3CL TCG

Species guide · Ages 10+ · July 2026

Shadow Swampert

Say it: SHADOW SWAM-pert

Kids summary (simpler)Tap to expand

Shadow Swampert is a Team GO Rocket Shadow. It hits harder and takes more damage than normal Swampert. Same Water / Ground 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 SWAM-pert

Shadow Swampert is the Shadow form of Swampert (Water / Ground) 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.

WaterGroundShadow (+ATK / −DEF)

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

Pokédex notes

Shadow Swampert is a Shadow Water / Ground 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 high-Attack Shadows for raid DPS after removing Frustration. Prefer Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon / Earthquake. Purify only if you specifically want Mega Swampert.

Type matchups

  • Water moves hit Fire, Ground, and Rock hard.
  • Ground moves hit Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, and Steel hard.

When Shadow Swampert is your opponent, Grass hits hard.

Full type matchup guide →

Mega Evolution

Shadow Swampert can Mega Evolve into Mega Swampert. 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 Swampert
Full Mega Evolution guide →

GO base stats

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

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

Attack
250
Defense
140
Stamina
225

Weak to

Grass

Resists

FireElectricPoisonRockSteel

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. Kartana · beats Grass

    Razor Leaf + Leaf Blade

  2. 2. Mega Venusaur · beats Grass

    Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant · Elite TM

  3. 3. Shadow Tangrowth · beats Grass

    Vine Whip + Power Whip

  4. 4. Zarude · beats Grass

    Vine Whip + Power Whip

  5. 5. Roserade · beats Grass

    Razor Leaf + Grass Knot

  6. 6. Tangrowth · beats Grass

    Vine Whip + Power Whip

  7. 7. Sceptile · beats Grass

    Bullet Seed + Frenzy Plant · Elite TM

  8. 8. Venusaur · beats Grass

    Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant · Elite TM

  9. 9. Torterra · beats Grass

    Razor Leaf + Frenzy Plant · Elite TM

  10. 10. Exeggutor · beats Grass

    Bullet Seed + Solar Beam

  11. 11. Breloom · beats Grass

    Bullet Seed + Grass Knot

  12. 12. Tsareena · beats Grass

    Magical Leaf + Grass Knot

Budget

Solid alternatives when you cannot build the Recommended picks.

  1. 1. Roserade · beats Grass

    Razor Leaf + Grass Knot

  2. 2. Exeggutor · beats Grass

    Bullet Seed + Solar Beam

  3. 3. Venusaur · beats Grass

    Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant · Elite TM

  4. 4. Sceptile · beats Grass

    Bullet Seed + Frenzy Plant · Elite TM

  5. 5. Vileplume · beats Grass

    Razor Leaf + Solar Beam

  6. 6. Victreebel · beats Grass

    Razor Leaf + Leaf Blade

  7. 7. Shiftry · beats Grass

    Razor Leaf + Leaf Blade

  8. 8. Cacturne · beats Grass

    Sucker Punch + Grass Knot

  9. 9. Leafeon · beats Grass

    Razor Leaf + Leaf Blade

  10. 10. Simisage · beats Grass

    Vine Whip + Grass Knot

  11. 11. Lilligant · beats Grass

    Hidden Power + Petal Blizzard

  12. 12. Serperior · beats Grass

    Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant · Elite TM

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

  • mud shot
  • water gun

Charged

  • earthquake
  • sludge wave
  • surf
  • muddy water
  • sludge

Team GO Rocket

Shadow versions hit ~20% harder and take ~20% more damage. Use Water/Ground 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 #146 of 954 · CP 1487

    Mud Shot + Sludge

  • Ultra League · rank #107 of 747 · CP 2464

    Mud Shot + Sludge

  • Master League · rank #100 of 1023 · CP 3362

    Mud Shot + Sludge

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

Water-type shortlist

  • Mega Swampert — Water Gun + Hydro Cannon
  • Swampert — Water Gun + Hydro Cannon
  • Swampert — Water Gun + Hydro Cannon
Full Water list →

Recommended vs these bosses

In the Competitive Guide

Related species

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

Mega SwampertShadow TypeSwampertType NullMachampMamoswineShadow MachampShadow Mamoswine
Pokédex browserSearchGO CompanionFamily trades