Is It Better to Leave Pokemon Unpurified? The Ultimate Pokémon GO Guide

In most cases, yes, it is generally better to leave Pokémon unpurified in Pokémon GO. The 20% damage bonus Shadow Pokémon receive far outweighs the benefits of purification for most players, especially those focused on raids, gym battles, and PvP. While purification offers a few advantages, such as reduced stardust and candy costs for powering up and evolving, along with a guaranteed IV boost, the significant damage increase provided by Shadow Pokémon usually makes them the superior choice for battling. However, there are certain edge cases where purification might be the preferred option. Let’s delve deeper into the nuances of this critical decision.

Understanding the Shadow Advantage: Damage vs. Defense

The core of the argument lies in the Shadow bonus. Shadow Pokémon deal 20% more damage but take 20% more damage as well. This trade-off is significant. In Player vs. Environment (PvE) scenarios, such as raids and gym battles, the increased damage output is almost always more valuable than the reduced defense. Raids are often races against the clock, and dealing more damage faster is crucial. Even in gyms, defeating opponents quickly minimizes the damage taken overall.

In Player vs Player (PvP) battles, the answer is more nuanced. Because the damage buff and the vulnerability debuff cancel each other out for damage dealt to you, some shadow Pokémon are preferred because of their faster damage output, and some standard or purified Pokémon are preferred for their greater ability to withstand incoming damage, depending on the specific Pokémon, its moveset, and the overall strategy.

When to Consider Purification: The Exceptions

Despite the general rule, some scenarios might warrant purifying a Pokémon. Here are some of them:

• Cost Reduction: Purification reduces the stardust and candy cost for powering up and evolving the Pokémon. This can be a significant advantage for players with limited resources, especially for rare or legendary Pokémon.
• IV Improvement: Purifying a Pokémon boosts each of its IVs by two. This means a Shadow Pokémon with 13/13/13 IVs will become a 100% IV perfect Pokémon upon purification. If you have a Shadow Pokémon that is close to being perfect and you prioritize having a hundo (100% IV) over the Shadow bonus, purification could be worthwhile.
• Specific Pokémon: Some Pokémon perform relatively poorly as Shadow Pokémon due to their move sets, stats, or typings. These might be better off purified, particularly if the IV boost pushes them into a more competitive range.
• Replacing Frustration: Shadow Pokémon initially know the charged move Frustration, which is a poor move. You can only remove Frustration during special Team GO Rocket events. Purification automatically replaces Frustration with Return, which may be better in some situations.
• Collection and Personal Preference: Some players prioritize collecting 100% IV Pokémon or simply prefer the aesthetic of purified Pokémon. If this aligns with your personal goals in the game, then purification is a valid choice.

Examining the Purified Move: Return

Return is a Charged Attack that is exclusive to purified Pokémon. The quality of Return varies from Pokémon to Pokémon and even depends on context in PVE and PVP environments. In many cases, purified Pokémon will benefit by immediately using a Charged TM to replace the Return move.

Evaluating Your Shadow Pokémon: A Step-by-Step Approach

Before deciding whether to purify a Shadow Pokémon, consider these factors:

1. Pokémon Species: Research whether the Pokémon is valuable as a Shadow. Some Pokémon gain a more significant benefit from the Shadow bonus than others. Look for strong attackers with good move sets.
2. Current IVs: Use the in-game appraisal tool to check the Pokémon’s IVs. If it has high Attack IVs, keeping it as a Shadow is generally preferable. If it has low IVs across the board and you don’t plan to invest heavily in it, purification might be considered for the cost reduction and potential IV improvement.
3. Team GO Rocket Events: Always wait for a Team GO Rocket event to remove Frustration before deciding on purification. This allows you to replace Frustration with a better move via a Charged TM if you choose to keep it as a Shadow.
4. Your Play Style: Are you a hardcore raider focused on maximizing damage output? Or a casual player who prioritizes collecting hundos and saving resources? Your play style will influence your decision.
5. Resources: Do you have abundant stardust and candy, or are you constantly struggling to power up your Pokémon? The cost reduction associated with purification can be significant.
6. Future Proofing: Consider the potential for future move updates or changes to the game mechanics. A Pokémon that is currently mediocre might become valuable in the future.

