Should I Purify Shadow Pokémon? A Comprehensive Guide

The age-old question plagues every Pokémon GO trainer who encounters a Shadow Pokémon: to purify or not to purify? The answer, like most things in life, isn’t a simple yes or no. It depends entirely on the specific Pokémon, its IVs (Individual Values), your goals in the game, and your preferred playstyle. Let’s break down the pros and cons to help you make the best decision for your team.

Generally speaking, the vast majority of Shadow Pokémon should be kept in their Shadow form. The 20% damage boost they receive significantly outweighs the benefits of purification in most cases, making them powerhouses in raids and gym battles. However, there are exceptions, and understanding those exceptions is key to becoming a truly masterful trainer.

The Shadow Advantage: Raw Power

Shadow Pokémon, corrupted by Team GO Rocket, are infused with a dark energy that dramatically increases their offensive capabilities. This translates to a 20% boost to their attack stat, making them deal significantly more damage per second (DPS) than their purified or regular counterparts. While they also take 20% more damage, this drawback is often negligible in PvE (Player vs Environment) content like raids, where maximizing DPS is the primary objective. Think of it this way: it’s often better to hit harder and faster, even if you’re a little glassier.

The Purification Path: Redemption and Utility

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon removes the dark influence, returning it to its normal state. This process provides several benefits:

• Improved IVs: Purification adds +2 to each of the Pokémon’s IV stats (Attack, Defense, and HP). This can potentially turn a low-IV Shadow into a high-IV, even potentially perfect (100 IV), Pokémon.
• Reduced Costs: Purifying a Pokémon significantly reduces the Stardust and Candy required to power it up, evolve it, and teach it new moves. This can be a major advantage for resource-conscious trainers.
• Exclusive Move: Return: Purified Pokémon learn the Charged Attack “Return,” a Normal-type move. While not always the most powerful option, it can be useful in certain PvP (Player vs Player) scenarios.
• Purifier Medal Progress: Each purification contributes to your Purifier Medal, a badge that tracks your purification progress and rewards you with experience points.
• Research Tasks: Many Special Research tasks require purifying a certain number of Shadow Pokémon.

When to Keep Shadows: Raid Boss Annihilation

In general, for raid attackers and gym sweepers, keeping Shadow Pokémon is the superior strategy. The damage boost is simply too valuable to pass up, especially for Pokémon with already high attack stats. Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Machamp, Shadow Metagross, and Shadow Salamence are all excellent examples of Pokémon that should almost always be kept as Shadows. These Pokémon become top-tier attackers in their respective types, significantly enhancing your raid performance.

When to Purify: Niche Cases and Special Circumstances

While keeping Shadow Pokémon is generally recommended, there are certain situations where purification makes sense:

• Low IV Pokémon for Purifier Medal: Pokémon like Rattata, Zubat, and Magikarp are incredibly cheap to purify (1,000 Stardust). If your goal is to level up your Purifier Medal quickly, these are excellent candidates for purification, regardless of their IVs.
• Pokémon with Limited Usefulness: If you have a Shadow Pokémon that isn’t particularly strong or useful in raids or PvP, purifying it for the IV boost and reduced costs might be a worthwhile option. For example, a weak Shadow Pidgey might be better purified than kept as a Shadow.
• Specific PvP Strategies: Some Pokémon with access to the move “Return” can be surprisingly effective in PvP. In these cases, purifying them for “Return” might be a viable strategy, although this is a niche application.
• High IV Shadows for Mega Evolution: If you have a Shadow Pokémon with near-perfect IVs and a Mega Evolution, purifying it can create a incredibly powerful Mega Pokémon. Remember you can’t mega evolve shadow pokemon.
• Collecting Hundos (100 IVs): If you’re a collector who prioritizes perfect IV Pokémon, the allure of potentially turning a Shadow into a Hundo might be too strong to resist.
• Special Research Requirements: If a Special Research task requires purifying a specific type of Pokémon, you’ll need to purify one, regardless of its potential as a Shadow.

