Pokemon GO: The Best Shadow Pokemon For Raids

As a seasoned Pokémon GO trainer with years of battling and catching under my belt, I can confidently say that the trio of Shadow Mamoswine, Shadow Heatran, and Shadow Mewtwo are absolute game-changers in the world of Pokémon.


In the world of Pokemon, Jesse and James from Team Rocket were more like comic elements rather than genuine dangers for Ash and his companions in both the anime series and video games. However, the scenario changes when we talk about Team Rocket in Pokemon GO. This is because in this game, they utilize Shadow Pokemon, which possess special abilities that aren’t found in regular Pokemon, making them harder to dismiss compared to their portrayals in earlier titles.

In simpler terms, among the powerful creatures in Pokemon GO (excluding Mega Pokemon), Shadow Pokemon stand out and are highly sought after for battles, particularly during Raids. However, with an abundance of Shadow Pokemon to select from within Pokemon GO, players might find it difficult to choose those that will make conquering Raids a breeze.

17 Shadow Rampardos

Decent Rock-Type Attacker Possessing A Fragile Body

Despite the fragile nature of

Shadow Rampardos
, a lot of

Pokemon GO
players may consider this mon as among the best attackers in the game – at least, until players get a Shadow Rhyperior. Players who plan on using Shadow Rampardos in their

Pokemon GO
Raids should consider equipping it with Smack Down (Fast Move) and Rock Slide (Charge Move).

For optimizing Shadow Rampardos as a Rock-type assault unit, this move set is highly recommended because of its high damage potential. Shadow Rampardos functions better as an initial attacker since its delicate constitution may lead to premature defeat when compared to other Shadow attackers in later stages of the game.

16 Shadow Rayquaza

Secure Dragon Ascent To Maximize Potential

In the third generation of Pokemon GO, enthusiasts seeking a dragon-like Pokemon reminiscent of Eastern mythology might find Rayquaza appealing, especially Shadow Rayquaza for its darker, edgier version. For those engaging in Raid Battles within Pokemon GO, a suitable moveset for Shadow Rayquaza would likely be Air Slash as the quick move and Dragon Ascent as the charge move.

Fundamentally, the calculated 21.96 DPS for the non-Mega version positions Shadow Rayquaza as one of the most potent combatants in the game. With the Dragon Ascent charge move, Shadow Rayquaza comes close to matching Shadow Mewtwo with Psystrike in power. If a Shadow Rayquaza has Dragon Ascent, it not only dominates against most airborne opponents but also converts it into a versatile Pokemon capable of fulfilling various roles within teams. Although Shadow Pokemon rely significantly on possessing Dragon Ascent, the impressive attack strength makes cultivating a Shadow Rayquaza with these stats an advantageous endeavor.

15 Shadow Groudon

Wide Coverage Against Bosses

Among Shadow variants belonging to Generation 3, Shadow Groudon stands out as one of the few equipped to handle various types of Raids due to its extensive coverage in Ground-type attacks. Known for being a good match against many Raid bosses, Shadow Groudon maintains its status as the top non-Mega Ground-type Attacker in the game.

In battles within Pokemon GO, an effective move set for a Shadow Groudon includes Mud Shot (quick attack) and Precipice Blades (special attack). This combination is particularly advantageous in Raid Battles because Mud Shot expedites the charging of Charge Moves. Precipice Blades not only deals significant damage, but when used on a well-raised Shadow Groudon, it can even allow it to defeat certain Raid Bosses alone.

14 Shadow Raikou

A Decent Fighter Except Against Ground Moves

Among the three famous mythical canines, Raikou stands out as the most powerful. When it transforms into its Shadow form, it becomes even more potent. Shadow Raikou inherently resists attacks from Flying, Steel, and Electric types, but is vulnerable to Ground-type attacks such as Earthquake and Mud Shot. The only means of acquiring Shadow Raiku (other than trading) is by overcoming Giovanni. However, his legendary creatures change monthly, so players must stay vigilant until he has Raikou again in his possession.

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

Enthusiasts of the original 151 Pokemon will rejoice to learn that the elusive Shadow Charizard has been added as one of the strongest Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO, following a recent update. Notably, Shadow Charizard boasts an enhanced Base Attack and a respectable amount of HP (158 at maximum CP). Additionally, Shadow Charmander (Charizard’s initial evolution) can often be found with various Team Rocket Grunts, but has also been spotted with Team Rocket Leader Cliff.

