Shadow Claw

Ghost

Shadow Claw is a Fast Attack of type Ghost in Pokémon GO. In Gym and Raid battles, it deals 6 damage and it generates 4 energy. In GO Battle League, Shadow Claw deals 6 damage and generates 8 energy. Explore its damage and energy stats in battles, its effectiveness against various Pokémon types, and see which Pokémon wield it best.

Shadow Claw effectiveness against other Pokémon types

NormalFightingFlyingPoisonGroundRockBugGhostSteelFireWaterGrassElectricPsychicIceDragonDarkFairy
Ghost×0.4×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.6×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.6×1.0×1.0×0.6×1.0

Shadow Claw Adventure Effects

Shadow Claw has no Adventure Effects.

Shadow Claw in Gym and Raid Battles

Gym and Raid Battles Stats

CategoryFast Attack
TypeGhost
Power6
Energy4
Animation Duration0.5s
Damage Window0.1s - 0.3s
DPS12 Damage per second
DPE1.5 Damage per Energy
EPS8 Energy per second

Similar moves in Gym and Raid Battles

GhostLick560.5s1210
GhostShadow Claw640.5s812
GhostAstonish7131.0s137
GhostHex8131.0s138

Shadow Claw in Trainer Battles

Trainer Battles Stats

CategoryFast Attack
TypeGhost
Power6
Energy8
Duration2 Turns
DPT3 Damage per turn
EPT4 Energy per turn
DPE0.75 Damage per Energy
TagsMultipurpose

Special effects

Shadow Claw has no special effects.

Similar moves in Trainer Battles

GhostLickGeneral33330.5s
GhostShadow ClawMultipurpose34681s
GhostAstonishMultipurpose43.3312101.5s
GhostHexFast Charge2.334.337131.5s

Strongest Pokémon with Shadow Claw

1.Dawn Wings Necrozma (Dawn Wings)Dawn Wings NecrozmaGhostShadow ClawGhostMoongeist Beam20.3722.58480.47719s30
2.Black Kyurem (Black)Black KyuremGhostShadow ClawIceFreeze Shock19.5822.02412.71749s35
3.Mega Gengar (Mega)Mega GengarGhostShadow ClawGhostShadow Ball19.4922.43350.52754s41
4.Dusk Mane Necrozma (Dusk Mane)Dusk Mane NecrozmaGhostShadow ClawSteelSunsteel Strike17.4119.2435.16841s33
5.Mega Banette (Mega)Mega BanetteGhostShadow ClawGhostShadow Ball17.0820.04275.99862s52
6.Mega Metagross (Mega)Mega MetagrossGhostShadow ClawSteelMeteor Mash16.7218.05519.91874s27
7.Shadow Metagross (Shadow)Shadow MetagrossGhostShadow ClawSteelMeteor Mash16.3118.37343.83899s42
8.LunalaLunalaGhostShadow ClawGhostShadow Ball16.0917.64428.26908s33
9.Shadow Giratina (Altered Forme) (Altered Shadow)Shadow Giratina (Altered Forme)GhostShadow ClawGhostShadow Force15.0916.44429.39968s33
10.Giratina (Origin Forme) (Origin)Giratina (Origin Forme)GhostShadow ClawGhostShadow Force14.9616.28429.65977s33

Best Great League Pokémon with Shadow Claw

Great League

Best Ultra League Pokémon with Shadow Claw

Ultra League

Mega and Primal Pokémon that boost Shadow Claw

All Pokémon that can learn Shadow Claw

28Alolan Sandslash (Alola)Alolan SandslashGhostShadow ClawReleasedLegacy
28Shadow Alolan Sandslash (Alola Shadow)Shadow Alolan SandslashGhostShadow ClawReleasedLegacy
93HaunterHaunterGhostShadow ClawReleasedStandard learnset
93Dynamax Haunter (Dynamax)Dynamax HaunterGhostShadow ClawReleasedStandard learnset
93Shadow Haunter (Shadow)Shadow HaunterGhostShadow ClawReleasedStandard learnset
94GengarGengarGhostShadow ClawReleasedStandard learnset
94Dynamax Gengar (Dynamax)Dynamax GengarGhostShadow ClawReleasedStandard learnset
94Gigantamax Gengar (Gigantamax)Gigantamax GengarGhostShadow ClawReleasedStandard learnset
94Mega Gengar (Mega)Mega GengarGhostShadow ClawReleasedStandard learnset
94Shadow Gengar (Shadow)Shadow GengarGhostShadow ClawReleasedStandard learnset

Shadow Claw FAQ

How does Shadow Claw compare with other moves of the same type?

