Purify Pokémon Calculator

Calculate the Stardust and Candy costs to purify Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO, and understand the benefits and trade-offs.

Pokémon Purification Cost Calculator

What is Shadow Pokémon Purification?

In Pokémon GO, Shadow Pokémon are powerful creatures encountered through Team GO Rocket. They possess a “Shadow Bonus,” increasing their attack power at the cost of reduced defense. However, they also come with a higher purification cost for their attacks and require more Stardust and Candy to power up. Purifying a Shadow Pokémon transforms it into a purified Pokémon, offering several key benefits: it reduces the Stardust and Candy cost for powering up, increases the Pokémon’s Individual Values (IVs) by +2 to Attack, Defense, and HP, and can even change its Charged Attack to Return, a Normal-type move.

Who Should Use Purification?

• Players looking to complete the “Purification” medal.
• Trainers who want to reduce the Stardust and Candy cost for powering up a strong Shadow Pokémon.
• Players aiming to improve the IVs of a decent Shadow Pokémon, potentially making it a more viable purified attacker or defender.
• Those collecting purified Pokémon for specific research tasks or collection purposes.
• Players who have a Shadow Pokémon with low IVs that might become a 3-star purified Pokémon after the IV boost.

Common Misconceptions:

• Myth: All Shadow Pokémon should be purified. While purification offers benefits, many players prioritize using Shadow Pokémon in their raw form for their significant attack boost, especially in PvE (Player vs. Environment) raids. The decision depends on the Pokémon’s role and your goals.
• Myth: Purification always makes a Pokémon 100% or 3-star. The IV boost is fixed (+2 to each stat). If a Shadow Pokémon has 10/10/10 IVs, purification makes it 12/12/12, which is still a 2-star Pokémon. It only becomes 3-star if the initial IVs were 13/13/13 or higher.
• Myth: Purified Pokémon are always better than Shadow Pokémon. For raw damage output in raids, Shadow Pokémon often outperform their purified counterparts due to the Shadow Bonus, despite the higher power-up costs.

Purify Pokémon Calculator: Formula and Mathematical Explanation

The core of the Purify Pokémon Calculator revolves around understanding the base costs and applying discounts. The costs are determined by the Pokémon’s “Tier” and are reduced by friendship levels.

Base Costs:

These are the standard Stardust and Candy costs required to purify a Shadow Pokémon without any discounts. These costs are tiered, meaning rarer or more powerful Pokémon generally belong to higher tiers and thus have higher base purification costs.

Friendship Discount:

The friendship level with your Buddy Pokémon provides a discount on purification costs. The discount scales as follows:

• Good Friend: No discount.
• Great Friend: No discount.
• Ultra Friend: 5% discount on Stardust and Candy.
• Best Friend: 10% discount on Stardust and Candy.

The formula is straightforward:

Final Purification Cost = Base Cost * (1 - Discount Rate)

Where the Discount Rate is 0% for no friendship, 5% for Ultra Friends, and 10% for Best Friends.

The ‘Already Purified?’ option changes the focus. Instead of purification cost, it calculates the Stardust and Candy cost to power up the Pokémon from its current level to the next power-up stage, eventually reaching a target level (e.g., Level 40 or 50). This calculation is more complex and depends heavily on the Pokémon’s level and stats, using internal game mechanics for power-up scaling.

Variables Table:

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range / Values
Pokémon Tier	Categorization of Pokémon based on rarity/power, influencing base costs.	Tier Number	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Base Cost (Stardust)	Initial Stardust cost before discounts.	Stardust	Varies by Tier (e.g., 1000 for Tier 1, 3000 for Tier 4)
Base Cost (Candy)	Initial Candy cost before discounts.	Candy	Varies by Tier (e.g., 1 for Tier 1, 5 for Tier 4)
Friendship Level	Buddy level, determining the discount rate.	Level	None, Good, Great, Ultra, Best
Discount Rate	Percentage reduction applied to base costs.	%	0%, 5%, 10%
Final Cost (Stardust)	Actual Stardust cost after applying discounts.	Stardust	Base Cost * (1 – Discount Rate)
Final Cost (Candy)	Actual Candy cost after applying discounts.	Candy	Base Cost * (1 – Discount Rate)
Current Level	The approximate current level of the Pokémon.	Level	1 – 50
IV Boost	Increase in Attack, Defense, and HP after purification.	+IV Points	+2 to each stat

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Let’s look at how the Purify Pokémon Calculator can help trainers make decisions.

