A Striking Shadow Pokémon GO: All Steps, Rewards & Best Tips

To successfully complete the “A Striking Shadow” Special Research in Pokémon GO and capture Marshadow, you need a solid strategy. But first, picture this: standing outside in freezing rain, or sweating under a scorching sun while frantically tapping your screen, only to find your battle lineup lacks the muscle to finish the job.

This guide breaks down every task, reward, and insider tip so you can secure Marshadow without the grind.

Part 1. What Is “A Striking Shadow” in Pokémon GO?

When players investigate “A Striking Shadow” in Pokémon GO, they explore the unique traits of Marshadow, the renowned Gloomdweller Pokémon originating from the Alola region. As a rare dual Fighting/Ghost-type Mythical Pokémon, Marshadow immediately commands attention across the global community.

This unique creature stands out due to its high base attack power, its restricted availability as a Mythical Pokémon, and diverse coverage movepool, giving trainers a distinct tactical edge.

In PvE raids, Marshadow performs best using Counter as its fast move and Close Combat for its primary charged attack. For PvP battles, the preferred moveset typically leans toward Counter or Sucker Punch, paired with Close Combat and Ice Punch to break shields and secure critical wins.

Part 2. A Striking Shadow Pokémon GO: All Research Tasks & Rewards

Getting Marshadow takes time and effort across six unique steps. Each phase brings new tasks, from catching wild Pokémon to winning tough battles. Let’s break down every requirement and reward you can expect.

Step 1. Getting Started

Tasks include catching 50 Pokémon for 10 Razz Berries, spinning 50 PokéStops or Gyms to encounter Mankey, and exploring 10 km for 20 Poké Balls. Finishing these initial objectives secures a rewards package for “A Striking Shadow” consisting of 2,000 XP, a Timburr encounter, and 3 Golden Razz Berries to kickstart your journey.

Step 2. Bonding and Exploration

For this phase, hatch 10 eggs to encounter Duskull, earn 3 buddy candies for 10 Razz Berries, and send 10 gifts to friends to trigger a Misdreavus encounter. Concluding this step grants you 2,000 XP, a Frillish encounter, and 3 Silver Pinap Berries.

Step 3. Evolution and Field Research

To progress, use 3 Incense or Daily Adventure Incense for 10 Great Balls, evolve 5 Pokémon to encounter Shuppet, and complete 20 Field Research tasks for 3 Pinap Berries. Completing the entire set awards you 2,000 XP, 1,500 Stardust, and a helpful Meditite encounter.

Step 4. Team GO Rocket Showdown

Prepare for combat by winning 5 Shadow Raids for a Mienfoo encounter, defeating 10 Team GO Rocket members for 2 Fast TMs, and using 15 super effective Charged Attacks for 2 Charged TMs. Wrapping up these tactical battles yields 2,000 XP, 1,500 Stardust, and a Makuhita encounter.

Step 5. The Marshadow Encounter

This milestone requires earning 25,000 XP, gathering 25,000 Stardust, and landing 5 Excellent Throws, with each task awarding 2 Rare Candies. Finishing the set grants 2,000 XP, 1,500 Stardust, and a guaranteed Marshadow encounter or 25 Marshadow Candies if you already own one.

Step 6. Powering Up Your Marshadow

The final stretch asks you to explore 10 km, power up 10 Ghost-type Pokémon, and power up 10 Fighting-type Pokémon, with each task giving 5 Marshadow Candies. Completing the final tier rewards you with 2,000 XP, 20 specialized Marshadow stickers, and an additional 15 Marshadow Candies.

Part 3. The Most Challenging Tasks in A Striking Shadow

While most steps are straightforward, some requirements demand serious effort and planning. From intense Team GO Rocket battles to grueling distance goals, certain hurdles can slow you down. Here is how to conquer the toughest challenges efficiently.

1. Defeat 10 Team GO Rocket Members

One of the trickiest hurdles in this research line is defeating 10 Team GO Rocket members. To find grunts fast, scan your map for dark, discolored PokéStops or wait for floating Team GO Rocket balloons every few hours.

