Pokemon GO developers add legendary Shiny variants through different events and raids. Shadow raids offer a chance for players to encounter Shiny variants of the featured Shadow Pokemon. The upcoming Shadow raid features Shadow Zapdos with a chance of Shiny Shadow Zapdos encounter.

Shadow Zapdos has boosted damaging power because of the experimentation it went through. The Electric and Flying-type Shadow legendary is a powerful opponent and gets a further power boost as a Pokemon GO Shadow raid boss. Getting one's hand on the legendary Shadow Zapdos is challenging, with its Shiny variant even rarer. But one can get a chance to encounter Shiny Shadow Zapdos after defeating the Shadow raid boss. But defeating the legendary Shadow raid boss will require extreme meta-knowledge and a team of powerful counters.

Ditto and Shiny Ditto in Pokemon GO June 2024
Pokemon GO - All Ditto Disguises (February 2025)

You can find and catch a Pokemon GO Ditto and Shiny Ditto in February 2025 by following this detailed guide.

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Pokemon GO: Get Shiny Shadow Zapdos

Shiny Shadow Zapdos in Pokemon GO

The legendary Shadow Zapdos is a rare beast with a maximum Pokemon GO CP of 3987 and an incredible stat spread of 253 ATK, 185 DEF, and 207 STA. Regarding its Shiny variant, trainers can encounter Shiny Shadow Zapdos after defeating the raid boss, but achieving it can be challenging.

Legendary Shiny Shadow Zapdos is a rare spawn and demands tiring gameplay to encounter one. Since Shadow Zapdos is coming as a boss in Shadow raids, Pokemon GO players need a proper team with counters to defeat the beast. It has a remarkable movepool and is a formidable opponent; trainers must prepare before going head-on against this monster. Since the monster is weak against Ice and Rock-type moves, one should opt for counters with such typing.

Shadow Zapdos Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Shadow Rhyperior

Smack Down

Rock Wrecker

Shadow Mamoswine

Powder Snow

Avalanche

Mega Diancie

Rock Throw

Rock Slide

Mega Tyranitar

Smack Down

Stone Edge

Rhyperior

Smack Down

Rock Wrecker

Rampardos

Smack Down

Rock Slide

Shadow Weavile

Ice Shard

Avalanche

Mega Aerodactyl

Rock Throw

Rock Slide

Shadow Tyranitar

Smack Down

Stone Edge

Shadow Mewtwo

Psycho Cut

Ice Beam

Shadow Zapdos in Pokemon GO

Shadow legendary monsters are hard to get by in Pokemon GO, with legendary Shiny variants even more scarce. The only way to encounter the Shiny Shadow Zapdos is by participating and winning numerous Shadow Zapdos raids.

However, trainers should note that a Shiny encounter is not guaranteed even after taking down the Shadow raid boss. While some players might encounter the legendary Shadow Shiny after winning the raid, others might not. Players must win as many Shadow raids as possible to catch up to its Shiny spawn odds and boost their chances of encountering a Shiny Shadow Zapdos. Players should also note that Pokemon GO Remote Raid Passes do not work for the Shadow Raids, and trainers will have to go around participating in multiple raids.

Pokemon GO is available for Android and iOS.

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