Shadow Darkrai Pokémon Go Guide: Movesets, Counters & Raid Tips 2025

Part 1. Shadow Darkrai Debut in Go Wild: When & Where

In this section, we provide complete information on the Shadow Darkrai Pokémon Go event.

Shadow Darkrai Release Date

Shadow Darkrai arrives during the Pokémon Go Wild Area 2025 event on November 15 - 16, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time.

Prior to that, a live in-person event in Nagasaki, Japan, which ran from November 7–9, also featured Shadow Darkrai in Pokémon Go.(END)

Pokémon Go Wild Area Event Bonuses

During the event, all trainers who purchase the event ticket will get the following bonuses:

• Increase shiny encounters.
• 2x Catch candy, ½ Egg Distance, ½ Stardust cost, and ¾ Max Particle cost.
• Increased chance of receiving 5km eggs from PokeStops.
• Lure Modules and Incense lasting two hours.
• Up to 6 daily raid passes, 6 daily special trades, and 6 Go Snapshot surprise encounters.
• Event-themed Special Research.
• Increased daily Max Particle limit to 3,200 and collection from Power Spots.

Free participants will also get rewards, but they will be limited to 3 daily Raid Passes, 3 Go Snapshot surprise encounters, and increased daily Max Particle limit to 1600.

Can Shadow Darkrai be Shiny? What Does It Look Like?

Yes! Shadow Darkrai shiny is available for the first time. It features a deep purple hue instead of its usual black.

Can Shadow Darkrai be Evolved in Pokémon Go?

There is no Shadow Darkrai evolution. It does not have any Mega Evolution either.

Just like every Mythical Pokémon, it remains a standalone Pokémon. It appears as a Mythical Pokémon in its shadow form only during this event.

Where to Find Shadow Darkrai in Pokémon Go?

You’ll encounter Shadow Darkrai in Shadow Raids during the Wild Area event days. These are special high-level raid battles that trainers worldwide can participate in on the spot or remotely.

Make sure you have Premium or Remote Raid Passes ready.

Part 2. How Good Is Shadow Darkrai in Pokémon Go?

If you’re wondering “Will Shadow Darkrai be good?” or “Is Darkrai useful in Pokémon Go?”, you’re in the right section. Here, we break down its stats and performance, so you can decide if it’s worth powering up.

Shadow Darkrai: Base Stats VS Shadow Boosts

Base Stats

• Max CP: 4227
• Attack: 285
• Defense: 198
• Stamina: 172

Shadow Form Bonuses

• As a Shadow Pokémon, you’ll get the same base stats but with a boost.
• Darkrai’s shadow boost is higher attack output.
• However, it also makes it fragile, receiving more damage in battles.

Shadow Darkrai's Movesets

The top moveset for Shadow Darkrai in Pokémon Go is:

• Fast Move: Snarl
• Charged Move: Shadow Ball.

Shadow Darkrai's Battle Performance in PvP & PvE

Shadow Darkrai for PvP

Best Moveset in PvP

• Snarl + Shadow Ball

PvP Performance Analysis

• In trainer battles, Shadow Darkrai hits hard but struggles with bulk and energy generation compared to top PvP meta picks.
• Its high attack can catch opponents off-guard, but its weak stamina/defence means it can be knocked out quickly.

Shadow Darkrai for PvE

Best Moveset in PvE

• Snarl + Shadow Ball

PvE Performance Analysis

• In raids and wild area fights, Shadow Darkrai shines as an attacker thanks to its high damage output. Its Dark-type attacks hit many Psychic- and Ghost-type raid bosses hard.
• That said, because of its frailty, you’ll want to pair it with strong support, dodge well, or use it in battles where the boss doesn’t hit super-hard.
• Shadow Darkrai in Pokémon Go is very good for PvE content, but not the all-rounder tool for every situation.

Part 3. What Is the Best Counter for Shadow Darkrai in Pokémon Go?

If you’re preparing for Shadow Darkrai raids, it’s vital to know Shadow Darkrai's weaknesses and the ideal counters to bring along. In this section, we break it down simply for you.

1Shadow Darkrai Weakness

Shadow Darkrai (like its standard form) is a Dark-type Pokémon. As such, it is weak to:

• Fighting types,
• Bug types,
• and Fairy types.

Shadow Darkrai takes +160% increased damage from these moves. At the same time, it takes reduced damage from Dark, Ghost, and Psychic types; so you’re best off without them.

2Top 10 Recommended Counters for Shadow Darkrai

Part 4. How to Join Raids to Defeat Shadow Darkrai in One Click!

Shadow raids hit your Pokémon Go map Nov 15-16, 2025. Join with a remote raid pass or in-person, but they spawn far (time-consuming) and only last 2 days (max 8hrs/day) for Shadow Darkrai—tricky amid other 2025 Wild Area event tasks. PoGoskill takes away the hassle!

PoGoskill is a cutting-edge GPS spoofer app for Pokémon Go. With it, you can teleport to any location in the world and successfully trick the game into thinking that you’re somewhere else when you are just chilling on your sofa. The built-in joystick mode further streamlines your spoofing experience as it lets you simulate your virtual coordinates in whatever way you like!

Key Features Include:

• 1-Click Teleport: With just a tap, you can teleport to any location in the world.
• Raid Scan: Scans up to 2000 nearby raids and shows metadata, such as the raid tier and boss.
• Device Compatibility: PoGoskill works seamlessly with the latest OS versions of both iOS and Android devices.

Free Download

Secure Download

Free Download

Secure Download

How To Download And Use PoGoskill:

• Step 1Click on the Download button above and install PoGoskill.

  

• Step 2Connect your device and choose Game Mode.

  

• Step 3Find a good raid location on the PoGo Map, start moving around and begin participating in nearby shadow raids.

  

FAQs About Shadow Darkrai Pokémon Go

Will Darkrai Return in Pokémon Go 2025?

Yes, the Mythical Pokémon Darkrai, in its shadow form, will return to Pokémon Go via the Go Wild Area 2025 Global on November 15 and November 16.

Can You Get Darkrai in Pokémon Go?

Yes, you can catch Darkrai in Pokémon Go, but only via 5-star raid battles during special events. Just make sure you have enough raid passes and the right raid team prepared.

Is A Shiny Darkrai Rare?

Yes, a shiny Darkrai is rare. The odds for getting a Shiny Darkrai (including its Shadow version) are reported to be around 1 in 20 during its featured raids.

Can Darkrai Use Shadow Ball?

Yes, Darkrai can use the Charged move, Shadow Ball. In fact, it is listed as its best moveset, along with the fast move, Snarl.

Is Darkrai Useful in Pokémon Go?

Yes. Darkrai is useful as a high-attack Dark-type attacker, especially in raids (PvE). But for PvP, it has limitations due to low bulk. It’s a solid choice if you’re focusing on damage output.

Is Darkrai Stronger Than Mewtwo?

No, in terms of overall stats and versatility, Mewtwo is stronger than Darkrai in Pokémon GO. Mewtwo outperforms it in most PvE and PvP scenarios.

What Is the Strongest Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon Go?

The strongest Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon Go right now is Shadow Mewtwo, followed closely by Shadow Metagross, Shadow Salamence, and Shadow Machamp.

However, do note, rankings can shift as new shadow forms and meta changes appear. So this list is not definitive.