Should You Evolve a Perfect Shadow Pokémon? A Definitive Guide

The burning question plaguing Pokémon GO trainers everywhere: Should I evolve my perfect Shadow Pokémon? The short answer is: it depends. There’s no universal “yes” or “no.” The decision hinges on your personal play style, your resources, and the specific Pokémon in question. This article will delve deep into the factors you need to consider before making this crucial choice, equipping you with the knowledge to make the best decision for your team.

Understanding Shadow Pokémon Mechanics

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s recap the core mechanics of Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO.

• Damage Boost: Shadow Pokémon receive a significant attack boost (20%), making them formidable attackers in raids and PvP battles.
• Defense Reduction: Conversely, their defense is reduced (20%), making them glass cannons – dealing high damage but being more vulnerable.
• Frustration: Shadow Pokémon initially know the Charged Attack Frustration, which is generally weak and undesirable.
• Purification: Purifying a Shadow Pokémon removes Frustration and replaces it with Return, a Charged Attack exclusive to purified Pokémon. It also grants a +2 boost to each Individual Value (IV) stat.
• Cost: Shadow Pokémon cost significantly more Stardust and Candy to power up and evolve than their regular counterparts.

The Allure of a Perfect Shadow

Finding a perfect IV (15/15/15) Shadow Pokémon is akin to discovering a legendary artifact. These are incredibly rare and represent the pinnacle of Shadow Pokémon potential. The temptation to evolve it immediately is understandable, but restraint and careful consideration are crucial.

Why Evolving is Appealing

• Raw Power: A perfect Shadow Pokémon evolved to its final form boasts an astronomical attack stat. In some cases, it will outperform even regular Pokémon with perfect IVs.
• Raid Domination: Shadow Pokémon excel in raids. Evolving your perfect Shadow can create a raid boss demolisher, capable of significantly reducing your team’s reliance on revives and potions.
• Legacy Moves: If the Pokémon has access to powerful legacy moves when evolved, the combination of shadow bonus and a strong move makes it an absolutely elite attacker.

Why You Might Hesitate

• Resource Intensive: Evolving and powering up a Shadow Pokémon, especially a perfect one, is an enormous investment of Stardust and Candy.
• Frustration Removal: You often need to wait for a special event to remove Frustration via a Charged TM. Evolving before removing it is generally unwise.
• Defensive Weakness: The reduced defense of Shadow Pokémon makes them less versatile in some PvP formats and situations where survival is paramount.
• Mega Potential: If the Pokémon has a Mega Evolution, you may want to purify it instead. While Shadow Pokémon deal more damage, Mega Evolution can be very useful too.
• Rarity: Sometimes, the sheer rarity of a perfect Shadow Pokémon leads trainers to keep it as is, as a trophy.

Deciding Whether to Evolve: Key Considerations

Here’s a breakdown of the questions you should ask yourself:

1. What Pokémon is it? Some Pokémon are naturally more attack-oriented and benefit more from the Shadow boost. Others need the extra defense to be viable. Machop, Larvitar, Bagon, and Belldum are all excellent choices for Shadow evolution due to their powerful evolved forms and offensive capabilities. On the other hand, Pokémon with already low defense stats might become too fragile.
2. What are its available moves? Research the best moveset for the evolved form. If the ideal moves are legacy moves, the decision becomes more complex. You may need an Elite TM or potentially wait for a special event where legacy moves are temporarily available.
3. What is your Stardust and Candy situation? Be honest with yourself. Do you have the resources to fully power up the evolved form? If not, it might be better to focus on other Pokémon first.
4. What are your goals in Pokémon GO? Are you primarily a raid attacker, a PvP enthusiast, or a collector? This will influence the relative importance of the Shadow boost versus other factors.
5. Does it Mega Evolve? Some Pokémon have mega evolutions. In this case, you may be better off purifying the Pokémon as Shadows cannot mega evolve. Mega Evolutions offer more utility through additional CP and bonuses, and can often be a better choice overall.

