Is It Better to Power Up a Shadow Pokémon Before Purifying? A Comprehensive Guide
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No, it is generally not recommended to power up a Shadow Pokémon before purifying it. Purifying a Shadow Pokémon reduces the Stardust and Candy cost required for powering up, evolving, and learning new attacks. Furthermore, purification increases the Pokémon’s IVs, potentially turning a mediocre Shadow into a strong contender. Powering up before purifying wastes resources, as the purified version will be cheaper to improve. Let’s dive deep into the reasoning and the nuances of this decision.
Understanding Shadow Pokémon and Purification
Shadow Pokémon are a unique type of Pokémon in Pokémon GO, obtained by defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders. They possess a significant attack boost (20%) but also suffer from reduced defense. Purification is the process of removing the Shadow influence, transforming the Pokémon into a Purified Pokémon. This process replaces the move Frustration with Return and provides IV boosts, as well as discounts on Candy and Stardust costs.
Why You Shouldn’t Power Up Before Purifying
The primary reason against powering up before purifying boils down to resource management and efficiency. Here’s a breakdown:
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Reduced Costs After Purification: Purifying a Shadow Pokémon significantly reduces the amount of Stardust and Candy required for subsequent power-ups. If you power up a Shadow Pokémon before purification, you’re essentially spending more resources than necessary.
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IV Enhancement: Purification grants a +2 IV boost to each stat (Attack, Defense, HP). This means a Shadow Pokémon with decent IVs can become a near-perfect or even perfect Pokémon after purification. If you invest resources into a Pokémon with potentially low IVs before purifying, you might regret it if purification reveals a much better potential.
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Move Change: Purification replaces Frustration, a generally useless charged move, with Return. While Return isn’t always the best offensive move, it’s often preferable to Frustration. This move change is also a reason to consider purifying earlier rather than later, even though the move itself does not need to be unlocked.
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Combat Power Boost: While purification does result in a Combat Power (CP) boost, this boost is directly tied to the IV improvements and is better achieved after purification. This is because you have access to reduced stardust and candy prices.
When Might You Consider Powering Up a Shadow Pokémon Before Purifying?
While it’s generally discouraged, there are rare exceptions:
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Immediate Need for a Strong Attacker: If you absolutely need a powerful attacker immediately for a raid or battle and you are short on resources and/or time to do a purification and then powering up, you might consider powering up your best Shadow, even knowing the inefficiency. This scenario is rare, as waiting and purifying is generally a more strategic approach. This is because the 20% attack boost is very powerful.
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Strategic Frustration Removal: During special events, players often have the opportunity to TM away Frustration. In cases where a Shadow Pokémon with high IVs has Frustration removed through an event, then you have a viable powerhouse that may not be worth purifying. This is because of the 20% shadow boost. In this scenario, you will get the most value to power up.
Making the Right Decision
Ultimately, the decision to power up before or after purifying depends on your specific situation and goals. However, for most players, purifying first is the most efficient and strategic approach. Consider the following before making a decision:
- Current Resources: How much Stardust and Candy do you have?
- Pokémon’s IVs: Use an appraisal tool to assess the Pokémon’s potential IVs after purification.
- Immediate Needs: Do you need a strong attacker right now, or can you wait?
- Long-Term Goals: Are you aiming for a perfect Pokémon or simply a usable one?
By carefully evaluating these factors, you can make an informed decision that optimizes your resource usage and maximizes your Pokémon’s potential. The Games Learning Society has a ton of valuable resources that I used to learn this information, I highly recommend that you check out GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does purifying a Shadow Pokémon change its moveset?
Yes, purifying a Shadow Pokémon replaces the Charged Attack Frustration with Return.
2. How much does it cost to purify a Shadow Pokémon?
The cost varies depending on the Pokémon. It can range from 1,000 Stardust and 1 Candy for common Pokémon to 20,000 Stardust and 20 Candy for Legendary Pokémon.
3. Do Purified Pokémon perform better in PvP battles?
While Purified Pokémon gain IV boosts, they lose the 20% attack boost that Shadow Pokémon possess. In many cases, the Shadow boost is more valuable than the IV improvements, especially in raids. However, for certain Pokémon and specific PvP strategies, a Purified Pokémon might be preferable.
4. Can a Purified Pokémon be traded?
Yes, unlike Mythical Pokémon, Purified Pokémon can be traded. However, they are still subject to the usual trading restrictions and costs.
5. What are the benefits of having a Shadow Pokémon?
The primary benefit is the 20% attack boost. This makes Shadow Pokémon excellent attackers in raids and PvE content.
6. What are the benefits of having a Purified Pokémon?
Purified Pokémon cost less Stardust and Candy to power up, evolve, and learn new attacks. They also have improved IVs and a unique Charged Attack, Return.
7. Is it possible to get a 100% IV Pokémon by purifying a Shadow Pokémon?
Yes, if a Shadow Pokémon has at least 13 in each IV stat, purification will result in a 100% IV Pokémon.
8. Can a Shadow Pokémon be Lucky? Can a Purified Pokémon be Lucky?
Yes, you can find a Lucky Shadow Pokémon which means that you can have a Lucky Purified Pokémon by trading a shadow. Lucky Pokemon have a IV floor of 12/12/12.
9. Should I keep Shadow Legendary Pokémon?
Generally, yes. Shadow Legendary Pokémon are often highly valuable due to their enhanced attack power. Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Lugia, and Shadow Ho-Oh are particularly sought after.
10. Is a zero-star Shadow Pokémon worth keeping?
It depends. If it has decent CP and attacks, the Shadow boost might make it useful despite the low IVs. However, if it has very low CP and IVs, it might be better to purify it for the cost reduction and IV improvement.
11. How does the Shadow boost affect damage output?
The Shadow boost increases attack damage by 20% but reduces defense. This makes Shadow Pokémon glass cannons – powerful attackers but more vulnerable to damage.
12. Are Shadow Pokémon better than Mega Pokémon?
Mega Pokémon are generally stronger than Shadow Pokémon due to their significantly higher stats and abilities. However, Shadow Pokémon are often more accessible as they don’t require Mega Energy.
13. What are the odds of finding a perfect Shadow Pokémon?
The odds of finding a perfect Shadow Pokémon (15/15/15 IVs) are extremely rare. The odds are a bit less than the odds of finding a perfect non-shadow Pokemon, simply because the catch pool is more specific than just any pokemon.
14. How do I know if a Shadow Pokémon is worth purifying?
Consider its IVs, your current resources, and your immediate needs. If the IVs are low and you need a usable Pokémon quickly, purification might be worthwhile. If the IVs are high and you need a powerful attacker, keeping it as a Shadow might be better.
15. Can I change the Charged Attack of a Shadow Pokémon before purifying it?
Yes, during special events, you can use a Charged TM to remove Frustration. This allows you to give your Shadow Pokémon a more useful Charged Attack before deciding whether to purify it.