Should I Keep a Shiny Shadow Pokémon? The Ultimate Pokémon GO Guide

Absolutely! If you’ve managed to snag a Shiny Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO, congratulations! You’ve hit the jackpot. The short answer is a resounding YES, keep it! These are incredibly rare and powerful assets in the game, a prized possession for any dedicated trainer. Now, let’s dive into why, and address all your burning questions about these coveted creatures.

Why Keep a Shiny Shadow Pokémon?

Shiny Shadow Pokémon represent a confluence of rarity and power. They combine the visual appeal of a Shiny Pokémon, already a rare find, with the enhanced offensive capabilities of a Shadow Pokémon. This combination creates a highly sought-after and uniquely potent addition to your team.

Here’s a breakdown of the key reasons to cherish your Shiny Shadow Pokémon:

• Rarity: Shiny Pokémon are rare. Shadow Pokémon from Team GO Rocket encounters are also relatively uncommon. Combine the two, and you have a creature that many trainers will never encounter. According to some estimates, the odds of finding a shiny shadow pokemon are around 1.6%, or 0.016. Even fewer trainers will acquire what some call a “ShaShundo” – a Shadow Shiny Pokemon with Perfect IVs.
• Attack Power: Shadow Pokémon receive a significant 1.2x (20%) boost to their attack stat. This makes them deal significantly more damage in raids, Gym battles, and even PvP, effectively turning them into glass cannons.
• Aesthetic Value: Let’s be honest, Shiny Pokémon are cool! The altered color palette adds a unique visual flair. Combine that with the menacing aura of a Shadow Pokémon, and you have a seriously impressive Pokémon to show off in Gyms or when battling friends.
• Exclusivity: Shiny Shadow Pokémon are only obtainable through specific Team GO Rocket encounters, making them unavailable at other times. This limited availability further increases their desirability.
• Irreplaceability: Once you purify a Shadow Pokémon, you can’t revert it back. Purifying a Shiny Shadow Pokémon erases its Shadow bonus and transforms it into a regular Shiny, effectively diminishing its value and combat potential.

Understanding the Tradeoffs: Shadow vs. Purified

While the attack boost of Shadow Pokémon is enticing, it comes at the cost of reduced defense. This makes them more vulnerable in battle, a key factor to consider when team-building. Let’s look at some of the differences between Shadow and Purified Pokemon:

• Shadow Pokémon: Have increased attack but decreased defense, can’t be traded, and require more Stardust and Candy to power up.
• Purified Pokémon: Have balanced stats, can be traded, require less Stardust and Candy to power up, and learn the exclusive move “Return.”

For most players, the increased attack power of a Shadow Pokémon, especially a Shiny one, far outweighs the defensive tradeoff. You can always adjust your battle strategy to compensate for the lower defense, but you can’t artificially boost a Pokémon’s attack stat beyond what the Shadow boost provides.

Ultimately, the decision to keep or purify a Shadow Pokémon depends on your personal play style and goals. However, when dealing with a Shiny Shadow, the community consensus is overwhelmingly in favor of keeping it as is.

FAQs: Your Shiny Shadow Pokémon Questions Answered

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of Shiny Shadow Pokémon:

1. What are the odds of finding a Shiny Shadow Pokémon?

The odds of encountering a Shiny Shadow Pokémon are typically estimated to be around 1 in 64 (approximately 1.6%). This is significantly rarer than standard Shiny encounters in the wild.

2. Can I trade a Shiny Shadow Pokémon?

Unfortunately, no, you cannot trade Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO, regardless of whether they are Shiny or not. This restriction was implemented by Niantic to prevent exploitation and maintain the integrity of the game.

3. Should I purify my Shiny Shadow Pokémon?

Generally, no. Purifying removes the Shadow attack bonus and transforms it into a regular Shiny Pokémon. While Purified Pokémon are easier to power up, the attack boost of a Shadow Pokémon is often considered more valuable. Especially when it’s a shiny.

4. Are Shadow Pokémon always better than regular Pokémon?

Not always. While the attack boost is significant, the reduced defense can make them less viable in certain situations, particularly in Trainer Battles where survivability is crucial. A strong, bulky regular or purified Pokémon may sometimes be a better choice. Also, remember a 0 IV shadow Pokemon has more damage per second than a 100% IV regular Pokemon.

5. Can all Shadow Pokémon be Shiny?

No, only specific Shadow Pokémon available from Team GO Rocket Leaders and certain Grunt encounters can be Shiny. The pool of available Shiny Shadow Pokémon changes periodically.

6. Is it worth keeping a Shiny Shadow Pokémon with bad IVs?

Absolutely. Even with low IVs, the rarity and attack boost of a Shiny Shadow Pokémon make it worth keeping. IVs can be improved through Best Friend trades (although you can’t trade Shadow Pokémon) but the Shadow and Shiny status cannot be acquired later.

7. What happens if I purify a 100% IV Shadow Pokémon?

Purifying a 100% IV Shadow Pokémon results in a 100% IV Purified Pokémon, often referred to as a “Hundo.” While this creates a powerful Purified Pokémon, you lose the Shadow attack bonus. However, some players prefer Hundos for their collection value or specific PvP strategies.

8. How do I get a Shiny Shadow Pokémon?

Shiny Shadow Pokémon are obtained through encounters with Team GO Rocket Leaders (Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra) after defeating them in battle. You must have a Rocket Radar equipped to find these leaders. Keep an eye on Pokémon GO news for announcements about which Shadow Pokémon can be Shiny during specific events. You can ONLY get Shiny Shadows from Grunts, if the said Shiny Shadow has been available earlier from a Rocket Leader!

9. Is it better to evolve a Pokémon before or after powering it up?

In Pokémon GO, it doesn’t matter whether you evolve a Pokémon before or after powering it up. The total cost in Stardust and Candy will be the same, and the final result will be identical. Evolve first if you will be doing it over several days.

10. Do Shiny Pokémon have any gameplay advantages?

No. Shiny Pokémon are purely cosmetic. They do not have any inherent stat advantages over their non-Shiny counterparts.

11. What is the rarest Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO?

The rarest Shiny Pokémon often depend on availability and event exclusivity. However, Pokémon like Unown are consistently among the most sought-after Shiny Pokémon due to their limited availability and the challenge of encountering them.

12. Should I evolve a Shiny Pokémon with bad IVs?

Yes, if you want the shiny Dex entry. IVs don’t matter that much in some cases. You can always re-roll the IVs through a trade if you really want but I honestly don’t think it’s really worth the effort.

13. Can Grunts have Shinies?

You can ONLY get Shiny Shadows from Grunts, if the said Shiny Shadow has been available earlier from a Rocket Leader!

14. Should I keep 0 star shiny pokemon?

A Shiny is not worth transferring even if it has a poor Appraisal. If players don’t have another Pokemon of the same species, it may be worth holding onto the 0-star until it can be replaced by one with a better Appraisal.

15. Should I power up before evolving?

“Is it better to power [Pokemon] up before evolving them or after?” If you’re doing it all at once, it doesn’t matter. The cost to do each will be identical, and you’ll end up with the same Pokemon either way. However, if you’re doing it over the course of several days or more, then evolve first.

Final Thoughts

Shiny Shadow Pokémon are treasures in Pokémon GO, representing both rarity and power. Cherish them, strategize around their strengths and weaknesses, and enjoy the unique flair they bring to your team. Happy catching, Trainers! Also, explore the world of Games Learning Society to learn about the intersection of gaming and education at GamesLearningSociety.org.