Shadow Pokémon are only available after defeating a Team Rocket Grunt on a PokéStop near you or from a Team Rocket Balloon, which normally appear on your Pokémon GO map every 6 hours starting midnight. Purified Pokémon can be traded, but it counts as a Special Trade. Purified Pokémon receive a 10% discount for Stardust and Candy to power up, evolve and unlock the second charge move.When purified, Shadow Pokémon get +2 to every IV.Shadow Pokémon can be purified in order to release them from Team GO Rocket’s grip: Shadow Pokémon can be caught and purified, which turn into Purified versions of normal Pokémon which learn the exclusive charge move Return. It is unclear at this time if this change is permanent. However, there is enough evidence showing that Shadow Mewtwo caught from defeating Giovanni has an IV floor of 6/6/6, which wasn’t the case for past Shadow Legendaries. Shadow Pokémon caught from Team Rocket Grunts or Team Rocket Leaders don’t have an IV floor. Exclusive MovesĮach Shadow Pokémon knows a charge move upon capture called Frustration, which cannot be removed with a Charge TM or Elite Charge TM, except during Team GO Rocket Takeover Events. See Shadow vs Purified Pokémon in PvP for more information. It’s a lot more complicated in PvP, but usually Shadow Pokémon are better than their normal forms. In PvE, this results in Shadow Pokémon being much stronger than their normal versions, since the huge increase in damage outweighs the lower bulk.
Shadow Pokémon have a 20% boost to their Attack stats in both PvP and PvE (Raids and Gym battles) at the cost of a 20% decrease to their Defense stats. Shadow Pokémon cost 20% more Candy and Stardust to power up and unlock the second charge move than their normal forms. Shadow Pokémon are caught at Level 8 without weather boost and Level 13 with weather boost.