What is a Shadow Pokémon?

There is an unofficial type of Pokémon that exists in multiple games that not many players know about. Here, we’ll explain what is a Shadow Pokémon so you can better understand these mysterious creatures.

Shadow Pokémon should not be confused with Dark-type Pokémon, these are two very different categories. A Shadow Pokémon is a man-created Pokémon without emotions. Shadow Pokémon are used by Cipher, the villain team in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, as well as by Team Rocket GO from Pokémon GO.

In Pokémon GO, when players defeat a member of Team Rocket GO, the grunts abandon a Shadow Pokémon that the player can catch. Shadow Pokémon are the only Pokémon that belong to a trainer but still can be caught by another.

Across games, Shadow Pokémon don’t have any special abilities due to their condition. From a statistical perspective, Shadow Pokémon are the same as the regular version. In both Pokémon GO and Pokémon Colosseum, players can purify the Shadow Pokémon they catch and restore them to their normal version. In Pokémon GO, this process requires Stardust and candies. Shadow Pokémon cannot be traded or transferred through Pokémon Home.

Do Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have Shadow Pokémon?

There are no Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. In other games, Shadow Pokémon are man created with villainous intent. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet don’t have a team of villains similar to Cipher or Team Rocket GO.

In Paldea, the players face Team Star, a group of former Naranja/Uva Academy students who enjoy breaking the rules and wreaking havoc. Other than misbehaving, Team Star doesn’t have evil intentions.

Previous Pokémon villains either wanted to control Pokémon, destroy the world, or clone Arceus through science. This scientific approach to evil has led to the creation of Shadow Pokémon, similar to Type: Null, a Legendary Pokemon from Alola.

It is unlikely that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will add Shadow Pokemon.