Can a Pokémon Be Purified and Lucky? The Definitive Guide

The short answer is a resounding YES! A Pokémon can indeed be both Purified and Lucky in Pokémon GO. This intriguing combination opens up a world of possibilities for trainers seeking powerful and cost-effective additions to their teams. You first need to acquire a Lucky Shadow Pokémon through trading, and then purify that Pokémon. Understanding the mechanics behind these transformations is key to maximizing your Pokémon GO experience.

Understanding the Mechanics: Lucky, Shadow, and Purified Pokémon

Before diving into the specifics, let’s break down the core concepts:

• Shadow Pokémon: These Pokémon are caught after defeating Team GO Rocket members. They have a distinctive red aura and receive a significant attack boost but also take more damage. They are powerful, but costly to power up.
• Purified Pokémon: By spending Stardust and Candy, you can purify a Shadow Pokémon, removing its Shadow status. This process improves their IVs, replaces the move Frustration with Return, and reduces the cost of powering them up.
• Lucky Pokémon: These are Pokémon that require significantly less Stardust to power up. They are obtained through trades, and both trainers receive Lucky Pokémon in the exchange. Lucky Pokémon also have guaranteed minimum IVs, making them more likely to be strong.

The intersection of these three states creates interesting opportunities and trade-offs.

The Path to a Lucky Purified Pokémon

The journey to a Lucky Purified Pokémon begins with trading. The key steps are:

1. Trade for a Lucky Shadow Pokémon: Trading is the only way to obtain a Lucky Shadow Pokemon. Note that the older the Pokémon being traded, the higher the chance it will become lucky.

2. Purify the Lucky Shadow Pokémon: Once you have a Lucky Shadow Pokémon, you can purify it. This will improve its IVs (increasing each stat by +2) and replace Frustration with Return. Purifying the Pokémon retains its Lucky status.

3. Enjoy the Benefits: The resulting Pokémon will have the advantages of both being Lucky and Purified: reduced Stardust costs for powering up, improved IVs, and the unique move Return.

Is a Lucky Purified Pokémon a Worthwhile Investment?

Whether or not a Lucky Purified Pokémon is a worthwhile investment depends on your priorities.

• Advantages:

  • Reduced Stardust Costs: Lucky Pokémon are significantly cheaper to power up, making them economical choices for leveling up your team.
  • Improved IVs: Purification guarantees a minimum IV floor and adds +2 to each stat, potentially creating near-perfect or perfect Pokémon.
  • Unique Move: Return can be a useful move in certain situations, particularly in PvP battles.

• Disadvantages:

  • Loss of Shadow Bonus: Purifying removes the 20% attack boost that Shadow Pokémon possess.
  • Potential for Better Shadow Pokémon: Some Pokémon are much more valuable as Shadow Pokémon due to the attack boost. Purifying them would be a significant loss of potential damage output.
  • Return is not always ideal: Return is a decent move, but not always the best charged attack for every Pokemon

Practical Considerations

Before embarking on a quest for Lucky Purified Pokémon, consider these points:

• Event Timing: Certain events allow you to remove Frustration from Shadow Pokémon, making them more viable candidates for purification and use in battles. Keep an eye on in-game announcements.
• Pokémon Selection: Not all Pokémon benefit equally from being Shadow or Purified. Research which Pokémon are best suited for each form based on their movesets and stats.
• Stardust Management: While Lucky Pokémon require less Stardust, purification still costs a considerable amount. Manage your resources wisely.
• Trade Limits: There are daily limits on the number of special trades you can perform, which includes trading for Shadow Pokémon with the hopes of them becoming lucky.

The Role of IVs

IVs (Individual Values) play a critical role in determining the strength of a Pokémon. Here’s how they interact with Shadow, Lucky, and Purified Pokémon:

• Shadow Pokémon: Shadow Pokémon have no guaranteed IV floor.
• Lucky Pokémon: Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12.
• Purified Pokémon: Purified Pokémon receive a +2 to each IV stat. This means that a Shadow Pokémon with IVs of at least 13/13/13 will become a perfect 15/15/15 Pokémon when purified. A Lucky Shadow Pokemon is guaranteed to have at least 12/12/12, and will become at least a 14/14/14 purified Pokémon.

