Shadow Triad

Shadow Triad ダークトリニティ Dark Trinity
The Shadow Triad in the Black 2 and White 2 trailer
Gender	Male
Eye color	Gray
Hair color	White
Hometown	Unknown
Region	Unova
Trainer class	Team PlasmaB2W2
Generation	V
Games	Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 Masters EX
Member of	Team Plasma
Rank	Bodyguards
Game animation debut	Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer
English voice actor	Jason Griffith (B2W2AT) Ben Balmaceda (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor	Akira Ishida (B2W2AT) Takaaki Torashima (Masters EX)

The Shadow Triad (Japanese: ダークトリニティ Dark Trinity), each referred to individually as Shadow (Japanese: ダーク Dark), are three faithful servants of Ghetsis and N and are high-ranking members of Team Plasma.

The Shadow Triad are completely loyal to Ghetsis because he once saved their lives.

In the core series games

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

The Shadow Triad at Marvelous Bridge

A Shadow (second from the left) in the opening of Black 2 and White 2

They appear many times in Pokémon Black and White, first being seen in Chargestone Cave, mostly to escort the player to either N or Ghetsis. They make very sudden ninja-like appearances, appearing seemingly out of thin air.

The Shadow Triad are the ones who enabled Ghetsis to evade arrest, creating an opening in which Ghetsis was able to escape Cheren's confinement. After Team Plasma has been defeated, they appear at Marvelous Bridge and on the orders of Ghetsis, give the player the Adamant Orb, Lustrous Orb, and Griseous Orb—the three orbs of the creation trio. However, on Ghetsis's orders, they make no attempt to find him. They vanish from the bridge and are not seen again for the rest of the game.

At some point after Black and White's events, they appear in front of Striaton Gym Leaders at Striaton Restaurant, challenge and easily defeat the trio, before disappearing.

In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, the Shadow Triad are first seen with Zinzolin on the Plasma Frigate. After the player, Cheren, and Hugh finish off the remainder of the Team Plasma Grunts, Zinzolin has the Shadow Triad escort the player off the ship.

The Shadow Triad are later seen in Opelucid City after it has been frozen by the Plasma Frigate. They steal the DNA Splicers so that Ghetsis can use it on Kyurem, but are chased by the player and Drayden. After finally being caught, a Shadow challenges the player to a battle, and even though he loses, they still get away.

The Shadow Triad are seen again on the Plasma Frigate after talking to Ghetsis about Kyurem. Each Shadow battles the player after they give Hugh back his sister's Purrloin, which has evolved into Liepard since it was stolen. After defeating them, they allow the player to leave but warn them about Ghetsis and Kyurem, and end up staying behind with Hugh and Liepard. After Ghetsis has been defeated and suffers a mental breakdown, a Shadow comes to take him away.

After entering the Hall of Fame, they remain in Icirrus City and challenge the player once per season. Still loyal to Ghetsis, they attempt to regain his lost heart by defeating the player.

Pokémon

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Opelucid City

Team Plasma Shadow Opelucid City Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $8640

Types: Dark Steel Ability: Defiant Held item: None Pawniard♂ Lv.46 Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Scary Face Normal Status   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Types: Dark Steel Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Pawniard♂ Lv.46 Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Hone Claws Dark Status   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Type: Dark Unknown Ability: Super Luck Held item: None Absol♂ Lv.48 Swords Dance Normal Status   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Future Sight Psychic Special   --

Plasma Frigate

Team Plasma Shadow Plasma Frigate Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $5100

Types: Dark Steel Ability: Defiant Held item: None Pawniard♂ Lv.49 Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Scary Face Normal Status   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Types: Dark Steel Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Pawniard♂ Lv.49 Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Hone Claws Dark Status   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Type: Dark Unknown Ability: Super Luck Held item: None Absol♂ Lv.51 Swords Dance Normal Status   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Future Sight Psychic Special   --

Team Plasma Shadow Plasma Frigate Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $9180

Types: Dark Steel Ability: Defiant Held item: None Pawniard♂ Lv.49 Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Scary Face Normal Status   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Types: Dark Steel Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Pawniard♂ Lv.49 Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Hone Claws Dark Status   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Insomnia Held item: None Banette♂ Lv.51 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --

Team Plasma Shadow Plasma Frigate Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $9180

Types: Dark Steel Ability: Defiant Held item: None Pawniard♂ Lv.49 Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Scary Face Normal Status   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Types: Dark Steel Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Pawniard♂ Lv.49 Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Hone Claws Dark Status   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Type: Bug Unknown Ability: Hydration Held item: None Accelgor♂ Lv.51 Bug Buzz Bug Special   --       Me First Normal Status   --       Swift Normal Special   --       Giga Drain Grass Special   --

Icirrus City

They are all fought individually, in a Single Battle, Triple Battle, and Rotation Battle, respectively. If the player has fewer than three Pokémon remaining, or declines battle, the remaining opponents will vanish until the season changes.

