August 2026 Shadow Raids features the new shadow Pokémon that are available in Shadow Raids. You will find the list of the Tier 5 Shadow raid boss. Likewise, you will find the raid bosses for Tier 3 and Tier 1 shadow raids.
Prepare your Purified Gems! You will need them for these raids when they take over Gyms. Furthermore, these Shadow Pokémon can be shiny, if you are lucky.
How do Shadow Raids work in Pokémon GO?
Unlike standard raids, Shadow Raids feature Enraged bosses (applicable to Tier 3 and Tier 5 raids) that receive a massive boost to their attack and defense mid-battle.
To counteract this, you must use Purified Gems. Shards are collected by defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders. Once you combine four Shadow Shards into a Purified Gem, you can use them during a raid. Subduing the boss requires a combined total of 8 Purified Gems from the raiding party, making teamwork essential for Tier 5 Shadow Raids.
August 2026 Shadow Raids
These Shadow Raids are available from Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 6:00 a.m. until Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. local time.
TIER 1 August 2026 Shadow Raids
The following are the Pokémon featured in one-star August 2026 shadow raids.
- Shadow Aipom
- Shadow Croagunk
- Shadow Grubbin
- Shadow Slowpoke
TIER 3 August 2026 Shadow Raids
The following are the Pokémon featured in three-star August 2026 shadow raids.
- Shadow Hitmontop
- Shadow Lampent
- Shadow Snorlax
These mid-tier raids offer a challenge for solo players. You can test your mettle by battling these alone.
TIER 5 August 2026 Shadow Raids
The following is the Pokémon featured in five-star shadow raids during August 2026.
READ ALSO: Shadow Legendaries in Pokémon GO and Shiny Shadow Pokémon available in Pokémon GO
Best Counters for August 2026 Shadow Raids
To take down the tier 5 and tier 3 bosses efficiently, make sure your battle parties feature these top counter recommendations:
- Shadow Giratina (Altered Forme): Eternatus, Mega Rayquaza, and Kyurem (Black)
- Shadow Hitmontop: Mega Mewtwo Y, Rayquaza, and Shadow Mewtwo.
- Shadow Lampent: Dawn Wings Necrozma, Primal Kyogre, and Groudon.
- Shadow Snorlax: Mega Lucario, Keldeo (Resolute Forme), and Terrakion.
READ ALSO: Shadow Giratina (Altered Forme) and Recommended Counters
Hundo CP for these Shadow Pokémon
You will get the chance to catch the shadow Pokémon after defeating the shadow Pokémon in raids. Any of these can be shiny, as well as the possibility of a hundo.
The following are the hundo CP values during either a non-boosted or a boosted weather condition in-game.
- Shadow Aipom: 770 CP or 963 CP (during Partly Cloudy weather in-game).
- Shadow Croagunk: 544 CP or 680 CP (during Cloudy weather in-game).
- Shadow Grubbin: 562 CP or 703 CP (during Rainy weather in-game).
- Shadow Slowpoke: 700 CP or 876 CP (during Rain and Windy weather in-game).
- Shadow Hitmontop: 1232 CP or 1540 CP (during Cloudy weather in-game).
- Shadow Lampent: 976 CP or 1220 CP (during Fog or Sunny weather in-game).
- Shadow Snorlax: 1843 CP or 2304 CP (during Partly Cloudy weather in-game).
- Shadow Giratina (Altered Forme): 1931 CP or 2414 CP (during Fog or Windy weather in-game).
Shadow Raid Catch Mechanics & Weather Boosts
Understanding how weather conditions affect Shadow Raids can give you a significant advantage, but it also increases the difficulty of the battle.
What is a Weather-Boosted Shadow Raid?
When a raid boss matches the current real-world weather conditions in Pokémon GO, it receives a Weather Boost. This means the boss fights at Level 25 instead of Level 20, making it noticeably harder to defeat. Once defeated, the Shadow Pokémon you encounter will also be Level 25, saving you valuable Stardust and Candy if you plan to power it up.
The minimum IV floor for a weather-boosted encounter increases to 4/4/4 instead of the standard 0/0/0, slightly increasing your chances of a high-stat variant.
Understanding the Catch Rate
Shadow Pokémon from Tier 3 and Tier 5 raids have a lower base catch rate compared to their regular counterparts. Maximizing your Premier Ball throws is vital:
- Use Golden Razz Berries. This provides the highest catch multiplier per throw.
- Lock the Target Ring by holding the Poké Ball until the target ring shrinks to “Excellent” size, release it without throwing, and wait for the Shadow Pokémon to finish its attack animation before throwing a curveball.
- Purification vs. Shadow Stats: Remember that purifying a Shadow Pokémon adds +2 to every IV stat and instantly bumps the Pokémon to Level 25. However, doing so removes the permanent 20% shadow damage bonus, which is why keeping them in their shadow form is highly recommended for standard PvE raid attackers.
August 2026 Shadow Raids: Shiny Odds Explained
If you are hunting for those rare, sparkly variants, knowing your chances can help you manage your Raid Passes effectively. Not all Shadow Pokémon share the same shiny rates, as their odds depend heavily on their raid tier and history in the game.
Crucial Note: A Shadow Pokémon can only be shiny in a raid if its shiny shadow form has been previously unlocked via Team GO Rocket Leaders or special events. Fortunately, the entire August 2026 lineup is shiny-eligible!
Tier 5 Legendary Shadow Raid Shiny Odds
Five-star Shadow Legendaries follow the standard legendary raid shiny rate. While a 5% (1 in 20) chance is relatively generous, keep in mind that it is not a guarantee. This means you may do alot of raids and not get one as shiny. On the other hand, you may do 1 and get that one as shiny.
Tier 1 & Tier 3 Shadow Raid Shiny Odds
For the lower-tier bosses, the shiny rate generally reflects their past availability via Team GO Rocket Leaders:
Tier 1: 1 in 64 (~1.56%): These popular base-evolution shadows carry a boosted shiny rate compared to wild encounters, making Tier 1 raids a fantastic and easy solo method to hunt for specific competitive shundos.
Tier 3: 1 in 64 (~1.56%): Mid-tier shadow evolutions and standalone fighters maintain these same boosted odds. Because Tier 3 raids require more effort (or multiple trainers if you aren’t optimized), make sure to prioritize the ones you need most, like Shadow Scyther.
Essential Tips for Maximizing Shadow Raid Rewards
Coordinating with your local community or utilizing global raiding tools can drastically improve your chances of taking down Tier 5 bosses like Shadow Giratina. Always communicate with your raiding party to ensure everyone is timing their Purified Gems effectively during the enraged phase.
August 2026 Shadow Raids FAQ
Can you use Remote Raid Passes for Shadow Raids?
Yes, you can use a Remote Raid Pass to join them.
Are Shadow Pokémon from raids guaranteed catches?
No, they are not guaranteed catches unless they are Shiny. Standard Premier Ball mechanics and catch rates apply, so use Golden Razz Berries and aim for Excellent curveballs.
Should I purify my Shadow Giratina if I get a 13/13/13?
Generally, it is recommended to keep it as a Shadow. The 20% attack bonus provided by the Shadow state heavily outweighs the slight stat increase gained from purification for raid encounters.