Shadow Charizard performs optimally when using Fire Spin for quick attacks and Blast Burn for charge moves. However, acquiring Blast Burn requires an Elite Technical Machine, which isn’t always readily available. As an alternative, players can opt for Overheat, another charge move that deals a reasonable amount of damage.

12 Shadow Magnezone

Enjoy Tanking Up To 12 Elemental Resistances

Shadow Magnezone stands out as one of the most defense-fortified among all Shadow Pokémon, boasting an impressive Defense stat of 205. This robust defense makes Shadow Magnezone a superb choice for Legendary Raids, much like Shadow Hariyama. Yet, what truly sets Shadow Magnezone apart as a premier Shadow Pokémon is its resistance to a whopping 12 different types of attacks.

For optimal move selection when training Shadow Magnezone, consider teaching it Quick Attack (Swift Move) or Wild Charge (Charged Move), with Quick Attack serving as an alternative to Spark. It’s crucial to remember that Shadow Magnezone should be carefully utilized against Fire-type Pokémon due to its inherent weakness in such matches.

11 Shadow Luxray

Blast Through Threats With Electrifying Precision

Another noteworthy Electric-type Pokemon from the top tier in Pokemon GO is the formidable Shadow Luxray. This Generation 4 creature boasts a robust Base Attack of 232 and a peak CP of 2,888. Regrettably, it falls short in HP and Defense, earning it the nickname ‘glass cannon’ among Shadow Pokemon.

Teach your Shadow Luxray to use Snarl as a Quick Move and Wild Charge as a Charge Move. An alternate build for Shadow Luxray is Hidden Power (Quick Move) and Psychic Fangs (Charge Move), though that requires an Elite Technical Machine. Typically, Grunts will have Shadow Shinx, but Sierra sometimes includes Shadow Luxray in her group.

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.

From a passionate trainer’s perspective, when it comes to swift strikes for my Shadow Zapdos, Thunder Shock (after an Elite TM upgrade) or Charge Beam are the standouts. Both attacks deal a good amount of damage, all while maintaining a quick attack speed. As for powerful charge moves, Zap Cannon and Drill Peck are the cream of the crop. Equipping either of these moves to my Shadow Zapdos can elevate it to the rank of a top-tier Shadow Pokémon.

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.

Here are two strategies for Shadow Tyranitar players to consider:

8 Shadow Hariyama

Take A Beating Before Dishing Out Fast Counters

As a dedicated Pokémon trainer, I must admit that while Shadow Hariyama may not be the top-tier Fighting-type Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO, it certainly holds its ground with an impressive Stamina (HP) stat, maxing out at 302 when fully powered up. This substantial HP makes Shadow Hariyama a real tank, able to endure some serious punishment against 5-Star or Mega Raid Pokémon before going down for the count.

In the game Pokemon GO, the optimal choices for Shadow Hariyama are the swift move called Counter and the powerful move known as Dynamic Punch. Players tend to opt for Counter over other quick moves since it’s among the fastest damage-per-second (DPS) moves available, allowing them to use their charged moves more frequently.

7 Shadow Entei

All-Rounder Offensive Specialist

In the world of Pokemon GO, Entei is one of the beloved Legendary Dogs, consistently holding its ground in the competitive sphere. Consequently, it’s no surprise that its shadow form, Shadow Entei, ranks high among the best Shadow Legendary Pokemon for raid battles. Boasting a healthy balance of stats (235 Attack, 171 Defense, and 251 Stamina), Shadow Entei is less likely to be knocked out quickly compared to other Shadow Pokemon or its normal counterpart.

The best move setup players should have on their Shadow Entei are Fire Fang (Fast Move) and Overheat (Charged Move). If players don’t have enough TMs or Stardust to change its moves though, then they can make do with Fire Spin (Fast Move) and Flamethrower (Charged Move).

6 Shadow Moltres

High-Attack Fire Specialist

Shadow Moltres outperforms Shadow Entei in Raids to some extent, primarily due to its higher Attack stat (251 compared to Entei’s). Additionally, as a dual-type Pokemon (Fire/Flying), Shadow Moltres has an edge over monotype Pokemon like Entei when it comes to countering Raid opponents.

Shadow Moltres has several Move combinations that work well for Raids, but the best moves are Fire Spin (Fast Move) and Sky Attack (Charged Move). If a player already has a decent Shadow Entei, then they can teach their Shadow Moltres Wing Attack (Fast Move) since it’s a powerful counter against Fighting-type Raid Pokemon.

