Pokemon GO: Shadow Pokemon Explained: How to Catch, Purify, All Shadow Pokemon, New Moves & Badges

Niantic is embracing its inner deviantart artist as Pokemon GO now releases Shadow Pokemon. These dark creatures may seem menacing and mysterious, but there’s nothing to be afraid of. Much of the mystery originally surrounding these Pokemon has been lifted, but it’s still important for you to learn everything about Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO.

Pokemon GO: Shadow Pokemon Explained: How to Catch, Purify & More

The Shadow Pokemon update is one of the most extensive feature additions to the game since the introduction of PvP battles. There’s a lot to go over, so let’s get right into it.

How to Catch Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO

Catching Shadow Pokemon works similarly to how raid battles currently work, except they will take place at Pokestops instead of gyms. The battles also more closely follow the trainer battle format. A Team Go Rocket Grunt will invade a Pokestop and challenge you to a battle. If you defeat them, they will then flee from the location and abandon their shadow Pokemon for you to catch.

Right before the catch sequence begins, you’ll see a screen that looks similar to the one you see right before trying to catch a Raid Boss. The game will award you a number of Premiere Balls based upon your performance in the battle, your experience with purifying Pokemon, and your experience with beating members of Team Go Rocket.

Here’s the breakdown of how that’ll work:

• You’ll get one ball for each of your Pokemon that don’t get KO’d (maximum of 3).
• Defeating the Rocket Grunt will earn you two balls.
• Finally, you’ll receive balls per your hero medal level and your purifier medal level (both a maximum of 3).

That’s a possible total of 11 Premiere Balls per catching sequence.

All Available Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO

Below are all the Pokemon currently confirmed to have Shadow forms. Their evolved forms are also technically available in Shadow form, but they’re not catchable in the current Pokestop takeovers:

• Bulbasaur
• Charmander
• Squirtle
• Rattata
• Zubat
• Snorlax
• Dratini
• Mudkip

There are many more creatures listed in Pokemon GO’s code as having a shadow form. Reddit user, Martycochrane, managed to find even more shadow creatures in the code than what has already been discovered. They are all named here in this list. Pokemon in the same evolution lines are listed on a single bullet point:

• Raticate
• Golbat, Crobat
• Ivysaur, Venusaur
• Charmeleon, Charizard
• Wartortle, Blastoise
• Dragonair, Dragonite
• Marshtomp, Swampert
• Drowzee, Hypno
• Grimer, Muk
• Cubone, Marowak
• Houndour, Houndoom
• Poliwag, Poliwhirl, Poliwrath, Politoed
• Scyther, Scizor
• Magikarp, Gyarados
• Venonat, Venomoth
• Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Belossom
• Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee
• Growlithe, Arcanine
• Psyduck, Golduck
• Ralts, Kirlia, Gardevoir, Gallade
• Abra, Kadabra, Alakazam
• Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar
• Lapras
• Pikachu
• Cacnea, Cacturne
• Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill
• Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry
• Magmar, Magmortar
• Electabuzz, Electivire
• Mareep, Flaffy, Ampharos
• Magnemite, Magneton, Magnezone
• Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel
• Shandshrew, Sandslash
• Porygon, Porygon 2, Porygon Z
• Wobbuffet
• Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra
• Ekans, Arbok
• Koffing, Weezing
• Meowth, Persian
• Articuno
• Misdreavus, Mismagius
• Vulpix, Ninetails
• Exeggcute, Exeggutor
• Carvanha, Sharpeedo
• Omanyte, Omastar
• Trapinch, Vibrava, Flygon
• Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence
• Beldum, Metang, Metagross
• Zapdos
• Nidoran, Nidorina, Nidoqueen
• Nidoran, Nidorino, Nidoking
• Stunky, Skunktank
• Sneasel, Weavile
• Gligar, Gliscor
• Machop, Machoke, Machamp
• Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape
• Shuckle
• Absol
• Mawile
• Moltres

How to Cure & Purify Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO

After a Shadow Pokemon is caught, it must be purified to remove the dark aura around it.

Luckily, this is easy enough to do since the purification requirements are just the Candies and Stardust you likely already have lying around. 

Then, all you need to do is tap the purify button on the screen where you view a single Pokemon. It’s a much easier process than was initially theorized.

What’s more, you’ll get a nice bunch of boosts and discounts for purifying a Pokemon. The creature will learn the new move Return, Each IV will get a two-point boost, a 10% stardust and candy discount on powering up, and a 20% candy cost reduction on new moves.

If you would like to go more in-depth on how purification may work, then check out our guide on how to cure & purify Shadow Pokemon.

New Moves

There are a couple of new moves introduced to both Shadow and Purified creatures. Both Frustration and Return had been added to the game for Shadow and Purified Pokemon respectively.

These are both mediocre Normal-type moves whose strength is based upon high or low levels of friendship between Pokemon and trainer. They don’t work that way in Pokemon GO, but the moves are fitting at the very least.

New Medals

The Shadow Pokemon update will also apparently add two new quests. One will focus around battling members of Team Go Rocket and the other will be centered around purifying Pokemon. Getting all three levels of these new medals will help you earn more Premier Balls for the catching sequence following your battles with Rocket Grunts.

That’s all we know right now about Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO thanks to the datamines. If you want to learn about any other major topics in this game, then check out our Pokemon GO Wiki.