Common Misconceptions About Shadow and Purified Pokémon

• Purified Pokémon are always weaker: This is not true. While they lack the Shadow bonus, they can still be powerful, especially if they have perfect IVs or are a species that doesn’t benefit much from the Shadow boost.
• All Shadow Pokémon are worth keeping: This is also false. Some Shadow Pokémon are simply not viable due to poor stats, move sets, or typings.
• Purification is irreversible: Once a Pokémon is purified, you cannot revert it back to a Shadow. Therefore, make sure you’ve made the right decision.
• CP is the only thing that matters: CP is a general indicator of a Pokémon’s strength, but IVs, move sets, and the Shadow bonus all play crucial roles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Purifying Pokémon

1. Is it better to purify a legendary Shadow Pokémon?

Generally, no. Legendary Pokémon tend to be strong attackers, and the Shadow bonus amplifies their damage output even further. The resource savings from purification are often outweighed by the loss of damage.

2. Can I trade a Shadow Pokémon?

No. Shadow Pokémon cannot be traded to other players. However, purified Pokémon can be traded.

3. Does purifying a Pokémon change its type?

No. Purification does not change a Pokémon’s type.

4. What happens to Frustration when I purify a Pokémon?

Frustration is automatically replaced with Return upon purification.

5. Is Return a good move?

The usefulness of Return varies from Pokémon to Pokémon, and in many cases is not a particularly good move.

6. How do I remove Frustration from a Shadow Pokémon?

You can only remove Frustration during special Team GO Rocket events. These events typically occur several times a year. During the event, you can use a Charged TM to replace Frustration with another move.

7. Should I evolve a Shadow Pokémon before or after removing Frustration?

You must remove Frustration before evolving a Shadow Pokémon if you want to optimize its move set. If you evolve it with Frustration, you will be stuck with that move until the next Team GO Rocket event.

8. Do purified Pokémon get any special bonuses other than reduced cost and IV boost?

No. The main benefits of purified Pokémon are the reduced stardust and candy cost for powering up/evolving, and the IV boost.

9. Is a 0-star Shadow Pokémon worth keeping?

It depends on the Pokémon. A 0-star Shadow Pokémon of a strong attacker is still usually better than a high-IV normal version due to the damage bonus. The best decision depends on your personal goals and the Pokémon in question.

10. Should I keep one of every Shadow Pokémon?

This depends on your play style and storage space. If you are a collector, you might want to keep one of each. However, if you are limited on space, prioritize Shadow Pokémon that are strong attackers or have the potential to be useful in raids or gyms.

11. Are Shadow Pokémon weaker in gyms due to their reduced defense?

While they take more damage, the increased damage output often allows them to defeat gym defenders more quickly.

12. Can Shadow Pokémon be shiny?

Yes. You can encounter shiny Shadow Pokémon during battles with Team GO Rocket leaders and Giovanni.

13. Does purifying a Shadow Pokémon make it easier to catch in raids?

No. Purification has no effect on the catch rate of Pokémon in raids.

14. Where can I find more information about Pokémon GO strategies?

Visit reputable Pokémon GO resource websites and communities, such as GamePress or Reddit’s r/PokemonGO. You can also check out academic research related to gaming and learning on websites like Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, though these sites may not have direct Pokémon GO content.

15. Does it matter if I power up a Pokémon before or after evolving it?

No. The final CP of a Pokémon is determined by its base stats, level, and IVs. Evolving a Pokémon only changes the base stats, not the level or IVs. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you power it up before or after evolving.

Conclusion: Make an Informed Choice

The decision of whether to purify a Shadow Pokémon is a complex one with many factors to consider. In general, keeping Pokémon as Shadow Pokémon is often the best strategy due to the 20% damage bonus. However, the exceptions highlighted in this guide demonstrate that a nuanced approach is necessary. Consider your play style, resource availability, the specific Pokémon, and its IVs before making a final decision. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can make informed choices that will help you maximize your effectiveness in Pokémon GO.