Pokemon GO Shadow Bayleef raid guide (May 2023): Best counters, weaknesses, and more

Shadow Raids have finally come to Pokemon GO! In a trial run of the new feature, it is fitting that Niantic has chosen the middle-stage evolutions of the Johto Starter Pokemon, considering that they were some of the franchise's original Shadow Pokemon back in Pokemon Colosseum for the Nintendo GameCube.

Since Shadow Pokemon are much stronger in terms of their attacking power compared to standard creatures, some players may be initially intimidated to atttempt these new types of Raid Battles. However, with the right strategy and a good amount of game knowledge, trainers will have no problem overcoming Niantic's newest challenge.

So what should players take into consideration as they prepare to take on one of the three new Shadow Raid Bosses - Bayleef? Since it has been a while from when it last appeared in Raid Battles in Pokemon GO, it is understandable if some newer raiders would need a refresher on a strategy before jumping in.

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Shadow Bayleef Raid Boss in Pokemon GO: Everything to know

Ash's Bayleef as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The first thing players need to know before challenging any Raid Boss in Pokemon GO is its elemental typing. In the case of Bayleef, the creature posesses a pure Grass typing, which leaves it vulnerable to Fire, Poison, Flying, Ice, and Bug-type attacks. Since there is a potential for it to know Ancient Power, players should construct their team around Poison-types just to be safe.

Bayleef is known for its bulk, but it is still an unevolved Pokemon since it is the middle-stage in an evolutionary line. However, its stamina and defense are both tied for its highest stats, which can give those with lessser raid experience some trouble when it comes to taking it down within the time limit.

There are some great offensive and defensive options that trainers should consider when going into this fight. Alolan Muk, Skuntank, and Drapion are all great choices, thanks to their defensive type combination of Poison and Dark. Alolan Muk comes out on top thanks to its higher stats and damage potential.

Galarian Darmanitan is another great choice for this Raid Battle in Pokemon GO due to its sheer damage-dealing capabilities. Although frail, this pick can do some serious damage to an underevolved Raid Boss before going down. As such, it is a staple for raiders to have for this raid if there is one in their collection.

In terms of team size, small parties should be more than capable of taking out Bayleef without much issue. Due to its low stat total, there are a considerable amount of creatures in the game that can take it down by themselves. However, for players who may not have as much experience raiding, it would be a good idea to bring at least one other person.

Overall, the inclusion of Bayleef as one of the first Shadow Raid Bosses in Pokemon GO is nothing more than a neat reference to the GameCube titles. Since Meganium is a very lackluster performer in the game's Battle League, it is unlikely that many will jump at their chance to challenge this boss to add it to their collection.