To Purify or Not to Purify: A Pokémon GO Dilemma
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The age-old question plagues Pokémon GO trainers worldwide: Should I purify my Shadow Pokémon, or leave them in their shadowy state? The answer, as with many things in life, isn’t a simple yes or no. It depends entirely on your goals, your play style, and the specific Pokémon in question. Let’s dive deep into the murky waters of purification and shed some light on this decision.
The short answer? Generally, you should NOT purify your Shadow Pokémon. The 20% attack boost they receive as Shadow Pokémon almost always outweighs the benefits of purification, especially for use in raids and other PvE content. However, there are specific circumstances where purification becomes a viable, even desirable, option. Keep reading to find out when.
Understanding Shadow and Purified Pokémon
Before making any decisions, it’s crucial to understand the key differences between Shadow and Purified Pokémon:
- Shadow Pokémon: These Pokémon are caught after defeating Team GO Rocket grunts or leaders. They are characterized by a red aura, a unique Shadow bonus (+20% attack, -20% defense), and the Charged Attack Frustration. They cost more Stardust and Candy to power up, evolve, and learn new attacks.
- Purified Pokémon: Purifying a Shadow Pokémon removes the Shadow bonus, replaces Frustration with Return, grants +2 IVs to each stat, and gives a CP boost. They also require less Stardust and Candy to power up, evolve, and learn new attacks. Purified Pokémon are always level 25.
The Case for Keeping Shadow Pokémon
The primary reason to keep a Pokémon in its Shadow form is the massive 20% attack boost. This boost significantly increases the Pokémon’s damage output in raids and battles, often making them superior to their non-Shadow counterparts, even with lower IVs. A Shadow Pokémon with mediocre IVs can easily outperform a perfect IV non-Shadow or Purified version. This is especially true for Pokémon with already high attack stats, such as Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Mamoswine, and Shadow Machamp. The attack bonus is huge, and often more important than having ideal IVs. If you are interested in the science behind gaming, you can explore related research at the Games Learning Society or GamesLearningSociety.org.
Exceptions to the Rule
While Shadow Pokémon are generally preferred for their damage output, there are some exceptions.
- Pokémon that don’t benefit much from the attack boost: Certain Pokémon are primarily used for PvP (Player vs Player) battles where defense and bulk are more important than raw attack power. In these cases, the 20% defense debuff of Shadow Pokémon can be detrimental. Purifying them can improve their overall performance in PvP. Examples include Umbreon in Ultra League or Great League.
- Cost reduction: If you are a more casual player and don’t participate in many raids or battles, the reduced cost of powering up a purified Pokemon can be worth the trade.
The Case for Purifying Pokémon
Purifying a Pokémon offers several benefits:
- IV Improvement: Purifying adds +2 to each IV stat (Attack, Defense, HP). This can turn a low-IV Shadow Pokémon into a decent or even perfect IV Purified Pokémon. If IVs are your priority, purification can be appealing.
- Reduced Cost: Purified Pokémon require less Stardust and Candy to power up, evolve, and learn new attacks. This is particularly helpful for players with limited resources.
- Exclusive Move: Purified Pokémon learn the Charged Attack Return, which can be useful in certain situations. However, Return is generally considered a weaker move compared to others.
- Purifier Medal: If you’re aiming to increase your Purifier Medal rank, purifying cheap Shadow Pokémon like Rattata, Zubat, or Purrloin is a quick and efficient way to do so.
- Hundo Hunting: If you have a near perfect shadow Pokemon, purifying may be the best route to get a perfect “Hundo” Pokemon.
Choosing Wisely: Key Considerations
Ultimately, the decision to purify or not to purify depends on several factors:
- The Pokémon Species: Some Pokémon are much more valuable as Shadow Pokémon than others due to their high attack stats and relevance in raids.
- Individual IVs: A low-IV Shadow Pokémon might be worth purifying if it has the potential to become a high-IV or perfect IV Purified Pokémon.
- Your Goals: If you prioritize maximizing damage output in raids, keep it Shadow. If you value high IVs and resource conservation, consider purifying.