Single Battle

Team Plasma Shadow Icirrus City Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $12060

Types: Dark Steel Ability: Defiant Held item: None Bisharp♂ Lv.65 Scary Face Normal Status   --       Iron Head Steel Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Low Sweep Fighting Physical   --       Types: Dark Steel Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Bisharp♂ Lv.65 Swords Dance Normal Status   --       X-Scissor Bug Physical   --       Guillotine Normal Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Type: Dark Unknown Ability: Super Luck Held item: None Absol♂ Lv.67 Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       X-Scissor Bug Physical   --       Psycho Cut Psychic Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --

Triple Battle

Team Plasma Shadow Icirrus City Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $11700

Types: Dark Steel Ability: Defiant Held item: None Bisharp♂ Lv.65 Scary Face Normal Status   --       Iron Head Steel Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Low Sweep Fighting Physical   --       Type: Bug Unknown Ability: Hydration Held item: None Accelgor♂ Lv.67 Bug Buzz Bug Special   --       Giga Drain Grass Special   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Types: Dark Steel Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Bisharp♂ Lv.65 Swords Dance Normal Status   --       X-Scissor Bug Physical   --       Guillotine Normal Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --

Rotation Battle

Team Plasma Shadow Icirrus City Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $11700

Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Insomnia Held item: None Banette♂ Lv.67 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Types: Dark Steel Ability: Defiant Held item: None Bisharp♂ Lv.65 Scary Face Normal Status   --       Iron Head Steel Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Low Sweep Fighting Physical   --       Types: Dark Steel Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Bisharp♂ Lv.65 Swords Dance Normal Status   --       X-Scissor Bug Physical   --       Guillotine Normal Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --

Returned

The Purrloin stolen from Hugh's sister is revealed to have evolved into a Liepard, and is returned to Hugh by the Shadow Triad when they are encountered in Ghetsis's room.

Purrloin → Liepard

In spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

The Shadow Triad appears during the Villain Arc in Pokémon Masters EX. Each of them uses a Bisharp.

Quotes

Main article: Shadow Triad/Quotes

Gallery

Artwork

Early concept art from Black and White	Concept art from Black 2 and White 2

Sprites

In the core series

Sprite from Black 2 and White 2	Overworld sprite from Generation V

In other games

Model from Masters EX	VS model from Masters EX

In the anime

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer

The Shadow Triad appeared in the Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer. Nate was first seen chasing one of the Shadows through the frozen Opelucid City. He had his Lucario attack the Shadow with Aura Sphere, but the attack was blocked by the Shadow Triad's Bisharp, allowing the trio to get away with the item they had stolen.

Pokémon

Bisharp

Debut	Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer

Bisharp was seen protecting the Shadow Triad from Nate's Lucario's Aura Sphere.

Bisharp's only known move is Protect.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor Japanese 石田彰 Akira Ishida English Jason Griffith European Spanish Fernando Cordero

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

The Shadow Triad in Pokémon Adventures

The Shadow Triad in the eleventh chapter

Black & White arc

The Shadow Triad debuted in Letting Go. They were first seen reporting to Ghetsis after observing N's battle with Black in Accumula Town. In Defeating Stoutland, the Triad were seen spying on Clay, who had unearthed the Dark Stone.

In The Battle Within, they arrived in Nacrene City, where they began their operation to steal the Dark Stone. While they battled Lenora, several Team Plasma Grunts infiltrated the Nacrene Museum to find the Dark Stone's holding place. Initially, they held the advantage until Lenora was joined by five other Gym Leaders, who had been planning to ambush the villains after learning of their plans. Despite their teamwork, the Gym Leaders eventually fell to the Shadow Triad's trump card, the Forces of Nature. Though they were unable to find the Dark Stone, the Shadow Triad took the defeated Gym Leaders to N's Castle, though Brycen managed to escape.

The Shadow Triad (right) in color

In The Shadow Triad, the Triad tried and failed to capture the Swords of Justice. Later at the P2 Laboratory, they tested Team Plasma's newest creation, Genesect, before being interrupted by the Striaton City Gym Leaders, Cilan, Cress, and Chili. Despite their combined strength, the Striaton Gym Leaders were unable to defeat their opponents, even after evolving their Pokémon. They were eventually rescued by Keldeo, who had been watching the battle and determined the Gym Leaders to be the better humans. The Shadow Triad took that opportunity to try and capture Keldeo, forcing its mentors to step in and rescue it, using their swords to send both the Shadow Triad and the flying. Refusing to give up, one of the Triad had Genesect fire a Techno Blast at Keldeo, forcing its masters to step in and protect it. The beam froze Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion solid, causing them to sink into the water.