Example 1: Purifying a Tier 4 Shadow Pokémon

Scenario: A trainer has a Shadow Beldum (Tier 4) and wants to purify it. Their buddy Pokémon is currently ‘Best Friend’.

• Inputs: Pokémon Tier: 4, Friendship Level: Best Friend, Already Purified?: No
• Calculator Output:
  • Base Cost (Stardust): 3000
  • Base Cost (Candy): 5
  • Friendship Discount (10%): 300 Stardust, 0.5 Candy (rounds up/down based on game logic, typically whole numbers)
  • Final Cost (Stardust): 2700
  • Final Cost (Candy): 5 (Often rounded to the nearest whole candy)
  • IV Boost: +2 Attack, +2 Defense, +2 HP
• Interpretation: Purifying this Shadow Beldum will cost 2700 Stardust and 5 Candy. This is significantly cheaper than purifying without the Best Friend discount (3000 Stardust, 5 Candy). The trainer should also note the guaranteed +2 to each IV stat. If the Shadow Beldum had 13/13/13 IVs, it would become 15/15/15 after purification, making it a perfect purified Metagross – a highly desirable outcome.

Example 2: Powering up a Purified Pokémon

Scenario: A trainer has a purified Magikarp (Tier 1) at Level 25 and wants to know the cost to power it up to Level 40.

• Inputs: Pokémon Tier: 1, Friendship Level: None, Already Purified?: Yes, Current Pokémon Level: 25
• Calculator Output (based on approximate power-up costs):
  • Cost to reach Level 30: ~8,000 Stardust, ~7 Magikarp Candy
  • Cost to reach Level 40: ~70,000 Stardust, ~65 Magikarp Candy
• Interpretation: Powering up a purified Pokémon requires considerably less Stardust and Candy compared to its Shadow counterpart, especially at higher levels. This example highlights the long-term resource saving benefit of purification for Pokémon you intend to heavily invest in. The calculator would show the incremental costs between levels.

How to Use This Purify Pokémon Calculator

Using the Purify Pokémon Calculator is simple and designed to provide quick insights into your purification decisions.

1. Select Pokémon Tier: Choose the tier that best represents your Shadow Pokémon. Generally, common Pokémon like Zubat or Rattata are Tier 1, while rarer or pseudo-legendaries are higher tiers. Use community resources or the calculator’s examples to help determine the tier.
2. Choose Friendship Level: Indicate your Buddy Pokémon’s friendship level with the Shadow Pokémon. Select ‘Best Friend’ if applicable for the maximum discount. If the Pokémon is not currently your buddy or has lower friendship, select the appropriate option.
3. Indicate if Already Purified: If you are assessing the cost to power up a Pokémon that is *already* purified, select ‘Yes’. This will adjust the calculation focus from purification cost to power-up cost.
4. Enter Current Level (If Applicable): If you selected ‘Yes’ for ‘Already Purified?’, input the Pokémon’s current approximate level. This is crucial for estimating power-up costs.
5. Click ‘Calculate Costs’: The calculator will instantly display the estimated Stardust and Candy costs for purification (or power-up if applicable).

How to Read Results:

• Primary Result: This shows the total final cost (often combined Stardust and Candy, or just Stardust for power-ups) in a prominent display.
• Base Costs: The cost before any discounts are applied. Useful for understanding the standard rate.
• Friendship Discount: Shows the amount of Stardust and Candy saved due to your Buddy Pokémon’s friendship level.
• Final Cost: The actual amount of Stardust and Candy you will need to spend.
• IV Boost: A reminder of the guaranteed stat increases upon purification.
• Table & Chart: Provides a visual and tabular comparison of costs across different tiers and friendship levels, aiding in broader strategic planning.

Decision-Making Guidance:

Use the results to weigh the costs against the benefits. Consider:

• Is the Pokémon meta-relevant (strong in raids or PvP)?
• Are its IVs good enough to warrant purification and further investment, especially after the IV boost? A purified Pokémon with 13/13/13 IVs becoming 15/15/15 is often a high priority.
• Do you have enough Stardust and Candy, or would purifying this Pokémon deplete your resources needed for other essential tasks?
• Compare the purified cost vs. the Shadow Pokémon’s raw power. Sometimes, the Shadow form’s advantage outweighs the purification benefits, especially if the IVs are poor.

