Should you purify Shadow Heatran in Pokemon GO?
Should you purify Shadow Heatran in Pokemon GO or not? That's a dilemma several players are bound to be struggling over, as the Shadow form of the Gen IV Legendary makes its debut in Niantic's mobile game. It can be acquired by defeating Giovanni starting with the Galarian Expedition Taken Over event from 12 am local time on October 8, 2024, until the next Team GO Rocket Takeover event starts.
Do not purify Shadow Heatran in Pokemon GO. The Shadow variant of the creature outperforms the regular one in various aspects, opening up the additional potential for it. This article discusses why you should let it remain the way you catch it.
Note: This article is subjective and reflects the author's opinions.
Here's why you should not purify Shadow Heatran in Pokemon GO
Here are the reasons why you should not purify Shadow Heatran in Pokemon GO:
- The Shadow variant is better in raids
- It is a rarer find
- Niche pick for the GO Battle League
Better in raids
Shadow Heatran is a much stronger Fire-type attacker than its regular form. It deals 21.25 DPS with Fire Spin and Magma Storm equipped in neutral matchups. In comparison, the regular version only deals 17.83 DPS with the same moveset.
Shadow Heatran has emerged as the fourth-best Fire-type attacker, only outclassed by Primal Groudon, Mega Blaziken, and Mega Charizard Y.
Rarer find
The most important reason why you shouldn't purify Shadow Heatran in Pokemon GO is that it is an extremely rare find. You can get only as many of these creatures as you have Super Rocket Radars while it is in cycle.
Regular Heatran, on the other hand, usually returns to raids at least once a year every year.
Niche GO Battle League pick
Several new opportunities open up for Shadow Heatran in the Master League. You can devise bespoke strategies around its additional damage output to take your opponents by surprise.
Reasons you can purify Shadow Heatran in Pokemon GO for
While the advantages of retaining Shadow Heatran outweigh the disadvantages, here's a list of benefits you get for purifying Shadow Heatran in Pokemon GO:
- Purified Heatran has a lower power-up and second Charged Attack cost.
- Purifying the Lava Dome Pokemon will give it one additional IV in each category. This can be helpful if you are shy of having a perfect-IV variant by one point, and you want it for our collection.
- Unlocking a new Charged Attack for Legendaries can be expensive. Purified Heatran can use Return while you grind the Candy to teach it another move.
Whether or not you choose to purify Shadow Heatran, the creature is useful. However, not doing so opens up more strategic options.
Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:
- Ditto disguises
- Buddy Evolution Adventure Together guide
- Best Fast Attacks in Pokemon GO
- Sierra counters
- Cliff counters
- Arlo counters
- Giovanni counters
- Team GO Rocket Grunts