Should You Purify Shinies? A Deep Dive into Pokémon GO’s Sparkling Dilemma

The short answer? Generally, no. Purifying a Shiny Pokémon is often not the best strategy, especially in Pokémon GO. However, like many things in life, the answer isn’t always black and white. Let’s delve into the nuances and factors that determine whether or not purifying that rare, sparkling creature is a worthwhile decision.

Understanding the Core Mechanics

Before we can definitively answer the purification question, we need to understand the core mechanics at play: Shadow Pokémon, Purified Pokémon, Shiny Pokémon, and Individual Values (IVs).

Shadow Pokémon

Shadow Pokémon are corrupted versions of normal Pokémon, obtainable by defeating Team GO Rocket grunts and leaders. They possess a significant attack boost of 20%, making them deal substantially more damage in raids and battles. However, this comes at the cost of a 20% reduction in their defense, making them glass cannons. They also require more Stardust and Candy to power up and unlock a second Charged Attack.

Purified Pokémon

Purified Pokémon are Shadow Pokémon that have been rescued from Team GO Rocket’s influence through purification. Purifying a Shadow Pokémon offers several benefits:

• Improved Appraisal: All IVs are increased by 2 points, potentially turning a good Pokémon into a great one, or even a perfect 4-star Pokémon.
• Reduced Costs: The Stardust and Candy costs for powering up, evolving, and learning new attacks are significantly reduced.
• Exclusive Move: They forget the Charged Attack Frustration and learn Return, a Charged Attack exclusive to Purified Pokémon.
• Friendship Boost: In the main series games (like Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness), Purified Pokémon receive a significant friendship boost. This isn’t relevant in Pokémon GO, but is important in the core series.

Shiny Pokémon

Shiny Pokémon are incredibly rare variants of Pokémon that possess a different color palette compared to their normal counterparts. They are purely aesthetic and have no inherent stat advantages. Finding a shiny in the wild or through research is a testament to luck and dedication. The rarity and visual appeal are what make them highly sought after.

Individual Values (IVs)

Individual Values (IVs) are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon’s potential in battle. They range from 0 to 15 for Attack, Defense, and HP. A Pokémon with all 15 IVs in each stat is considered a perfect 4-star Pokémon. IVs have a tangible effect on the Pokémon’s CP and its performance in battles.

The Shiny Dilemma: To Purify or Not to Purify?

Given the mechanics outlined above, the decision to purify a Shiny Pokémon hinges on several factors:

Rarity and Sentimental Value

The primary reason to avoid purifying a Shiny Pokémon is its rarity. Shinies are already difficult to obtain, and a Shiny Shadow Pokémon is even rarer. For many trainers, the mere possession of a Shiny Shadow Pokémon is a badge of honor. Purifying it would diminish its unique status. Furthermore, many players simply value the aesthetics of the Shadow Pokémon appearance, and might prefer to keep it instead of purifying.

Battle Prowess

If your primary goal is to maximize damage output in raids and battles, purifying a Shiny Shadow Pokémon is generally a downgrade. The 20% attack boost that Shadow Pokémon possess far outweighs the benefits of purification, especially the IV boost and reduced costs. A Shiny Shadow Pokémon will typically outdamage a Shiny Purified Pokémon, even if the latter has better IVs.

IV Considerations

If you happen to catch a Shiny Shadow Pokémon with poor IVs, the allure of purification might be stronger. The 2 IV boost to each stat could potentially elevate it to a more competitive level. However, even with improved IVs, the lost attack boost often makes it less desirable than keeping the Shiny Shadow Pokémon.

Resource Availability

The reduced Stardust and Candy costs associated with Purified Pokémon can be attractive, especially for players with limited resources. However, if you plan to invest heavily in a Pokémon for raids or PvP, the cost savings are usually offset by the reduced damage output compared to a Shadow Pokémon.

Move Considerations

While Return is a unique Charged Attack for Purified Pokémon, it is generally not a top-tier move in terms of damage output. The removal of Frustration is a significant benefit, as it is a useless move, but there are often better Charged Attack options available through TMs.

Situational Exceptions

There are a few niche situations where purifying a Shiny Pokémon might be justifiable:

• Low-Level Casual Play: If you are a casual player who doesn’t engage in serious raiding or PvP, purifying a Shiny Shadow Pokémon can make it easier to power up and use, even if it’s not optimally powerful.
• Living Dex Completion: Some collectors aim to complete a “living dex,” which includes every Pokémon in every possible form. In this case, having both a Shiny Shadow Pokémon and a Shiny Purified Pokémon of the same species might be desirable.
• Nostalgia: Some trainers value having a Purified Pokémon for nostalgic reasons, particularly if they played the older Pokémon games, like Pokémon Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness, where purification mechanics were more central.

