Team GO Rocket Bringing Shadow Raids to Pokémon GO

By Jason Nieva @jnievaplayerone Published 05/19/23 EDT

Pokemn GO Shadow Raids in New Event — Something dark is coming... Niantic

Attention Pokémon GO trainers! Team GO Rocket is cooking up another scheme and it's all about taking over Gyms. Making things even more difficult is that they have found a way to defend those Gyms with Shadow Pokémon.

This led to Shadow Raids where trainers must battle Shadow Raid Bosses. Those able to defeat these bosses get the chance to catch new Pokémon partners. What makes them different is that these three-star and five-star Shadow Raid Bosses grow enraged as trainers battle them, letting them boost not only their attack but also their defense. Trainers need to hold their ground and weaken these Shadow Raid Bosses before subduing them.

Considering how strong Shadow Raid Bosses are, trainers must use Purified Gems, new items that can be assembled from Shadow Shards. Shadow Shards are mysterious gem pieces which may be dropped by Team GO Rocket. Once a trainer gets enough shards, they can go to Professor Willow and use his Shard Refiner. Trainers are then rewarded with a Purified Gem.

When trainers use these Purified Gems during a Shadow Raid, the attack and defense of an enraged Shadow Raid Boss are temporarily reduced.

New Event

Shadow Raids is officially debuting through the new Rising Shadows event from May 22 to May 28. Shadow Mewtwo makes its return to the game through five-star Shadow Raids from May 27 to May 28. Those lucky enough may encounter a shiny version.

In addition to Shadow Mewtwo, these Pokémon also appear in Shadow Raids:

One-star Shadow Raids

Shadow Poliwag
Shadow Machop
Shadow Bellsprout
Shadow Beldum

Three-star Shadow Raids

Shadow Bayleef
Shadow Quilava
Shadow Croconaw
Shadow Sneasel

Trainers need to take note of these schedules as well:

May 22 at 10:00 a.m. (local time) to May 28 at 8:00 p.m. (local time)
- A majority of Gyms host Shadow Raids.
May 27 from 10:00 a.m. (local time) to 8:00 p.m. (local time)
- Team GO Rocket activity spikes, taking over all raids.

There are also other raids happening with these Pokémon set to appear: