Shadow Ball

Shadow Ball is a Charged Attack of type Ghost in Pokémon GO. In Gym and Raid battles, it deals 100 damage and it costs 50 energy. In GO Battle League, Shadow Ball deals 90 damage and costs 50 energy. Explore its damage and energy stats in battles, its effectiveness against various Pokémon types, and see which Pokémon wield it best.
Shadow Ball effectiveness against other Pokémon types
| 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 Ball Adventure Effects
Shadow Ball has no Adventure Effects.
Shadow Ball in Gym and Raid Battles
Gym and Raid Battles Stats
| Category | Charged Attack |
|---|---|
| Type | Ghost |
| Power | 100 |
| Energy | 50 |
| Animation Duration | 3.0s |
| Damage Window | 2.4s - 2.8s |
| DPS | 33.33 Damage per second |
| DPE | 2 Damage per Energy |
Similar moves in Gym and Raid Battles
| 50 | 33 | 3.0s | 16.67 | |
| 35 | 33 | 1.5s | 23.33 | |
| 55 | 33 | 2.5s | 22 | |
| 100 | 50 | 3.0s | 33.33 | |
| 60 | 50 | 2.5s | 24 | |
| 85 | 50 | 3.0s | 28.33 | |
| 140 | 100 | 2.0s | 70 | |
| 140 | 100 | 3.5s | 40 | |
| 70 | 33 | 2.5s | 28 | |
| 230 | 100 | 3.0s | 76.67 |
Shadow Ball in Trainer Battles
Trainer Battles Stats
| Category | Charged Attack |
|---|---|
| Type | Ghost |
| Power | 90 |
| Energy | 50 |
| DPE | 1.8 Damage per Energy |
| Tags | General |
Special effects
Shadow Ball has no special effects.Similar moves in Trainer Battles
| 1.5 | 75 | 50 | |
| 1.57 | 55 | 35 | |
| 1 | 45 | 45 |
| 1.8 | 90 | 50 | |
| 1.56 | 70 | 45 | |
| 1.78 | 80 | 45 |
| 1.85 | 120 | 65 | |
| 2 | 150 | 75 | |
| 1.25 | 50 | 40 |
| 2.08 | 135 | 65 |
Strongest Pokémon with Shadow Ball
| 1. | Mega Mewtwo Y | 21.44 | 23.42 | 577.15 | 682s | 25 | |||
| 2. | Mega Mewtwo X | 20.97 | 23.08 | 524.16 | 698s | 27 | |||
| 3. | Mega Gengar | 20.18 | 23.23 | 362.96 | 728s | 39 | |||
| 4. | Mega Gardevoir | 17.52 | 19.51 | 403.64 | 836s | 35 | |||
| 5. | Shadow Mewtwo | 17.44 | 20.1 | 313.05 | 843s | 46 | |||
| 6. | Mega Alakazam | 17.17 | 19.87 | 301.35 | 856s | 48 | |||
| 7. | Mega Banette | 17.08 | 20.04 | 275.99 | 862s | 52 | |||
| 8. | Shadow Darkrai | 17.04 | 20.07 | 269.98 | 864s | 53 | |||
| 9. | Shadow Chandelure | 16.69 | 19.95 | 245.37 | 883s | 58 | |||
| 10. | Lunala | 16.09 | 17.64 | 428.26 | 908s | 33 |
Best Great League Pokémon with Shadow Ball
Best Ultra League Pokémon with Shadow Ball
Best Master League Pokémon with Shadow Ball
Mega and Primal Pokémon that boost Shadow Ball
All Pokémon that can learn Shadow Ball
| 19 | Alolan Rattata | Released | Standard learnset | |
| 19 | Shadow Alolan Rattata | Released | Standard learnset | |
| 42 | Golbat | Released | Standard learnset | |
| 42 | Shadow Golbat | Released | Standard learnset | |
| 63 | Abra | Released | Standard learnset | |
| 63 | Shadow Abra | Released | Standard learnset | |
| 64 | Kadabra | Released | Standard learnset | |
| 64 | Shadow Kadabra | Released | Standard learnset | |
| 65 | Alakazam | Released | Standard learnset | |
| 65 | Mega Alakazam | Released | Standard learnset |
Shadow Ball FAQ
How does Shadow Ball compare with other moves of the same type?
In raids, Shadow Ball has lower move-only DPS compared with Moongeist Beam: 33.33 versus 76.67. This compares damage during the attack animation, not a Pokémon’s complete moveset.
In Trainer Battles, Shadow Ball deals less damage per energy compared with Moongeist Beam (1.8 versus 2.08 DPE), and costs less energy (50 versus 65). Higher DPE uses energy more efficiently; a lower cost lets you reach the attack sooner.
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 Ball 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 Ball?
The Pokémon in the Mega and Primal section above boost other Trainers’ Shadow Ball 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.
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 Ball, 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.





















