Originating from the Gamecube spin-off games - Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness - Shadow Pokémon have had their hearts corrupted by evil. It’s your job to rescue and then purify these Pokémon, making them far stronger in the process. You can catch Shadow Pokémon by defeating Team Go Rocket at the PokéStops they have invaded, so keep an eye out for any suspicious looking PokéStops! On this page: Update (July 25th): Shadow Pokémon have seen a few nerfs since release - specifically lowering their capture rate, and no longer becoming tradable (Purified Pokémon, however, still are). As well as looking different, it’ll behave differently too. Shadow Pokémon have the charge move Frustration, while the Candy and Stardust cost to power it up are tripled. So - how do you solve a a problem like a Shadow Pokémon? The answer - purify them, and having a Purified Pokémon offers a number of benefits that make the process worthwhile. More on that further in the article, but first - how do you get a Shadow Pokémon? You do this by defeating the Team Go Rocket that have invaded your local PokéStops. Once you have defeated a Team Go Rocket, they will abandon their Shadow Pokémon, allowing you to capture it in a similar way to how you capture defeated Raid Bosses. Check out our guide on Team Go Rocket for all the information you could ever want on this villainous team, but, for now, it’s time to purify your new Shadow Pokémon. First, you’ll want to find your chosen Shadow Pokémon in your Pokémon storage. Shadow Pokémon have a purple flame next to their picture, like how Shiny Pokémon have a set of silver stars. Once you’ve picked a Shadow Pokémon, you’ll discover that there is a new option available above ‘Power Up’ and ‘Evolve’ (if this Pokémon can evolve) - Purify. Purifying a Shadow Pokémon will cost a specific amount of Stardust and Candy depending on which Pokémon you want to Purify and how strong it is. A Squirtle, for example, will need 2,000 Stardust and 2 Squirtle Candy to be purified, while a Blastoise will require 5,000 Stardust and 5 Squirtle Candy. Select ‘Purify’ and then ‘Yes’ on the confirmation window to watch a cutscene of your Pokémon being cleansed of the evil that has invaded its heart, leaving you with a newly purified Pokémon.
The Candy cost for powering up or evolving the Pokémon will decrease by 10%. The Stardust cost to powering up or teaching the Pokémon a secondary move will decrease by 10%. The Purified Pokémon will learn Return - a 3 bar Normal type move, which is great for Normal type Pokémon. IVs will be increased by 2 in every stat - Attack, Defence, HP. Finally, a Purified Pokemon’s level will increase - the cap on this increase is level 25.
Thank you to ControvT from reddit for the help with this information. Purified Pokémon will have a blue star next to them in your Pokémon storage. Due to the Candy cost, it’s worth catching non-Shadow Pokémon as you play, so that you will be able to quickly purify Shadow Pokémon after you catch them. This will help you build up a strong collection of new Pokémon and level up your Purifier medal. Below you’ll find a complete list of all the currently released Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon Go - it will help you plan out your new catching regime!
