Should I Wait to Purify Pokemon in Pokémon GO? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer is: usually, no, you shouldn’t wait. The general consensus in the Pokémon GO community leans heavily towards keeping Shadow Pokémon as Shadow Pokémon. Their damage output is significantly higher due to the Shadow bonus, making them invaluable in raids and battles. However, there are specific scenarios where purification might be beneficial, and understanding these nuances is key to maximizing your Pokémon GO experience.
Understanding Shadow and Purified Mechanics
Before diving into the “when” and “why” of purification, let’s quickly recap the core mechanics:
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Shadow Pokémon: These Pokémon have a 20% attack boost but also a decrease in defense. They require more Stardust and Candy to power up, evolve, and learn new moves. Their Charged Attack slot is occupied by “Frustration,” which can only be removed during special Team GO Rocket events.
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Purified Pokémon: These Pokémon lose the attack boost and defense reduction. Their IVs receive a +2 boost to all stats. They learn the Charged Attack “Return” upon purification, and require less Stardust and Candy to power up, evolve, and learn new moves.
When Purification Might Be a Good Idea
While the power of Shadow Pokémon is undeniable, certain situations warrant considering purification:
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Need for Return in PvP: Some Pokémon benefit greatly from having “Return” as a Charged Attack in Player vs. Player (PvP) battles. This is a niche case, however, and requires careful consideration of the Pokémon’s moveset and your overall PvP strategy.
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High IV Shadow for Mega Evolution: If you have a Shadow Pokémon with already high IVs that can Mega Evolve, purifying it to get a near-perfect or perfect IV Pokémon might be worth it if you plan to utilize the Mega Evolution extensively.
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Reducing Resource Costs: Lowering the Stardust and Candy cost for powering up and evolving is a significant draw for some players, especially those with limited resources. However, consider the long-term impact on the Pokémon’s battle performance.
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Completing Research Tasks: Occasionally, research tasks require purifying a certain number of Shadow Pokémon. If you need to complete one of these tasks and have a low-IV Shadow Pokémon that you’re unlikely to use, purifying it can be a quick way to progress.
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Hundo Collection: Some trainers prioritize collecting “hundos” (Pokémon with perfect IVs). Purifying a Shadow Pokémon with 13/13/13 IVs will result in a hundo, satisfying the collector’s desire.
Why Shadow Pokémon Reign Supreme (Usually)
The 20% attack bonus of Shadow Pokémon is a game-changer, especially in raids. This boost significantly increases their Damage Per Second (DPS), making them outperform even regular Pokémon with perfect IVs. The defense decrease is generally less impactful in raids, where maximizing damage output is the primary goal.
Examples of Shadow Pokémon to Keep
Some Shadow Pokémon are almost always worth keeping in their Shadow form due to their raid potential:
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Shadow Mewtwo: Arguably the best Psychic-type attacker in the game.
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Shadow Machamp: A top-tier Fighting-type attacker.
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Shadow Tyranitar: A powerful Dark and Rock-type attacker.
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Shadow Mamoswine: An excellent Ice and Ground-type attacker.
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Shadow Weavile: A strong Dark and Ice-type attacker.
The Importance of Removing Frustration
Before you can even consider purification, make sure you can remove the Charged Attack “Frustration” from your Shadow Pokémon during a Team GO Rocket event. Without removing Frustration, your Shadow Pokémon’s potential will be severely limited.
Conclusion: Weighing the Pros and Cons
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to purify a Pokémon comes down to individual needs and priorities. While the allure of a perfect IV Pokémon or reduced resource costs can be tempting, the raw power of Shadow Pokémon is generally too valuable to give up. Prioritize keeping strong raid attackers as Shadow Pokémon, and only consider purifying in the specific scenarios outlined above. Always evaluate the Pokémon’s IVs, its potential role in your team, and your available resources before making a decision. And if you’re looking to delve deeper into the strategic elements of gaming and learning, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Or simply GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to purifying Pokémon in Pokémon GO:
1. Will purifying a Pokémon increase its CP?
Yes, purifying a Pokémon will give it a significant boost in Combat Power (CP). This increase is due to the +2 IV boost to all stats, which directly impacts the CP calculation.
2. Does it matter if I purify a Pokémon before or after evolving it?
It’s generally recommended to purify a Pokémon before evolving it. This allows you to take advantage of the reduced Stardust and Candy cost for evolving a Purified Pokémon.
3. Can I trade Shadow Pokémon?
No, you cannot trade Shadow Pokémon. They are locked to the account they were caught on. This restriction adds to their rarity and value.
4. Is a 0-star Shadow Pokémon worth keeping?
Yes, in many cases, a 0-star Shadow Pokémon is worth keeping. The 20% attack boost often outweighs the lack of perfect IVs, making it a stronger attacker than a regular Pokémon with perfect IVs.
5. How much do IVs increase when I purify a Shadow Pokémon?
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon adds 2 points to each Individual Value (IV) stat: Attack, Defense, and HP.
6. Should I purify a shiny Shadow Pokémon?
This depends on your priorities. If you value the aesthetic of a shiny Shadow Pokémon, keep it as is. If you want to maximize its usefulness in battles, purifying it might be beneficial, but it loses its unique Shadow appearance.
7. What happens when I purify a 100% IV Pokémon?
Purifying a 100% IV Pokémon will not change its IVs. Since it already has perfect stats, the purification process will only change its appearance and moveset.
8. Is CP or star rating (IVs) more important?
This depends on the context. For lower-level players, CP might be more immediately important for battling in gyms and raids. However, higher IVs are more important in the long run, as they determine a Pokémon’s maximum potential.
9. What happens if I already evolved a Shadow Pokémon? Can I still purify it?
Yes, you can still purify a Shadow Pokémon even if you have already evolved it. The purification process will still add +2 to all IVs and grant the Purified Pokémon benefits.
10. Are low CP Pokémon useless?
Low CP Pokémon are not necessarily useless. They can be used for completing research tasks, trading (if not Shadow), or evolving for XP. However, for battling, higher CP Pokémon are generally preferred.
11. Which Shadow Pokémon are the best to keep?
The best Shadow Pokémon to keep are those that are powerful attackers in raids, such as Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Machamp, Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Mamoswine, and Shadow Weavile.
12. What is the Charged Attack “Return”?
“Return” is a Charged Attack exclusive to Purified Pokémon. Its effectiveness varies depending on the Pokémon’s type and the battle situation.
13. Should I max out a Pokémon’s CP before evolving it?
No, it doesn’t matter if you power up a Pokémon before or after evolving it. The CP it attains will be the same regardless of the order. Evolution affects base stats, while powering up increases the Pokémon’s level.
14. How rare are 0% IV Pokémon?
0% IV Pokémon are rarer than 100% IV Pokémon. This is because 100% IV Pokémon can be obtained from raids, eggs, research tasks, and trades, while 0% IV Pokémon can only be found in the wild or through Team GO Rocket encounters.
15. Can I increase a Pokémon’s appraisal (star rating)?
Yes, you can increase a Shadow Pokémon’s appraisal by purifying it. As mentioned before, the purification process adds +2 to all IV stats, which can improve its star rating. Evolving or powering up a Pokémon will not improve its appraisal.