Should You Purify Shadow Registeel? A Comprehensive Guide
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The question of whether to purify a Shadow Registeel is a common one among Pokémon GO trainers. The short, direct answer is: No, you should almost certainly not purify your Shadow Registeel. Maintaining its Shadow form is highly recommended due to the specific way its stats and moves interact, making it a much more potent force in battle than its purified counterpart. This article will explore why, delving into the specifics of Shadow Pokémon, Registeel’s unique strengths, and why purification is, in this case, a downgrade.
Why Shadow Registeel Thrives
The core reason to keep your Registeel in its Shadow form comes down to the Shadow bonus. Shadow Pokémon, by their nature, deal 20% more damage with their attacks. This boost is significant and often outweighs the downsides of being a Shadow. While Shadow Pokémon take 20% more damage as well, this penalty doesn’t negate the damage increase for many Pokémon, particularly those with high natural bulk like Registeel.
Registeel is renowned for its incredible defensive prowess. In the Great League, specifically, this bulk allows it to withstand a lot of punishment and remain in the fight much longer than other Pokémon. The 20% extra damage it takes as a shadow doesn’t drastically impact its survivability, given its already robust base defense. On the other hand, the 20% extra damage it deals as a Shadow boosts its attacking power significantly which in turn further increases pressure on the opposing team.
The Downside of Purification
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon provides some benefits, but for Registeel, these are negligible and often detrimental. When you purify a Pokémon:
- It loses the Shadow damage bonus.
- It receives a +2 IV boost to each of its stats (Attack, Defense, and HP).
- It loses the move Frustration and learns Return.
- The cost for powering up and adding a second charge move is reduced.
The +2 IV boost is the most commonly cited reason to purify. While a jump in IVs might turn a low-star Pokémon into a 3-star one, it does not, at all, make up for the loss of the damage bonus. Shadow Pokémon, even with low IVs, can still deal considerably more damage than their perfect IV, purified counterparts. Also, when you purified a shadow Pokemon, the cost savings are quickly overshadowed by the decrease in damage output.
As for the move Return, this move is only really useful in specific circumstances, and is generally considered an inferior option to other charge moves Registeel can learn, such as Flash Cannon and Focus Blast. For Shadow Registeel, it can be advantageous to use Elite TMs to remove Frustration and get better charge moves.
Registeel in PvP
Registeel is a powerful Pokémon in PvP, especially in the Great and Ultra Leagues. Its steel typing offers valuable resistances. It has excellent defensive stats and can take a lot of punishment while still hitting back hard. While it is true that Shadow Registeel is more glass-cannon like, it is still tanky enough to make up for its loss in defense, and its boost in attack helps it to further pressure opposing teams. This makes it a top-tier pick in the meta game, and therefore, keeping Shadow Registeel will offer you more value.
It’s important to note that Shadow Registeel will have different win conditions compared to a normal one, as its defensive abilities have been decreased. The increase in damage output it gains, however, still makes it a menace to deal with. Its ability to deal more damage will quickly give it the edge in many matches.
Is a 0-Star Shadow Pokémon Good?
Yes, absolutely! A 0-star Shadow Pokémon is often better than a 3-star regular one. Even a Shadow Pokémon with low IVs benefits from the 20% damage boost, making it a formidable opponent. For Registeel specifically, a low IV Shadow version will still be more valuable than the purified version.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can Shadow Pokémon be Purified?
Yes, Shadow Pokémon can be purified using Stardust and Candy.
2. What happens when you Purify a Shadow Pokémon?
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon results in:
- Losing the 20% damage boost.
- Gaining +2 IV boost to each of its stats.
- Learning the move Return and forgetting Frustration.
- Reduced cost for powering up and adding a second charge move.
3. Is it ever worth Purifying a Shadow Pokémon?
Yes, in specific cases. You may want to purify a Shadow Pokémon if:
- You need the move Return for specific strategies.
- You want a stronger Mega evolution.
- You collect perfect IV (Hundo) Pokémon.
- You are running short on Stardust and Candy and would like to reduce powering up cost.
4. How does the Shadow boost work?
Shadow Pokémon deal 20% more damage but also take 20% more damage.
5. Does purifying increase a Shadow Pokémon’s IVs?
Yes, purifying a Shadow Pokémon adds +2 to each of its IV stats (Attack, Defense, and HP).
6. Is a 0-star Shadow Pokémon better than a 100% IV normal Pokémon?
In most cases, yes. The 20% damage boost of a Shadow Pokémon can make it much stronger than a regular 100% IV Pokémon.
7. Can you change the move Frustration?
Frustration can only be changed during specific in-game events. You can use an Elite TM to remove it then.
8. What’s the best move set for Shadow Registeel?
Ideal movesets for Shadow Registeel typically include Lock-On for the fast attack, along with Flash Cannon and Focus Blast for charge attacks. Using an elite TM will help you get rid of Frustration.
9. Is Shadow Registeel good for the Great League?
Yes, Shadow Registeel is a very strong contender in the Great League. Its defensive bulk combined with boosted damage make it a powerful choice.
10. What are some good counters for Shadow Registeel?
Good counters for Shadow Registeel include Fighting-type Pokémon like Machamp (Shadow) and Terrakion, as well as Fire-type Pokémon like Reshiram, and Entei (Shadow).
11. Is Shadow Regirock better than Shadow Registeel?
Shadow Regirock is more of a direct upgrade over its non-shadow form. However, both are still good, powerful Pokemon.
12. Should I power up Shadow Registeel?
Absolutely, if you plan to use it in PvP battles, powering it up to the maximum CP it can achieve in the respective league is recommended.
13. Is Regice or Registeel better?
Registeel is generally considered better due to its more well-rounded stats and overall usability.
14. Is it better to evolve or purify first?
You can evolve a shadow Pokemon then purify it later on, but it is usually better to purify a Pokemon before evolving, if you decide to purify it, to help save on Candy costs.
15. How do I remove Frustration?
You will need to wait for a special in-game event to remove the move Frustration from your Shadow Pokémon. During these events, you can usually use a charged TM to replace Frustration with a different move.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the option to purify a Shadow Pokémon exists, Shadow Registeel is best left in its Shadow form. Its incredible defensive ability, combined with the Shadow bonus, makes it a formidable force in battle, particularly in PvP. The benefits of purification are marginal and cannot outweigh the damage output reduction. Therefore, keep your Shadow Registeel in its shadowy glory and unleash its full potential on the battlefield.