Geodude (can be evolved into Shadow Graveler and Golen) Latios Shinx (can be evolved into Shadow Luxio and Luxray) Patrat (can be evolved into Shadow Watchog) Purrloin (can be evolved into Shadow Liepard) Ducklett (can be evolved into Shadow Swanna) Foongus (can be evolved into Amoonguss)
On Wednesday, 25th May, the Shadow version of Alolan Marowak was released as part of the Alola to Alola event. On Saturday, 16th April, the Shadow version of Alolan Exeggutor was released as part of the An Egg-citing Surprise mini-event, which, itself, was part of the Spring into Spring 2022 event. On Sunday, 3rd April, the following Shadow Pokémon were released into Pokémon Go:
Alolan Rattata (can be evolved into Shadow Alolan Raticate) Alolan Sandshrew (can be evolved into Shadow Alolan Sandslash) Alolan Exeggutor Sudowoodo Girafarig Numel (can be evolved into Shadow Camerupt) Latias
On 24th January, 2022, the following Shadow Pokémon were introduced into Pokémon Go:
Voltorb (can be evolved into Shadow Electrode) Chikorita (can be evolved into Shadow Bayleef and Meganium) Cyndaquil (can be evolved into Shadow Quilava and Typhlosion) Totodile (can be evolved into Shadow Croconaw and Feraligatr) Whismur (can be evolved into Shadow Loudred and Exploud) Hippopotas (can be evolved into Shadow Hippowdon)
On May, 18th, 2021, the following Shadow Pokémon were introduced as part of the Luminous Legends Y event:
Tangela (can be evolved into Shadow Tangrowth) Horsea (can be evolved into Shadow Seadra and Kingdra) Snubbull (can be evolved into Shadow Snubbull) Poochyena (can be evolved into Shadow Mightyena) Makuhita (can be evolved into Shadow Hariyama) Electrike (can be evolved into Shadow Manectric) Starly (can be evolved into Shadow Staravia and Staraptor) Skorupi (can be be evolved into Shadow Drapion)
On April, 1st, 2021, the Shadow versions of Aipom and, in turn, Ambipom were introduced. On February, 2nd, 2021, the following Shadow Pokémon were introduced:
Swinub (can be evolved into Shadow Piloswine and Mamoswine) Nosepass Aron (can be evolved into Shadow Lairon and Aggron) Spheal (can be evolved into Shadow Sealeo and Walrein) Lileep (can be evolved into Shadow Cradily) Anorith (can be evolved into Shadow Armaldo)
On December, 10th 2020, the following Shadow Pokémon were introduced:
Wooper (can be evolved into Shadow Quagsire) Teddiursa (can be evolved into Shadow Ursaring)
On October, 12th 2020, the following Shadow Pokémon were introduced:
Diglett (can be evolved into Shadow Dugtrio) Slowpoke (can be evolved into Shadow Slowbro or Slowking) Shellder (can be evolved into Shadow Cloyster) Aerodactyl Hoppip (can be evolved into Shadow Skiploom and Jumpluff) Skarmory
As part of Rocket Straight to Victory research quest, part of the Pokémon Go Fest 2020 celebrations on the July, 26th 2020, the following Shadow Pokémon were released:
Mewtwo
On July, 10th 2020, the following Shadow Pokémon were introduced alongside the first appearance of Jessie and James in Pokémon Go:
Ekans (can be evolved into Shadow Arbok) Nidoran - female (can be evolved into Shadow Nidorina and Nidoqueen) Nidoran - male (can be evolved into Shadow Nidorino and Nidoking) Machop (can be evolved into Shadow Machoke and Machamp) Koffing (can be evolved into Shadow Weezing) Pineco (can be evolved into Shadow Forretress) Gligar (can be evolved into Shadow Gliscor) Shuckle Stunky (can be evolved into Shadow Skuntank)
On February 4th 2020, the following Shadow Pokémon were introduced:
Vulpix (can be evolved into Shadow Ninetails) Exeggcute (can be evolved into Shadow Exeggutor) Pinsir Omanyte (can be evolved into Shadow Omastar) Misdreavus (can be evolved into Shadow Mismagius) Mawile Carvanha (can be evolved into Shadow Sharpedo) Beldum (can be evolved into Shadow Metang and Metagross)
A variety of Legendary Shadow Pokémon have also be introduced as rewards for defeating Giovanni. Currently, a new Shadow Legendary Pokémon is released every month and so far this includes:
Articuno Zapdos Moltres Mewtwo Raikou Entei Suicune Lugia Ho-Oh Latias
