Team Rocket (specifically Jesse and James) were more comic relief characters than an actual threat to Ash and his friends in the anime. Even in Pokemon games, Team Rocket and the other deviant teams weren't much of a danger to players. But, Team Rocket in Pokemon GO isn't as easy to shrug off as with previous titles. The main reason is that Team Rocket uses Shadow Pokemon, which have unique abilities not present in "normal" Pokemon.
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Shadow Pokemon are among the strongest Pokemon in Pokemon GO (aside from Mega Pokemon) and are quite valuable for battles, especially Raids. But with so many Shadow Pokemon available to choose from in Pokemon GO, players may find it challenging to pick the ones that will help them beat Pokemon Raids easily.
Updated on October 27, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: While the difficulty of Gigantamax Battles are currently causing a bit of a ruckus in the Pokemon GO community, fans of the hit AR experience might resort to going back to good ol’ Raids to get their fix in fighting difficult Pokemon alongside their friends. Before players in Pokemon GO go all out in the Raiding encounters they may want to consider holding out on their Shadow Pokemon, instead of just Purifying them. After all, certain Shadow Pokemon have an edge against the rest of the game’s creature offerings when utilized in the correct manner, such as a decent all-rounder generalist, an early-game heavy attacker, and a popular Legendary Pokemon whose recommended Move combination can give them the edge in fights.
17 Shadow Rampardos
Decent Rock-Type Attacker Possessing A Fragile Body
When setting up Shadow Rampardos as a Rock-type Attacker, this Moveset is the way to go due to the potential damage output. Shadow Rampardos is idea for more of an early-game attacker, as its frail nature can make it have an early exit compared to other Shadow attackers.
16 Shadow Rayquaza
Secure Dragon Ascent To Maximize Potential
Among the Legendaries of Generation 3 in Pokemon GO, players who want their Pokemon to resemble a traditional Eastern dragon may appreciate the slithering nature of Rayquaza - particularly Shadow Rayquaza, if players want the edgy twist. When planning to use a Shadow Rayquaza in Pokemon GO Raid Battles, its best Moveset would probably be Air Slash (Fast Move) and Dragon Ascent (Charge Move).
At its core, the resulting 21.96 DPS for the non-Mega variant makes Shadow Rayquaza among the strongest attackers in the game. Having Dragon Ascent (Charge Move) allows Shadow Rayquaza to almost be comparable to Shadow Mewtwo with Psystrike. Should Shadow Rayquaza have Dragon Ascent, not only does it trump against most other Fliers, but it also transforms Shadow Rayquaza into a generalist capable of filling most roles in teams. Despite the Shadow Pokemon depending heavily on its possession of Dragon Ascent, the resulting attack power makes raising a Shadow Rayquaza with this stats worthwhile.
15 Shadow Groudon
Wide Coverage Against Bosses
Of the members of Generation 3’s Shadow variants, Shadow Groudon is notable to be among the few Shadow variants equipped to handle most types of Raids courtesy of its extensive Ground-type coverage. Shadow Groudon is known to be a decent counter to a lot of Raid bosses while retaining the position of being the best non-Mega Ground-type Attacker in the game.
When equipping a Shadow Groudon for Pokemon GO fights, among the best Moves to use would be Mud Shot (Fast Move) and Precipice Blades (Charge Move). Using Shadow Groudon as a Ground-Type makes this Moveset combo the best for Raid Battles, especially since Mud Shot (Fast Move) is known for charging Charge Moves much quicker. The Move is a natural complement for Precipice Blades (Charge Move), as not only does the Charge Move pack a lot of punch but using this on a properly-raised Shadow Groudon can enable it to solo some Raid Bosses.
14 Shadow Raikou
A Decent Fighter Except Against Ground Moves
Raikou is the strongest of the three Legendary Dogs, meaning its Shadow form makes it even stronger. Shadow Raikou is naturally resistant to Flying, Steel, and Electric-type attacks, but is weak to Ground-type moves, like Earthquake and Mud Shot. Unfortunately, the only way of obtaining Shadow Raikou (aside from trading) is by defeating Giovanni. Even then, Giovanni's Legendary lineup changes every month, so players will have to keep a lookout until he has Raikou again.
