A PvE Analysis of Harvest Festival: Taken Over

Hello Trainers! Another Team GO Rocket event has arrived with Harvest Festival: Taken Over. Team GO Rocket has rolled out a fresh lineup of Shadow Pokémon, and Trainers eager to optimize their raid rosters are asking the same question: which of these Shadows deserve Stardust and Candy, and which are better left as collection pieces? Not every Shadow is built for raids, and investing in the wrong one can leave you with an expensive but underperforming attacker. Let’s break down the event’s new Shadow Pokémon and see how they stack up in the PvE meta!

New Shadow Pokémon

Trainers can encounter the following Shadow Pokémon for the first time:

The newest batch of Shadow Pokémon this time include a bunch of Generation VII Pokémon. Joining them is Zekrom, a member of the Unovan Tao Trio. Along with these new additions, Team GO Rocket Leaders: Cliff, Sierra and Arlo are using different Shadow Pokémon. Respectively, they are:

Let’s have a look at each one of them and see where they stand in the PvE meta.

Mostly One For The Pokédex

The harsh reality of Shadow Pokémon is that most of them simply cannot compete with the established meta staples. Even with the Shadow damage bonus, many lack the raw stats and movepool depth needed to make any meaningful impact in raids. Unfortunately, that describes the majority of this batch. 

Shadow Lurantis

Shadow Lurantis enters the game as a pure Grass attacker, but it arrives in a meta that is already saturated with far superior options. While Shadow Lurantis does have access to a solid Grass type Fast Attack and a low-cost Charged Attack that allows for frequent spamming, its overall DPS falls well short of the benchmark set by top-tier Grass attackers. Using our trusted DPS Comparer Tool:

Pokémon	Moves	DPS	TDO	Score
Shadow Sceptile	Fury Cutter Frenzy Plant	18.03	272.2	15.5
Shadow Chesnaught	Vine Whip Frenzy Plant	17.04	358.8	15.2
Shadow Tangrowth	Vine Whip Power Whip	16.51	345.0	14.8
Shadow Venusaur	Vine Whip Frenzy Plant	16.62	304.8	14.6
Shadow Torterra	Razor Leaf Frenzy Plant	15.97	328.6	14.2
Rillaboom	Razor Leaf Frenzy Plant	15.69	361.8	14.2
Shadow Lurantis	Leafage Leaf Blade	13.72	207.2	11.8
Lurantis	Leafage Leaf Blade	11.65	211.0	10.2

Even when not including Mega and Legendary Pokémon, Shadow Lurantis still trails behind quite a few other Grass attackers. In raids where time is of the essence, Lurantis simply cannot deliver the damage needed to justify its use over existing options. Shadow Lurantis offers nothing new or unique. Its best use case is as a Pokédex entry or a filler for Grass type coverage when better options are unavailable.

Shadow Palossand and Shadow Marowak

Shadow Palossand is a Ground and Ghost dual-type Pokémon with a design that has won over many fans, but its raid performance does not match its aesthetic appeal. On the other hand, Shadow Marowak is a pure Ground type Pokémon that has long been overshadowed by more powerful Ground attackers. Even with the Shadow damage bonus, Marowak’s base stats are too low to compete in the current raid meta.

Pokémon	Moves	DPS	TDO	Score
Shadow Excadrill	Mud-Slap Scorching Sands	17.84	288.7	15.5
Shadow Rhyperior	Mud-Slap Earthquake	16.76	400.5	15.2
Shadow Mamoswine	Mud-Slap High Horsepower	16.95	306.7	14.9
Garchomp	Mud Shot Earth Power	14.98	416.3	13.8
Shadow Golurk	Mud-Slap Earth Power	15.51	252.0	13.5
Shadow Palossand	Sand Attack Earth Power	12.80	229.7	11.2
Palossand	Sand Attack Earth Power	10.82	233.0	9.7
Shadow Marowak	Mud-Slap Earthquake	9.63	143.7	8.3
Marowak	Mud-Slap Earthquake	8.29	148.3	7.3

Even after excluding Mega and Legendary Pokemon, both Shadow Palossand and Shadow Marowak still struggle to climb up the rankings. As Ground raid attackers, they face fierce competition from established Ground Attackers like Shadow Mamoswine and Excadrill, all of which deliver significantly higher damage output. Palossand’s Ghost type performance is even less impressive, as it cannot match the performance of Top Ghost Attackers like Shadow Chandelure or Shadow Gengar.

Shadow Pangoro

Shadow Pangoro is a Fighting and Dark dual-type Pokémon with a moveset that allows it to function in both typings. However, neither typing offers anything unique or meta-defining in the current raid landscape. 

