Should you purify Shadow Cresselia in Pokémon Go?

A huge consideration for Pokémon Go players is Shadow Pokémon and whether you should purify them or keep them in this darker form. It’s a difficult decision when Legendary Pokémon receive this form, such as Shadow Cresselia.

As you reach the end of Adventure Week: Taken Over Special Research, you might wonder what to do with Shadow Cresselia after defeating Giovanni. You’ll have the option to purify it or keep it as Shadow Cresselia and use it against other players. There’s a clear choice between these options, though, especially for Pokémon Go players who already don’t have a standard Cresselia.

Is it better to purify Shadow Cresselia in Pokémon Go?

After reviewing the various stat differences between the two, we’ve determined that Pokémon Go players should purify Shadow Cresselia. If you leave it in its Shadow form, you won’t optimize it for battle against other players or when fighting against NPCs, even if you use its best moveset.

The reason behind this has to do with Cresselia’s stats. When a Pokémon has a Shadow version in Pokémon Go, it receives a 20-percent increase in its attack power but a 20-percent decrease in its defenses. For Cresselia, it has a low attack power and a significantly larger defense that makes it difficult to defeat. When you apply these 20 percent changes to these stats, Shadow Cresselia becomes a subpar choice, and you’re better off using the standard version.

Although Shadow Cresselia has more attack power, regular Cresselia’s higher defenses make it a must-have option if you plan to use it in Pokémon Go‘s Great League. Cresselia’s high defenses make it an excellent choice when fighting in the Great League as few Pokémon can stand against it. Lowering those high defenses by 20 percent removes a notable feature that makes Cresselia a difficult opponent. What’s worse is the increased attack power is not worth it. It makes sense to use more Shadow Pokémon when the attack and defense stats are closer together.

Anyone considering grabbing Shadow Cresselia from Giovanni and saving them from Team Rocket should work through the Adventure Week Taken Over event. It’s worthwhile to catch Cresselia in Pokémon Go if you don’t already have one, and you can purify it immediately after saving it.