Shadow Pokémon (GO)

A Shadow Charmander (left) and the same Charmander immediately after purification (right)

Shadow Pokémon (Japanese: シャドウポケモン Shadow Pokémon) are Pokémon in Pokémon GO that have been modified by Team GO Rocket through unnatural means, resulting in them having dark, flaming auras (except Mewtwo, and Apex Shadow Pokémon) and angry, red eyes. By defeating members of Team GO Rocket, players can capture Shadow Pokémon and restore them to a more normal state through purification.

In the Pokémon Box, Shadow Pokémon have a icon at the bottom left of their image, and Purified Pokémon have a icon. Similar to Lucky Pokémon, the Pokédex will keep count of the number of Pokémon that the player has purified of that species; evolving a Purified Pokémon will not increment the evolution's purified counter.

The Charged Attacks Frustration and Return are exclusive to Shadow Pokémon and Purified Pokémon, respectively. Unlike all other moves, these are not re-rolled upon evolution. On Community Days, eligible Purified Pokémon may learn event-exclusive moves, replacing Return upon evolution, even if that Pokémon already knows a second Charged Attack. Shadow Pokémon can only learn their event-exclusive moves if Frustration is first forgotten, either by purification or using a Charged TM during certain events. Once forgotten, Frustration and Return cannot be relearned, even if an Elite Charged TM is used, or if it evolves.

Characteristics

According to the research of Candela and Professor Willow, Shadow Pokémon are the result of having been artificially overpowered by Team GO Rocket, causing them frequent pain from their uncontrollable strength. Shadow Pokémon are surrounded by what looks like a purple fire, or in Mewtwo's case, surrounded by its Psychic power. Apex Shadow Ho-Oh's aura looks like a spiral, while Apex Shadow Lugia's aura looks like a giant wisp with lightning. During a Team GO Rocket battle, Shadow Pokémon used by Team GO Rocket members have significantly inflated stats, especially in Attack, potentially attaining CP values much higher than the maximum possible by powering up. The CP of Team GO Rocket's Pokémon increases with each player's Trainer level. Their Shadow Pokémon's moves, including Charged Attacks, are randomly selected from the species' current move pool.

For further information about how CP is calculated for Team GO Rocket's Shadow Pokémon, see Team GO Rocket → Pokémon.

If a Team GO Rocket member is defeated, they will leave behind one of the Shadow Pokémon used in battle, which the player can then "rescue" by capturing it in a bonus challenge using Premier Balls. During the capture encounter, Shadow Pokémon attack more frequently than their normal counterparts.

Since November 7, 2019, all Shadow Pokémon left behind after defeating a Team GO Rocket member are caught at an initial Power Up level of 8, or 13 with a Weather Boost, and their IVs are randomly determined the same way as in standard wild encounter. Shadow Pokémon caught after a Raid Battle are level 20, or 25 with a Weather Boost, like other Pokémon caught in Raid Battles.

Until March 25, 2023, only Shadow Pokémon left behind by Team GO Rocket Leaders, Jessie, and James had a chance of becoming Shiny. Now Grunts can have give Shiny Shadow Pokémon as long as said Pokémon was previously owned by a Team GO Rocket Leader. For example, Shadow Bulbasaur can be Shiny as it was owned by Cliff, but not Shadow Rattata. Shadow Raid Battles can also reward Shiny Pokémon, if their Shiny Shadow was previously released, with the exception of Legendary Pokémon.

Shadow and Purified Pokémon cannot be transferred to Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!; Shadow Pokémon cannot be transferred to Pokémon HOME, but Purified Pokémon can.

Shadow Pokémon, once captured by the player, all have the following characteristics:

• Have Frustration as a Charged Attack, which normally cannot be replaced using a Charged TM
• Cost ×⁶/₅ Candy and Stardust to power up and to learn a second Charged Attack
• Have the following stat modifiers (not factored into CP) as a "Shadow Bonus":
  • ×⁶/₅ Attack
  • ×⁵/₆ Defense
• Cannot be traded (since July 25, 2019)
• Cannot Mega Evolve

Purification

Through a process discovered by Blanche and Professor Willow, players can Purify (Japanese: リトレイン Retrain) Shadow Pokémon using Candy and Stardust, restoring them to a more normal state. Purified Pokémon have almost same appearance as their normal forms, but surrounded by a misty, white aura.

Upon purification, the Pokémon will:

• Power up to the player's Trainer level, up to level 25 (if currently at a lower level)
• Have each of its IVs increased by 2 (up to the maximum 15)
• Learn Return, replacing the Charged Attack in the first slot
• Cost 0.9× Candy to evolve (rounded down)
• Cost 0.9× Stardust and Candy to Power Up (rounded up)
• Cost 0.8× Stardust and Candy to learn a second Charged Attack
• Lose its Shadow Bonus (Attack and Defense modifiers)
• Be eligible for Special Trades, which do not cost extra Stardust if the receiving player already has the purified form registered
• Be eligible for Mega Evolution, if applicable

Apex Shadow Pokémon

Apex Shadow Pokémon are a special kind of Shadow Pokémon. They were created by Team GO Rocket Leader Arlo using mysterious power stolen from behind the mysterious door, during the Season of Heritage. Currently, there are only two Apex Shadow Pokémon: Ho-Oh and Lugia.

Unlike regular Shadow Pokémon, Apex Shadow Pokémon will not know Frustration once caught. And once purified, they will not learn Return.

