Pokemon GO Team Rocket Event Has Players Capturing and Purifying 'Shadow Pokemon'

Niantic's Pokemon GO Team Rocket event is officially live and fans are finding themselves playing the game more than they thought possible. It's the most unique event to hit the game thus far as it involves some mild AI battling and a Shadow Pokemon. That's right, Pokemon GO has gone full Gale of Darkness and incorporated the underrated Gamecube game's mechanics for this event.

Here's a basic summary of how this event works: if players encounter a Team Rocket pokestop they will battle a member from the nefarious organization. After defeating three of his Pokemon, the trainer runs away and leaves a Shadow Pokemon. One player catches the Shadow Pokemon, they must purify it with candy and stardust (thanks Polygon).

Once a Pokemon has been purified, they will learn a move called Return, which does more damage the more the Pokemon loves you. It's a neat skill, though far from essential and can be replaced by something more powerful.

Some players have reported that purified Pokemon take less candy to evolve so that's another incentive to catch them. Currently, the only Shadow Pokemon that Team Rocket Grunts leave for players are Bulbasaur, Charmander, Rattata, Snorlax, and Squirtle. More Pokemon will likely be added in the future.

Fans can check out the Pokemon GO Team Rocket event right now. What do you think of the new Shadow Pokemon? Does it make you miss/want to try out the Gamecube game Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness? Let us know in the comments below.

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