Pokémon GO Purify Calculator
Determine the reduced Stardust and Candy costs for purified Pokémon.
Purification Cost Calculator
Calculation Results
Purified Candy Cost: –
Cost Reduction Table
| Cost Type | Original Cost Tier | Stardust Reduction | Candy Reduction | Purification Stardust Cost | Purification Candy Cost |
|---|
For more details on specific Pokémon, check our Pokémon GO Purify Calculator Guide.
Cost Comparison Chart
Visualizing the difference between original and purified costs.
What is a Pokémon GO Purify Calculator?
A Pokémon GO Purify Calculator is a specialized tool designed to help players estimate the resource savings (Stardust and Candy) they can achieve by purifying a Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO. Shadow Pokémon are obtained through battling Team GO Rocket and are known for their increased attack power but also come with significantly higher costs for powering up and using new attacks. Purification is one way to mitigate these high costs, and a calculator helps players understand the exact benefits before committing to the process.
Who Should Use It?
This calculator is invaluable for several types of Pokémon GO players:
- Resource-Conscious Players: Those who want to optimize their Stardust and Candy usage, especially when dealing with multiple Shadow Pokémon or aiming for specific meta-relevant purified forms.
- Newer Players: Players who might be overwhelmed by the high costs of Shadow Pokémon and need a clear understanding of how purification impacts their resources.
- Competitive Players: Players looking to leverage the unique benefits of purified Pokémon, such as the "Return" Charged Attack or access to Legacy moves, while minimizing the resource investment.
- Collectors: Players who aim to purify specific Pokémon for their Pokedex entries or for collection purposes and want to know the cost.
Common Misconceptions
- Misconception: Purification always makes a Pokémon stronger.
Reality: While purified Pokémon have boosted IVs and reduced costs, their overall CP and attack might still be lower than a comparable non-purified Pokémon, depending on the base stats and power-ups. The primary benefit is cost reduction and access to "Return". - Misconception: All Pokémon have the same purification cost reduction.
Reality: The reduction is applied to the *base* Stardust and Candy costs, which vary significantly between Pokémon species and their power-up tiers. - Misconception: Purification is always worth the cost.
Reality: The value depends on the specific Pokémon, its potential use, and the player's current resource availability. Some Pokémon might not benefit enough from purification to justify the cost.
Pokémon GO Purify Calculator Formula and Mathematical Explanation
The mechanics behind purification costs in Pokémon GO are tiered. When you purify a Shadow Pokémon, its Stardust and Candy costs for powering up are reduced, and its individual values (IVs) are boosted by 2 points in each stat (Attack, Defense, HP). The calculator aims to show these reductions and the fixed costs associated with the purification act itself.
The core idea is that purifying a Pokémon reduces its Stardust and Candy costs for subsequent power-ups. The calculator uses the following logic:
- Stardust Cost Reduction: The reduction is a fixed percentage of the original Stardust cost at each power-up tier.
- Candy Cost Reduction: Similarly, Candy costs are reduced by a fixed percentage.
- Purification Fee: There's a one-time cost in Stardust and Candy to perform the purification itself. This fee is fixed and does not depend on the Pokémon's level or stats, but rather on the original cost tier it falls into.
Step-by-Step Derivation
1. Determine Original Cost Tier: Based on the `baseStardust` and `baseCandy` inputs, identify which tier the Pokémon belongs to. These tiers are generally standard in Pokémon GO.
2. Calculate Stardust Reduction: For each Stardust cost tier, there's a predetermined percentage of Stardust saved. The calculator applies this percentage to the `baseStardust` to find the `reducedStardust`. The actual `purificationStardustCost` is a fixed amount for that tier.
3. Calculate Candy Reduction: Similarly, for each Candy cost tier, a fixed percentage reduction is applied to the `baseCandy` to find the `reducedCandy`. The actual `purificationCandyCost` is a fixed amount for that tier.