Black 2 & White 2 arc

The Shadow Triad returned as members of Team Plasma. In Therian Forme III, the Shadow Triad appeared to prevent Blake from arresting Ghetsis. Kelden, remembering its previous encounter with them, proceeded to attack them on its own, giving Ghetsis the chance to escape. Blake managed to sneak aboard the Plasma Frigate, but was forced to leave his Pokémon behind while they fought the Shadow Triad and the Forces of Nature without him. In Pink Slip, the three were revealed to have defeated Blake's Pokémon. They then left to regroup with the Plasma Frigate.

In Deduction Time, the Shadow Triad were sent to battle the Swords of Justice and Kelden on the outskirts of Lacunosa Town. Later, Kelden tried to strike Colress down, only to end up shattering the Reveal Glass instead, reverting the Forces of Nature back to the Incarnate Formes. Kelden's mentors took this opportunity to defeat the Forces of Nature. Their attempts to beg for mercy were ignored by Cobalion, who promptly struck the Shadow Triad down as the Forces of Nature fled.

In their first appearance, they all were wearing identical black masks. In all later appearances, they are seen wearing different masks which resemble the elemental monkeys' facial patterns, but are much darker in color.

Pokémon

On hand

Lilligant ♀

Debut	The Battle Within

The Pansage-masked Shadow used a Lilligant to attack Lenora at Nacrene City. Later, she fought against Clay's Excadrill and Elesa's Emolga. Later, she faced the Striaton triplets and had an advantage due to the type match ups.

Lilligant's known moves are Quiver Dance, Mega Drain, and Hyper Beam, and her Ability is Chlorophyll.

Egg → Larvesta ♂

Debut	The Battle Within

The Pansear-masked Shadow used a Larvesta to attack Lenora at Nacrene City. Later, he fought against Burgh's Whirlipede and won, only to be defeated by Brycen's Cryogonal. Later, he faced the Striaton triplets and had an advantage due to the type match ups. It was later revealed that Larvesta was hatched from an Egg that was created by Ghetsis's Volcarona.

None of Larvesta's moves are known, and his Ability is Flame Body.

Basculin ♂

Debut	The Battle Within

The Panpour-masked Shadow used a Blue-Striped Basculin to attack Lenora at Nacrene City. Later, he was used against Skyla in addition to fighting Lenora. Later, he faced the Striaton triplets and had an advantage due to the type match ups.

Basculin's only known move is Aqua Tail, and his Ability is Adaptability.

Used

Tornadus ♂

Debut	A Stormy Time in the Battle Subway

Main article: Forces of Nature (Adventures)

Tornadus was caught by Giallo near the Battle Subway train. Later, the Shadow Triad used Tornadus to battle the Gym Leaders at Nacrene City. Afterward, he was given to Hood Man in order to figure out how to change between his Incarnate and Therian Formes.

Thundurus ♂

Debut	Battle on a Roller Coaster

Main article: Forces of Nature (Adventures)

Thundurus was caught by Giallo near the Battle Subway train. Later, the Shadow Triad used Thundurus to battle the Gym Leaders at Nacrene City. Afterward, he was given to Hood Man in order to figure out how to change between his Incarnate and Therian Formes.

Landorus ♂

Debut	A Stormy Time in the Battle Subway

Main article: Forces of Nature (Adventures)

Landorus was caught by Giallo near the Battle Subway train. Later, the Shadow Triad used Landorus to battle the Gym Leaders at Nacrene City. Afterward, he was given to Hood Man in order to figure out how to change between his Incarnate and Therian Formes.

Genesect

Debut	The Shadow Triad

Genesect was a weapon created by Team Plasma. It first appeared in the P2 Laboratory where the Shadow Triad were shown testing its strength. After their defeat at the hands of Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion, the Shadow Triad used Genesect to freeze the three and send them sinking into the water.

Genesect's only known move is Techno Blast.

In the TCG

Shadow Triad

Main article: Shadow Triad (Plasma Freeze 102)

Shadow Triad was introduced as a Supporter card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English Black & White Series (the Japanese BW Era). First released in the Thunder Knuckle expansion, it later debuted in English in the Plasma Freeze expansion, with both prints featuring an illustration by Yusuke Ohmura. Shadow Triad allows the player to take a Team Plasma card from their discard pile and put it in their hand.

Trivia

• The Shadow Triad are the only notable members of Team Plasma who have not appeared in the anime.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 黑暗鐵三角 Hāk'am Titsāamgok * 黑暗三人組 Hāk'am Sāamyàhnjóu * Mandarin 黑暗鐵三角 Hēiàn Tiěsānjiǎo * 黑暗三人組 / 黑暗三人组 Hēiàn Sānrénzǔ * European French Trio des Ombres German Finstrio Italian Trio Oscuro Korean 다크 트리니티 Dark Trinity Brazilian Portuguese Tríade das Sombras (TCG, PS495-PS497) Tríade das Trevas (PS523-present) European Spanish Trío Sombrío Vietnamese Bộ Ba Bóng Tối

Related articles

• Images on the Bulbagarden Archives

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.