadow type Pokémon operate differently than the others. Originally appearing in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Shadow Pokémon are Pokémon that have been stripped of their emotions, making them into cold-hearted creatures designed specifically for battling.
Shadow Pokémon certainly look cool, but it is important to understand how they function and what makes them different. As trainers encounter Shadow Pokémon, they are forced to make a number of decisions such as whether or not to purify the Pokémon and whether or not the Pokémon is worth powering up.
In Pokémon GO, Shadow Pokémon are Pokémon that have been altered by Team GO Rocket. As a result, these Pokémon are surrounded by a dark aura and have red, angry eyes. While battling Team GO Rocket, trainers will find that enemy Shadow Pokémon are more powerful than regular Pokémon due to their modification.
These Shadow Pokémon possess a unique Charged Attack called Frustration. Unless specified by an event, this attack cannot be changed using a TM. The only way to change the Charged Attack is through purification.
After defeating Team GO Rocket in a battle, trainers are rewarded with special capture balls, called Premier Balls, based on the trainer's performance in the battle. The trainer is then able to use these Premier Balls to attempt to catch the Shadow Pokémon.
Typically, the Shadow Pokémon that trainers will have the chance to catch will be one of the Pokémon they just battled against and has been left behind by Team GO Rocket after their defeat. Trainers will not be able to retain the leftover Premier Balls.
Once a trainer has caught a Shadow Pokémon, they have the ability to purify it, if they so choose. The trainer can select the Shadow Pokémon and click the purify option.
In order to purify the Shadow Pokémon, the trainer will need to spend a certain amount of Stardust and Candy, with the amount depending on the specific Pokémon. Once the Pokémon has been purified, it will no longer be surrounded by the dark aura and will instead be surrounded by sparkles to reflect its new status as a purified Pokémon.
Shadow Pokémon present a unique decision for trainers to make. Once trainers have rescued Shadow Pokémon from Team GO Rocket, they will need to determine what to do with their new Pokémon.
Trainers can either keep the Pokémon as it is, or they can purify them. Shadow Pokémon have heightened attack stats, receiving a 20% boost during raids and Gym battles, but also experience lowered defensive stats, receiving a 20% reduction. Purified Pokémon receive a stat boost and also get a 10% discount on Stardust and Candy costs for power-ups.
Trainers who choose to keep their Pokémon as Shadow Pokémon will reap the benefits of increased attack stats, but at the cost of decreased defensive stats. For some trainers, these stronger attacks are well worth the tradeoff.
Additionally, there is also the aesthetic benefit for keeping it as a Shadow Pokémon. The dark aura and flaming red eyes are a more intimidating look for Pokémon. Shadow Pokémon also have the added aesthetic benefit of giving Gyms they are placed at a haunting and intimidating appearance.
Because of their unique look and boosted stats, Shadow Pokémon can be an in-demand commodity. However, Shadow Pokémon cannot be traded. This makes the acquisition of a Shadow Pokémon, especially an iconic one like Mewtwo, an encounter that the trainer must experience for themselves.
Unlike Shadow Pokémon, purified Pokémon can be traded. Trainers interested in trading a specific Shadow Pokémon will need to purify that Pokémon before the trade. This difference is an additional factor that trainers must consider when deciding whether or not to purify a Shadow Pokémon.
Lucky Pokémon are Pokémon that require 50% less Stardust in order to power up. This special status allows trainers to power up their Pokémon to its maximum Combat Power as quickly as possible. Pokémon can become Lucky once they have been traded to another trainer.
Because Pokémon become Lucky through trades, and Shadow Pokémon cannot currently be traded, it is no longer possible for Shadow Pokémon to also be Lucky. Although, it used to be possible when Shadow Pokémon were tradable. However, now purified Pokémon can also become Lucky through trading.
Trainers can use their purified Pokémon to battle Shadow Pokémon in either trainer or Gym battles. While it would make some sense that these rescued Pokémon would have an advantage over their Shadow counterparts, purified Pokémon do not currently do more damage to Shadow Pokémon.
This means that there is no advantage to selecting a purified Pokémon over a Shadow or regular Pokémon for a battle against a Shadow Pokémon. However, because of the decreased defensive stats, purified Pokémon will do more damage to Shadow Pokémon than to normal Pokémon.
Because Mewtwo is such a rare Pokémon, it can be difficult and time-consuming to collect enough Candy to power it up. As such, trainers who manage to catch a Shadow Mewtwo may wonder whether it is worth the investment to power it up.
Unlike other Pokémon, Shadow Mewtwo's entire appearance is altered. Additionally, the Shadow boost to Mewtwo's attack stats makes it a powerful option for battles and raids. If a trainer is able to swap Frustration for a different Charged Attack, the choice to power up Shadow Mewtwo becomes even clearer. Powerful and intimidating looking, Shadow Mewtwo is worth powering up.
Purified Pokémon experience decreased Candy and Stardust costs for powering up the Pokémon. Both these costs are reduced by 10% for purified Pokémon. This makes for a good incentive for trainers to purify their Pokémon.
While the aesthetics and attack boosts are an enticing reason to keep a Shadow Pokémon, the decreased cost to power up and the improved defensive stats for purified Pokémon make it a difficult decision between purifying or keeping the Shadow Pokémon. Shadow Pokémon are the better offensive option while purified Pokémon are more well-rounded Pokémon.
