Is Shiny Shadow Charmander Rare in Pokémon GO?

The short answer is: yes, Shiny Shadow Charmander is very rare in Pokémon GO. As an experienced Pokémon GO trainer and avid Shiny hunter, I can confidently say scoring a Shiny Shadow Charmander is quite unlikely.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll break down precisely why this prized Pokémon is so unusually hard to come by. I’ll share the latest community research on Shiny rates, explain what makes Shadow Pokémon unique, evaluate Shiny Shadow Charizard’s viability in battle, and ultimately show the analysis proving this Shiny Shadow starter’s extreme rarity.

Let’s get started!

Shiny Rates in Pokémon GO

First, a quick refresher on baseline Shiny rates for wild spawns in Pokémon GO:

As you can see, the standard Shiny chance in the wild is approximately 0.2%, or 1 in 500 odds. This lines up with main series game base rates prior to bonuses. Those are long odds for any individual Pokémon. It takes some dedication to hunt!

Shadow Pokémon Have Boosted Shiny Rates

So where do Shadow Pokémon fit into those baseline rates? Shadow Pokémon have an elevated Shiny rate of approx. 1 in 64, or about 1.56%. That’s nearly 8x the normal wild Shiny rate!

For reference, here are the latest observed Pokémon GO Shiny rates by encounter type:

As you can see, Shadow Pokémon enjoy an exceptionally higher Shiny rate versus standard spawns. This makes them prime targets for collectors!

Comparing Shadow Starters, Kanto vs Others

Now you might be wondering – do all Shadow starter lines share that 1 in 64 Shiny rate? The answer is yes – Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle and other Shadow starters share identical elevated Shiny odds.

In fact, all Shadow Pokémon in the game seem to cap out at roughly a 1.5% chance to be Shiny. So while Shadow Charmander feels rare, it’s no more or less likely than any other Shadow starter capture.

Trading for Shiny Shadow Charmander

Of course, there are still ways to try boosting your own Shiny Shadow Charmander odds through trading. Pokémon GO Lucky Trades have a high Shiny rate of approximately 1 in 20, or 5%.

Trading a friend for a Lucky Shadow Charmander deals you a random chance at one of roughly four outcomes:

As you can see, scoring a Lucky Shiny Trade for Shiny Shadow Charmander, while still unlikely, gives you a much higher chance than standard hunting and catching. Building Friendship level with another trainer invested in their Shadow ‘dex gives you the best shot at getting this trade.

Evaluation: Shiny Shadow Charizard for Battle

Alright. You defied the odds and acquired a coveted Shiny Shadow Charmander. The next decision: should you commit the precious Stardust and Candy to evolve and power up your Shiny Shadow to mighty Charizard status?

Pros:

• 20% Shadow attack bonus
• Can learn exclusive Charged Move Blast Burn
• Currently #2 Fire Type attacker by estimator Pokebattler
• Higher DPS potential than Reshiram with right moveset

Cons:

• Very expensive to max out CP (375 Candy, 265 XL Candy, 488,000 Stardust)
• Takes super effective damage as a Shadow ‘mon
• Requires Elite Charged TM for Blast Burn (or special event)

Overall, Shiny Shadow Charizard is well worth the investment if you manage to add him to your roster. Pour some resources into unlocking that awe-inspiring jet black Charizard in your Pokédex!

Just know that maxing out any Shadow Pokémon is a costly endeavor. Make sure to have plenty of Candy and Stardust stockpiled!

Powering Up Cost Comparison

To demonstrate that expensive power-up point, check out the table below. Here’s a breakdown showing the key costs to evolve and max out regular vs Shadow Charmander to Level 50 Charizard:

As expected, the Shadow version will take significantly more rare Candy and over 150k additional Stardust to hit max power. Keep that long-term investment in mind!

Conclusion: The Definition of Rare

After going through the numbers and analysis, evaluating spawn rates, trades, and costs, I hope you now understand exactly why Shiny Shadow Charmander deserves the label of “extremely rare” in Pokémon GO.

A 1 in 64 base Shiny chance is already tough. Factor in the limited availability of Shadow Pokémon from Team GO Rocket encounters, and you have all the evidence of rarity laid out. My own 40,000+ catches and still no Shiny Shadow starter further proves the point!

So good luck fellow trainers in your search for this prized pocket monster. May the RNG gods smile upon your next balloon battle or takeover event. And if you do beat the odds, be sure to show off that black flame Shiny Charizard at your next Raid Day!

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about Shiny Shadow odds, starters, or powering up tips. Happy hunting!