Pokemon GO: How to Beat Shadow Incarnate Tornadus Raid Guide & Shiny Availability
Shadow Incarnate Tornadus presents a significant challenge as a Shadow Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO raids. This guide covers everything you need to know to defeat it, including its weaknesses, best counters, raid strategy, and whether Shadow Tornadus can be encountered as a shiny Pokemon.
Shadow Incarnate Tornadus Raid Details
- Raid Boss: Shadow Incarnate Tornadus
- Type: Flying
- Tier: 5-Star Shadow Raid
- Weaknesses: Rock (2x), Electric, Ice
- Resistances: Bug, Fighting, Grass, Ground (0.51x damage)
- Raid Availability: January 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM to January 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM Local Time
- Shiny Shadow Tornadus: Yes, it can be shiny, but only if encountered after defeating Giovanni.
Can Shadow Tornadus Be Shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes, Shadow Incarnate Tornadus can be shiny. However, encountering a shiny Shadow Tornadus requires specific conditions:
- Defeat Giovanni: You must first defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Giovanni while he has Shadow Tornadus as his current Shadow Legendary reward encounter (available during specific Team GO Rocket Takeover events).
- Encounter Chance: Upon defeating Giovanni, the Shadow Tornadus encounter you receive has a chance to be shiny. The shiny rate for Shadow Legendaries is typically estimated to be around 1 in 20 (5%), similar to standard Legendary shiny rates.
- Raid Shiny Lock: Shadow Tornadus encountered directly from Shadow Raids CANNOT be shiny. Shiny Shadow Legendaries are only available as rewards for defeating Giovanni during the relevant event period.
Shadow Incarnate Tornadus Weaknesses & Best Counters
Exploiting Tornadus's Flying type and its double weakness to Rock-type attacks is the most effective strategy. Electric and Ice types are also strong alternatives.
Top Counters for Shadow Incornate Tornadus Raids
(E = Electric, I = Ice, G = Ground)
General Strategy: Prioritize Rock-type attackers like Rampardos, Rhyperior, and Tyranitar for maximum damage. Use Electric or Ice types if lacking top Rock counters. Utilize Mega Evolutions or Primals for their significant damage boost to allies.
Shadow Tornadus Raid Difficulty & Duo Potential
- Base Difficulty: Shadow Incarnate Tornadus is a challenging Tier 5 Shadow Raid boss.
- Duo Viability: Yes, Shadow Tornadus can be duoed. However, it requires optimal conditions:
- High-Level Trainers: Both trainers need to be at least Level 40+.
- Optimal Counters: Both players must use teams of maxed-out or near-maxed-out top counters (e.g., Level 40+ Shadow Rampardos, Shadow Rhyperior, Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Electivire, Shadow Raikou).
- Weather Boost: Windy weather significantly boosts Tornadus's damage output, making the duo much harder. Partly Cloudy weather (boosts Rock) or Rain (boosts Electric) are ideal for duos.
- Purification: Use Purified Gems during the raid to reduce Tornadus's attack power and make the fight easier. Coordinate with your raid group to use them simultaneously.
- Recommended Group Size: For most players, a group of 3-5 trainers using strong counters is recommended for a safer victory, especially if weather is unfavorable (Windy) or counters aren't fully optimized.
Key Tips for Beating Shadow Incarnate Tornadus
- Exploit the Rock Weakness: Focus on using your best Rock-type attackers for maximum damage output.
- Use Purified Gems: Collect Shadow Shards by defeating regular Team GO Rocket Grunts. Craft Purified Gems and use them during the raid when Tornadus becomes enraged (indicated by the red mist) to lower its attack power. Coordinate usage with your raid group.
- Weather Matters: Avoid Windy weather if possible, as it makes Tornadus hit harder. Aim for Partly Cloudy (boosts Rock) or Rain (boosts Electric) weather.
- Mega Evolutions/Primal Reversion: Activate a Mega or Primal Pokemon that boosts your team's damage (e.g., Mega Tyranitar for Rock, Mega Ampharos for Electric) at the start of the raid.
- Revive & Rejoin: Have a strong second team ready or be prepared to quickly revive your first team and rejoin the battle if needed.
By utilizing these strategies, exploiting Tornadus's Flying-type weaknesses with Rock, Electric, and Ice attacks, coordinating Purified Gem usage, and assembling an adequate team size, trainers can successfully defeat Shadow Incarnate Tornadus in Pokemon GO raids. Remember, the shiny variant is exclusive to Giovanni encounters, not raids.