4. Final Purified Cost: The primary result shows the *new* Stardust and Candy costs *after* purification, which are the `reducedStardust` and `reducedCandy` values. The `purificationStardustCost` and `purificationCandyCost` represent the fee paid to purify.
Explanation of Variables
The calculator uses the following inputs and calculates the outputs:
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range / Values |
|---|---|---|---|
pokemonLevel |
The current level of the Shadow Pokémon. | Level | 1 – 40 |
pokemonType |
The primary type of the Pokémon. | Type | Normal, Fire, Water, etc. |
baseStardust |
The Stardust cost to power up the Pokémon to its next level before purification. | Stardust | 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 5000, 6000, 8000 |
baseCandy |
The Candy cost to power up the Pokémon to its next level before purification. | Candy | 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, 2250, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000 |
reducedStardust |
The Stardust cost to power up the Pokémon after purification. | Stardust | Lower than baseStardust |
reducedCandy |
The Candy cost to power up the Pokémon after purification. | Candy | Lower than baseCandy |
purificationStardustCost |
The one-time Stardust cost to perform the purification. | Stardust | Fixed per cost tier (e.g., 2500, 3000) |
purificationCandyCost |
The one-time Candy cost to perform the purification. | Candy | Fixed per cost tier (e.g., 2500, 3000) |
Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)
Example 1: Purifying a High-Cost Shadow Machop
Scenario: A player has a Shadow Machop that they've powered up to Level 25, requiring 2000 Stardust and 2000 Candy per power-up. They are considering purifying it to get a better Machamp for raids, hoping to save resources.
Inputs:
- Pokémon Level: 25
- Pokémon Type: Fighting
- Base Stardust Cost: 2000
- Base Candy Cost: 2000
Calculation Process:
According to Pokémon GO's cost tiers, a base Stardust cost of 2000 and Candy cost of 2000 falls into a specific tier. For this tier:
- Purification Stardust Fee: 2500 Stardust
- Purification Candy Fee: 2500 Candy
- Stardust Reduction Percentage: 20%
- Candy Reduction Percentage: 20%
Calculations:
- Reduced Stardust Cost = 2000 * (1 – 0.20) = 1600 Stardust
- Reduced Candy Cost = 2000 * (1 – 0.20) = 1600 Candy
Outputs:
- Purified Stardust Cost (to next level): 1600
- Purified Candy Cost (to next level): 1600
- Reduced Stardust: 400 (2000 – 1600)
- Reduced Candy: 400 (2000 – 1600)
- Purification Fee (Stardust): 2500
- Purification Fee (Candy): 2500
Explanation: By spending 2500 Stardust and 2500 Candy to purify, the player saves 400 Stardust and 400 Candy on *each* subsequent power-up step. They also gain +2 to all IVs and the "Return" Charged Attack. The decision hinges on whether these savings and benefits outweigh the purification fee and the potential loss of Shadow form's attack bonus.
Example 2: Purifying a Lower-Cost Shadow Geodude
Scenario: A player has a Shadow Geodude at Level 30, with each power-up step costing 1500 Stardust and 1500 Candy. They're unsure if purifying this one is worthwhile.
Inputs:
- Pokémon Level: 30
- Pokémon Type: Rock
- Base Stardust Cost: 1500
- Base Candy Cost: 1500
Calculation Process:
A base cost of 1500 Stardust and 1500 Candy falls into a different tier. For this tier:
- Purification Stardust Fee: 2500 Stardust
- Purification Candy Fee: 2500 Candy
- Stardust Reduction Percentage: 20%
- Candy Reduction Percentage: 20%
Calculations:
- Reduced Stardust Cost = 1500 * (1 – 0.20) = 1200 Stardust
- Reduced Candy Cost = 1500 * (1 – 0.20) = 1200 Candy
Outputs:
- Purified Stardust Cost (to next level): 1200
- Purified Candy Cost (to next level): 1200
- Reduced Stardust: 300 (1500 – 1200)
- Reduced Candy: 300 (1500 – 1200)
- Purification Fee (Stardust): 2500
- Purification Fee (Candy): 2500
Explanation: Here, the savings per power-up step are only 300 Stardust and 300 Candy. The purification fee is 2500 Stardust and 2500 Candy. This means the player needs to power up the purified Geodude approximately 8-9 times (2500 / 300 ≈ 8.33) just to break even on the purification cost, before considering the IV boost and "Return". For lower-cost Shadow Pokémon, the savings might not be as significant compared to the purification fee.
