Table of Contents

Which Shadow Pokémon Are Good? A Comprehensive Guide

Determining which Shadow Pokémon are “good” in Pokémon GO boils down to understanding a few key principles. The simple answer is: Shadow Pokémon that already possess high base attack stats become exceptionally powerful attackers when boosted by the Shadow effect. This is because the Shadow bonus significantly amplifies their damage output, making them crucial assets in raids, gym battles, and other challenging encounters. Furthermore, the best Shadow Pokémon often also have a decent base defense stat, despite the Shadow effect reducing defense, allowing them to withstand a reasonable amount of damage. Essentially, you’re looking for Pokémon that were already strong offensively, and are then made even better by becoming Shadow forms.

Why Are Shadow Pokémon So Powerful?

The power of Shadow Pokémon stems from the 20% attack boost they receive, causing their fast attacks and charged moves to hit incredibly harder. This boost, however, comes at the cost of a 20% reduction in defense. This trade-off is what makes them glass cannons: they deal massive damage but are more vulnerable. Despite the defensive hit, the raw offensive power of Shadow Pokémon in certain situations outweighs their vulnerabilities, particularly when your goal is to dish out as much damage as possible in a short time period.

Top Tier Shadow Attackers

Some of the most notable and consistently excellent Shadow Pokémon include:

Shadow Mewtwo: Often considered one of, if not the best Shadow Pokémon overall. Its high attack stat and diverse moveset make it a formidable force.
Shadow Tyranitar: An excellent Rock and Dark-type attacker, capable of tearing through a variety of opponents. It’s a fantastic investment for any player.
Shadow Salamence: A pseudo-legendary Dragon type, Shadow Salamence is known for its incredible attack power and move coverage.
Shadow Metagross: This steel and psychic type has become a powerhouse in raids thanks to the shadow boost.
Shadow Dragonite: Another powerful Dragon-type attacker. A reliable option that boasts high damage output.
Shadow Moltres: A fire and flying type that is a very strong attacker when in its shadow form.
Shadow Machamp: This fighting type excels in raids because of its fast attacks and high attack stat.
Shadow Electivire: A powerful electric type that is a strong attacker in many situations.
Shadow Mamoswine: A ground and ice type, great for dealing double damage to dragon types.
Shadow Sceptile: While it faces strong competition, Shadow Sceptile is still a strong Grass-type attacker in the right scenarios.

These are just a few examples, and the effectiveness of each can depend on your opponent. The general rule is that Pokémon with high base attack stats benefit the most from the Shadow bonus.

Assessing a Shadow Pokemon

Before investing in a Shadow Pokémon, consider these factors:

Base Attack Stat: Prioritize Shadow Pokémon that already have a high attack stat in their normal form.
Moveset: A good moveset is crucial. Ideally, your Shadow Pokémon will have powerful moves of its same type to maximize damage output (STAB, or same-type attack bonus).
Defense Stat: While defense takes a hit, a decent base defense stat means the Pokémon will still survive longer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shadow Pokémon

1. Is a 0-star Shadow Pokémon good?

Yes, absolutely. Even a 0-star Shadow Pokémon can be incredibly valuable because the 20% attack boost is far more impactful than IV (individual value) stats. A zero-star shadow Pokemon will always be more powerful than a 100% IV normal form of that same Pokemon due to the shadow boost.

2. Should I purify a 3-star Shadow Pokémon?

Generally, no. You should usually avoid purifying your 3-star Shadow Pokémon, unless you require the move Return or want to have a high IV version of it. The 20% attack boost provided by the Shadow effect often makes it much more powerful in battle.

3. When should I use Shadow Pokémon?

Shadow Pokémon are best used when you need to maximize damage output quickly. They excel in raid battles, gym battles, and other scenarios where you need to inflict high damage. This is why Shadow Pokémon are the key when the goal is simply to deal as much damage as possible as quickly as possible.

4. Is it better to purify or evolve a Shadow Pokémon first?

It is better to purify a Pokémon before evolving it. Purifying will reduce the cost of candy and stardust required to evolve it. The cost for powering up and evolving will be the same if you do it all at once, however.

5. Should I power up before evolving?

It doesn’t matter if you power up before or after evolving if you do it all at once. The cost will be the same. If you are spacing out your power ups and evolutions, then you should evolve before powering up.

6. Are low IV Shadow Pokémon worth keeping?

Yes. Low IV Shadow Pokémon are still worth keeping and powering up. The 20% attack boost makes them better attackers than even perfect IV normal forms of the same Pokémon. The attack bonus outweighs IV considerations.

7. What Shadow Pokémon should I purify?

If you are looking to level up your Purifier medal, the best Shadow Pokémon to purify are those with a low cost of 1,000 stardust such as Shadow Rattata, Shadow Magikarp, Shadow Zubat, etc. Otherwise, there’s usually not a good reason to purify shadow Pokemon.

8. Is Shadow Regice worth catching and using?

While the Shadow Boost helps, Shadow Regice is not worth the investment. It is not a very good ice type, even post-boost.

9. How rare is a perfect Shadow Pokémon?

A perfect Shadow Pokémon (100% IV) is incredibly rare. The odds of getting a “ShaShundo” (Shadow Shiny with perfect IVs) are approximately 1 in 25,000,000.

10. Should I purify a Shadow Moltres?

Generally, no. Shadow Moltres is a strong attacker. Purifying it will reduce its power. In certain cases, such as if you intend to use the Pokemon in PVP or need the move Return, it might be okay to purify it.

11. Are Shadow Pokémon better than 100 IV non-shadow forms?

Yes. A 0 IV Shadow Pokémon has more damage per second than a 100% IV normal Pokémon due to the 20% attack boost.

12. Is there a reason not to purify Pokémon?

Yes. The biggest downside of purifying is that the Pokemon will lose the 20% damage bonus. The IV boost from purifying is often not worth the loss of power.

13. Can Shadow Pokémon be traded?

No, Shadow Pokémon cannot be traded with other players.

14. What Pokémon are good against Shadow Pokémon?

Shadow Pokemon have the same weaknesses as their normal forms but are also more vulnerable due to the 20% damage increase they take. You will want to use pokemon with powerful fast moves. Some examples are Tyranitar, Ursaring, Lucario, Weavile, and Dragonite, but the best counter depends on the pokemon you are facing.

15. What happens if you purify a perfect IV Pokémon?

Purifying a perfect IV Pokémon will not improve its IVs beyond 15/15/15. It will only cause the pokemon to lose the shadow damage bonus, which is not usually worth it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, identifying which Shadow Pokémon are good boils down to finding those that already have a high attack stat. The Shadow boost makes these Pokémon exceptionally powerful, despite the defense reduction. While not all Shadow Pokémon are created equal, focusing on those with high attack stats and good movesets will give you the most powerful attackers in Pokémon GO. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find the best Shadow team that suits your playstyle.

Which Shadow Pokémon are good?