Pokémon Go has been beset upon by Team Rocket. First appearing in the Generation 1 games as the main antagonistic force led by Giovanni, the nefarious clique has since become an iconic part of the franchise, appearing in several games, movies and the long-running anime. Sadly, fan favourite members Jesse and James are nowhere to be found in the team’s latest Pokémon-stealing venture but not to worry – there’s plenty to get excited about with this content-filled event.
To get started on the path to catching and curing your very own Shadow Pokémon, you’ll need to be on the lookout for special Rocketstops. These can replace any standard Pokéstops and appear grey in colour as opposed to the usual blue. Once you’ve found one, getting close enough will reveal the presence of a Team Rocket Grunt. Simply tap the villain and you’ll initiate a battle against their Shadow Pokémon. Bring the best team at your disposal, though. You’ll need it.
Should you emerge from battle victorious, the Grunt will flee from the scene and leave behind what appears to be a randomly selected Shadow Pokémon for you to capture. Like raid battles, these critters can only be caught using Premier Balls, several of which will be provided to you on the spot. It’s worth noting that the number of balls you have access to depends on your previous performance in battle. Medals and how many Pokémon left standing at the end of a battle determine the final number.
See below for the full list of currently available Shadow Pokémon:
Currently available Shadow Pokémon
- Bulbasaur
- Charmander
- Squirtle
- Rattata
- Zubat
- Dratini
- Snorlax
- Mudkip
So, now that you’ve obtained your very own red-eyed, evil-looking ‘Mon, it’s time to purify the poor sod. Doing so is a relatively straightforward process. Simply open up your collection and select the desired Shadow Pokémon. In the stats screen should be a new purify option. Tap it and the dark aura will dissipate, leaving behind a purified Pokémon. In terms of differences between it and standard versions of the same creature, purified variants have access to the exclusive Normal-type move Return and boast higher base stats.
You’ll need generous helpings of Candy and Stardust in order to initiate the purification process but by now, I imagine most Pokémon Go Trainers are sitting on vast reserves of both. Good luck on your Shadow hunt!