Key Factors That Affect Purify Pokémon Results

Several elements influence the cost and desirability of purifying a Shadow Pokémon:

1. Pokémon Tier: This is the primary determinant of base costs. Higher-tier Pokémon (like Legendaries or pseudo-legendaries) inherently cost more Stardust and Candy to purify than common Pokémon (like Rattata or Weedle).
2. Friendship Level: The level of your Buddy Pokémon is crucial. Having a ‘Best Friend’ offers the maximum 10% discount, significantly reducing the Stardust and Candy required. This makes saving up Buddy hearts for high-value Shadow Pokémon a worthwhile strategy.
3. Individual Values (IVs): The initial IVs of the Shadow Pokémon are paramount. Purification adds a flat +2 to Attack, Defense, and HP. If a Shadow Pokémon has 13/13/13 IVs, it becomes 15/15/15 after purification, making it a 100% IV Pokémon. This significantly boosts its value and justifies the purification cost. Low IVs (e.g., 0/0/0) becoming 2/2/2 might not be worth the investment.
4. Resource Availability (Stardust & Candy): Your personal Stardust and Candy reserves play a major role. Purifying a high-cost Pokémon might be technically beneficial but practically impossible if you lack the resources. The calculator helps you see the exact requirement.
5. Pokémon’s Role & Meta Relevance: Is the Pokémon strong in raids (PvE) or trainer battles (PvP) in its purified form? For example, purified Metagross is a top-tier Steel attacker, making the purification cost justifiable. Shadow Salamence might be preferred for raw Dragon damage over its purified form.
6. Team GO Rocket Grunt’s Dialogue/Pokémon: Sometimes, Rocket Grunts use specific Pokémon that align with research tasks (like “Purify X Pokémon”) or offer unique opportunities. This can influence the decision to purify even if the Pokémon isn’t top-tier meta.
7. Special Attack: Return: Purified Pokémon gain the Charged Attack ‘Return’. While useful for some niche PvP scenarios or fulfilling research, its overall utility is limited compared to many other powerful Charged Attacks available to Shadow or regular Pokémon.
8. Shiny Potential: Purifying a Shiny Shadow Pokémon guarantees a Shiny purified Pokémon. This is a significant motivator for collectors, potentially overriding pure meta-relevance concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the maximum IV boost from purification?

A: Purification always grants a +2 bonus to each IV stat (Attack, Defense, HP). So, a Shadow Pokémon with 10/10/10 IVs will become 12/12/12 after purification.

Q2: Does purification change the Pokémon’s type?

A: No, purification does not change the Pokémon’s type(s).

Q3: How much Stardust and Candy does it cost to purify a Shadow Legendary?

A: Shadow Legendaries are typically Tier 5. Without any friendship discount, the cost is usually 24,000 Stardust and 24 Candy. A ‘Best Friend’ discount reduces this to 21,600 Stardust and approx. 22 Candy.

Q4: Should I purify a Shadow Pokémon with 0 IVs?

A: It depends. If it’s a Pokémon that becomes a 3-star (100% IV) after purification (meaning its base IVs were 13/13/13 or higher), then yes. If it has very low IVs (like 0/0/0 becoming 2/2/2), it might not be worth the resources unless needed for a specific medal (like Purifier) or research task.

Q5: When is it better to keep a Pokémon as Shadow instead of purifying it?

A: If the Pokémon’s primary role is high damage output in raids (PvE), the Shadow form’s attack bonus (20% increase) often outweighs the benefits of purification (lower power-up costs, +IVs). Examples include Shadow Machamp, Shadow Tyranitar, and Shadow Mewtwo for their respective roles.

Q6: Can purified Pokémon be shiny?

A: Yes, if you purify a Shadow Shiny Pokémon, the resulting purified Pokémon will also be Shiny.

Q7: What does the ‘Already Purified?’ option calculate?

A: If selected, the calculator shifts from purification cost to the Stardust and Candy cost required to power up the Pokémon from its current level to a higher level (e.g., Level 40 or 50), reflecting the cost savings of a purified form.

Q8: Is the ‘Return’ attack good on purified Pokémon?

A: ‘Return’ is a decent Normal-type Charged Attack, but its utility is often limited. It may be beneficial for Pokémon that lack strong offensive typing or for niche PvP strategies. However, many Pokémon have access to much stronger or more strategically relevant attacks.

Q9: How do I find the correct tier for my Pokémon?

A: Tiers are generally based on rarity and complexity. Tier 1 includes very common Pokémon (Magikarp, Zubat). Tier 2 includes slightly less common ones (Geodude, Oddish). Tier 3 often includes stronger or rarer spawns (Machop, Gastly). Tier 4 includes powerful or pseudo-legendary shadows (Beldum, Gible). Tier 5 are the Shadow Legendaries obtained from Giovanni.

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