Practical Scenarios and Recommendations

• Perfect Shadow Machop/Larvitar/Bagon/Belldum: Evolve without hesitation (after removing Frustration). These Pokémon become absolute raid monsters. Prioritize powering them up.
• Perfect Shadow Pokémon with excellent PvP potential but marginal raid utility: Evaluate your PvP needs and resource availability. The Shadow boost can be advantageous in specific PvP formats, but the defensive weakness may be a drawback. If you need the move Return for PVP, purify it.
• Perfect Shadow Pokémon with a Mega Evolution: Give it a serious thought. Mega Evolutions can be better than Shadow Pokemon, so purifying it is an option you should consider.
• Perfect Shadow Pokémon with low base stats: Consider keeping it as a trophy or purifying it. The Shadow boost might not be enough to make it competitive.
• Unsure? Hold onto it! The game is constantly evolving. New moves, mechanics, and raid bosses are introduced regularly. The ideal use for your perfect Shadow Pokémon might become clearer in the future.

Final Verdict

Evolving a perfect Shadow Pokémon is a significant decision. Weigh the potential benefits against the resource costs and your personal goals in Pokémon GO. Research movesets, evaluate your Stardust and Candy reserves, and consider the long-term impact on your team. With careful planning and informed choices, you can unlock the true potential of your perfect Shadow Pokémon and dominate the game!

Consider connecting with fellow Pokémon GO enthusiasts at the Games Learning Society community, where you can discuss strategies and learn from experienced players. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to join the conversation!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of evolving Shadow Pokémon:

1. If you evolve a Shadow (Unpurified) Pokémon will it still evolve and keep the Shadow aura around it?

Yes, if you evolve a Shadow Pokémon without purifying it, it will evolve into its next form while retaining the Shadow aura and the attack/defense modifiers.

2. Is purifying a Shadow Pokémon a better idea than keeping it the way it is?

Not always. Purifying increases IVs and reduces power-up costs but removes the significant attack boost. It depends on the specific Pokémon and your goals (raid attacker vs. PvP battler vs. collector).

3. Should I purify a perfect Shadow Pokémon?

This is highly debated. For raid attackers, probably not, as the attack boost is invaluable. For PvP or if the Pokémon has a mega evolution, purifying may be preferable.

4. How rare is a perfect Shadow Pokémon?

The odds of finding a perfect Shadow Pokémon are extremely low. Factoring in the rarity of Shadow Pokémon and perfect IVs, it’s a very uncommon occurrence. The odds of a “ShaShundo” (Shiny Shadow Hundo) are estimated to be around 1 in 25,000,000.

5. Should I purify a Shadow Pokémon to get a perfect IV?

Purifying will add 2 IVs to each stat. So, a Shadow Pokémon with 13/13/13 IVs will become a perfect 15/15/15 when purified. If you are close and think it is worth it, then yes.

6. Are Shadow Pokémon better than 100% IV regular Pokémon?

In terms of damage output, often yes. A 0 IV Shadow Pokémon can often outdamage a 100% IV regular Pokémon due to the attack boost. However, the decreased defense must be factored in.

7. Should I purify a perfect Pokémon?

If you are starting with a perfect Pokémon (15/15/15), purifying it will not improve its IVs further as they are already maxed out. It will simply change its form and ability.

8. Are Hundos rarer than Shinies?

Generally, Hundos are rarer than standard Shinies in most situations, especially from legendary raids and research encounters.

9. Will it be a Hundo if I purify it?

Yes, purifying a Shadow Pokémon adds +2 to each IV stat. If a Shadow Pokémon has 13/13/13 IVs, it becomes a 100% IV Pokémon when purified.

10. Can you get a 100% Shadow Pokémon?

Yes, it is possible, although very rare. The minimum IVs for a Shadow Pokemon found in the wild are all zeros; however, weather boosted Shadow Pokémon are at Level 13 and can have high IVs.

11. Should I power up before evolving?

It makes no difference in the final Combat Power (CP). The CP is determined by the base stats of the Pokémon, its level, and its IVs. Evolving changes the base stats, but not the level or IVs.

12. Can you evolve Shadow Pokémon without purifying?

Yes, you can evolve Shadow Pokémon without purifying them first. There is a small benefit of doing so as it is the only way to fill the evolved form’s purified dex entry.

13. Is it better to power up then evolve or evolve then power up?

Evolve first. This is because you want to check the moveset. If it’s not a good moveset, you can find another Pokemon. It will also not change the CP.

14. How rare is a 1% IV Pokémon in Pokémon GO?

The chances of finding a perfect IV Pokémon in the wild is 1 in 4,096, so a 1% would be extremely rare.

15. Is there any benefit to keeping all Shadow Pokémon?

Yes, they can be useful for the increased attack stats, but at the cost of decreased defensive stats. For some trainers, these stronger attacks are well worth the tradeoff.