When battling, choose counters based on their dialogue hints: bring Fighting-types against Normal types and Ground-types against Electric lineups. For tougher leader battles against Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra, swap your Pokémon the exact moment the match begins. This split-second switch pauses their attacks briefly, letting you burn through their shields.

2. Movement and Grinding Tasks: How AnyGo Covers the Distance for You

Hatching 10 eggs, covering long distances, and spinning 50 PokéStops require endless walking. Completing these manually can stretch the research timeline to weeks, especially if bad weather, busy schedules, or a lack of nearby PokéStops get in the way.

Instead of letting these barriers stall your progress, iToolab AnyGo lets you change your GPS location without jailbreaking or rooting. You can teleport to any gym or PokéStop in the world, or set up a custom walking route that simulates your natural pace. This means when the research asks you to hatch eggs, cover 10 km, or spin 50 PokéStops, you can knock it all out without leaving your couch.

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How AnyGo Helps You:

💡1. Cover Long Distance and Hatch 10 Eggs Without Walking

The research requires you to cover 10 km and hatch 10 eggs, tasks that normally take days of walking. With AnyGo’s custom route simulation, you can cover that distance in minutes.

Here’s how:

Step 1 Download and install iToolab AnyGo on your Windows or Mac computer.

Step 2 Connect your iPhone or Android phone to your computer with a USB cable.

Step 3 Set up a two-spot or multi-spot route at a realistic walking speed, and let the distance add up while you stay home.

💡2. Win 5 Shadow Raids Without Nearby Gyms

Living far from active gym locations makes participating in shadow raids difficult. AnyGo solves this with its built-in Resource Search feature. You can quickly scan nearby raids, locate active shadow boss coordinates across the map, and teleport instantly to join battles without ever stepping outside your door.

💡3. Earn 25,000 XP + 25,000 Stardust

Grinding 25,000 XP and 25,000 Stardust usually means hours of non-stop catching and spinning. With AnyGo, you can set up an auto‑walk loop through high‑spawn areas and let the game farm those numbers for you, while you focus on other things.

💡4. Spin 50 PokéStops and Catch 50 Pokémon Automatically

Instead of tapping your screen for hours to hit these counts, you can turn on auto‑spin and auto‑catch alongside AnyGo’s Go Catcher. It works like a virtual Go Plus. Items come in, wild spawns get caught, and you don’t have to lift a finger.

Part 4. FAQs about A Striking Shadow Pokémon GO

Many trainers wonder about deadlines, trading rules, and shiny availability. Here are clear answers to the most common questions.

1. Can I still complete this in 2026?
   Yes, you can absolutely still work on and finish this research line. “A Striking Shadow” is a Special Research story rather than a timed event, so it has no hard expiration deadline. You are completely free to progress through all six steps at your own pace without worrying about the quests disappearing.
2. Can I get a second Marshadow?
   Unfortunately, no. If you already claimed a Marshadow during the Pokémon GO Fest 2024 exclusive ticketed events, completing this specific Special Research will not grant you another one. Instead, the game will reward you with a bundle of 25 Marshadow Candies to help power up your existing mythical companion.
3. Can I trade Marshadow?
   No. As a Mythical Pokémon, Marshadow cannot be traded, just like Mew, Celebi, and Jirachi.
4. Is Shiny Marshadow available?
   As of right now, the Shiny variant of Marshadow has not been officially introduced to the game. When you complete the final encounter stages of this research, a standard Marshadow will appear. Niantic usually releases shiny Mythical forms during future special events.

Conclusion

Completing the “A Striking Shadow” research is a rewarding journey, but it takes serious time, from Rocket battles and XP grinding to walking 10 km and hatching eggs. Physical barriers like weather, sparse PokéStops, or distant gyms shouldn’t stop you from finishing it.

That’s where iToolab AnyGo comes in. It lets you change your GPS location, set up walking routes, and handle movement tasks from your couch — no jailbreak or root needed. Hatch eggs, spin stops, and join shadow raids without the burnout. Secure your Marshadow rewards on your own terms.