Understanding these mechanics is essential for maximizing the potential of your Pokémon.

The Future of Lucky Purified Pokémon

As Pokémon GO continues to evolve, the mechanics surrounding Shadow, Lucky, and Purified Pokémon may change. Keeping abreast of updates and community insights will help you stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions about your team.

Remember to visit the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for more insights into the educational and social aspects of gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Lucky Purified Pokémon:

1. Can a Shiny Pokémon be Lucky?

Yes, a Shiny Pokémon can absolutely be Lucky. This combination is highly sought after by collectors and trainers alike, as it combines the rarity of a Shiny with the cost-saving benefits of being Lucky.

2. Can you Mega Evolve a Purified Pokémon?

Yes, you can Mega Evolve a Purified Pokémon. However, it won’t have the distinctive swirly white aura that regular Mega Evolved Pokémon have.

3. Can Purified Pokémon become 3-Star Pokémon?

Yes, Purified Pokémon can easily become 3-Star Pokémon. The +2 IV boost to each stat upon purification can elevate a 2-Star Shadow Pokémon to a 3-Star rating.

4. Is a 0-Star Shadow Pokémon good?

A 0-Star Shadow Pokémon can still be valuable, especially if it has decent Attack and CP. The Shadow bonus provides a significant damage boost, making it a formidable attacker even with low IVs. Purifying it would eliminate this bonus.

5. What happens if you purify a 4-Star Pokémon?

If you purify a 4-Star (perfect IV) Shadow Pokémon, its IVs remain at 15/15/15, as they are already maxed out. You will still get the benefits of reduced Stardust costs and the move Return.

6. Is a Shadow Pokémon stronger than a Mega Evolved Pokémon?

In general, Mega Evolved Pokémon are stronger than Shadow Pokémon. However, Shadow Pokémon are still incredibly powerful and can be more accessible due to the requirements for Mega Evolution.

7. Is it better to purify or evolve first?

It’s generally better to purify a Pokémon before evolving it. This is because purifying reduces the Candy cost of evolution, and the IV boost will carry over to the evolved form.

8. Are Pokémon stronger when not purified?

In many cases, Shadow Pokémon are stronger than their purified counterparts due to the 20% damage boost. However, this comes at the cost of increased damage taken.

9. Are Lucky Pokémon stronger?

Lucky Pokémon are more likely to be strong due to their guaranteed minimum IVs. They also require less Stardust to power up, making them more efficient to level up.

10. What is a rare Lucky Pokémon?

Legendary Lucky Pokémon are among the rarest and most sought-after Pokémon in the game. They combine the power of Legendaries with the benefits of being Lucky.

11. Should I max CP before evolving?

It doesn’t matter whether you max out a Pokémon’s CP before or after evolving it. The final CP will be the same, as CP is determined by base stats, level, and IVs, none of which are affected by the order of operations.

12. What is the benefit of Shadow Pokémon?

The primary benefit of Shadow Pokémon is the 20% attack damage boost, which makes them exceptional attackers in raids and battles.

13. Why not to purify Pokémon?

The main reason not to purify Pokémon is the loss of the 20% damage bonus. For some Pokémon, this damage boost is more valuable than the IV improvement and reduced Stardust costs.

14. Which Pokémon should you purify?

Pokémon like Rattata, Patrat, Zubat, Magikarp, Starly, and Purrloin are good candidates for purification because they have low purification costs, helping you to level up your Purifier Medal faster.

15. Which Shadow Pokémon should forget Frustration?

Legendary Shadow Pokémon, such as Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Ho-Oh, and Shadow Lugia, should be a priority for removing Frustration, as they are exceptionally powerful attackers.

By understanding these intricacies, you can make informed decisions about your Pokémon GO journey and optimize your team for success.