Welcome Trainers! April is round the corner and with it we have a new line up of Events and Raids in Pokémon GO. One of the featured Pokémon for the month of April is Shadow Latios which will appear in Shadow Raids from April 1 to May 5. So, let us see how does Shadow Latios perform in the PvE meta and why Trainers should look forward to raiding at least a few!
Shadow Latios: Stats, Profile and Typing
Shadow Latios
DragonPsychic
| Max CP | 4310 |
|---|---|
| ATK | 268 |
| DEF | 212 |
| HP | 190 |
| Weak to |       |
| Resists |       |
| Fast Attacks |
|
| Charge Attacks |
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*Legacy Move
Shadow Latios is a strong and specialized PvE attacker in Pokémon GO: it has a solid Attack Stat of 268 and a Max CP of 4310, and the usual Shadow boost that pushes its damage higher than regular Latios. However, it still lives in a crowded Dragon Psychic niche. Its typing lends it an equal number of weaknesses and resistances.
Shadow Latios in Pokémon GO PvE
Raids
As they say: First Impressions Last! So, let us start with Shadow Latios’ strongest role—As a Psychic raid attacker. Running a pretty standard Psychic moveset of Zen Headbutt and Psychic, Shadow Latios does a pretty solid job in its role. Using our DPS Comparer Tool:
As we can see, Shadow Latios’ performance is broadly comparable to that of the Top Psychic Attackers. In fact, upon a closer look Trainers will realize that of the top 5 attackers, 3 are Mega Pokémon. Among non-Mega Pokémon, Shadow Latios, as a Psychic attacker, currently has the 4th highest DPS, only behind Mewtwo (Shadow & Regular) and Hoopa Unbound. For Psychic weak raid bosses, Shadow Latios stands out as a potent option, powered by its Shadow boost and solid Attack.
Now, let us have a look at Shadow Latios as a Dragon raid attacker. In this role, it is good but much less special. The Dragon raid meta is already crowded and Shadow Latios is not able to catch up with the top alternatives.
While Shadow Latios does have a respectable performance as a Dragon attacker, it is still not enough when compared with the Top Dragon Attackers. In practice, that means it can fill a Dragon slot well, but it is rarely the first Dragon most players should power up if resources are limited.
Trainers, we are not the end! There is another niche where Shadow Latios performs pretty well: As a Fighting raid attacker. Shadow Latios has access to Aura Sphere—one of the best Charged Attacks in the game. This move is so strong that it can make even non-fighting types viable contenders in the Fighting raid meta.
As far as raw numbers are concerned Shadow Latios breaks into the Fighting raid meta with solid DPS and TDO. In practice, the expectations may need to be tempered down a little bit. Its Fast Attack, Dragon Breath, will only hit for neutral against Normal, Rock and Dark type raid bosses and will be resisted by Steel raid bosses. Nevertheless, Shadow Latios still remains a reliable Fighting attacker, and can easily slot in anyone’s Fighting raid team.
Shadow Latios VS Mega Latios
We have now seen what Shadow Latios can do in the raid meta. But Trainers may already know or may have realized by now that whatever Shadow Latios can do, Mega Latios can do as well. So how do these two stack up against each other, and which of the two is better? Our trusted DPS Comparer Tool may have the answer!
Mega Latios is clearly an upgrade to Shadow Latios. In all three scenarios for Shadow Latios that we have above discussed, Mega Latios performs better. So, should Trainers just simply ignore Shadow Latios and invest their resources in Mega Latios? Most likely answer is—Yes! But there is a small catch! For starters, Trainers need Latios Mega Energy to Mega Evolve their Latios. Some may wonder, well everyone would have enough Mega Energy, but with the recently concluded Kalos Global Tour, I found out, rather annoyingly, that many Trainers still lack sufficient Mega Energy for several Mega Pokémon.
Another factor that one needs to take into account is the fact that only one Mega Evolution can be active at a time. And there are certainly better Mega Evolutions than Mega Latios—Mega Alakazam, Mega Rayquaza and Mega Lucario are some examples of Mega Evolutions that are better than Mega Latios in their respective metas.
So while, Mega Latios does perform better than Shadow Latios, a case can be made that Shadow Latios can still occupy a position in any Trainer’s raid team, especially if the said Trainer does not have access Mega Latios or wants to run a different Mega Pokémon. And then there is always a case of running both Mega and Shadow Latios in the same raid team!
Is Shadow Latios Worth Buidling?
If you can afford it, then a definite Yes! Shadow Latios shines as a top-tier Psychic and Fighting raid attacker while holding strong as a Dragon option, thanks to its versatile moveset featuring no legacy moves. With second Charged Attack unlocked and a handful of TMs, one well-built Shadow Latios can rotate seamlessly across three different raid fields—making it a multi-role powerhouse.
Parting Words
Shadow Latios may not redefine the raid meta, but it certainly demands respect. Its raw power, versatility across Psychic, Dragon, and even Fighting raid roles, and the signature Shadow boost make it a premium investment for Trainers who value flexibility and punch. Sure, Mega Latios edges it out in nearly every category—but Shadow Latios offers something arguably more practical: consistent, immediate access to high-level performance without needing Mega Energy or timing around Mega Evolutions.
If you already have strong Megas, Shadow Latios adds depth to your roster. But if you don’t, it can easily serve as your go-to powerhouse across multiple raid types. In short, it’s not a must-have, but it’s absolutely a great-to-have—a fierce, adaptable ally for any serious raider’s lineup.
You know it’s serious when Shadow Latios takes the skies!
Raid Guide: Shadow Latios.
Let us know Trainers! Are you in the Latias or Latios group? What about Shadow Raids? Do you like them? Are there any changes to Shadow Raids that you would like to see?
As always, Stay Safe and Happy Raiding! May everyone get a 13/13/13 SHINY SHADOW LATIOS!
