After a false-start, Pokemon GO has officially added Team Rocket to the popular mobile game, giving players the chance to battle Team Rocket grunts and catch Shadow Pokemon. However, some Pokemon GO players may be unclear on exactly how all of these new features in the game work, especially as it pertains to catching and purifying Shadow Pokemon in the game.

The first step is for players to find an invaded PokeStop. Invaded PokeStops are specially marked PokeStops that are darker blue than the usual ones, indicating that a Team Rocket grunt can be found there. Interact with the PokeStop to initiate the battle with the Team Rocket grunt and defeat them to get various rewards, turn the PokeStop back to normal, and have the chance to catch a Shadow Pokemon.

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Catching Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO is similar to catching Pokemon at the end of raid battles. Players are given a limited number of Premier Balls that they can use to catch the Shadow Pokemon. If they're successful in catching the Shadow Pokemon, Pokemon GO players can then trade a specific amount of candy and Stardust to purify that Pokemon.

List of Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO

pokemon go how to catch and purify shadow pokemon

Datamining efforts have shown that the list of Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO will grow in the future. However, the following Shadow Pokemon are the only ones available in Pokemon GO as of the introduction of Team Rocket in the game.

  • Bulbasaur
  • Charmander
  • Rattata
  • Snorlax
  • Squirtle
  • Zubat

Catching and purifying Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO is set to be a new major feature of the game moving forward. Battles with Team Rocket grunts will ensure that players have more things to do in the game from one moment to the next, and it should mean that more people are participating in Pokemon GO's battles.

The introduction of Shadow Pokemon to Pokemon GO has also been accompanied by a new Special Research quest called A Troubling Situation. Completing it requires players know how to catch and purify Shadow Pokemon, so it's important that Pokemon GO players know how the new feature works.

Pokemon GO is out now for iOS and Android mobile devices.

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