Shadow Palkia
PvE Analysis
Just when it seemed as though Palkia would forever be in the shadow of its Origin Forme, that Shadow has risen.
Shadow Palkia is among the best Dragons in Pokemon Go, standing head and shoulders above most of the competition. It's an incredible attacker that can outright destroy much of the competition, and its fantastic Dragon/Water typing grants it double resistances to common Fire and Water Type coverage moves, and weaknesses to only Dragon and Fairy Type moves. Palkia has at last claimed its rightful place, and its rule over space is fully secured.
But can this monster get any stronger? Definitely. Spacial Rend is currently exclusive to Palkia's Origin Forme, but its base form received it first in the main series. If it's ever given to basic Palkia, then Shadow Palkia will follow, causing its raw power to skyrocket even farther. However, then we have the threat of Shadow Origin Forme Palkia, and the arms race continues.... Still, we have no precedent for Pokemon advanced Formes such as Palkia and Dialga's Origin Formes, so that may never even materialize.
Best PvE Offensive Moveset
Dragon Tail + Draco Meteor | Best |
---|
- Dragon Breath is generally inferior to Dragon Tail. However Dragon Breath does charge up Party Power more quickly, which can make it a better option in a 2-man party.
- Shadow Palkia is best suited for Draco Meteor for STAB and effectiveness against other Dragons.
- Hydro Pump hits harder than Fire Blast.
- Aqua Tail is the inferior choice.
PvP Analysis
Dragon Breath + Aqua Tail and Draco Meteor or Fire Blast |
---|
Dragon Tail has slightly better stats on paper, but Dragon Breath is often preferred as its 1-turn duration makes it a more flexible move to use. Dragon Breath can also benefit from damage rounding, and 3 ticks of Dragon Breath can outdamage Dragon Tail in some matchups.
Aqua Tail is Palkia's bread and butter as it costs significantly less than Palkia's other Charged Attacks and provides valuable coverage to hit Steel- and Fairy-type targets.. Draco Meteor or Fire Blast are both viable as the second charge move option; the former takes advantage of STAB to deal massive damage to almost every Pokemon in the game, while the latter threatens Steel Pokemon that would resist Dragon-type moves. Hydro Pump is largely redundant with Aqua Tail, though it can burst down unsuspecting bulkier Fairy-type Pokemon.
Great League | 2 / 5 | |
---|---|---|
Shadow Palkia is unlikely to see much play in the open Great League meta due to its frailty and having competition with other Dragon-type Pokemon such as Dragonite, Guzzlord, and Goodra. It can, however, shine in some limited cups where Dragon-type answers are limited. From time to time, Kingdra becomes a meta threat in said cups. Shadow Palkia is essentially a much more fragile Kingdra with a crucial access to a low cost move in Aqua Tail, which can allow it to find a niche. | ||
Ultra League | 2 / 5 | |
Shadow Palkia struggles to compete in the open Ultra League as it is once again largely outclassed by other Dragon-type Pokemon. It is difficult to justify running Shadow Palkia when Dragonite, Goodra, Giratina, Guzzlord, and Zygarde-C all exist; they cover similar matchups and are much bulkier than Palkia. | ||
Master League | 3.5 / 5 | |
Regular Palkia is strictly outclassed by Origin Forme Palkia in this league. In a similar boat, Shadow Palkia can be strictly outclassed by a potential future Shadow Origin Forme Palkia if no favorable move updates happen. For the time being, Shadow Palkia's Shadow bonus gives it distinct niches over its Origin Forme. Examples include being able to nearly 2HKO Zacian and Xerneas with Aqua Tail, or having even more oppressive Dragon Breath damage in some matchups. Origin Forme Palkia is still preferable for most teams due to its improved bulk and access to Spacial Rend, but Shadow Palkia can be a viable alternative. |