On December 24th 2019, the following Shadow Pokémon were introduced as part of the 2019 Christmas event:
Delibird Stantler Absol Bagon (can be found in Shadow Shelgon and Salamence) Snover (can be evolved into Shadow Abomasnow)
On November 7th 2019, the following Shadow Pokémon were introduced to the game:
Sandshrew (can be evolved into Shadow Sandslash) Bellsprout (can be evolved into Shadow Weepinbell and Victreebel) Magnemite (can be evolved into Shadow Magneton and Magnezone) Hitmonlee Porygon (can be evolved into Shadow Porygon2 and Porygon-Z) Wobbuffet
There have also been some changes to the previous Shadow Pokémon roster, with certain Shadow Pokémon now only being available from defeating Team Go Rocket Leaders. These Pokémon are:
Meowth (can be evolved into Shadow Persian) - found by defeating Cliff Scyther (can be evolved into Shadow Scizor) - found by defeating Arlo Sneasel (can be evolved into Shadow Weavile) - found by defeating Sierra
There’s also a chance that you will encounter a shiny version of these three Shadow Pokémon. On October 17th 2019, the following Shadow Pokémon were introduced to the game:
Weedle (can be evolved into Shadow Kakuna and Beedrill) Electabuzz (can be evolved into Shadow Electivire) Magmar (can be evolved into Shadow Magmortar) Lapras Mareep (can be evolved into Shadow Flaaffy and Ampharos) Seedot (can be evolved into Shadow Nuzleaf and Shiftry) Sableye Trapinch (can be evolved into Shadow Vibrava and Flygon) Cacnea (can be evolved into Shadow Cacturne) Shuppet (can be evolved into Shadow Banette) Duskull (can be evolved into Shadow Dusclops and Dusknoir)
The Shadow Pokémon that were already available from the introduction of Shadow Pokémon into Pokémon Go:
Bulbasaur (can be evolved into Shadow Ivysaur and Venusaur) Charmander (can be evolved in Shadow Charmeleon and Charizard) Squirtle (can be evolved in Shadow Wartortle and Blastoise) Rattata (can be evolved into Shadow Raticate) Snorlax Zubat (can be evolved into Shadow Golbat and Crobat) Oddish (can be evolved into Shadow Gloom, Vileplume or Bellossom) Gloom Vileplume Venonat (can be evolved into Shadow Venomoth) Psyduck (can be evolved into Shadow Golduck) Growlithe (can be evolved into Shadow Arcanine) Poliwag (can be evolved into Shadow Poliwhirl, Poliwarth or Politoed) Abra (can be evolved into Shadow Kadabra and Alakazam) Grimer (can be evolved into Shadow Muk) Drowzee (can be evolved into Shadow Hypno) Cubone (can be evolved into Shadow Marowak) Scyther Magikarp (can be evolved into Shadow Gyarados) Hitmonchan Dratini (can be evolved into Shadow Dragonair and Dragonite) Houndour (can be evolved into Shadow Houdoom) Larvitar (can be evolved into Shadow Pupitar and Tyranitar) Mudkip (can be evolved into Shadow Marshtomp and Swampert) Ralts (can be evolved into Shadow Kirlia and Gardevoir or Gallade) Turtwig (can be evolved into Shadow Gortle and Torterra)
Thank you to Exycosh05 from reddit for the help with this information. Below you’ll find a list of all the currently available Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon Go. We’ve also included the counters to help you defeat each Shadow Pokémon and the Team Go Rocket phrases, which hint at what Shadow Pokémon you’ll be facing. Currently, Shadow Snorlax is one of the hardest Shadow Pokémon available in Pokémon Go. Thanks to the evil infecting Shadow Snorlax, it has the ability to use fast Ghost and Psychic type moves as well as charged Normal, Ground and Steel moves. This means that Shadow Snorlax can’t be defeated by the Pokémon, such as Machamp, that would easily knock out a Normal type Pokémon. Here is a list of Pokémon, and the moves they can use, that would make an ideal team to take down a Shadow Snorlax or two:
Tyranitar - Ideal Moves: Smash Down / Crunch Ursaring - Ideal Moves: Counter / Close Combat Lucario - Ideal Moves: Counter / Power-Up Punch Weavile - Ideal Moves: Ice Shard / Avalanche Dragonite - Ideal Moves: Dragon Breath / Dragon Claw Metagross - Ideal Moves: Bullet Punch / Meteor Mash