How to Use This Pokémon GO Purify Calculator
Using the Pokémon GO Purify Calculator is straightforward. Follow these steps:
- Identify Base Costs: Determine the Stardust and Candy cost required to power up your Shadow Pokémon to the *next* level. You can find this information in-game by tapping the Power Up button and observing the costs before confirming.
- Input Pokémon Level: Enter the current level of your Shadow Pokémon into the "Pokémon Level" field. While not directly used in the core cost calculation, it helps contextualize the Pokémon's stage.
- Select Pokémon Type: Choose the primary type of your Pokémon from the dropdown menu. This is usually relevant for type-specific bonuses or effects, though not a direct factor in the standard purification cost calculation itself.
- Enter Base Stardust Cost: Input the Stardust cost per power-up into the "Base Stardust Cost" field.
- Enter Base Candy Cost: Input the Candy cost per power-up into the "Base Candy Cost" field.
- Click Calculate: Press the "Calculate" button.
How to Interpret Results
- Purified Stardust/Candy Cost: This is the *new* cost per power-up step after the Pokémon has been purified. It will be lower than your input base costs.
- Reduced Stardust/Candy: This shows the direct savings *per power-up step* achieved by purifying.
- Purification Cost (Stardust/Candy): This is the one-time fee you pay to perform the purification. It's crucial to compare this fee against the savings per step.
- Primary Result: The highlighted section shows the new, reduced costs for powering up your purified Pokémon.
Decision-Making Guidance
The calculator helps you make informed decisions:
- Compare Purification Fee vs. Savings: If the savings per power-up step are significantly less than the purification fee, it might not be resource-efficient to purify unless you specifically need the purified form's benefits (like "Return" or increased IVs).
- Evaluate Pokémon Potential: Consider the Pokémon's species. Is it a top-tier attacker (like a purified Gyarados or Machamp) or raid/PvP relevant? If so, the cost savings and IV boost might be more valuable.
- Consider Shadow Bonus: Remember that Shadow Pokémon deal 20% more damage. If raw damage output is your priority, keeping a Pokémon as Shadow might be better than purifying it, despite the higher costs.
- Stardust and Candy Availability: Your personal resource levels matter. If you're low on Stardust or Candy, the purification fee might be too high a price to pay.
Use the calculator in conjunction with knowing the Pokémon's potential roles in raids or PvP battles.
Key Factors That Affect Pokémon GO Purify Results
Several factors influence the outcome and perceived value of purifying a Pokémon:
- Original Stardust and Candy Costs: This is the most significant factor. Pokémon with higher base Stardust and Candy costs per power-up step (e.g., those needing 4000 Stardust and 4000 Candy) will see larger absolute reductions compared to Pokémon with lower costs (e.g., 1000 Stardust and 1000 Candy). However, the percentage reduction is often consistent across tiers.
- Stardust and Candy Resource Pools: A player sitting on millions of Stardust might find the purification fee negligible, while a player struggling to maintain 50,000 Stardust will view it critically. The "value" of the savings is relative to the player's current resources.
- The Pokémon's Species and Role: Is the Pokémon meta-relevant as a purified variant? For example, purified Gardevoir or Sableye have specific roles in PvP or PvE. If the purified form is crucial for your team, the resource cost is justified. If it's just a dex entry or a weak Pokémon, the cost might be too high.
