The Crown Clash GO Rocket Takeover event is bringing a fresh batch of Shadow Pokémon, and if you’re wondering which ones are worth powering up for PvP, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down the big players and see who stands out in the Master, Ultra, and Great Leagues!
Shadow Dialga: The Temporal Powerhouse 🐲
Dialga has been a Master League staple for ages thanks to its distinct Steel/Dragon typing and solid moveset. Now, Shadow Dialga enters the arena, and guess what? It holds its own impressively, even rivaling Origin Forme Dialga in many matchups. The boosted Attack stat lets it outspeed tough opponents like Primarina and Zygarde Complete, which non-Shadow Dialga struggles against.
However, Shadow Dialga’s reduced bulk means it can lose to some Pokémon that regular Dialga handles well, such as Dragonite and Landorus. In 2v2 battles, Shadow Dialga shines even brighter, taking down foes like Ursaluna and Dawn Wings Necrozma that other Dialga forms can’t.
One catch: powering up Shadow Dialga demands 20% more Stardust and Candy. If you’re budget-conscious, purified Dialga is a neat alternative. It gains the Normal-type move Return as a closer, which is less punishing than Draco Meteor and hits a wide range of types effectively. Purified Dialga performs similarly to regular Dialga but struggles a bit more without shields.
Shadow Malamar: Ultra League Contender 🔄
Shadow Malamar is a beast in Ultra League, outperforming its non-Shadow counterpart by a noticeable margin. It can take down heavy hitters like Ampharos, Blastoise, and Lapras, which non-Shadow Malamar can’t handle as well. In 1v1 shielding, Shadow Malamar clearly has the edge, but in other shield scenarios, the matchup is more balanced.
Non-Shadow Malamar still holds value, especially with distinct wins over Pokémon like Talonflame and Skeledirge. If you can invest the resources, Shadow Malamar is definitely worth building, ideally pushing it close to Level 50 for maximum impact.
Purified Malamar with Return might be an interesting option in certain Cups, offering a different playstyle compared to the usual Hyper Beam closer.
Inkay: Little League Spotlight
Inkay’s usefulness is mostly confined to Little League, and unfortunately, Shadow Inkay is a slight downgrade overall compared to its non-Shadow form. It loses some matchups that non-Shadow can win, though it picks up a few distinct wins with shields down.
The silver lining? Purified Inkay gains Return as a charge move, which is a big upgrade over Psybeam. While purified Inkay isn’t viable in Little League due to level caps, it’s still a nice option for collectors or those experimenting in other formats.
Other Shadows: Mixed Results 🥊🦕🦖
- Vigoroth: Shadow Slakoth might hint at Vigoroth making a comeback in Limited formats. Shadow Vigoroth picks up some extra wins but probably won’t dominate Open League anytime soon.
- Aurorus & Amaura: Shadow forms don’t offer much improvement. Shadow Aurorus loses some key matchups in Ultra League, while Shadow Amaura is a close call but slightly behind non-Shadow overall.
- Tyrunt & Tyrantrum: Shadow Tyrunt gains a few wins but loses more, making it less appealing. Tyrantrum, despite its cool design, remains weak in PvP, with Shadow versions not changing much.
Final Thoughts
If you’re chasing the best PvP value from this event, Shadow Dialga is the star, with purified Dialga as a solid backup if you have the resources. Shadow Malamar is a strong Ultra League pick, while Inkay and the others are more situational or just fun bonuses. Good luck hunting those Shadows, and may your GO Rocket battles be exactly what you want!
What do you think about these new Shadows? Are you powering up Shadow Dialga or Malamar? Drop your thoughts below.
