PvP and PvE analysis of all Shadow Pokemon debuts during Pokemon GO Adventure Week: Taken Over

Four Shadow Pokemon debuts took place during the Pokemon GO Adventure Week: Taken Over event. The debutants are Shadow Cresselia, Shadow Timburr (and its evolutions Gurdurr and Conkeldurr), Shadow Archen (and its evolution Archeops), and Shadow Tirtouga (and its evolution Carracosta).

This article provides a basic PvP and PvE viability analysis to help you decide which of these to farm for competitive usage and which to look out for as collection items.

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

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Are the new Shadow Pokemon from Adventure Week: Taken Over good in Pokemon GO PvP and PvE?

Shadow Cresselia

Shadow Cresselia (Image via TPC)

Cresslia has been a staple pick in both the Great League and Ultra League formats of GBL. Its Shadow Version is a strict sidegrade. This means that Cresslia and Shadow Cresselia have different niches. While the extra damage output gives it an edge in certain situations, the loss of bulk affects it elsewhere.

All things consider, both regular and Shadow Cresselia are worth having in your collection for PvP usage. You can try out different team combinations to see what works best for you.

Cresselia has never been a PvE pick, and the addition of its Shadow Variant does nothing to improve its position in that arena. It could have been an excellent Gym defender, but Legendaries are not allowed in that aspect of the game.

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Shadow Conkeldurr (evolves from Shadow Timburr)

Shadow Timburr (Image via TPC)

Shadow Conkeldurr is arguably the biggest winner to come out of Adventure Week: Taken Over. The creature can be found by defeating the Fighting-type Grunt. Note that you must use an Elite Charged TM to teach it Brutal swing for PvP battles.

In the Great and Ultra League of Pokemon GO, Shadow Conkeldurr sees a 34 and 18-step improvement in its rank. That said, it still remains an underwhelming pick in these formats. In the Master League, it goes from #93 to #80. Here, it has a very respectable 50% average win rate against the meta, scoring crucial victories against Garchomp, Kyogre, and both Dawn Wings and Dusk Mane Necrozma.

In PvE, Shadow Conkeldurr is the strongest non-Legendary, non-Mega Fighting-type attacker with a DPS of 20.10 (higher than Terrakion and Mega Heracross).

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Shadow Archeops (evolves from Shadow Archen)

Shadow Archen (Image via TPC)

Shadow Archeops is an underwhelming PvP pick. It is outclassed by a wide variety of Flying-type creatures already dominating the meta. While it is an improvement over its non-Shadow variant, the lack of a Flying-type Charged Attack seriously hampers its prospects.

In PvE battles, Shadow Archeops emerges as the ninth-best Rock-type attacker. However, once again, its lack of a Rock-type Fast-attack does not allow it to rise to meta popularity. Therefore, this Adventure Week: Taken Over debutant is more of a collectible.

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Shadow Carracosta (evolves from Shadow Tirtouga)

Shadow Tirtouga (Image via TPC)

Shadow Carracosta is the worst new Shadow variant to come out during Adventure Week: Taken Over. It has no utility in either PvP — where it is held back by its awful typing— or PvE — where its lack of offensive presence cuts away its chances.

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Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

• Ditto disguises
• Buddy Evolution Adventure Together guide
• Best Fast Attacks in Pokemon GO
• Sierra counters
• Cliff counters
• Arlo counters
• Giovanni counters
• Team GO Rocket Grunts