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The best moves Shadow Raikou can learn are Volt Switch (Quick Move) and Wild Charge (Charge Move). As mentioned previously, players should avoid using him in Raids that feature a Rock-type Pokemon like Landorus (Therian), Groudon, or Mamoswine. Other than that, Raikou is a good Shadow Pokemon for players to have in their lineup.
13 Shadow Charizard
Boasts Supremacy With Fire Moves
Fans of the original 151 Pokemon will be happy to know that Shadow Charizard finally makes the cut as one of the strongest Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO, thanks to a recent update. Aside from increased Base Attack, Shadow Charizard also has a decent amount of HP (158 at max CP). Shadow Charmander (Charizard's first evolution) can be seen with various Team Rocket Grunts but has also appeared with Team Rocket Leader Cliff.
In terms of moves, Shadow Charizard excels best with Fire Spin (Quick Move) and Blast Burn (Charge Move). To obtain Blast Burn though, players will have to use an Elite TM, which isn't always easy to get. Alternatively, players can use Overheat (non-Elite TM) since it does a decent amount of damage as a Charge Move.
12 Shadow Magnezone
Enjoy Tanking Up To 12 Elemental Resistances
Shadow Magnezone is among the tankiest of all Shadow Pokemon, boasting 205 Defense. Thanks to its high Defense, Shadow Magnezone is the ideal Pokemon to use in Legendary Raids (similar to Shadow Hariyama). However, the feature that makes Shadow Magnezone a top Shadow Pokemon is its resistance to 12-element types.
Spark (Quick Move) and Wild Charge (Charge Move) are the ideal moves to teach Shadow Magnezone, but Charge Beam can be used instead of Spark. Players should also avoid using Shadow Magnezone against Fire-type Pokemon since it has a particular weakness against them.
11 Shadow Luxray
Blast Through Threats With Electrifying Precision
Yet another Electric-type Pokemon that ranks among the best Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO is Shadow Luxray. This Generation 4 Pokemon has a strong Base Attack of 232 and a max CP of 2,888. Unfortunately, it does lack HP and Defense, making it the glass cannon of Shadow Pokemon.
Players should teach their Shadow Luxray Snarl (Quick Move) and Wild Charge (Charge Move). An alternative build for Shadow Luxray is Hidden Power (Quick Move) and Psychic Fangs (Charge Move), but that requires an Elite TM. Most Grunts will have a Shadow Shinx, but Sierra has been known to include Shadow Luxray in her lineup.
10 Shadow Zapdos
Enjoy Fast-Paced Electric Aggression
Another Giovanni-locked Shadow Pokemon players should catch is Shadow Zapdos. Since it's a Legendary Pokemon, Shadow Zapdos boasts high HP and Defense, two essential attributes for Raid battles. Its Base Attack is 253, but a Perfect IV Shadow Zapdos may have an even higher Attack rating.
The best Quick Moves for Shadow Zapdos are Thunder Shock (Elite TM) or Charge Beam. Both attacks offer a decent amount of damage while still having a fast attack animation. As for Charge Moves, Zap Cannon and Drill Peck are the top two picks. By teaching Shadow Zapdos either of these moves, players can transform it into a top Shadow Pokemon.
9 Shadow Tyranitar
Enjoy Flexible Offense
Shadow Tyranitar is hardly worth using for Raids and even less for the GO Battle League without the right attack moves. But players that manage to get a decent Shadow Larvitar and teach it the right moves will have a force to be reckoned with in Raids.
There are two combinations players should use with their Shadow Tyranitar. The first is using Smack Down (Fast Move) and Stone Edge (Charged Move), creating a pure Rock-type damage dealer that can topple most Bug-, Fire-, Flying-, and Ice-type Raid Pokemon. The second combination is Bite (Fast Move) and Crunch (Charged Move), some of the best Dark-type moves in Pokemon GO.
8 Shadow Hariyama
Take A Beating Before Dishing Out Fast Counters
Even though Shadow Hariyama isn't the best Fighting-type Shadow Pokemon on this list, it still boasts one of the highest Stamina (HP) stats in Pokemon GO, 302 at maxed CP. With that much HP, Shadow Hariyama can take a heavy beating against 5-Star or Mega Raid Pokemon before being KO'd.
The ideal moves for Shadow Hariyama are Counter (Fast Move) and Dynamic Punch (Charged Move). Players use Counter over the other Fast Moves because it's one of the fastest DPS moves in Pokemon GO, meaning players can use their Charged Moves more often.