If you’ve been lucky with the Legendaries, you could also call on them for help:
Lugia - Ideal Moves:Extrasensory / Sky Attack Latios - Ideal Moves: Dragon Breath / Dragon Claw Dialga - Ideal Moves: Dragon Breath / Dragon Claw Palkia - Ideal Moves: Dragon Breath / Dragon Meteor Heatran - Ideal Moves: Fire Spin / Stone Edge
Don’t forget to use your shields to block any of Shadow Snorlax’s charged moves! Thank you to celandro from reddit for the help with this information. It’s unknown whether all of the following will be available in the game when the Purification mechanic releases, but at the very least, the following are in the game files and should appear at some point (thanks to martycochrane on reddit for helping with the following):
Krabby (Gen 1) Kingler (Gen 1) Rhyhorn (Gen 1) Rhydon (Gen 1) Kangaskhan (Gen 1) Murkrow (Gen 2) Chimchar (Gen 4) Monferno (Gen 4) Infernape (Gen 4) Honchkrow (Gen 4) Gible (Gen 4) Gabite (Gen 4) Garchomp (Gen 4) Rhyperior (Gen 4)
In the spin-offs, there are far more Shadow Pokémon that what’s listed here - well over a hundred - which also include the Legendary Birds Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres, as well as Lugia. Pokkén Tournament also introduced Shadow Mewtwo - and it’ll be interesting to see whether the list of Pokémon Go Shadow creatures will be expanded over time. Elsewhere, it was also technically possible to get Shiny Shadow Pokémon - though it was mostly through a glitch that was later corrected with Pokémon XD. Chances are Pokémon Go’s Shadow Pokemon won’t be shiny as a result, but here’s a look at someone going through the process in Pokémon Coliseum if you’re interested: The Season of Mythical Wishes continues with the Winter Holiday event, which has brought Mega Glalie to Pokémon Go. Don’t forget to partake in the new Go Battle League season. Elsewhere, be sure to use Daily Adventure Incense for the chance of encountering Galarian Articuno, Galarian Zapdos and Galarian Moltres.
Purified Pokemon can not be transferred to either Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu or Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee. Purifying a fainted Shadow Pokemon will restore it to full health. A change several days after release meant Shadow Pokémon cannot be traded, though Purified Pokémon can. You can place Shadow Pokémon in a gym, which gives the gym a very spooky atmosphere when you visit. Purified Pokémon can also be put in gyms, but it doesn’t look as cool. Shadow Pokémon cannot undergo Mega Evolution. Want to celebrate catching a new Shadow Pokémon? Then take a photo of it with Pokémon Go’s AR mode! The Shadow Pokémon will be so happy that it you want to take its photo that it will lose its angry expression. Unlike Event or Legendary Pokémon, Purified Pokémon can be mass transferred - so be careful! When you purify a Shadow Pokémon the move Frustration will be replaced with Return. You can find a Lucky Shadow Pokémon, meaning you can also have a Lucky Purified Pokémon. Want to know how many Zubats you’ve purified? Then head to the PokéDex and look under the Zubat entry. Every possible Shadow Pokémon now has a Purified counter, alongside Seen, Caught and Lucky.
While Shadow Pokémon are more powerful than regular Pokémon, the corruption infecting them eventually causes them to turn on their teammates. The only way to save Shadow Pokémon from this corruption is purify them. Purification return the Shadow Pokémon to normal, while also increasing their stats. Shadow Pokémon joined Pokémon Go alongside Team Go Rocket. The evil organisation are using the Shadow Pokémon to help them invade PokéStops. Team Go Rocket’s arrival was first teased after Pokémon Go Fest at Chicago in 2019. After the Fest had ended festival goers discovered that Grunts had photobombed the pictures they had taken with Pokémon Go’s AR photo mode. This photobombing continued at Pokémon Go Fest in Dortmund later than year. A Team Go Rocket hot air balloon was even spotted floating in the sky above the festival.
