Is Shadow Cradily Good in Pokémon GO?
Yes, Shadow Cradily can be surprisingly good in Pokémon GO, though its effectiveness depends heavily on the context. While not a top-tier meta-defining Pokémon, Shadow Cradily offers a unique blend of bulk and offensive potential, making it a worthwhile consideration for specific situations. It’s essential to look beyond the raw numbers and understand how its movepool, typing, and the Shadow boost combine to create a niche for this fossil Pokémon. Its performance is particularly interesting in the Go Battle League and for some raid scenarios. Shadow Cradily excels at dishing out respectable damage over time, and its bulk gives it surprising staying power. It’s a solid option for trainers looking to shake things up and explore some less mainstream, but powerful, options.
Shadow Cradily: A Deep Dive
The Impact of the Shadow Boost
The cornerstone of any Shadow Pokémon’s value is the 20% attack boost they receive. This comes at the cost of reduced defense, but in many instances, the offensive advantage far outweighs the defensive penalty, especially in raid battles. For Shadow Cradily, this means that its already decent offensive capabilities are significantly enhanced, allowing it to hit much harder with moves like Acid and Grass Knot. The increase in damage output compensates for its slightly lower defensive stats. Shadow Pokémon with any IVs are better than even perfect IVs of their normal forms thanks to this 20% attack boost, thus if you have a Shadow Cradily, keep it Shadow.
Shadow Cradily’s Best Moveset
Currently, the most potent moveset for Shadow Cradily is Acid (a Poison-type fast move) and Grass Knot (a Grass-type charged move), achieving a Damage Per Second (DPS) of 12.25 in neutral weather conditions, with a total damage of 318.23 before fainting. While this is a solid combination, it’s crucial to recognize the importance of move selection depending on the battle environment. Bullet Seed is also a good fast move for quick energy generation and also receives STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) like Grass Knot. In the Go Battle League, a combination of Bullet Seed and Rock Slide can be very effective as well. Although Shadow Cradily does not have access to Seed Bomb or Meteor Beam which would greatly increase its power, it still has a place with its current moves.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Shadow Cradily’s dual typing of Rock and Grass provides a mixed bag of resistances and weaknesses. It’s resistant to Normal, Electric, and Poison-type attacks, as well as some common Ground-type moves. However, its main weaknesses include Fighting, Bug, Ice, and particularly Fire-type attacks. This means that careful team selection and an understanding of the current meta are vital to utilizing it effectively.
Performance in Raids and Go Battle League
In raid battles, Shadow Cradily can fulfill the role of a solid Grass-type attacker, though it’s not a top-tier choice compared to other stronger Shadow Pokémon. It’s more of a budget option or a Pokémon to use when you’re trying to mix things up and have a varied roster. Its bulk allows it to survive for a respectable period, making its damage contribution consistent.
In the Go Battle League, Shadow Cradily can be more impactful, especially at lower levels. The right moves and matchups can allow it to shine against common threats. Rock Slide can hit very hard, and the fast energy generation allows it to use it often.
Not A Meta Breaker
While it is a very solid Pokemon, and in the future it may get buffed with stronger moves, Shadow Cradily is not a meta-defining Pokémon. Its weaknesses are too common to make it dominate battles and its damage is not the best on the meta. However, if used correctly, and especially if your team is constructed with its weaknesses in mind, it can be a powerful addition to your team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Shadow Cradily better than regular Cradily?
Absolutely. The Shadow bonus gives Shadow Cradily a 20% attack boost, which more than compensates for its reduced defense. Even a 0 IV Shadow Cradily will outperform a 100% IV regular Cradily in most PvE scenarios.
2. What is the best moveset for Shadow Cradily in PvE?
The best moveset for PvE is Acid as a fast attack and Grass Knot as the charged attack. This combination provides strong and consistent damage output. Bullet Seed is also a good choice for energy generation and benefits from STAB.
3. Can Shadow Cradily be effective in PvP?
Yes, it can be effective in the Go Battle League, particularly in lower leagues. A combination of Bullet Seed and Rock Slide can deal significant damage and allow for frequent use of charged attacks.
4. Should I purify my Shadow Cradily?
Generally, no. The Shadow bonus is too significant to give up. Purifying it will remove the damage boost and give it a +2 to all IVs. While it will learn the move Return it is not a very good move.
5. Is a 0-star Shadow Cradily worth keeping?
Yes, Shadow Pokémon with low IVs are still worth keeping because of the 20% attack boost. Their performance will likely be better than a normal Pokémon with high IVs.
6. How does Shadow Cradily compare to other Shadow Grass types?
It is not the best Shadow Grass type, but it can hold its own. Pokémon like Shadow Venusaur, Shadow Roserade, or Shadow Exeggutor will outperform it. However, Shadow Cradily’s bulk can be useful in specific situations.
7. How rare is a perfect Shadow Cradily?
The chance of getting a perfect IV Shadow Pokemon (a “ShaShundo”) is very rare, approximately 1 in 25,000,000, making it a very sought-after Pokémon.
8. What are Shadow Cradily’s main weaknesses?
Shadow Cradily’s main weaknesses are Fire, Fighting, Ice, and Bug-type attacks. Be careful not to use it against these types of enemies.
9. Is it worth investing stardust and candies into Shadow Cradily?
If you have a good Shadow Cradily with a good moveset, it can be worth the investment. However, there are better options if you are looking for the highest DPS.
10. What fast move is best for Shadow Cradily for energy generation?
Bullet Seed is the best fast move for energy generation because it generates a lot of energy, while also benefitting from STAB for extra damage.
11. Will Shadow Cradily get new, stronger moves in the future?
It’s possible that Niantic might add stronger moves to Shadow Cradily’s move pool. A move like Seed Bomb or Meteor Beam would significantly increase its viability.
12. How does Shadow Cradily fare against Tyranitar?
Shadow Cradily can have a good match up against Tyranitar using Grass type moves. Tyranitar’s weakness to Grass makes it a suitable target for Shadow Cradily.
13. Is it better to evolve Shadow Cradily then purify it?
It is not better. Always purify your Shadow Pokemon before evolving. This will make the process require less stardust and candy.
14. What are some top tier Shadow Pokemon?
Some of the most powerful Shadow Pokémon include Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Machamp, Shadow Salamence and others that have high base attack stats.
15. Is Shadow Cradily a good choice for a beginner player?
Yes. Shadow Cradily is great for a beginner player looking to add some variety to their team. It can serve as a solid Grass-type attacker and can be used in many raids and Go Battle League matches.
Conclusion
Shadow Cradily is not the absolute best Shadow Pokémon in the game, but it has a solid place in the game. It’s a decent attacker with great bulk. Its value primarily comes from its decent stats, the Shadow bonus, and its unique blend of Grass and Rock-type attacks. Players should make a calculated decision based on their team needs, but it’s definitely worth considering for its unique strengths. With the right moves and strategy, Shadow Cradily can be a formidable addition to any trainer’s roster.