Final Verdict

For most players, the rarity and potential battle power of a Shiny Shadow Pokémon outweigh the benefits of purification. Unless you have a specific reason to purify, such as a very low IV Shiny Shadow Pokémon that could become a strong Purified Pokémon, it’s generally best to keep it in its Shadow form.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does purifying a Pokémon make it shiny?

No, purifying a Pokémon does not make it shiny. Shiny Pokémon are determined when the Pokémon is encountered and have a different color palette compared to their standard counterparts. Purification does not affect the shininess.

2. Is it better to purify or evolve a Pokémon?

If you plan to purify a Pokémon, it’s generally better to purify it before evolving it. This is because the reduced Stardust and Candy costs for evolving apply to Purified Pokémon. If you evolve a Shadow Pokémon first, you’ll have to pay the higher Shadow Pokémon costs.

3. Can a purified Pokémon become a 4-star (perfect) Pokémon?

Yes, a Purified Pokémon can become a 4-star Pokémon. When you purify a Shadow Pokémon, each of its IVs (Attack, Defense, and HP) increases by 2 points. If a Shadow Pokémon has at least 13 IVs in each stat, purification will result in a perfect 15/15/15 Pokémon.

4. Are Shadow Pokémon always stronger than their purified counterparts?

In terms of raw damage output, Shadow Pokémon are generally stronger than their purified counterparts due to the 20% attack boost. However, Purified Pokémon are cheaper to power up and evolve. If you are primarily concerned with maximizing damage in raids and battles, keeping a Pokémon as a Shadow is often the better choice.

5. Should I keep multiple shiny Pokémon?

Whether or not to keep multiple shiny Pokémon is a matter of personal preference. Some players like to keep one of each evolution stage, while others keep spares for trading. Ultimately, it depends on your storage space and collecting goals.

6. What are the odds of finding a shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO?

The base shiny rate in Pokémon GO is around 1 in 500. However, some events and special research tasks can increase the shiny rate for specific Pokémon. Community Days, for example, often feature significantly boosted shiny rates.

7. Does a shiny charm increase the odds of finding shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO?

No, the shiny charm from the main series games does not affect shiny odds in Pokémon GO. Shiny rates in Pokémon GO are determined by the specific encounter method and any active events.

8. Are 0-star Pokémon worth keeping?

Generally, 0-star Pokémon are not worth keeping for battling or raiding. However, some collectors may want to keep them due to their rarity. A 0-star shiny Pokémon is even rarer and might be worth keeping for its collector’s value.

9. Why are shiny Pokémon so desirable?

Shiny Pokémon are highly desirable due to their rarity and unique aesthetics. They are a visual testament to a trainer’s dedication and luck. While they don’t offer any inherent stat advantages, their rarity makes them valuable additions to any collection.

10. Does purifying a Pokémon change its moves?

Yes, purifying a Pokémon changes its moves. A Shadow Pokémon knows Frustration as its Charged Attack. When purified, it forgets Frustration and learns Return. This is a key consideration when deciding whether or not to purify.

11. Can I change Return on a Purified Pokémon?

Yes, you can use a Charged TM to change the move Return on a Purified Pokémon. If you don’t want the Return move, you can change it to a different charged move.

12. What are IVs and why are they important?

IVs, or Individual Values, are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon’s potential in battle. They range from 0 to 15 for Attack, Defense, and HP. Higher IVs result in higher CP and better performance in battles. IVs play a significant role in high-level raiding and PvP.

13. Are Lucky Pokémon better than Purified Pokémon?

Lucky Pokémon are Pokémon that require 50% less Stardust to power up. This cost reduction stacks with the cost reduction of Purified Pokémon. A Lucky Purified Pokémon would be far cheaper to power up than a regular Pokémon. However, Lucky Pokémon do not inherently have a damage increase like Shadow Pokémon do.

14. Where can I learn more about game-based learning?

You can learn more about game-based learning on the GamesLearningSociety.org website. The Games Learning Society is a great resource for understanding the educational applications of games.

15. Are Legendary Shadow Pokémon better than regular Legendaries?

Yes, Shadow Legendary Pokémon are generally better than regular Legendaries for attacking in raids, due to their 20% damage boost. However, this comes at the cost of reduced defense. It’s usually worth investing in a Shadow Legendary Pokémon if you intend to use it for raiding.