3CL TCG

Species guide · Ages 10+ · July 2026

Shadow Metagross

Say it: SHADOW MET-uh-gross

Kids summary (simpler)Tap to expand

Shadow Metagross is a Team GO Rocket Shadow. It hits harder and takes more damage than normal Metagross. Same Steel / Psychic typing — the same counters still work. You cannot Mega Evolve a Shadow; purify if you want the Mega. Remove Frustration before you power it up.

Say it: SHADOW MET-uh-gross

Shadow Metagross is the Shadow form of Metagross (Steel / Psychic) in Pokémon GO. Expect ~20% more damage dealt and taken versus the normal form. Cannot Mega Evolve while Shadow — purify a high-IV copy if Mega is the goal.

SteelPsychicShadow (+ATK / −DEF)

Type-colored placeholder — not official Pokémon artwork (see IP notice below).

Pokédex notes

Shadow Metagross is a Shadow Steel / Psychic 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: Power up after Frustration removal. Prefer Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash. Purify only if you want Mega Metagross.

Type matchups

  • Steel moves hit Ice, Rock, and Fairy hard.
  • Psychic moves hit Fighting and Poison hard.

When Shadow Metagross is your opponent, Fire, Ground, Ghost, Dark hits hard.

Full type matchup guide →

Mega Evolution

Shadow Metagross can Mega Evolve into Mega Metagross. Mega Evolution uses Candy plus Mega Energy for that form, boosts same-type allies in raids, and only one Mega/Primal can be active per lobby.

Mega Metagross
Full Mega Evolution guide →

GO base stats

Shadow-adjusted from base Game Master row (+20% Attack, −20% Defense).

Inherits stats from Metagross— this costume or form may not have its own Game Master row.

Attack
308
Defense
182
Stamina
190

Weak to

FireGroundGhostDark

Resists

NormalGrassIcePoisonFlyingPsychicRockDragonSteelFairy

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. 1. Mega Charizard Y · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM

  2. 2. Reshiram · beats Fire

    Fire Fang + Fusion Flare

  3. 3. Shadow Moltres · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Overheat

  4. 4. Shadow Charizard · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM

  5. 5. Mega Blaziken · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM

  6. 6. Shadow Entei · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Overheat

  7. 7. Blaziken · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM

  8. 8. Darmanitan · beats Fire

    Fire Fang + Overheat

  9. 9. Chandelure · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Overheat

  10. 10. Heatran · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Flamethrower

  11. 11. Emboar · beats Fire

    Ember + Blast Burn · Elite TM

  12. 12. Infernape · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM

Budget

Solid alternatives when you cannot build the Recommended picks.

  1. 1. Darmanitan · beats Fire

    Fire Fang + Overheat

  2. 2. Arcanine · beats Fire

    Fire Fang + Flamethrower

  3. 3. Flareon · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Overheat

  4. 4. Typhlosion · beats Fire

    Incinerate + Blast Burn · Elite TM

  5. 5. Magmortar · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Fire Punch

  6. 6. Camerupt · beats Fire

    Incinerate + Overheat

  7. 7. Torkoal · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Overheat

  8. 8. Rapidash · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Fire Blast

  9. 9. Pyroar · beats Fire

    Fire Fang + Overheat

  10. 10. Simisear · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Flamethrower

  11. 11. Charizard · beats Fire

    Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM

  12. 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

  • bullet punch
  • zen headbutt
  • fury cutter

Charged

  • psychic
  • flash cannon
  • earthquake

Team GO Rocket

Shadow versions hit ~20% harder and take ~20% more damage. Use Steel/Psychic 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)
Shadow Pokémon guide →Grunt identification table →

PvP league ranks (family snapshot)

  • Great League · rank #514 of 954 · CP 1462

    Bullet Punch + Earthquake

  • Ultra League · rank #333 of 747 · CP 2491

    Bullet Punch + Earthquake

  • Master League · rank #45 of 1023 · CP 4286

    Bullet Punch + Earthquake

Open battle tools →

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).

Raid attacker roles

Psychic-type shortlist

  • Metagross — Zen Headbutt + Psychic
Full Psychic list →

Steel-type shortlist

  • Mega Metagross — Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash
  • Shadow Metagross — Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash
  • Metagross — Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash
Full Steel list →

Recommended vs these bosses

In the Competitive Guide

Related species

Also named in the same guide chapters (text only).

Mega MetagrossMetagrossShadow TypeType NullCostume KyogreKyogreMamoswinePrimal Kyogre
Pokédex browserSearchGO CompanionFamily trades