In raids, Shadow Claw has higher move-only DPS compared with Lick: 12 versus 10. This compares damage during the attack animation, not a Pokémon’s complete moveset.

In Trainer Battles, Shadow Claw deals less damage per turn compared with Astonish (3 versus 4 DPT) and generates more energy per turn (4 versus 3.33 EPT). Its duration is shorter (2 versus 3 turns). Shorter attacks offer more flexibility when switching or timing a Charged Attack.

Alternatives have the same type and attack category and at least one released Pokémon that learns them. The raid comparison uses the alternative with the highest move-only DPS; the PvP comparison uses the highest DPT for Fast Attacks or DPE for Charged Attacks. Stats alone do not account for buffs, debuffs, typing, or the other moves a Pokémon can learn.

How are the best PvP users selected?

These tables show Pokémon whose recommended moveset in our imported PvPoke rankings includes this move as the Fast Attack or either Charged Attack. The rank is their position in the full league ranking, not just among users of this move. Both recommended Charged Attacks are shown. Being able to learn the move does not automatically make a Pokémon a recommended user.

How are the strongest Pokémon with Shadow Claw ranked?

Pokémon are ranked by eDPS (effective DPS), which accounts for damage, survivability, and time lost when rejoining. The default ranking uses Level 40 attackers and average raid boss weaknesses. Every moveset includes this attack. TTW estimates the time to win, and faints estimates how many attackers faint during the battle. Changing the settings can change the order.

How are tiers assigned?

Tiers group attackers by similar scores, emphasizing differences near the top. We use eight groups, labelled SS, S, A, B, C, D, E and F, when there are enough distinct scores; otherwise, fewer tiers are used. Group sizes are determined by the scores, not fixed rank cutoffs. Tiers update with the simulation settings and stay the same when you sort or change pages.

How do opponent choice and rejoin time affect the rankings?

Scores attackers against the configured T4+ raid boss pool, including Mega, Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Outgoing damage reflects how effective each move type is against the bosses; incoming damage reflects the attacker’s resistances to their moves. Per-type rankings use bosses weak to that type. Types without super-effective matchups use the full pool. Unavailable Pokémon are excluded from the boss pool.

The dummy boss uses neutral effectiveness (1.0×) for every move, with incoming damage based on Defense alone. This can favor attackers whose moves the raid pool resists, or whose weaknesses make them take more damage in raids. The dummy has a fixed 25,000 HP, regardless of raid tier.

Time to return after a team of six faints. Applies to eDPS and estimated battle time.

How do Mega and Primal Pokémon boost Shadow Claw?

The Pokémon in the Mega and Primal section above boost other Trainers’ Shadow Claw damage by 30% (1.3×) in Raid Battles. The boost follows the attack’s type, not the attacking Pokémon’s type.

Standard Mega Pokémon must be on the battlefield. Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon, and Mega Rayquaza provide their boost while in the current battle party, including after fainting. Multiple Mega or Primal boosts do not stack; the strongest applicable boost is used.

Explore all Mega and Primal type boosts

Does the ranking include Mega and Primal boosts to teammates?

No. The Mega Level setting adjusts the attacker’s own bonuses. Damage boosts provided to teammates are not included in this ranking.

What does the complete learnset list include?

It includes all Pokémon and forms that have access to Shadow Claw, whether they have been released in Pokémon GO or not.

What do legacy and exclusive moves mean?

Legacy moves were once available to a Pokémon but can no longer be learned through standard methods, such as a regular TM. Legacy and exclusive moves may require an event, an Elite TM, or another special method to obtain. Some legacy moves cannot be taught with an Elite TM.