Pokémon	Moves	DPS	TDO	Score
Shadow Blaziken	Counter Aura Sphere	20.17	282.9	17.1
Shadow Conkeldurr	Force Palm Dynamic Punch	18.98	356.9	16.8
Lucario	Force Palm Aura Sphere	18.49	289.4	16
Shadow Machamp	Counter Dynamic Punch	17.29	292.4	15.1
Blaziken	Counter Aura Sphere	17.26	290.5	15
Shadow Pangoro	Karate Chop Close Combat	14.27	233.0	12.4
Pangoro	Karate Chop Close Combat	12.18	238.6	10.8

As a Fighting attacker, Pangoro faces fierce competition from Shadow Machamp, Conkeldurr, and Blaziken, all of which deliver significantly higher damage output. Its Dark type performance is equally lacklustre, as it cannot match the performance of Top Dark attackers like Shadow Weavile or Tyranitar. Pangoro’s Attack stat is respectable, but its overall damage output is not high enough to justify its use over the established meta options. It can function as a mid-tier attacker for trainers who lack access to the top-tier options, but it will not shake up the raid meta in any meaningful way.

Alolan Grimer→Alolan Muk

Alola Shadow Muk PoisonDark

Shadow Alolan Muk is a Poison and Dark dual-type Pokémon that offers decent offensive profiles in both typings. As a Poison attacker, Shadow Alolan Muk slots into the backup-tier of Poison raid attackers, providing excellent coverage against Fairy and Grass raid bosses.

Pokémon	Moves	DPS	TDO	Score
Shadow Gengar	Lick Sludge Bomb	17.90	217.8	14.9
Shadow Overqwil	Poison Jab Sludge Bomb	16.44	284.4	14.4
Shadow Toxicroak	Poison Jab Sludge Bomb	15.32	208.5	13
Roserade	Poison Jab Sludge Bomb	14.71	261.9	12.9
Shadow Scolipede	Poison Jab Sludge Bomb	14.62	206.1	12.4
Alola Shadow Muk	Poison Jab Gunk Shot	13.79	280.4	12.3
Shadow Muk	Poison Jab Gunk Shot	13.79	280.4	12.3
Alola Muk	Poison Jab Gunk Shot	11.67	284.6	10.6

If we exclude Mega and Legendary Pokémon, there are still a few Shadow Pokémon that perform better than Shadow Alolan Muk. Overall, among Top Poison Attackers, it occupies a respectable #17 position. Its best use is for newer Trainers who may not have access to other top Poison attackers. As a Dark attacker, Shadow Alolan Muk’s performance is similar, trailing behind Top Dark Attackers but a decent back-up option. 

Pokémon	Moves	DPS	TDO	Score
Shadow Tyranitar	Bite Brutal Swing	18.84	439.2	17
Shadow Hydreigon	Bite Brutal Swing	19.06	382.1	17
Shadow Weavile	Snarl Foul Play	17.15	261.7	14.7
Hydreigon	Bite Brutal Swing	16.00	384.8	14.5
Tyranitar	Bite Brutal Swing	15.76	440.9	14.5
Shadow Absol	Snarl Brutal Swing	17.74	186.5	14.3
Alola Shadow Muk	Snarl Brutal Swing	15.38	312.7	13.7
Shadow Greninja	Feint Attack Brutal Swing	16.09	224.7	13.7
Alola Muk	Snarl Brutal Swing	12.88	314.3	11.7

What sets Shadow Alolan Muk apart is its versatility. It can function as both a Poison and Dark attacker, allowing trainers to use it in a wide variety of raid matchups. Its bulk also allows it to survive longer than some glassier attackers, making it a reliable choice for sustained damage output.

Wimpod→Golisopod

Shadow Golisopod BugWater

Shadow Golisopod is a Bug and Water dual-type Pokémon with a performance that leans heavily into its Bug typing for raiding purposes. Running its only Bug move combination of Fury Cutter and X-Scissor, its performs on par with Top Bug Attackers.

Pokémon	Moves	DPS	TDO	Score
Shadow Vikavolt	Bug Bite X-Scissor	16.73	252.5	14.4
Shadow Scizor	Fury Cutter X-Scissor	15.74	253.1	13.6
Volcarona	Bug Bite Bug Buzz	15.10	343.9	13.6
Shadow Pinsir	Fury Cutter X-Scissor	15.76	241.8	13.6
Shadow Golisopod	Fury Cutter X-Scissor	14.81	305.8	13.2
Shadow Escavalier	Bug Bite Megahorn	14.79	245.0	12.9
Golisopod	Fury Cutter X-Scissor	12.46	308.8	11.3

While some Shadows do outperform Shadow Golisopod in Bug type DPS, its bulk allows it to survive longer than some glassier Bug types. Shadow Golisopod squeezes into the Top-10 leaderboard for Bug types. It is also a decent Water raid attacker, though not within the Top-10 Water Attackers. 

