Shadow Dialga
June 2026 brings the powerful Shadow Dialga in the month’s Shadow Raids, and players are eager to capture what is one of the most beloved Legendaries in Pokémon GO.
From dominating in the early phases of the Master League to boasting its incredible resistances against other Dragon types in Raids, Dialga is iconic. But with Shadow Dialga at the helm now, you must be wondering how strong it is in the Raids (PvE) meta?
So, without further ado, let’s check out the stats. moves, and matchups of Shadow Dialga in Pokémon GO, and then uncover how much of a menace it can be in PvE combat.
Shadow Dialga
SteelDragon
|
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|---|---|
| Max CP | 4565 |
| ATK | 275 |
| DEF | 211 |
| HP | 205 |
| Weak to |   |
| Resists |           |
| Fast moves |
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| Charge moves |
|
The Steel/Dragon and Fairy/Dragon types are the only combos wherein the Dragon Pokémon in question isn’t weak to Dragon-type attacks. In the meta, Duraludon and Mega Altaria are offensively weak, so Dialga and its variants (Shadow and Origin Forme) are the only true attackers in this niche category.
Remember that Shadow Dialga gets a 1.20x multiplier boost to its ATK and a 0.833x multiplier nerf to its DEF. As such:
- Shadow Dialga’s effective ATK = 1.20 x 275 = 330 ATK
- Shadow Dialga’s effective DEF = 0.833 x 211 = 175.76 DEF
With that said, let’s find out how Shadow Dialga fares in the Steel and Dragon meta. Since I mentioned its impressive defense against other Dragon types, let’s start with its Dragon-type standing.
Taking the help of our trusty GO Hub DPS TDO Comparer Tool:
Taking a look at the heavily-contested Dragon DPS figures, Shadow Dialga is quite down the list, with its peer Shadow Palkia dealing 5.7% more DPS. Shadow Dialga’s damage output is ironically very similar to that of Palkia Origin Forme. Given the fact that Dragon Breath is the comparatively less powerful Dragon-type Fast Attack in Pokémon GO, Shadow Dialga is actually performing quite well. To out it in perspective, when you gauge its overall performance taking both DPS and TDO into account, Shadow Dialga is more or less the same as Shadow Dragonite.
Additionally, it is worth stressing Shadow Dialga’s resistances again. Taking only neutral damage from Dragon moves, it can absorb a lot of attacks despite the reduced bulk and give it back with excellent DPS numbers. You don’t have to worry much about dodging with Shadow Dialga. With Party Power in play, Shadow Dialga pushes even further, tailor-made for the mechanic with a 0.5s Fast Attack and a 1-bar Charged Attack. So, do run Shadow Dialga with your friends exercising Party Power, and see this Legendary excel even more!
With quick charging and Shadow Dialga’s Dragon resistances, you can pull off multiple Draco Meteors when compared to almost every other Dragon in the game. This makes Shadow Dialga an invaluable part of your Raid squad, even though its DPS is lower than that of many.
What if Shadow Dialga learns Dragon Tail in Pokémon GO?
Dialaga does get access to Dragon Tail in the Main Series Games. If it learns the coveted Fast Attack in Pokémon GO, its performance improves dramatically, beating Shadow Salamence!
We don’t know if Dialga would ever learn Dragon Tail in Pokémon GO, so in the meantime, take advantage of Power Play, and the fact that it is the BEST Dragon not weak to Dragon moves in Raids.
Shadow Dialga is among the top 10 Steel-type attackers in Pokémon GO. It overtakes both Mega and Shadow Excadrill, and is appreciably behind Mega Metagross in damage figures.
In the Dragon meta, Shadow Dialga flexed the fact that it takes neutral damage from the Dragon Raid Bosses it’s attacking, giving it an advantage over its draconic peers. However, in the Steel meta, there aren’t the same perks. You see, the Dragon subtyping makes Shadow Dialga take neutral damage from Fairy and Ice moves, two types that Steel Pokémon are best known for countering. Zacian Crowned Sword, Dusk Mane Necrozma, and the Metagross entourage all resist Fairy and Ice (including Rock, which Shadow Dialga also resists), making these heavy-hitters preferable not only offensively, but also defensively.
No doubt, Shadow Dialga is a strong Steel Pokémon, but its lack of resistance, like most of the other attackers in the list, makes it somewhat underwhelming as a whole.
The answer may surprise you, but it’s Dragon type.
First of all, it’s the typing matchup. Your top Dragon attackers will not tank an Outrage, but Shadow Dialga will. Due to this ability, it’s also among the most reliable Draco Meteor users in battle, something Shadow Salamence seriously struggles with. On the other hand, Shadow Dialga’s Dragon subtyping makes it a liability against Fairy and Ice Raid Bosses, two types Steel is widely used against. Unlike the Dragon typing, the top Steel attackers resist all three types it counters, with Shadow Dialga being successful against only one. Yes, the defense against Dragon attacks is also neutral damage (like Fairy and Ice), but in the Dragon department, it is an advantage, while in the Steel department, it is a disadvantage.
The difference in damage output between the top Dragon attacker (Eternatus) and Shadow Dialga is 27.32%. Note that we included a Level 50 Eternatus, which is quite out of reach for most players, so realistically, if we take a Level 50 Mega Rayquaza, the DPS variation is even lower, at 25.36%. In the Steel meta standings, the difference between the top attacker (Zacian Crowned Sword) and Shadow Dialga is 31.97%. Clearly, Shadow Dialga is closer to the top in the Dragon typing.
So Trainers, if you’re lucky enough to bag a Hundo/Shundo Shadow Dialga, do power it up and use it preferably as a Dragon-type attacker, with Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor. If there’s a moveset upgrade in a future Pokémon GO Season and it learns Dragon Tail, things get even better for you, making it a win-win situation!
All the best!
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