Pokémon GO Shiny Shadow Zapdos raids, ultimate guide to odds, top counters, and winning strategies

Trainers, the Adventures Abound event is about to kick your Pokémon GO experience up a notch, as Shadow Raids are making a grand return. This isn’t your usual run-of-the-mill raid; we’re talking about daily one-star and three-star Shadow Raids, along with weekend-exclusive five-star Shadow Raids. And the icing on the cake? A chance to encounter a Shiny Shadow Zapdos. So grab your gear and let’s dive in.

In case you’ve been living under a Geodude, a Shadow Raid is a specialized Raid Battle that takes place at a Gym hijacked by Team GO Rocket. These aren’t your typical raids; you’ll have to wrestle the Gym away from Team GO Rocket and their Shadow Pokémon Boss to even get a shot at capturing it. Shadow Raids come with various difficulty levels, keeping you on your toes at all times.

How do you know a Shadow Raid is going down? Keep an eye on the Raid Egg positioned above the Gym; a purple flame will flicker behind it. When the egg hatches, the Gym transforms, adopting a dark color on the map. You can also spot these raids in your Nearby menu where they’ll be indicated with – you guessed it – a purple flame.

Roll up to the Gym and you’ll see Team GO Rocket Grunts, Leaders, or even Giovanni (if you’re that unlucky) hanging around. Tap the Gym to start the Raid Battle. Just a heads-up, Remote Raid Passes are a no-go for Shadow Raids, so you’ll have to be there in person.

During the Raid Battle, the Shadow Pokémon might go berserk, making it more challenging to defeat. This is where your Purified Gem comes into play. Once the Raid Boss becomes enraged, a button will pop up on your screen. Tap it to use your Purified Gem, and the Raid Boss will simmer down to its non-enraged state.

Pull off a win, and you’ll snag some special items and the chance to catch the Pokémon. You’ll get Premier Balls based on your performance, so give it your best shot.

Here’s the part you’ve been waiting for – the shiny odds. Your chances of stumbling upon a Shiny Shadow Zapdos are between 1 in 100 and 1 in 125. That’s roughly 1% to 1.25%, folks. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Shadow Zapdos Best Counters

• Mega Tyranitar with Smack Down and Stone Edge
• Mega Aerodactyl with Rock Throw and Rock Slide
• Shadow Rhyperior with Smack Down and Rock Wrecker
• Shadow Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche
• Rampardos with Smack Down and Rock Slide
• Rhyperior with Smack Down and Rock Wrecker
• Tyrantrum with Rock Throw and Meteor Beam
• Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche

There you have it, Trainers – a comprehensive guide to the revamped Shadow Raids in the Adventures Abound event. Will you be the lucky one to snag that elusive Shiny Shadow Zapdos? Time will tell. Until then, happy hunting.

Feel free to drop your experiences and tips in the comments. Let’s make this a community endeavor.