- Availability of Resources: If you’re short on Stardust and Candy, purifying can be a cost-effective way to power up Pokémon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Shadow Pokémon always better than a 100 IV Pokémon?
In most cases, yes. The 20% attack boost of a Shadow Pokémon generally outweighs the benefits of perfect IVs, especially for raid attackers. However, in certain PvP scenarios, a perfect IV non-Shadow Pokémon might be preferable due to its increased bulk and lack of the defense debuff.
2. Should I purify a Shadow Pokémon to get a perfect IV?
Only if you’re not planning on using it for raids or battling. Otherwise, the attack boost is the more important factor.
3. What are the best Shadow Pokémon to keep in their Shadow form?
Top-tier Shadow attackers include Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Mamoswine, Shadow Machamp, Shadow Weavile, Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Moltres, and Shadow Entei. These Pokémon benefit significantly from the attack boost and are highly valuable in raids.
4. What are the best Shadow Pokémon to purify?
Pokemon that are not viable raid attackers or that have a low cost to purify. These include common spawns like Rattata, Purrloin, Zubat, and even Magikarp. Also, Pokémon that are often used in PVP, like Umbreon, may be more effective when purified.
5. How many IVs does purifying give?
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon adds +2 to each IV stat (Attack, Defense, HP).
6. Is it better to purify before powering up or evolving?
It’s generally recommended to purify before evolving to take advantage of the reduced Candy cost. The order of purifying vs powering up typically does not matter, however powering up after purifying may be more beneficial as it makes a Pokemon Level 25, and you may get better IVs through purifying.
7. Can a Purified Pokémon be Lucky?
Yes! Purified Pokémon can be Lucky, meaning you can obtain a Lucky Purified Pokémon. This makes them even cheaper to power up due to the reduced Stardust cost of Lucky Pokémon.
8. Are Purified Pokémon weaker than Shadow Pokémon?
Purified Pokemon may have overall better stats in terms of IV, they do not benefit from the Attack boost. Therefore, Shadow Pokemon often do more damage than their Purified counterparts.
9. What is the point of Shadow Pokémon?
The main point of Shadow Pokémon is their increased attack damage, which makes them powerful raid attackers. They can help you defeat Raid Bosses more quickly and efficiently.
10. Should I purify a Shadow Shiny Pokémon?
This is entirely up to you and depends on whether you value aesthetics or power. Keeping it Shadow preserves its unique look, but purifying it can make it more useful in battles (if it has good IVs) and reduce the cost of powering it up. If you are a more casual player and don’t care too much about PVP, the appearance of a Shadow Shiny Pokemon can make it a rare and unique collectible!
11. Are 0-star Shadow Pokémon worth keeping?
If you have other good Pokemon, probably not. If they are a rare or powerful species it still may be useful, even with a 0-star rating.
12. Can you Mega Evolve Shadow or Purified Pokémon?
You cannot Mega Evolve Shadow Pokémon. However, Purified Pokémon can be Mega Evolved, although they will not have their white aura or costume while Mega Evolved.
13. Is it worth it to purify Pokémon for the Purifier Medal?
For the purpose of gaining more purifier medals, Shadow Pokémon like Rattata, Zubat, Purrloin, and even Magikarp are ideal for gaining medals and should be purified due to the low cost of stardust to purify.
14. How rare is a 0% IV Shadow Pokémon?
A fully 0% IV Pokémon is extremely rare, even more so than a perfect 4-star Pokémon. Some players collect them for their rarity.
15. Should I power up a Pokémon before evolving?
It typically doesn’t matter if you power up a Pokémon before or after evolving it. The CP it reaches will be the same regardless of the order, as CP is determined by base stats, Pokémon level, and IVs.
Final Thoughts
The decision to purify a Pokémon is a personal one. While the general consensus is to keep your strong attackers as Shadow Pokémon, there are valid reasons to purify, especially for specific Pokémon, resource management, or completionist goals. Consider your goals, analyze your Pokémon, and make the choice that best suits your individual play style. Happy catching!