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Welcome Trainers! Team GO Rocket is back again with another Takeover Event. Flying Taxi: Taken Over is starting on June 25, and with it we have the debut of a new Shadow Legendary: Shadow Reshiram. Shadow Legendary Pokémon always have a way of instantly commanding attention, and Shadow Reshiram is no exception. Already one of the most powerful Fire attackers in Pokémon GO, Shadow Reshiram enters the meta with the kind of offensive ceiling that immediately puts every Trainer on notice. Reshiram has long held a secure place in the [Fire] type conversation, so the real question is: How high does Shadow Reshiram stand in today’s meta. Let’s find out!
Shadow Reshiram: Stats, Profile and Typing
Shadow Reshiram
DragonFire
| Max CP | 4565 |
|---|---|
| ATK | 271 |
| DEF | 211 |
| HP | 205 |
| Weak to |    |
| Resists |      |
| Fast moves |
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| Charge moves |
|
*Legacy Move
Shadow Reshiram is a dual Dragon Fire type Pokémon. Despite the defense nerf that Shadow Pokémon get, Shadow Reshiram still exhibits good bulk, thanks to its solid 211 defense stat, while still taking full advantage of the famed Shadow attack boost. Furthermore, its dual typing lends its 5 different resistances which also include double resistance to Fire and Grass.
Shadow Reshiram in Pokémon GO PvE
Raids
Shadow Reshiram is the kind of raid attacker that immediately commands attention because the base Reshiram is already one of the game’s premier [Fire] types, and the Shadow multiplier pushes that damage even higher. Let’s use our trusted DPS Comparer Tool to see where Shadow Reshiram stands among Top Fire Attackers:
Not only does Shadow Reshiram have a 3-point DPS difference from its non-Shadow counterpart, it also has the second highest DPS among top Fire attackers. Shadow Reshiram can be described as an absolute beast of a raid attacker thanks to its combination of raw damage and strong overall stats. What really separates it from many other Shadow options is that it is not just high-DPS; it also carries Legendary-level bulk and a typing package that gives it meaningful value in many raid matchups, making it a premium counter into bosses weak to [Fire] while still offering the stat floor you expect from a top-tier legendary attacker. Fusion Flare is the key move for optimal damage; Shadow Reshiram becomes much more attractive if you can line up Frustration removal and eventually secure Fusion Flare as well.
As a Dragon raid attacker, Shadow Reshiram, unfortunately doesn’t quite reach the same heights. Comparing its performance with Top Dragon Attackers:
As we can see, Shadow Reshiram lags behind the top Dragon attackers by a decent margin. It is still a solid Dragon attacker, comparable with the likes of Rayquaza and Baxcalibur. The best way to use Shadow Reshiram in PvE is to use it as a premier Fire raid attacker, with its Dragon utility limited to backup or spice cases.
Shadow Reshiram in Pokémon GO PvP
Ideal Moveset: Dragon Breath + Fusion Flare & Draco Meteor
Shadow Reshiram in PvP is a classic high-risk, high-reward attacker that trades bulk for overwhelming offensive pressure. With the Shadow boost amplifying its already strong Fire and Dragon type damage, it can secure some impressive wins and threaten even top-tier opponents with heavy-hitting moves like Draco Meteor. However, that same fragility makes it inconsistent, especially in shield-heavy scenarios where it struggles to outlast bulkier meta staples.
Ultra League
Shadow Reshiram is not eligible for Great League, so we begin with Ultra League, where the 2500 CP cap keeps it from reaching its full potential. It does pick up a few notable wins, including Bellibolt, both Kanto and Alolan Ninetales, Virizion, and Steelix, but the losses are more in number and just as telling, with Togekiss, Tentacruel, Malamar, Jellicent, Feraligatr, and Guzzlord all landing in the loss column. In zero-shield situations, its win rate improves significantly thanks to Draco Meteor’s knockout potential, but Shadow Reshiram still looks more like a spice pick than a true meta contender.
Master League
In Master League, where there is no CP cap, Shadow Reshiram reaches its full offensive potential. It secures key wins against Metagross, Zacian (Crowned Sword), both Necrozma forms (Dusk Mane and Dawn Wings), Melmetal, and Yveltal. However, it struggles against Rhyperior, Origin Forme Palkia, and Xerneas.
Compared to its non-Shadow counterpart, Shadow Reshiram picks up notable wins against Origin Forme Dialga, Groudon, and Zamazenta (Crowned Shield), but sacrifices matchups versus Kyogre, White Kyurem, Mewtwo, and Marshadow. In the 2v2 shields scenario, its performance dips further, gaining only Origin Forme Palkia and Aria Forme Meloetta as additional wins, while losing to Origin Forme Dialga, Lugia, Groudon, and Florges. The trend reverses in the zero-shield scenario, where Shadow Reshiram shows a net gain in matchups. It adds wins against both Black and White Kyurem as well as Primarina and Zygarde (Complete Form), though it still drops Xerneas and Zamazenta (Crowned Shield).
Is Shadow Reshiram Worth Building?
For PvE, yes! And emphatically so. Shadow Reshiram is one of the best reasons to spend premium resources on a Shadow Legendary because it compresses elite Fire type damage, premium stats, and long-term raid relevance into one package. For PvP, the answer is more cautious. It is worth building for Master League enthusiasts who enjoy high-pressure attack oriented teams and can support it properly, but it is not the sort of Shadow that instantly becomes mandatory for every PvP focused player, particularly because its best use case is narrower than its raid profile. If you are deciding where to spend rare candy, Stardust, and a possible future Elite Charged TM, Shadow Reshiram is easiest to justify as a raid-first project. Even if you never queue into Master League with it, the PvE payoff alone is strong enough to make it one of the more rewarding Shadow Legendary builds in the game right now.
Shadow Reshiram isn’t here to play nice, it’s here to scorch everything in sight!
Parting Words
That’s it, Trainers! Shadow Reshiram storms into Pokémon GO as an elite Fire type raid attacker, bringing massive damage, top-tier raid value, and that unmistakable Shadow power. If you can get a strong IV Shadow Reshiram, it’s the kind of investment that can anchor your raid roster for a very long time, with enough Master League utility to make it even more interesting. If you have multiple Super Rocket Radars stashed away in your storage now may be the time to use a few, especially if you can battle in Windy or Sunny weather for a weather boosted CP Shadow Reshiram.
And as always, stay safe!
