7 Shocking Secrets Revealed By The 'A Striking Shadow' Research In Pokémon GO

The digital world of Pokémon GO was irrevocably changed on April 3, 2025, with the global release of the "A Striking Shadow" Special Research questline. This highly anticipated, free-to-play research finally made the elusive Mythical Pokémon Marshadow available to all Trainers worldwide, moving beyond its initial, limited debut at the 2024 GO Fest events. This research is not just a simple fetch quest; it is a multi-stage, comprehensive challenge designed to test a Trainer’s dedication, exploration skills, and battle prowess, offering a deep dive into the lore of the unique Fighting-type and Ghost-type creature.

Launched as a centerpiece of the Stunning Styles event, A Striking Shadow represents a massive commitment from Niantic to democratize access to some of the rarest creatures in the game. For veteran and new players alike, this is the definitive guide to understanding the significance of this quest, the full breakdown of its six steps, and why Marshadow is a vital addition to any Pokémon GO roster as of the current date.

Marshadow: The Hiding Pokémon's Complete Biography and Significance

The core of the A Striking Shadow research is the Mythical Pokémon Marshadow. Its introduction to the global player base marks a monumental occasion, as Mythical Pokémon are typically locked behind time-limited or paid events. Understanding its background is crucial to appreciating the quest.

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• Name: Marshadow (Japanese: マーシャドー, Māshadō)
• Category: The Hiding Pokémon
• Type: Fighting / Ghost
• Generation: Generation VII (Alola Region)
• Pokedex Number: #802
• Signature Ability (Main Series): Technician
• Signature Move (Main Series): Spectral Thief (A move that steals the target's stat boosts before attacking)
• Initial GO Debut: Pokémon GO Fest 2024 (In-person and paid ticket holders)
• Global Release Method: "A Striking Shadow" Special Research (Free to all Trainers)
• Lore: Marshadow is known for its ability to sink into the shadows of others, mimicking their movements and power. It is rarely seen by humans.

This dual typing is what makes Marshadow so valuable in the GO Battle League and Raid Battles. The combination of Fighting and Ghost is offensively potent, allowing it to hit a vast array of Pokémon for Super Effective damage, including Normal-type, Rock-type, Steel-type, Dark-type, and Psychic-type opponents. Its unique typing also grants it a coveted quadruple resistance to Normal-type and Fighting-type attacks.

The Six Stages of the A Striking Shadow Special Research

The A Striking Shadow quest is structured into six distinct stages, each requiring a mix of common and challenging tasks. Trainers who have already completed the GO Fest 2024 exclusive research will receive Marshadow Candy instead of a second Marshadow encounter upon final completion, emphasizing the quest's role in the global rollout. The required tasks are designed to encourage active gameplay, exploration, and item usage.

Stage 1: The Initial Assessment

The first stage sets a high bar, focusing on fundamental gameplay mechanics. It immediately requires a significant investment of time, preparing Trainers for the long haul to catch the Mythical Pokémon.

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• Task 1: Catch 50 Pokémon (Reward: 10x Razz Berry)
• Task 2: Spin 50 PokéStops or Gyms (Reward: Mankey Encounter)
• Task 3: Explore 10km (Reward: 20x Poké Ball)
• Stage Completion Rewards: 2000 XP, 10x Great Ball, and an encounter with a Ghost-type Pokémon.

The requirement to Explore 10km ensures players are actively moving, a hallmark of Pokémon GO’s design philosophy. The Mankey encounter is a nod to the Fighting-type aspect of Marshadow.

Stage 3: Utilizing Incense and Evolution

Mid-way through the research, the tasks shift to utilizing specific in-game items and the Evolution mechanic. These steps are crucial for the long-term progress of a Trainer's account.

• Task 1: Use 3 Incense or Daily Adventure Incense (Reward: 10x Great Ball)
• Task 2: Evolve 5 Pokémon (Reward: Shuppet Encounter)
• Task 3: Complete 20 Field Research tasks (Reward: 3x Pinap Berry)
• Stage Completion Rewards: 3000 Stardust, 1x Poffin, and 1x Premium Battle Pass.

The inclusion of Shuppet, another Ghost-type Pokémon, reinforces the thematic link to Marshadow's shadowy nature. Completing Field Research tasks encourages daily engagement and PokéStop visits, integrating the Special Research seamlessly into the regular game loop.

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Stage 6: The Final Encounter and Marshadow’s Competitive Power

The final stage culminates in the highly anticipated encounter with Marshadow. While the exact tasks for Stages 4 and 5 involve more advanced challenges like winning Raid Battles, defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts, or Hatching Eggs, the ultimate reward is what truly matters: the chance to capture the Hiding Pokémon.

The importance of this encounter is tied directly to Marshadow’s competitive viability. Its maximum CP and offensive capabilities place it firmly in the upper echelon of Fighting-type and Ghost-type attackers. For Trainers focused on Raid Battles, Marshadow is a top-tier choice.

The best moveset for Marshadow in Pokémon GO, maximizing its Damage Per Second (DPS) and Total Damage Output (TDO), is:

• Fast Attack: Counter (Fighting-type)
• Charged Attack: Close Combat (Fighting-type)

This combination is incredibly powerful, especially when boosted by Cloudy Weather, making it a formidable attacker against Gyms and Raid Bosses like Regirock or Snorlax. Experienced Trainers often recommend unlocking a Second Charged Attack to give Marshadow more versatility, with options like Rock Slide (for coverage) or Shadow Ball (for Ghost-type damage) being popular choices.

Topical Authority: The Impact of Mythical Global Debuts

The A Striking Shadow research follows a well-established pattern for introducing Mythical Pokémon to the global community, a strategy that began with creatures like Mew and Celebi. This pattern has several key implications for the game's health and the player base.

Firstly, it ensures that all Trainers, regardless of geographical location or ability to purchase event tickets, eventually get access to these rare Pokémon. This maintains a sense of fairness and inclusiveness within the global community. Secondly, the structure of the Special Research acts as a long-term engagement tool. Unlike a simple event that lasts a few days, A Striking Shadow is a permanent questline in the Trainer's Research tab, allowing players to complete it at their own pace, an essential feature for casual players.

The Stunning Styles event, which coincided with the release, also introduced other notable forms and bonuses, such as the Paldean forms of Tauros, further enriching the game's content. The entire package—event, new forms, and the Mythical Pokémon research—is a masterclass in driving player activity and exploration. The A Striking Shadow research is more than just a quest; it is a significant milestone in the Pokémon GO journey for every Trainer. Its completion not only rewards you with a powerful and rare Pokémon but also solidifies your status as a dedicated Pokémon Master.

Entities covered include: Pokémon GO, A Striking Shadow, Special Research, Marshadow, Mythical Pokémon, Fighting-type, Ghost-type, Stunning Styles, Niantic, GO Battle League, Raid Battles, GO Fest 2024, Marshadow Candy, Six Steps, PokéStops, Gyms, Mankey, Razz Berry, Poké Ball, Explore 10km, Incense, Daily Adventure Incense, Evolve 5 Pokémon, Shuppet, Field Research, Pinap Berry, Stardust, Poffin, Premium Battle Pass, Team GO Rocket, Counter, Close Combat, DPS, TDO, Cloudy Weather, Regirock, Snorlax, Second Charged Attack, Rock Slide, Shadow Ball, Mew, Celebi, Paldean forms of Tauros, Pokémon Master (30 entities).