Pokémon	Moves	DPS	TDO	Score
Shadow Greninja	Water Shuriken Hydro Cannon	17.85	249.2	15.2
Shadow Kingler	Bubble Crabhammer	17.70	244.7	15
Shadow Swampert	Water Gun Hydro Cannon	16.84	336.1	15
Shadow Samurott	Waterfall Hydro Cannon	16.57	289.0	14.5
Shadow Feraligatr	Water Gun Hydro Cannon	16.35	308.8	14.5
Shadow Empoleon	Waterfall Hydro Cannon	16.33	305.4	14.4
Inteleon	Water Gun Hydro Cannon	16.63	257.1	14.3
Shadow Golisopod	Waterfall Razor Shell	15.96	329.6	14.2
Shadow Gyarados	Waterfall Hydro Pump	15.65	318.8	13.9
Golisopod	Waterfall Razor Shell	13.38	331.6	12.2

Shadow Golisopod can function as a strong Bug attacker and decent Water attacker for Trainers who lack access to the top-tier options like Mega Evolutions and Legendary Pokémon. The only drawback for Shadow Golisopod is the 400 candy requirement for its evolution. Still, Trainers should certainly look to hunt for a high-IV Shadow Wimpod and evolve it into Shadow Golisopod as it is a strong, but relatively cheap, raid attacker.

The Deep Black Pokémon: Zekrom

Shadow Zekrom DragonElectric

Shadow Zekrom is a Legendary Dragon and Electric type Pokémon that emerges as one of the strongest Electric raid attackers available. Its massive Attack stat, combined with its powerful Electric type moveset and Shadow Attack Boost, allows it to deliver exceptional damage in raids.

Pokémon	Moves	DPS	TDO	Score
Mega Y Raichu	Thunder Shock Zap Cannon+	23.75	373.2	20.5
Mega Y Mewtwo	Psycho Cut Thunderbolt	20.64	642.2	19.1
Mega X Raichu	Thunder Shock Volt Tackle+	21.34	425.1	19
Shadow Zekrom	Charge Beam Fusion Bolt	19.93	433.1	17.9
Shadow Zekrom	Charge Beam Wild Charge	19.71	428.4	17.7
Therian Shadow Thundurus	Volt Switch Wildbolt Storm	20.44	319.6	17.6
Regieleki	Lock-On Thunder Cage	19.74	298.0	17
Zeraora	Volt Switch Plasma Fists	18.27	404.9	16.4
Shadow Raikou	Thunder Shock Wild Charge	18.31	373.7	16.3
Zekrom	Charge Beam Fusion Bolt	16.87	440.0	15.4

As an Electric attacker, Shadow Zekrom competes with the very best Electric Attackers and outperforms several others like Shadow Raikou, Zeraora and Regieleki. Trainers also don’t need to run it with its legacy move of Fusion Bolt. Its performance is almost equally strong when running Wild Charge. Shadow Zekrom’s Dragon typing also allows it to function as a Dragon attacker, though it faces stiffer competition in that role form other Top Dragon Attackers. It is still strong in its own right, but it is not meta-defining in that role.

What sets Shadow Zekrom apart is its raw power. Its Electric type moveset delivers some of the highest damage output available in the game, along with the ability to double-up as a Dragon attacker as well. This makes it a must-have for serious raiders. If you have the chance to obtain it from Giovanni, do not pass it up.

For a full in-depth analysis of Shadow Zekrom, check out this article.

Parting Words

That wraps up our PvE analysis of this Shadow batch. While most of these Shadows are best left as Pokédex entries, Shadow Alolan Muk, Shadow Golisopod and Shadow Zekrom offer genuine raid value that serious trainers should not overlook.

Shadow Alolan Muk carves out a strong niche as both a Poison and Dark attacker, providing versatility and decent damage output in both typings. Shadow Golisopod, similar to Shadow Alolan Muk, delivers a versatile but better performance as a Bug and Water raid attacker. Shadow Zekrom emerges as one of the best Electric raid attackers available, delivering exceptional damage against Water and Flying type raid bosses.

For the rest, save your Stardust and focus on the Shadows that truly matter. And as always, do not forget to remove Frustration during the event to unlock their full potential.

And as always, stay safe!