Shiny Shadow Pokémon is one of the most sought-after Pokémon in Pokémon GO. Not only are they Shiny, but also Shadow. You get both aesthetics in one Pokémon. I know this because they are one of the reasons why I battle Grunts and their leaders. Furthermore, they are rare. When you find them, cherish them.
Introduced in March 2023, these Pokémon became available as catch rewards after defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts, their Leaders, and during specific Shadow Raids. The list you will find here contains the Pokémon that can be encountered after defeating either the Grunts or their leaders. It also includes the other Shiny Shadow Pokémon that can be encountered via other means in Pokémon GO.
It is important to know that these are the currently available Shadow Pokémon held by Team GO Rockets. The specific Pokémon available rotate periodically. I’ll update this list as soon as we get new Shadow Pokémon. Likewise, since Shadow Raids rotate mostly every month, you can follow up on the upcoming contents on DIGANCY.com to see which of these Shadow Pokémon in Shadow Raids can be shiny.
UPDATE: At the start of the Memories in Motion Season, any Pokémon that has made its Shiny Debut in Pokémon GO can also be a Shiny Shadow Pokémon after defeating any Team GO Rocket Members
Trainers will have an increased chance of rescuing Shiny Pokémon from Team GO Rocket leaders and Giovanni compared to Grunts.
READ ALSO: Guaranteed Shadow Hundo Pokémon by CP in Pokémon GO
Shiny Shadow Pokémon from Team GO Rocket Leaders
from 12:01 a.m. local time on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
- Leader Sierra: Shadow Amaura
- Leader Cliff: Shadow Axew
- Leader Arlo: Shadow Tyrunt
- Boss Giovanni: Shadow Reshiram
How to Identify Eligible Shiny Shadow Pokémon
Not every Shadow Pokémon rescued from Team GO Rocket has a chance to be Shiny. To save yourself time and frustration, keep these core rules in mind while hunting:
- The Shiny Debut Rule: A Shadow Pokémon can only be Shiny if its standard Shiny form has already been officially released in Pokémon GO.
- Leader vs. Grunt Odds: While Grunts can occasionally leave behind a Shiny Shadow Pokémon, your odds are significantly higher when defeating Team GO Rocket Leaders (Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra) or Boss Giovanni.
- The Purple Flame Aesthetic: Once caught, a Shiny Shadow Pokémon features both its distinct alternate shiny coloration and the aggressive purple shadow aura, making them some of the rarest collectibles in the game.
Shiny Shadow Pokémon from Team GO Rocket Grunts
Please note that the below are Shadow forms (didn’t want to keep repeating “shadow”) that can be shiny.
- Normal-type Grunt: Stufful, Teddiursa, Porygon, Hoothoot, Starly, and Loured.
- Fighting-type Grunt: Machop, Timburr, Mankey, Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, and Hitmontop.
- Flying-type Grunt: Swablu, Rookidee, Taillow, Scyther, Zubat, and Gligar.
- Poison-type Grunt: Zubat, Qwilfish, Oddish, Nidorina, Nidorino, and Galarian Weezing.
- Ground-type Grunt: Gligar, Rhyhorn, Trapinch, Claydol, and Vibrava.
- Rock-type: Onix, Kabuto, Cranidos, Shieldon, and Graveler.
- Bug-type Grunt: Venonat, Weedle, Grubin, Pinsir, Dewpider, and Anorith.
- Ghost-type Grunt: Gastly, Yamask, Duskull, and Sableye.
- Steel-type Grunt: Beldum, Alolan Sandshrew, and Aron.
- Fire-type Grunt: Litwick, Ponyta, and Torchic.
- Water-type Grunt: Mudkip, Krabby, Tentacool, Feebas, and Magikarp.
- Grass-type Grunt: Treecko, Morelull, Tangela, Phantump, and Lileep.
- Electric-type Grunt: Helioptile, Voltorb, Shinx, Electabuzz, and Alolan Geodude.
- Psychic-type Grunt: Ralts, Drowzee, Wobuffet, and Duosion.
- Ice-type Grunt: Seel, Delibird, and Spheal.
- Dragon-type Grunt: Noibat, Dratini, and Deino.
- Dark-type Grunt: Carvanha, Alolan Rattata, Poochyena, Sneasel, Houndour, and Absol.
- Fairy-type Grunt: Ralts, Alolan Vulpix, Snubbull, Kirla, and Galarian Weezing
- Winning is for Winners (Male Grunt): Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle.
- Winning is for Winners (Female Grunt): Snorlax and Lapras.
- Decoy Female Grunt: Bellsprout.
The above list shows the currently available Shadow Pokémon from the Grunt Members that can be shiny. This is due to the new Shadow Pokémon introduced during the Flying Taxi Taken Over event.
As stated earlier, these Pokémon are rare. The probability of encountering a Shiny Shadow Pokémon from Grunts and Leaders is 1 in 450. This means, for every Shadow Pokémon you encounter after defeating either a Grunt or their Leader, you have a 1 in 450 chance for that one Pokémon to be Shiny.
Shiny Shadow Rates: Leaders vs. Grunts
While the base wild encounter rate for a standard Shiny is roughly 1 in 512, Team GO Rocket encounters operate on a slightly different tier system depending on who you fight.
Team GO Rocket Leaders
Historically, the specific three Pokémon featured by Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra have an estimated Shiny rate of roughly 1 in 64.
Team GO Rocket Grunts
Regular Grunts have much lower Shiny odds, often sticking closer to the standard 1 in 250 to 1 in 500 range, depending on the specific event rotation. Because Grunts are free and infinitely farmable, finding a Shiny from them requires a lot more patience.
FAQ: Should You Purify a Shiny Shadow Pokémon?
The short answer is: Almost always, NO.
Shadow Pokémon receive a 20% attack bonus in Raids and Player vs. Player (PvP) battles at the cost of a 20% reduction in defense. This raw power upgrade makes Shadow Pokémon significantly stronger attackers than their purified counterparts.
Furthermore, from a purely aesthetic and rarity standpoint, a Shiny Shadow Pokémon is incredibly rare. If you purify it, it loses its exclusive purple shadow aura and receives the standard white purified glow instead, heavily reducing its “flex value” in the community.
The only exception is if purifying it guarantees a 100% IV (Shundo) for a Pokémon that heavily benefits from the Return attack in PvP, but even then, most trainers prefer keeping the Shadow version intact.
Good luck with your hunt!
