In late 2019, Pokemon GO introduced a new feature into the game known as Shadow Pokemon. It’s where players must go around and defeat members of Team GO Rocket, freeing Pokemon whose hearts have closed and turned evil. After catching a Shadow Pokemon the player can then go about purifying them if they wish.
It may not be common knowledge, but this isn’t the first appearance of Shadow Pokemon in the franchise. Back in the GameCube era, the titles Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD also featured these Pokemon. The appearance of Shadow Pokemon hasn’t changed much from those days, so let’s take a look at which of them look the best.
10 Crobat
Crobat is the final evolution in the Zubat line, all of which sport a dual typing of Poison and Flying. Its appearance is rather simple; a rounded purple bat with pointed ears, two sets of wings, and small feet.
Being turned into a Shadow Pokemon gives Crobat a menacing purple aura to accompany it, which goes well with it by matching its color scheme. Imagining a cave filled with its gleaming red eyes could be a chilling thought.
9 Houndoom
Houndoom is the evolution of Houndour, both of which are Fire/Dark types from the Johto region. Its design is simple but effective, being a black hound with white horns and a spiked tail to make it look like something akin to a Cerberus.
Intentionally designed to look menacing, Shadow Houndoom only further gets its job done on that front. For a fire-based Pokemon, it was missing some red to complete the usual color scheme for those types, which the eyes fixed.
8 Articuno
Articuno is one of the three legendary birds of the Kanto region, this one taking on Ice alongside its Flying typing. It’s a rather large bird with wings to match it, a color scheme of mostly light blue and a long tail.
While each of the legendary birds pulls off the look of a Shadow Pokemon well, Articuno does it the best out of them all. Its red eyes completely contrast and betray expectations made from the otherwise calming color scheme.
7 Snorlax
Snorlax is a fan-favorite, powerful Normal-type from the Kanto region. It takes some inspiration from bears on how it looks, with its own spin. These changes lie in the fact that it’s mostly blue and tan while being very rotund.
This lovable lad never changes, even after being converted into a Shadow Pokemon. While other Pokemon have their eyes turned to red, all you see from Snorlax is its shut eyes. It can’t even be bothered to be evil without being lazy about it.
6 Armaldo
Armaldo is one of the two fossil Pokemon from the Hoenn region, having a typing of both Bug and Rock. It has the appearance of a large arthropod standing upright, complete with battle armor and intimidating features.
Much like normal animals in the wild, Armaldo has features that look like a face to scare others off. In an ironic twist, becoming a Shadow Pokemon turns its actual eyes to the same color as the fakes, making it twice as spooky.
5 Suicune
Suicune is one of the three legendary beasts hailing from the Johto region possessing the sole Water typing. It stands on all fours akin to a dog and has a color scheme of icy blue and white with a purple mane.
This Pokemon is naturally very elegant in design, as shown by how it’s portrayed with its constantly flowing ribbon-like tail and mane. Being turned into a Shadow Pokemon offers another sharp contrast to its initial design, making it that much more striking.
4 Aggron
Aggron is the final evolution in the Aron line, remaining a Steel/Rock-type since its first stage. Opposite to its first two stages, Aggron is bipedal and further develops the appearance of a heavily armored monster with several large spikes and protrusions.
Initially, Aggron’s eyes are a steely blue to complement both its typing and the grey making up its color scheme. Turning them to a harsh red while shrouding it with the ominous aura makes it appear that much more of a mighty, savage juggernaut.
3 Ho-Oh
Ho-Oh is one of the two main legendary Pokemon in the Johto region, possessing the Fire/Flying typing. It’s a huge bird taking inspiration from the phoenix, sporting a colorful palette to reflect being called the Rainbow Pokemon.
Ho-Oh carries a majestic aura with it, especially if you’ve seen how it’s portrayed in both the anime and the games. Similar to Suicune, being turned into a Shadow Pokemon converts it into something that gives off two very different impressions; beauty and evil.
2 Gyarados
Gyarados is the second stage of Magikarp, gaining the Flying typing to pair with Water after evolving. It’s based on an eastern dragon in mythology, appearing as a large serpent-like creature with a ferocious look to it.
Shadow Gyarados is a step up from what we knew before of this Pokemon. A normal Gyarados is already known to be hard to control and prone to rampages. It’s frightening to imagine the kind of anger and destruction one turned evil would bring.
1 Mewtwo
Mewtwo is one of the most popular legendary Pokemon in the franchise, taking its spot near the top of the Kanto Pokedex as a pure Psychic-type. It’s a bipedal creature that almost looks alien in design, having an obvious resemblance to the cat-like Mew in its features.
Mewtwo is no stranger to negative emotions or destruction itself, given how it came to exist. It may be one of the few Pokemon that change minimally, if at all, from being turned Shadow because of its intelligence. Even if it doesn’t change much in regards to behavior it definitely looks more fierce, its red eyes and shadowy aura striking fear into its foes.
NEXT: Pokemon Go Shadow Pokemon - How To Catch Shadow Pokemon In Pokemon Go