Evaluating Your Shadow: A Step-by-Step Guide

Before deciding whether to purify or keep a Shadow Pokémon, consider the following:

1. Identify the Pokémon: Determine what Pokémon it is and its potential usefulness in raids, gyms, and PvP.
2. Assess its IVs: Use the in-game appraisal system or a third-party app to evaluate its IVs.
3. Consider its moveset: Check if it has access to powerful moves relevant to its type and role.
4. Evaluate your needs: Are you looking for a raid attacker, a gym defender, or a PvP contender?
5. Compare Shadow vs. Purified: Weigh the benefits of the Shadow damage boost against the potential IV improvements and reduced costs of purification.

Resources

• GamePress Pokémon GO: Excellent resource for Pokémon GO stats, movesets, and raid guides.
• Pokémon GO Hub: Comprehensive website with news, guides, and community forums.
• Games Learning Society: Explore how games are used for learning and engagement. GamesLearningSociety.org

Conclusion: Make the Informed Choice

Ultimately, the decision of whether to purify or keep a Shadow Pokémon is a personal one. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each option, and by carefully evaluating your individual Pokémon, you can make the best choice for your team and your playstyle. Remember, there’s no single “right” answer – the best choice is the one that helps you achieve your goals in Pokémon GO.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

H3 1. Are Shadow Pokémon always better than regular Pokémon?

While Shadow Pokémon generally deal more damage, they also take more damage. In some situations, a regular Pokémon with better defenses might be more suitable, especially in PvP.

H3 2. Does purifying a Pokémon change its type?

No, purifying a Pokémon does not change its type. It only removes the Shadow status and provides the benefits listed above.

H3 3. Can I purify a Pokémon that I’ve already evolved?

Yes, you can purify a Shadow Pokémon at any point, even after evolving it. The cost of purification will remain the same.

H3 4. What happens to Frustration when I purify a Pokémon?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon automatically replaces the move Frustration with Return.

H3 5. Can Shadow Pokémon be shiny?

Yes, Shadow Pokémon can be shiny. Shiny Shadow Pokémon are highly sought after due to their rarity and power.

H3 6. Is it better to purify or evolve a Pokémon first?

Purifying first is generally recommended because it reduces the candy cost to evolve.

H3 7. Do Shadow Pokémon have different stats than regular Pokémon?

No, Shadow Pokémon have the same base stats as their regular counterparts. The difference lies in the 20% attack boost and 20% defense decrease.

H3 8. What are IVs, and why are they important?

IVs (Individual Values) are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon’s potential in battle. They range from 0 to 15 for each of the three stats: Attack, Defense, and HP. Higher IVs generally result in stronger Pokémon.

H3 9. Can I trade Shadow Pokémon?

No, Shadow Pokémon cannot be traded.

H3 10. How do I get Shadow Pokémon?

Shadow Pokémon are obtained by defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders at PokéStops or through Special Research tasks.

H3 11. Is there a limit to how many Shadow Pokémon I can hold?

No, there is no limit to how many Shadow Pokémon you can hold, as long as you have space in your Pokémon storage.

H3 12. What is the best moveset for Shadow Mewtwo?

The best moveset for Shadow Mewtwo depends on its role. For general raid attacking, Confusion and Psystrike are excellent choices.

H3 13. Should I power up a Shadow Pokémon before purifying it?

It’s generally best to purify a Shadow Pokémon before powering it up, unless you are certain you want to keep it as a Shadow. This allows you to take advantage of the reduced Stardust and Candy costs for powering up a purified Pokémon.

H3 14. Are Shadow Pokémon worth powering up if they have low IVs?

Yes, even low-IV Shadow Pokémon can be worth powering up due to their significant damage boost. The 20% attack boost often outweighs the benefits of higher IVs.

H3 15. What are the best Shadow Pokémon to have?

Some of the best Shadow Pokémon to have include Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Machamp, Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Metagross, and Shadow Salamence. These Pokémon are top-tier attackers in their respective types and can significantly improve your raid performance.