5 Shadow Machamp

Best Among Shadow Fighting-Types

In the world of Pokemon GO , Fighting-type Pokemon stand out for their impressive offensive capabilities, particularly against Dark-, Ice-, Normal-, Rock-, and Steel-type opponents. Furthermore, among all Shadow Pokemon, the Shadow Machamp is unquestionably the top choice for Fighting-type shadows, boasting an impressive stat line of 234 Attack, 159 Defense, and 207 Stamina.

The best strategy for Shadow Machamp, when paired with Dynamic Punch as its charged move, is the Fast Move called Counter. Players can transform Shadow Machamp from a heavy attacker to a more damage-per-second (DPS) focused Pokémon by teaching it Bullet Punch as a fast move and Heavy Slam as a charged move, making it effective in defending Gyms.

4 Shadow Weavile

Powerful Glass Cannon

In the game Pokemon GO, Shadow Weavile stands out as one of the rare Dark- and Ice-type Shadow Pokemons capable of singlehandedly defeating lower-tier (and potentially higher with optimal stats) Raid Pokemons. However, its Stamina stat is quite low at 172, making Shadow Weavile more of a powerful weapon that needs tactical use; players should choose their Raid battles prudently.

In the game of Pokemon GO, a Shadow Weavile can perform two distinct roles. However, it’s generally optimal to focus on its Dark-type role. To do this effectively, trainers should teach their Shadow Weavile Snarl as a Fast Charge move and Foul Play as a Charged Move. If you prefer the Ice-type role for your Shadow Weavile, then Ice Shard would be the appropriate Fast Move, with Avalanche serving as the Charged Move instead.

3 Shadow Mamoswine

Despite being an unpopular Gen 2 Pokemon, Shadow Mamoswine is the top gun of Ice-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. Shadow Mamoswine not only plays the role of a tank due to its high Stamina stat (242), but it also can be a powerful attacker since it has a 247 base Attack. On top of that, Mamoswine is a dual-type Pokemon (Ground/Ice), and it can counter Electric, Fire, Poison, Rock, Steel, Dragon, Flying, Grass, and Ground.

For Shadow Mamoswine, the optimal quick move is Powder Snow and the preferred charged move is Avalanche. Although slower in pace, Powder Snow boasts a high energy generation rate, enabling more frequent use of Avalanche. If Stardust is scarce, consider Bulldoze as an alternative charged move for your charged attack.

2 Shadow Heatran

Legendary Use Of Fire Makes For A Stellar Addition To Any Team

Obtaining a Shadow Heatran is essential for Pokemon GO enthusiasts aiming for the top non-Mega Fire-type Attacker in terms of Damage Per Second (DPS), particularly when it comes to Raids. The resistance of Shadow Heatran towards Bug, Grass, Ice, and Steel types bypasses the typical weakness of Fire-types against these categories, providing Shadow Heatran with a significant defensive edge.

For optimal Shadow Heatran setup in Pokemon GO Raids, it’s beneficial to have Fire Spin as the Fast Move and Magma Storm as the Charge Move. The rapid generation of Fire Spins significantly speeds up access to Magma Storm, typically requiring just four spins to activate. Magma Storm serves as a strong two-bar Charge Move for most raids and can be particularly useful in PVP with an appropriate configuration.

1 Shadow Mewtwo

Dominate Raids With Flexibility

Without a doubt, I firmly believe that my favorite Shadow Pokemon, the Shadow Mewtwo, stands head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to Raids. Its Attack stat, an impressive 300, is formidable, even after Niantic’s adjustments. But what truly sets Shadow Mewtwo apart is its versatility – it can learn almost any move of any type-specific move, from Thunderbolt to Hyper Beam. Out of all the Fast Moves Mewtwo can master, Confusion remains the top choice due to its high DPS. As for Charged Moves, the selection is vast: players can pick from a variety of options.

  • Shadow Ball
  • Psystrike
  • Psychic
  • Thunderbolt
  • Flamethrower
  • Focus Blast
  • Hyper Beam (Legacy Move)

It’s advisable for players to select a Charged Move that complements their Raid squad, perhaps one they don’t already have. Among all, Hyper Beam delivers the highest damage, but it requires more time to be fully charged.

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2024-10-28 00:35