• Apex Shadow Ho-Oh will have Sacred Fire+ as its Charged Attack, and it becomes Sacred Fire++ once purified
• Apex Shadow Lugia will have Aeroblast+ as its Charged Attack, and it becomes Aeroblast++ once purified

Both Apex Shadow Ho-Oh and Apex Shadow Lugia can be obtained from Masterwork Research: Apex.

Shadow Raid Battles

Main article: Shadow Raid

Shadow Raids, which debuted on May 22, 2023, are a special type of Raid Battle in which a Team GO Rocket member takes over a Gym and commands a Shadow Raid Boss. Remote Raid Passes can not be used to challenge them. One-star and three-star Shadow Raid Bosses are controlled by Team GO Rocket Grunts; five-star, Legendary Shadow Raid Bosses are controlled by Giovanni or Team GO Rocket Leaders.

Three- and five-star Shadow Raid Bosses become enraged after its HP falls to a certain percentage, during which its Attack and Defense stats are drastically increased. Once players collectively use eight Purified Gems against the Shadow Raid Boss, it will become subdued, returning its stats back to normal.

Currently, all five-star Shadow Raid Bosses have a chance of becoming Shiny during the bonus challenge; this makes Shadow Raids the only method of obtaining a Shiny Shadow Legendary Pokémon. One- and three-star Shadow Raid Bosses may only become Shiny if its Shiny Shadow form was previously obtainable.

List of Shadow Pokémon

Main article: List of Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO

Updates

Sorting (formerly)

• Prior to July 25, 2019, Shadow Pokémon were eligible for Special Trades. However, due to the likelihood of a Lucky Shadow Pokémon being purified with perfect IVs, this feature was restricted.
• Prior to July 31, 2019, purification costs were on average much higher and did not necessarily scale directly with Buddy distance. For first partner Pokémon, the purification costs were also higher for the second and third stages.
• Prior to November 7, 2019, Shadow Pokémon were caught between Lv. 1 to 5 or Lv. 6 to 10 if Weather Boosted.
• Shadow Pokémon received a major update on March 2, 2020. Prior to this, Shadow Pokémon
  • Cost 3× the Candy and Stardust to power up or learn a second Charged Attack
  • Had no way of forgetting Frustration other than purification
  • Did not have any special stat modifiers
• Originally, when viewing the list of currently owned Pokémon, sorted by Pokédex number, they are sorted in the order: normal, Shadow, Purified. This is no longer the case.
• Prior to September 2021, during a Shadow Pokémon capture encounter, the target ring was always colored red to indicate a 5% base capture rate, but the actual catch rate was no different from that of the normal form.

Trivia

• The English, German, Spanish, French, and Italian terms for Shadow Pokémon and purification are the same as their equivalents (Shadow Pokémon and purification) in Pokémon Colosseum and XD; however, the Japanese terms differ (being ダークポケモン Dark Pokémon and リライブ Relive, respectively, in the Nintendo GameCube games).
• Due to every Shadow Pokémon knowing Frustration and Purified Pokémon knowing Return, Weedle, Kakuna, Magikarp, Wobbuffet, Hisuian Sneasel, Beldum, Ursaluna, and Sneasler each have two moves in Pokémon GO that they cannot learn in the core series.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 暗影寶可夢 Amyíng Pokémon Mandarin 暗影寶可夢 Ànyǐng Pokémon French Pokémon Obscur German Crypto-Pokémon Indonesian Pokémon Bayangan Italian Pokémon ombra Korean 그림자 포켓몬 Geurimja Pokémon Brazilian Portuguese Pokémon Sombroso Spanish Pokémon oscuro Thai โปเกมอนชาโดว์ Pokémon Shadow Turkish Gölge Pokémon

Purification

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 淨化 Jihngfa Mandarin 淨化 Jìnghuà French Purification German Erlösung Indonesian Purifikasi Italian Purificazione Korean 정화 Jeonghwa Brazilian Portuguese Purificação Spanish Purificación Thai ชำระล้าง Chamralang Turkish Arındırma

References

Pokémon forms and variants Permanent: Shiny Pokémon (GO) • Alternately colored Pokémon (animated series) Gender differences • Form differences (GO) Brilliant Pokémon • Alpha Pokémon Transformations: Mega Evolution (Shuffle • Masters • GO) • Primal Reversion (GO) • Bond Phenomenon Ultra Burst • Dynamax (GO) • Gigantamax • Eternamax • Terastal phenomenon Groups: Totem Pokémon • Noble Pokémon • Titan Pokémon Regional forms: Alolan • Galarian • Hisuian • Paldean Analogous: Paradox Pokémon • Ecologically similar Pokémon Pikachu variants: Surfing Pikachu • Flying Pikachu • Cosplay Pikachu • Pikachu in a cap Miscellaneous: Fusions (GO) • Giant Pokémon • Spiky-eared Pichu • Partner Pokémon (LGPE) Side series original: Shadow Pokémon • Shadow Lugia Spin-off original: Shadow Pokémon (GO) • Primal Dialga • Toy Pokémon (Rusty Pokémon) Shadow Mewtwo • Pokéxel • Illumina phenomenon Animated series original: Pink Butterfree • Clone Pokémon • Crystal Onix Mirage Pokémon • Meta Groudon • Green-crystal Deoxys Manga original: Thu-Fi-Zer • Black Fog • Black Tyranitar

This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames.