Pokemon Go Purification Calculator

IV Comparison: Shadow vs. Purified

What is a Pokemon Go Purification Calculator?

A pokemon go purification calculator is a specialized tool that helps trainers decide whether to purify a Shadow Pokemon. When you purify a Shadow Pokemon, its stats and costs change permanently. This calculator shows you exactly what the new IVs (Individual Values) will be and how close to “perfect” your Pokemon will become. It helps you weigh the benefits of purification, such as increased IVs and lower power-up costs, against the loss of the 20% attack bonus that Shadow Pokemon possess. For any serious player, understanding this trade-off is crucial for building strong raid and PvP teams.

Pokemon Go Purification Formula and Explanation

The mechanics of purification are straightforward but have significant consequences. Using this pokemon go purification calculator simplifies the decision, but it’s important to understand the underlying formula.

The Core Formula

When you purify a Shadow Pokemon, the following changes occur:

• IV Increase: Each of the three IVs (Attack, Defense, and Stamina) is increased by 2.
• IV Cap: An IV cannot exceed the maximum value of 15. If a Shadow Pokemon has 14 Attack, it will become 15 after purification, not 16.
• Level Increase: The Pokemon’s level is automatically set to 25.
• Move Change: The charged move ‘Frustration’ is replaced by ‘Return’.
• Cost Reduction: The Stardust and Candy costs to power up, evolve, or add a second charge move are reduced by 10% compared to a standard Pokemon (and significantly reduced compared to a Shadow).

The formula for each new IV is: Purified IV = min(15, Shadow IV + 2)

Variables Table

This table breaks down the variables used in purification calculations.

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
Shadow IV	The initial Attack, Defense, or Stamina stat.	Points	0 – 15
Purified IV	The resulting stat after adding 2 points.	Points	2 – 15
IV Perfection	The sum of all three IVs divided by 45.	Percentage (%)	0% – 100%

Practical Examples

Example 1: Turning a Good Shadow into a Perfect Pokemon

Imagine you catch a Shadow Machop with high stats, a great candidate for our pokemon go purification calculator.

• Inputs:
  • Shadow Attack IV: 13
  • Shadow Defense IV: 14
  • Shadow Stamina IV: 13
• Calculation:
  • Purified Attack: min(15, 13 + 2) = 15
  • Purified Defense: min(15, 14 + 2) = 15
  • Purified Stamina: min(15, 13 + 2) = 15
• Results: The Purified Machamp becomes a 100% perfect Pokemon (15/15/15). This is a prime example of when purification is highly valuable, especially if you need a perfect Machamp for Master League or as a Mega Evolution candidate. For more info on IVs, see our Pokemon Go IVs guide.

Example 2: A Mid-Range Shadow Pokemon

Let’s consider a Shadow Swinub with average stats.

• Inputs:
  • Shadow Attack IV: 7
  • Shadow Defense IV: 10
  • Shadow Stamina IV: 8
• Calculation:
  • Purified Attack: min(15, 7 + 2) = 9
  • Purified Defense: min(15, 10 + 2) = 12
  • Purified Stamina: min(15, 8 + 2) = 10
• Results: The Purified Mamoswine will have IVs of 9/12/10. While better, it is no longer a top-tier attacker as it has lost its Shadow bonus. In this case, it might be better to keep it as a Shadow for raids, as even a low-IV Shadow Mamoswine outperforms a high-IV regular one. Check out our Best Shadow Pokemon for raids article for more details.

How to Use This Pokemon Go Purification Calculator

1. Enter the Shadow IVs: Input the Attack, Defense, and Stamina IVs of your Shadow Pokemon into the corresponding fields. You can find these by appraising your Pokemon in the game.
2. Click Calculate: Press the “Calculate Purified Stats” button.
3. Review the Results:
   • The calculator will display the new, purified IVs and the final perfection percentage.
   • The chart will visually compare the Shadow vs. Purified stats, showing the +2 increase for each.
   • The “Hundo Potential?” field will tell you if your Pokemon becomes 100% perfect after purification.
4. Interpret the Results: Use the output to decide if the trade-off is worth it. Losing a 20% attack boost is a high price, so the purified version should have a specific purpose (like becoming a perfect ‘hundo’, being used in PvP where bulk is key, or for a Mega Evolution).

Key Factors That Affect Purification Decisions

• Raid Attacker vs. PvP Competitor: For raids, damage output is king. The 20% Shadow bonus is almost always better than the IV increase from purifying. For PvP, bulk and specific CP caps are more important, so a Purified Pokemon can sometimes be better. A Pokemon Go CP calculator can help with PvP planning.
• Pokemon Species: For some Pokemon, like Mewtwo, the Shadow version is vastly superior for raids. For others, like Sableye, the Purified version is preferred for Great League PvP because the move ‘Return’ is very useful.
• Stardust and Candy Cost: Purifying instantly raises a Pokemon to level 25 and provides a discount on future power-ups. This can save an immense amount of Stardust, a crucial factor for many players. See our guide on farming Stardust.
• Hundo Collection: For many trainers, collecting 100% IV Pokemon is a primary goal. Any Shadow Pokemon with IVs of 13/13/13 or higher will become a hundo upon purification, making it a very tempting choice.
• Mega Evolution: Shadow Pokemon cannot be Mega Evolved. If you have a high-IV Shadow of a species with a Mega form (like Swampert or Tyranitar), purifying it might be the right long-term move.
• The Purifier Medal: There is an in-game medal for purifying Pokemon. If progressing this medal is your goal, then purifying cheaper Pokemon is an effective strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is it always better to keep a Pokemon as a Shadow?

No. While Shadow Pokemon have higher damage output for raids, Purified Pokemon are cheaper to power up and can be better for certain PvP leagues or if they become 100% IV. The decision is situational.

2. Does this calculator work for all Pokemon?

Yes, the purification formula (+2 to each IV, capped at 15) is the same for every Pokemon species in the game.

3. What happens if my Shadow Pokemon has 14 or 15 in a stat?

The IV for that stat will become 15. The stat cannot go above the maximum of 15. For example, a 14/15/13 Shadow becomes a 15/15/15 Purified.

4. Should I purify a 0% Shadow Pokemon?

Generally, no. A 0% Shadow Pokemon has a 20% attack bonus, which makes it stronger than even a 100% normal Pokemon in most raid scenarios. After purification, it would just be a very weak 2/2/2 Pokemon.

5. Is the pokemon go purification calculator free to use?

Yes, this tool is completely free. You can use it as many times as you need to analyze your Shadow Pokemon.

6. When is purifying worth it?

It’s generally considered worth it if: 1) The Pokemon will become 100% perfect. 2) You need it for a PvP league where the Purified version is ranked higher. 3) It’s a Pokemon you plan to Mega Evolve. 4) You are short on Stardust and want the power-up discount.

7. Does purifying change the CP?

Yes. Purifying sets the Pokemon’s level to 25 and increases its IVs, which will almost always result in a significant CP jump. To know the exact CP, you would need a more advanced CP calculator that includes species base stats.

8. What is the main downside of purifying?

The biggest downside is permanently losing the 20% damage bonus that is exclusive to Shadow Pokemon. This is a massive boost for raids and cannot be regained once the Pokemon is purified.

Related Tools and Internal Resources

If you found our pokemon go purification calculator helpful, check out these other resources:

• Is Purifying Worth It? – A deep dive into the strategic pros and cons.
• Pokemon Go IV Checker – Understand what IVs are and how to find them.
• Best Shadow Pokemon – A ranked list of the most powerful Shadow Pokemon in the game.