A Shadow Hundo Pokémon in Pokémon GO is guaranteed only if its catch CP equals the maximum possible CP for a certain encounter level. Team Rocket Shadow Pokémon are usually caught at Level 8 during non-weather boosted conditions in-game. They are caught at Level 13 when the in-game weather is boosted. All the Pokémon caught at these levels have CPs that tell if they are a hundo (a perfect CP) or not.
Like most Pokémon GO trainers, I do a lot of Grunt battles. I am always looking for shadow Pokémon with the best IVs that I can invest Stardust, Candy, and Candy XL in. Consequently, I end up accumulating a lot of Shadow Pokémon. This leads to spending time checking their IVs and looking for which to keep. However, I decided I was going to research and keep a list of the guaranteed shadow hundo (i.e., perfect individual value or IV) Pokémon by CP (Combat Power).
Shadow Pokémon levels are either level 8 or level 13, depending on the weather conditions. This is their level when a Grunt or any of their leaders are defeated. They are at level 8 in a non-boosted weather condition and level 13 in a boosted weather condition.
The boosted weather condition depends on the in-game weather that boosts the Pokémon. As an example, Cloudy weather boosts Fairy-, Fighting-, and Poison-type Pokémon.
What is the guaranteed shadow hundo Pokémon by CP?
The max CP shown in the table below by level is the CP of a guaranteed shadow hundo Pokémon by CP. The max CP is the highest possible CP the Pokémon can have as a catch reward.
Please note that the tables list the current Shadow Pokémon that may be obtained from the Grunts and their leaders.
The list was last updated based on the Flying Taxi Taken Over event. It will be updated as soon as we have a new Shadow Pokémon lineup.
Other Possible Grunts and their Shadow Pokémon encounter
Winning is for Winners/Get Ready to be Defeated/Don’t bother…
Max CP at Level 8 (non-boosted)
Max CP at Level 13 (boosted)
Bulbasaur
251
414
Charmander
221
364
Squirtle
213
351
Snorlax
727
1198
Lapras
595
981
Decoy Female Grunt
Max CP at Level 8 (non-boosted)
Max CP at Level 13 (boosted)
Bellsprout
233
384
Weepinbell
363
598
Raticate
390
643
This is a long list of the Shadow Hundo Pokémon. It is not advisable to memorize all of them. You can bookmark this page and come back to it frequently.
In almost all scenarios, no, you should not purify a Shadow Hundo Pokémon.
When you purify a Shadow Pokémon, its Individual Values (IVs) receive a +2 bonus to Attack, Defense, and HP. Since a Shadow Hundo already has perfect 15/15/15 stats, purifying it provides absolutely no stat increase. More importantly, you would permanently lose the Shadow Bonus, which grants a massive 20% increase to Attack power in raids, Gym battles, and Team GO Rocket counters.
A 15/15/15 Shadow Pokémon is one of the rarest and hardest-hitting assets you can own in Pokémon GO.
Are There Any Exceptions Where Purifying a Shadow Hundo Pokémon Makes Sense?
While keeping it a Shadow is generally superior for raw damage output, there are two rare exceptions where a trainer might consider it:
Mega Evolutions: Shadow Pokémon cannot undergo Mega Evolution. If the Pokémon has a powerful Mega form (like Mewtwo, Tyranitar, or Metagross) and you completely lack a high-IV regular version to Mega Evolve, a purified hundo could serve that purpose.
Specific PvP Breakpoints: In rare Master League PvP matchups, a purified Pokémon might perform slightly better due to the added bulk (Shadow Pokémon suffer a 20% decrease to their Defense stat) or a reliance on the exclusive move Return. However, for standard PvE raids, the Shadow version always reigns supreme.
What Are the Odds of Catching a Shadow Hundo Pokémon?
Catching a perfect Shadow Pokémon from a Team GO Rocket Grunt or Leader is incredibly rare:
Standard Weather: The odds are 1 in 4,096 (as there is no IV floor).
Weather-Boosted: The odds improve to 1 in 1,728 (thanks to a minimum IV floor of 4/4/4).
Tracking down a perfect Shadow Hundo Pokémon requires a mix of dedication, patience, and a little bit of luck. By keeping these CP charts handy during your Team GO Rocket encounters, you can instantly spot a perfect Pokémon.
Remember, while the temptation to purify for an instant normal hundo is high, the 20% Shadow Attack bonus is simply too powerful to pass up for high-tier raiding and battle counters. Keep your Shadow Hundos in their shadow forms and invest that hard-earned Stardust wisely.
Level 80 Pokémon GO Trainer. Content Creator. Catching Pokémon in Pokémon GO since 7/13/2016. Now with 700K+ catches and 1.2 billion+ XP. Covering Pokémon GO News • Events • Analysis, etc.
