5 best Shadow Pokemon for Pokemon GO PvE

Pokemon GO's Shadow Pokemon are especially powerful in PvE, thanks to their damage output, particularly in raids. However, not every Shadow Pokemon is created equally, and many outperform their counterparts and have become some of the strongest PvE options alongside the likes of Mega-Evolved Pokemon.

With that in mind, let us examine some of the strongest Shadow Pokemon for Pokemon GO PvE thanks to their movesets, high damage output, and elemental type combinations. While the PvE meta can shift over time, these picks have largely become staples in PvE situations.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinions.

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Five of the best Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO PvE

1) Shadow Groudon

Shadow Groudon is one of Pokemon GO's finest Ground-type PvE attackers (Image via Niantic)

While Primal Groudon still dwarfs Shadow Groudon in Pokemon GO PvE, the latter certainly shouldn't be overlooked. Access to the signature attack Precipice Blades is relatively cheap and deals a whopping 130 base damage as a Charged Move. Moreover, with a base Attack stat of 270 and Defense of 228, Shadow Groudon only really benefits from the Shadow Form buff.

It can deal immense damage, and take plenty of damage. Its Ground typing is a coveted one against Poison, Fire, Steel, Rock, and Electric-type foes, particularly high-HP raid bosses. The only Ground-types in PvE that can truly hope to overcome Shadow Groudon are Primal Groudon and Mega Garchomp (in some situations).

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2) Shadow Mewtwo

Shadow Mewtwo maybe Pokemon GO's most versatile PvE attacker (Image via Niantic)

Ever since its debut in Pokemon GO Fest 2020, Shadow Mewtwo has been one of the most coveted PvE attackers in the game. Its impressive base Attack stat of 300, combined with the Shadow Form buff and a range of eight versatile Charged Moves (excluding Frustration), allows Mewtwo to tackle various opponents in PvE with exceptional power.

While it's admittedly a bit of a glass cannon among top PvE options, Shadow Mewtwo can deal so much sheer damage in a short amount of time that it may not give its opponent much time to respond outside of top-end raids.

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3) Shadow Tyranitar

Shadow Tyranitar is a fantastic Rock and Dark-type PvE combatant in Pokemon GO (Image via The Pokemon Company/Niantic)

Tyranitar was a menace earlier on in Pokemon GO's raid meta, and Shadow Tyranitar has followed suit in the modern day. While it's dwarfed by the power of Mega Tyranitar, this Rock/Dark-type creature is no slouch. Gaining access to the Charged Move Brutal Swing made Shadow Tyranitar an incredibly potent Dark-type attacker in PvE while still having tons of Rock-type offense to spare.

Shadow Tyranitar doesn't lose much durability due to its Shadow Form debuff, ensuring it can deal plenty of damage before it faints. As many raid bosses are susceptible to Rock and Dark-type attacks, Shadow Tyranitar is a regular appearance in raids even if Mega Tyranitar dwarfs it.

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4) Shadow Rampardos

Shadow Rampardos is all about Rock-type offense in Pokemon GO (Image via Niantic)

If Pokemon GO players don't have access to Shadow Tyranitar and need a Rock-type PvE attacker, Shadow Rampardos is a strong alternative. With a remarkably high base Attack stat of 295 for a non-legendary Pokemon, Shadow Rampardos thrives on offense and has a respectable Stamina stat of 219, giving it enough HP to endure several hits.

Moreover, while Rock-type moves tend to serve it the best, Shadow Rampardos can serve niche roles with moves like Outrage, offering some Dragon-type damage viability. All things considered, it might not be a Mega Evolution or a legendary, but Shadow Rampardos remains one of the best Rock-types in PvE.

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5) Shadow Dragonite

Shadow Dragonite brings its pseudo-legendary power to great success in PvE (Image via Niantic/The Pokemon Company)

If PvE fans don't have access to legendary or Mega-Evolved Dragon-types and need to tackle PvE situations with plenty of firepower, then Shadow Dragonite should be a top alternative. While it does have slightly lower DPS than Shadow Salamence, its improved bulkiness allows it to deal more damage overall before it faints in battle.

Thanks to its reception of the Charged Move Dragon Claw, Shadow Dragonite can pile up damage quickly. It also boasts versatility with access to moves like Superpower and Hurricane. For pure Dragon-type offense, Shadow Dragonite is an excellent choice for trainers.