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Shadow Pokémon are Pokémon created by Cipher by artificially closing the door to a Pokémon's heart and turning them into fighting machines because of their lack of compassion and feelings. A fully closed Shadow Pokémon will not show their true characteristics, and they forget their normal moves and receive Shadow Moves in return. The human eye does not easily distinguish a Shadow Pokémon, and if they are, the Pokémon will cast a dark glow, and their data box is purple as well.

[edit] Characteristics

Due to the strange nature of a Shadow Pokémon there are some things they are unable of doing until their hearts open up and are purified.

Shadow Pokémon cannot

• Level up. They gain experience participating in battle, but the points are not counted until after the Pokémon is purified.
• Evolve since they can't level up.
• Know conventional moves. At the beginning of the game, Shadows know two Shadow Moves. As the game progresses, Shadows can have three or four moves. When they are purified, the Pokémon regain their normal moves.
• Learn moves from TMs.
• Have a nickname.
• Be traded into GBA Games.

[edit] Reverse Mode

Sometimes, Shadow Pokémon will enter a wild state of emotion known as Reverse Mode. In Reverse Mode, the Pokémon will cast a dark red glow and the data box will turn red. While in Reverse, Shadows will inflict damage upon themselves during battle, and the effects last even when the battle is over.

When a Pokémon is in Reverse Mode, use of items will be impossible. They can recover their HP by healing at a Pokémon Center, but Reverse Mode stays in effect.

[edit] Shadow Pokémon available

There are 83 Shadows to be acquired and purified in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.