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Should I Keep All Purified Pokémon? The Ultimate Pokémon GO Guide

No, you absolutely should not keep all Purified Pokémon. The decision to purify a Shadow Pokémon or not is a nuanced one, heavily dependent on the Pokémon itself, your personal play style, and your goals within the game. While purification offers certain advantages, it often comes at the cost of raw power, making it crucial to weigh the pros and cons carefully. Let’s delve into the intricacies of purification to help you make informed decisions.

Understanding Shadow and Purified Pokémon

The Power of Shadows

Shadow Pokémon are corrupted versions obtained by defeating Team GO Rocket grunts and leaders. Their defining characteristic is a significant attack boost (20%) at the expense of reduced defense. This trade-off makes them glass cannons – capable of dishing out incredible damage but also vulnerable to taking it. For many trainers, especially those focused on Raids and PvE content, this attack boost is invaluable. It allows Shadow Pokémon to out-DPS their regular or Purified counterparts, often by a substantial margin.

The Allure of Purification

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon reverses the corruption, returning it to its normal state. This process offers several benefits:

IV Boost: Each IV stat (Attack, Defense, HP) increases by +2. A Shadow Pokémon with 13/13/13 IVs will become a perfect 15/15/15 IV Pokémon upon purification.
Reduced Cost: Purified Pokémon require less Stardust and Candy to power up, evolve, and learn new moves.
New Move: Return: The Shadow move Frustration is replaced with Return, a Normal-type Charged Attack.
Appraisal Improvement: A 0-star Shadow Pokémon can become a 2-star or 3-star Pokémon after purification.

The Dilemma: Power vs. Perfection

The core question revolves around whether the benefits of purification outweigh the loss of the Shadow attack bonus. For some Pokémon, the answer is a resounding no. Top-tier attackers like Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Tyranitar, and Shadow Metagross are far more valuable as Shadows due to their superior damage output. Purifying them would significantly diminish their usefulness in Raids.

However, there are situations where purification makes sense:

Improving Low-IV Pokémon: If you have a Shadow Pokémon with poor IVs (especially near 0/0/0), purifying it can potentially transform it into a more usable Pokémon, especially for players prioritizing IVs.
Budget Considerations: The reduced cost of powering up Purified Pokémon can be a major advantage for players with limited resources.
PvP Niche: The move Return, while not generally considered top-tier, can have niche uses in PvP, particularly for shield baiting.
Completing Research Tasks: Some research tasks require purifying a certain number of Pokémon, making low-cost options like Shadow Rattata ideal for this purpose.
Collecting Perfect Pokemon: Purifying a shadow Pokemon can provide a chance to collect a perfect IV (15/15/15) Pokemon.

Specific Scenarios: To Purify or Not to Purify?

Legendary Shadows: Generally, never purify Legendary Shadow Pokémon unless the IVs are truly abysmal and you have no intention of using it for Raids. The Shadow boost is too valuable to lose.
Rare Shadows: High demand shadows are generally better left unpurified, due to their overall value to teams.
Shadow Pokémon with High IVs: If you have a Shadow Pokémon with already good IVs (10/10/10 or higher), think carefully before purifying. The IV boost might not be worth the attack reduction.
Common Shadows: Shadows like Zubat, Rattata, and Poochyena are often purified due to their low cost and limited usefulness as Shadows.
Regice, Registeel, and Regirock: Shadow versions of these Pokemon have niche viability; you can keep or purify them depending on playstyle.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. Consider your resources, your goals, and the specific Pokémon in question. Don’t be afraid to experiment, but always weigh the potential consequences before hitting that “Purify” button.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it always better to keep Shadow Pokémon unpurified?

Not always. While Shadow Pokémon generally deal more damage, the benefits of purification (IV boost, reduced cost) can be significant, especially for Pokémon with low IVs or for trainers on a budget. Top tier raid attackers are better unpurified.

2. What happens when you purify a Shadow Pokémon?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon increases its IVs (Attack, Defense, HP) by +2 each, replaces the move Frustration with Return, and reduces the Stardust and Candy cost for powering up, evolving, and learning new moves.

3. Can a Purified Pokémon become perfect (100% IV)?

Yes. If a Shadow Pokémon has at least 13 in each IV stat (Attack, Defense, HP), it will become a perfect 15/15/15 IV Pokémon upon purification.

4. Is Return a good move for Purified Pokémon?

Return is a decent Normal-type Charged Attack, but it’s not generally considered top-tier. It can have niche uses in PvP for shield baiting, but there are often better move options available.

5. Does purifying a Pokémon give you XP?

Yes, but only when you catch the Shadow Pokémon after defeating a Team GO Rocket grunt or leader. The actual purification process itself doesn’t grant XP.

6. Can you Mega Evolve a Purified Pokémon?

Yes, you can Mega Evolve a Purified Pokémon. However, it will not have the swirly white aura that Mega Evolved Pokémon typically display. You cannot mega evolve shadow or clone Pokemon.

7. Are Lucky Purified Pokémon better than regular Purified Pokémon?

Yes. Lucky Pokémon cost 50% less Stardust to power up. This cost reduction stacks with the reduced cost of being Purified, making Lucky Purified Pokémon significantly cheaper to upgrade.

8. Do Purified Pokémon have better stats than regular Pokémon?

Not inherently. The only stat difference is that each IV is increased by 2 during the purification process. A purified Pokemon will have the same maximum stats as any other Pokemon of the same species at the same level with the same IVs.

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

Potentially, yes. If a 0-star Shadow Pokémon has poor IVs, purifying it can improve its stats and make it more usable. However, consider whether the attack boost of the Shadow form is more valuable than the improved IVs.

10. How much does it cost to purify a Pokémon?

The cost varies depending on the species. Common Pokémon like Rattata and Zubat cost only 1,000 Stardust and 1 Candy, while more powerful Pokémon can cost 5,000 Stardust and 5 Candy or even 20,000 Stardust and 20 Candy.

11. Are all Purified Pokémon shiny?

No, Purified Pokémon are not automatically shiny. The chance of encountering a shiny Shadow Pokémon is the same as encountering a shiny regular Pokémon, and purification does not affect this.

12. What’s the best way to use Purified Pokémon in PvP?

The best way to utilize a purified Pokemon in PVP is to use it on a team that works for your playstyle! Remember Return has shield-baiting potential, so consider using it on a team that could benefit from this.

13. Should I purify a 4-star Shadow Pokémon?

No, absolutely not! A 4-star Shadow Pokémon, meaning one with perfect IVs, is incredibly rare and valuable. Purifying it would be a waste of its potential. The Shadow attack bonus far outweighs any marginal benefit from purification.

14. Can Purified Pokémon be traded?

Yes, Purified Pokémon can be traded. However, trading restrictions apply based on friendship level and whether the Pokémon is shiny or legendary.

15. Where can I learn more about the mechanics of Pokémon GO?

There are many great resources available online! To learn about how games can be used to improve learning, consider the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org or https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

This article provides a detailed overview of the considerations involved in deciding whether to purify a Shadow Pokémon. Remember to evaluate each Pokémon individually based on your personal needs and goals. Good luck, and happy catching!

Should I keep all purified Pokémon?