- IV Roll After Purification: Purification guarantees a minimum of 10 IVs in each stat (Attack, Defense, HP). This can turn a low-IV Shadow Pokémon into a decent purified one, especially for PvP where lower Attack IVs can be beneficial. The calculator doesn't predict the exact IV roll, but the boost itself is a key benefit.
- The "Return" Charged Attack: Purified Pokémon gain the exclusive Charged Attack "Return". This is a powerful Normal-type move that benefits from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) if the Pokémon is Normal-type, and is generally a strong option. If "Return" is desirable for a specific Pokémon's moveset, purification becomes more appealing.
- Shadow Bonus vs. Purified Bonus: Shadow Pokémon receive a 20% damage bonus, making them hit harder but cost more to power up and use attacks. Purified Pokémon have reduced costs and boosted IVs (minimum 10/10/10). The choice depends on whether raw damage output (Shadow) or cost efficiency and potential IVs (Purified) are prioritized.
- Pokémon Level and Power-Up Tiers: The calculator simplifies this by asking for the *current* Stardust/Candy cost. However, a Pokémon at Level 30 requires significantly more Stardust/Candy to reach Level 50 than a Pokémon at Level 15. The total savings over many power-ups can be substantial for higher-level Pokémon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, purifying a Shadow Pokémon guarantees that its Attack, Defense, and Stamina (HP) IVs are boosted by 2 points each. For example, a Shadow Pokémon with 5/8/10 IVs will become 7/10/12 after purification.
"Return" is a powerful Normal-type Charged Attack exclusive to purified Pokémon. It becomes available immediately after purification and can be a valuable addition to a Pokémon's moveset, especially if it complements their typing or PvP role.
Yes, after purification, "Return" is treated like any other Charged Attack. You can use an Elite Charged TM to replace it with a different move, or a regular Charged TM, which will give you a random Charged Attack (potentially "Return" again if you're unlucky).
Not necessarily. While purification reduces the cost of subsequent power-ups, the purification process itself has a one-time Stardust and Candy cost. You need to power up the Pokémon multiple times for the savings to outweigh the initial purification fee. For some Pokémon, keeping them Shadow might be more beneficial due to the 20% damage bonus.
The calculator primarily uses the *cost per power-up step* (Stardust and Candy) as input. The Pokémon's level determines which tier of costs applies. Higher level Pokémon generally require more Stardust/Candy per step, leading to potentially larger absolute savings after purification, but the fixed purification fee remains.
You cannot purify a Pokémon that has already been purified. The purification option is only available for Shadow Pokémon.
Yes, Legendary and Mythical Shadow Pokémon often have higher base Stardust and Candy costs for powering up compared to common species. This means the absolute savings after purification can be greater, but the purification fee itself might also be higher depending on the tier.
The Pokémon's type itself does not directly alter the Stardust or Candy costs for purification or powering up. However, the type is crucial for the Pokémon's role in battles, which indirectly influences the decision to purify. For example, purifying a Rock-type Pokémon might be valuable if it becomes a strong Rock-type attacker after gaining "Return" and boosted IVs.
Related Tools and Internal Resources
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Pokémon GO IV Calculator
Estimate your Pokémon's true stats (IVs) based on their level and appraisal.
-
Pokémon GO PvP IV Optimizer
Find the best IVs for your Pokémon in different Great League, Ultra League, and Master League tiers.
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Pokémon GO Raid Counter Guide
Discover the best Pokémon to use against powerful Raid Bosses.
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Shadow vs. Purified Pokémon Analysis
An in-depth guide comparing the pros and cons of keeping Pokémon as Shadow or purifying them.
-
Pokémon GO Stardust Management Tips
Learn effective strategies to earn and save valuable Stardust.
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Best Movesets for Pokémon GO
Optimize your Pokémon's performance by choosing the right Fast and Charged Attacks.