Should you Purify Pokémon before or after Evolution?

To answer the question directly, it’s generally recommended to purify a Pokémon before evolving it, as this can lead to a significant increase in Combat Power (CP) and reduce the amount of candies required for evolution, but there are scenarios where keeping a Shadow Pokémon unpurified might be beneficial, especially if you want to utilize their 20% attack boost in battles. The decision ultimately depends on your gaming strategy and what you aim! to achieve with your Pokémon, whether it’s for raids, PvP battles, or simply collecting perfect IV Pokémon.

Understanding Purification and Evolution

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon not only removes the shadow effect but also replaces the Frustration move with Return, a charged attack exclusive to purified Pokémon. Moreover, purification can improve a Pokémon’s appraisal, potentially increasing its star rating from 2 to 3 stars, and provide a boost to its CP. However, the 20% attack bonus that Shadow Pokémon enjoy is lost upon purification, which might be a significant consideration for players focusing on attack power.

Related FAQs

1. What happens when you purify a Shadow Pokémon? Purifying a Shadow Pokémon will improve its appraisal, reduce the amount of Stardust and candies required for it to power up, evolve, or learn a new attack, and it will forget Frustration and learn Return.

2. Should you power up Pokémon before or after evolving? It’s generally advised to evolve your Pokémon to its final stage before investing Stardust into powering it up, as every time you level up, you increase the max CP of all your Pokémon.

3. Is it worth keeping 0-star Shadow Pokémon? Yes, if a 0-star Shadow Pokémon has decent attacks and CP, it might be beneficial to keep it unpurified for future battles, especially considering the 20% attack boost.

4. Are Shadow Pokémon better than 100 IV Pokémon? A 0 IV Shadow Pokémon can have more damage per second than a 100% IV regular Pokémon due to the shadow bonus effect.

5. What determines a Pokémon’s max CP? A Pokémon’s maximum CP level is influenced by its species, size, and the Trainer Level.

6. Should you purify a 3-star Shadow Pokémon? It’s often recommended to keep 3-star Shadow Pokémon unpurified to maintain their 20% attack bonus.

7. Can a 2-star Pokémon become a 3-star? Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to increase or change a Pokémon’s IVs once it’s been caught, but purification can potentially bring a 2-star Shadow Pokémon to a 3-star if its IVs are high enough.

8. Is Shadow Tyranitar worth it? Yes, Shadow Tyranitar is considered one of the best investments due to its top-tier DPS against certain bosses and its respectable bulk.

9. Does higher CP mean better Pokémon? Yes, stronger, higher CP Pokémon are generally better as they can win more battles and take more Gyms.

10. What Pokémon can reach 5000 CP? Slaking is the Pokémon that can reach the highest CP, with a maximum of 5010 CP.

11. What is the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon Go? Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie are considered the rarest due to their limited spawn regions.

12. Is it better to evolve a Pokémon or level it up? It’s generally better to evolve a Pokémon first to confirm its moves before investing Stardust into leveling it up.

13. Should you always evolve shiny Pokémon? No, it’s not always necessary to evolve shiny Pokémon, especially if you’re saving them for lucky trades.

14. Is CP more important than stars? CP represents the current state of a Pokémon, while stars represent its potential; usually, CP is a better indicator of a Pokémon’s strength.

15. How rare is a perfect Shadow Pokémon? The odds of getting a “ShaShundo” (a Shadow Shiny Pokémon with Perfect IVs) are extremely low, making them highly rare and valuable.