Trainers in Pokémon GO face a new challenge with the arrival of Shadow Cresselia as a five-star Shadow Raid boss. The Pokémon,appearing in the game since November 14th,also presents a rare possibility to collect a Shiny shadow Cresselia. Successfully defeating this formidable opponent-and calming its enraged state-will require strategy, powerful Pokémon, and a newly implemented item: Purified Gems.
暗影克雷色利亞
Shadow Cresselia has arrived in Pokémon GO as a five-star Shadow Raid boss. Players may also encounter a Shiny Shadow Cresselia, offering a rare collectible opportunity within the popular augmented reality game.
When attempting to capture Shadow Cresselia, trainers can expect the following CP ranges (assuming minimum IVs of 6/6/6):
- 1494 CP to 1633 CP (without weather boost)
- 1867 CP to 2041 CP (with Windy weather boost)
As a pure Psychic-type Pokémon, Shadow Cresselia is particularly vulnerable to Bug, Dark, and Ghost-type attacks. To succeed in raids, players will need to assemble a team of top-performing counters, optimize their Pokémon’s movesets, and fully power up their creatures. Crucially, trainers should also be prepared with Purified Gems. Niantic recommends at least four to six trainers, utilizing Purified Gems, to effectively battle Shadow Cresselia.
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According to battle simulations conducted by GO Hub, the most effective Pokémon for countering Shadow Cresselia in raid battles are:
Tips and Tricks
Effective communication is key to success in these raids. Players should coordinate their Mega Evolution lineups, counter Pokémon choices, and, most importantly, the timing of Purified Gem usage.
Niantic recommends a team of at least five trainers with fully powered-up counters and sufficient Purified Gems. For trainers with lower levels or suboptimal counters, a larger group of eight to ten players is advised. Purified Gems are essential for success.
While Shadow Pokémon offer increased damage potential, trainers should ensure their Shadow Pokémon have learned moves other than “Frustration” before including them in their raid teams. These Pokémon can inflict significant damage, though they will also take increased damage in return.
The use of Mega Evolutions is strongly recommended during Shadow Cresselia raids. Mega Evolved Pokémon not only deliver higher damage output but also boost the damage of same-type Pokémon on the team. Trainers should discuss their counter Pokémon selections with their raid partners and plan their Mega Evolution usage accordingly.
For example, in a six-player raid, the first player should deploy their Mega Evolution in the first slot, the next in the second, and so on, to maximize the duration of the Mega Evolution boost throughout the battle.
Trainers participating in in-person raids can leverage the “Teamwork” bonus through Party Play! This bonus fills as your team attacks the raid boss, and once full, your next charged attack will receive a significant boost. The Teamwork button and progress bar are located in the lower-left corner of the raid screen.
As a Shadow Raid boss, Cresselia’s attacks are more powerful than in standard raids, so ensure your counters are fully powered up, have the correct movesets, and aren’t weak to the boss’s attacks. These five-star raids are extremely challenging, even for well-prepared trainers, and will require Purified Gems to overcome. Shadow Raid bosses become Furious during battle, increasing their attack and defense.
Purified Gems are used to calm Shadow Cresselia, a new item crafted from Shadow Shards.
Shadow Shards are mysterious gem fragments that can be obtained from Team GO Rocket Grunts, Leaders, and Shadow Raids. Players must collect enough shards to use Professor Willow’s new Shard Purifier and create a Purified Gem. It’s crucial to gather as many as possible before attempting the Shadow Cresselia raid, as you won’t be able to calm it without them.
Purified Gems can assist you in battling the enraged Shadow Raid boss in the following ways:
- Using a Purified Gem during a Shadow Raid will temporarily reduce the attack and defense of the enraged Shadow Raid boss. This creates an opportunity to inflict significant damage.
- You and your fellow trainers can use multiple Purified Gems during a Shadow Raid. Their effects stack when used simultaneously.
- If enough Purified Gems are used, the enraged Shadow Raid boss will be calmed—returning to its non-enraged state—potentially giving you the edge you need to defeat it!
Purified Gems will appear in the lower-left corner of the raid screen when available, so be sure to communicate with your raid partners to coordinate their use!
