Should I Purify My Shadow Latios in Pokémon GO? An Expert‘s In-Depth Analysis

As a Pokémon GO trainer, you may have faced a difficult quandary when catching the legendary Shadow Latios – to purify or not to purify? Let‘s dive into this complex question and weigh the pros and cons in detail.

Introduction

Latios is an impressive Dragon and Psychic type legendary Pokémon from the Hoenn region. When caught from a Team Rocket boss encounter, it becomes the rare Shadow Latios, surrounded by a dark aura and boosted attack.

Purifying it costs a steep 20,000 Stardust and 20 Latios Candy. But in return you remove the attack boost and defense penalty, increase its IVs, and can Mega Evolve it.

So should you keep this legendary beast as a strong Shadow? Or purify it for more flexibility? I‘ve battled with this question myself, and want to share my insights.

The Allure of Shadow Latios

Shadow Pokémon have taken PvE and PvP by storm due to their unique 20% attack bonus. For a heavy hitting legend like Latios, this can push its raid performance into overdrive.

• Shadow Latios deals approximately 17% more damage against raid bosses compared to its regular form. That outpaces even Mega Latios!
• It boasts the title of #2 best non-Mega Dragon type attacker, just behind Rayquaza.
• Against raid bosses weak to Psychic like Machamp, Shadow Latios achieves over 45% higher DPS than a normal Latios.

This table compares max moveset damage with level 40 Latios forms:

For Master League PvP, the unlimited CP cap means Shadow Latios can wreck opponents with its heavy fast move damage:

• Dragon Breath deals 17 damage instead of regular Latios‘ 14.
• Against common steels like Metagross, Shadow Latios wins over 20% more matchups.
• It ranks #13 overall in PvPoke‘s Master League rankings compared to #20 for normal.

But it‘s not all sunshine for this edgy dragon. The 20% defense penalty makes Shadow Latios incredibly frail, fainting over 25% quicker in raids and PvP. Using it requires extra healing items and careful shielding.

Still, experts largely agree Shadow Latios‘ offense merits the fragility. Prominent YouTuber Zyonik says "Shadow Latios is one of the biggest PvE powerhouses…one of the best dragons in the game."

The appeal of its rarity and aesthetics also can‘t be understated.

The Boons of Purification

Purifying Shadow Latios removes its attack bonus and lowers its visual cool factor. But with purification comes its own advantages:

• Return provides strong neutral DPS without needing Elite TMs.
• It saves 75% stardust cost for powering up.
• Latios achieves its tanky max defense potential.
• Opens the door for Mega Evolution, boosting DPS further.

Here‘s how a level 40 purified Latios compares in performance:

Purified Latios sees use in the Great and Ultra leagues where bulk and longevity allow it to overcome the lack of attack bonus:

• It gains 10% more TDO in PvP thanks to regained defense.
• Lasts 15-20% longer on average in matchups compared to the Shadow.
• Beats the Shadow version head-to-head with energy or shield advantages.

Casual and short-manning raid trainers may also appreciate purified Latios surviving longer with fewer revives wasted.

Key Decision Factors

When debating purifying this legendary, keep these key factors in mind:

• Mega Evolution: Shadows can‘t Mega Evolve. A Mega will outdamage the Shadow.
• Move Frustration: Costly to remove without special events. Limits options.
• Rarity: Shiny Shadow Latios is extremely rare. Most keep for trophy value.
• Cost: Purifying legends costs 20k dust and 20 candies – think hard before spending!
• Stats: Low IV Shadows gain the most from purification to 100%.

Every trainer‘s needs and resources differ too. Here are things to consider for your playstyle:

• Collectors: Keep the Shadow for its visual uniqueness and trophy status.
• PvP Focused: Purified works better in limited leagues.
• Raid Centric: Shadow for maximum DPS. Mega later for flexibility.
• Casual: Purified is cheaper to power up and less fragile.
• Short-Manning: Shadow‘s glassiness causes more faints/revives used.

Getting Elite TMs or waiting for events to remove Frustration can help mitigate Shadow issues too.

Analysis in Action: Two Trainers‘ Stories

To better illustrate these dynamics in action, let‘s look at two examples of trainers debating purifying their Shadow Latios.

Trainer Adele is a casual daily player who enjoys collecting and evolving. She uses a mix of legendaries and non-legendaries for raiding and doesn‘t do much PvP. She caught a 13/5/5 Shadow Latios and wasn‘t sure whether to purify.

After analyzing her playstyle, collecting goals, and Latios‘ average IVs, she determined purification made sense. The cheaper power up cost and perfect 15/15/15 IVs were attractive bonuses. She now has a reliable dragon mega evolution option that fits her diverse play.

Kai is a dedicated PvPer and short-manner focused on efficiency. He uses teams of maxed legendaries. When he caught a rare 96% Shadow Latios, he grappled with the decision.

But for his playstyle, the Shadow‘s elite DPS and Master League potential were too good to pass up. He plans to use Elite TMs to remove Frustration when possible. The glassiness is a acceptable trade-off for dominating raids and PvP.

As you can see, the "right" choice depends on your priorities and resources as a trainer. There‘s no universally best option.

In Conclusion

While the question of "to purify or not to purify" is complex for a coveted Pokémon like Shadow Latios, carefully weighing the pros and cons of each form can make the decision process easier.

Keep your own playstyle, resources, and goals in mind. Shadow Latios provides unmatched raid DPS and PvP threat at the cost of fragility. Purified Latios trades some power for more balanced stats, cheaper costs, and Mega access.

Hopefully this in-depth guide has provided ample data, expert opinions, and real-world examples to help guide your decision. Remember, whatever you choose for your Latios, the joy of training such an elite legendary is what matters most!