Which Shadow Pokemon Should You Purify? A Comprehensive Guide

Deciding whether to purify a Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO is a nuanced choice with no one-size-fits-all answer. The optimal strategy depends on your individual goals, resources, and playstyle. Generally, you should purify Shadow Pokémon that are functionally useless in their Shadow form due to poor IVs, non-meta relevance, or if you’re simply aiming to complete purification research tasks or obtain the Purifier Medal. If it helps you become more powerful while minimizing your stardust and candy cost, then Purified Pokémon is the way to go. Conversely, avoid purifying Shadow Pokémon with good IVs or those of species that are powerful in raids and battles, as the 20% Shadow attack bonus is often more valuable than the IV boost and reduced powering up costs. Finally, consider purifying shadow shiny pokemon if you wish to use them in battle as Shadow Pokemon are expensive to power up and unlock a second charged attack.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Prioritize Purifying:

• Low IV Pokémon of Non-Meta Species: If a Shadow Pokémon has poor IVs and isn’t a top performer in raids or PvP, purifying it is a reasonable choice. The IV boost from purification might make it marginally better, and the reduced stardust and candy costs will make it easier to power up if you ever need it.
• Pokémon Needed for Research or Tasks: Certain research tasks or special events require purifying a specific number of Pokémon. In these cases, purify the cheapest options (1,000 stardust purification cost) to quickly complete the objective.
• Pokémon You Want to Use for Mega Evolution: In some cases, it might be better to purify a Pokemon if you plan on Mega Evolving them. Because a Pokémon that is shadow cannot be mega evolved.
• To complete the purifier medal. Many trainers want to complete their purifier medal and level up quickly. If this is your goal, purify a Shadow Pokémon that only costs 1000 stardust to purify.
• Shiny Shadow Pokemon: Shadow Pokemon are extremely expensive to power up and add a second charge move. You can purify it to make it more affordable and easier to use.

Avoid Purifying:

• High IV Shadow Pokémon of Meta-Relevant Species: This is the golden rule. The 20% attack boost offered by the Shadow form significantly enhances damage output in raids and battles. Pokémon like Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Machamp, Shadow Tyranitar, and Shadow Metagross are significantly more powerful than their regular or purified counterparts.
• Shadow Legendaries: Shadow Legendaries are highly sought after for their raid performance. Unless the IVs are exceptionally bad (very low attack stat), it’s generally best to keep them as Shadows.
• Pokémon with Exclusive Moves: If a Shadow Pokémon has a legacy or event-exclusive move that makes it valuable, think twice before purifying it.
• Pokémon You Value for Aesthetics: Some trainers simply prefer the look of Shadow Pokémon. If you enjoy having them for their visual appeal, don’t feel pressured to purify them.

Factors to Consider:

• Stardust and Candy Availability: If you’re low on stardust and candy, purifying can make it easier to power up a Pokémon for immediate use. However, consider whether the long-term benefit of the Shadow bonus outweighs the short-term cost savings.
• Team Composition: Analyze your existing team. Do you have enough powerful raid attackers? Do you need a specific type counter? This will influence whether you prioritize Shadow bonuses or purified cost savings.
• Future Events: Keep an eye on upcoming events. There may be opportunities to remove Frustration from Shadow Pokémon or evolve them to learn exclusive moves.

Ultimately, the decision to purify a Shadow Pokémon is personal. Weigh the pros and cons carefully, consider your individual needs, and choose the option that best aligns with your Pokémon GO goals. Remember that with more and more Shadows being put into the game, this is actually becoming a better grind for high IVs than any other method in the game, according to the article.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Purifying Shadow Pokémon

Should I purify all Shadow Pokémon?

No, you should not purify all Shadow Pokémon. Powerful species like Shadow Mewtwo and Shadow Machamp benefit greatly from the Shadow bonus. Purify only those that are weak, needed for research, or if you want to minimize cost.

Is it better to keep a Shadow Pokémon or purify it?

It depends. If the Pokémon is useful in battle, keep it as a Shadow Pokémon due to the 20% attack bonus. If it has poor IVs or you need it for research, purifying it is better.

Is a 0 star Shadow Pokémon good?

If a 0-star Shadow Pokémon has decent attacks and CP, it’s often better to keep it unpurified for its Shadow bonus in battles, especially if it’s a species with a high attack stat.

Is a low IV Shadow Pokémon better?

Shadow Pokémon with any IVs are generally better than perfect IVs of their normal forms, thanks to the 20% attack boost. Grind Rocket stops and wait for better IVs if there isn’t an immediate need.

Is Shadow or Hundo better?

Generally, a 13/13/13 Shadow Pokémon is better than a purified hundo (perfect IV) due to the Shadow attack bonus.

Should I purify my shiny Shadow Pokémon?

Keep it a Shadow if you value its aesthetic. But for usefulness/value, it’ll need to be purified to make it more affordable, unless you have a lot of dust to power it up and unlock the 2nd attack on a shadow.

Is it worth keeping purified Pokemon?

If you are wanting to become a more powerful trainer while minimizing your stardust/candy cost, Purified Pokémon is the way to go.

Can a purified Pokemon become perfect?

Yes, the Purified Pokemon will receive a boost to its stats, making for a potential Perfect Stat Pokemon.

Should I purify my Shadow Pokemon before evolving?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon is a better idea than keeping it the way it is to reduce candy cost. Make sure you Purify a Pokémon BEFORE you evolve it so you can use less candies.

Can a Pokemon lose shiny?

A shiny Pokemon cant lose it’s shininess period.

Should I power up before evolving?

It is better to evolve and then power the Pokemon up if it should have strong moves.

Should I keep my shadow 3 star or purify?

The attack power of a Shadow Pokemon is boosted by 1.2x or 20%, making its fast attack hit significantly harder. So it’s better to keep them unpurified.

Why should I not purify Shadow Pokemon?

The downsides to purification are: Purified Pokemon lose the 20% damage bonus made available to Shadows and The 2 IV increase is often dwarfed by the Shadow damage boost.

Do I need to keep all Shadow Pokemon?

If you’re attempting to complete research, attain a goal, or some other third oddity in the game, by all means, Purify all your Pokemon. But if you’re seeking the most rare Pokemon in Pokemon GO, or you like Pokemon that WIN in Raids, keep your Shadows!

Are purified Pokemon easier to evolve?

Purified Pokémon cost less candy to evolve and less dust to power up.

Disclaimer: Pokémon GO is always evolving, and strategies may change with updates. Always stay informed about the latest game mechanics. Explore how games are studied and used in education on the Games Learning Society website.