Species guide · Ages 10+ · July 2026
Shadow Bellsprout
Say it: SHADOW BE-llspr-ou-t
Kids summary (simpler)Tap to expand
Shadow Bellsprout is a Team GO Rocket Shadow (also a common Giovanni decoy lead). It hits harder and takes more damage than normal Bellsprout. Evolve it toward Shadow Victreebel; do not power the Bellsprout stage.
Say it: SHADOW BE-llspr-ou-t
Shadow Bellsprout is the Shadow form of Bellsprout (Grass / Poison) in Pokémon GO. Expect ~20% more damage dealt and taken versus the normal form. It is a candy/IV stepping stone to Shadow Victreebel, not a finished attacker.
Type-colored placeholder — not official Pokémon artwork (see IP notice below).
Pokédex notes
Shadow Bellsprout is a Shadow Grass / Poison Pokémon in GO. Shadow variants deal extra damage in raids and PvP but take more hits — compare purified vs Shadow before investing.
Where in GO: Team GO Rocket Grunts, Leaders, and Giovanni
Invest tip: Tag high-Attack Shadows, remove Frustration after a Rocket event window, and evolve to Victreebel before heavy power-ups.
Type matchups
- Grass moves hit Water, Ground, and Rock hard.
- Poison moves hit Grass and Fairy hard.
When Shadow Bellsprout is your opponent, Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic hits hard.
Full type matchup guide →GO base stats
Shadow-adjusted from base Game Master row (+20% Attack, −20% Defense).
Inherits stats from Bellsprout— this costume or form may not have its own Game Master row.
- Attack
- 167
- Defense
- 49
- Stamina
- 137
Weak to
Resists
Best Pokémon to use against it
When this species is your opponent (Rocket battle, gym, raid, or PvP), these picks exploit its typings. Each list is a pool of options — not a required 12-Pokémon lobby.
Recommended
Strongest practical attackers for this matchup.
- 1. Mega Charizard Y · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 2. Reshiram · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Fusion Flare
- 3. Shadow Moltres · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 4. Shadow Charizard · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 5. Mega Blaziken · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 6. Shadow Entei · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 7. Blaziken · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 8. Darmanitan · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Overheat
- 9. Chandelure · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 10. Heatran · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Flamethrower
- 11. Emboar · beats Fire
Ember + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 12. Infernape · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
Budget
Solid alternatives when you cannot build the Recommended picks.
- 1. Darmanitan · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Overheat
- 2. Arcanine · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Flamethrower
- 3. Flareon · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 4. Typhlosion · beats Fire
Incinerate + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 5. Magmortar · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Fire Punch
- 6. Camerupt · beats Fire
Incinerate + Overheat
- 7. Torkoal · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 8. Rapidash · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Fire Blast
- 9. Pyroar · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Overheat
- 10. Simisear · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Flamethrower
- 11. Charizard · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 12. Houndoom · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Flamethrower
Moves in GO
Always-available Game Master learnset (regular TMs). Community Day / Elite TM moves appear above when we have curated notes for this species.
Fast
- vine whip
- acid
Charged
- power whip
- sludge bomb
- wrap
Team GO Rocket
Shadow versions hit ~20% harder and take ~20% more damage. Use Grass/Poison typing weaknesses quickly — they punch above their weight but faint faster than normal.
Defeat the Shadow in battle, then use a Rescue Rocket Radar or standard Rocket battle rewards to catch it. Purify or keep Shadow based on whether you want bulk (purified/normal) or raid DPS (Shadow).
- Team GO Rocket Grunts (Shadow pool rotates)
- Team GO Rocket Leaders — Arlo, Cliff, Sierra (rotation)
- Giovanni (featured Shadow — rotation)
PvP league ranks (family snapshot)
- Great League · rank #799 of 954 · CP 1168
Acid + Power Whip
- Master League · rank #737 of 1023 · CP 1168
Acid + Power Whip
In your Collect
Name match only (text). Cards you have saved in Card Nexus Collect — not official art.
Sign in to see holdings, or open Collect.
Open Collect →Raid and PvP advice uses our Game Master snapshot (updated July 2026).
In the Competitive Guide
- Ch. 5: Shadow Pokémon — Complete Guide
Purify vs keep Shadow — decision tree for family raids and PvP.
- Ch. 16: Team GO Rocket — Grunt Identification & Counters
# Team GO Rocket — Grunt Identification & Counters > Free forever in 3CL TCG. Live slot pools: **[/card-nexus/go/rocket#grunts](/card-nexus/go/rocket#grunts)**. Verified **2026-08-…
- Ch. 17: Rocket Leaders & Giovanni
Current leader lineups with per-Pokémon counters and movesets.
- Ch. 20: Lucky Pokémon & Family Trades
When lucky status matters for trades and Stardust savings.
- Ch. 21: Best Friends & Lucky Friends
Friendship steps for raid bonuses and lucky trades.
Related species
Also named in the same guide chapters (text only).