If you’ve ever plugged the same Pokémon into a CP calculator and gotten a different Stardust cost than a friend with the “same” Pokémon, you’re not doing anything wrong — you’re probably just looking at different versions of that Pokémon. Regular, Shadow, and Purified Pokémon all follow the same CP formula, but they don’t cost the same amount of Stardust to power up. That one detail trips up more trainers than almost anything else in Pokémon GO’s power-up system.
Let’s break down exactly what’s different, why it happens, and how to plan around it.
First, the good news: CP itself is calculated the same way no matter what kind of Pokémon you have. CP depends on:
Being Shadow or Purified doesn’t change this formula. What it does change is the Attack and Defense stats going into it, and separately, how much Stardust each power-up costs.
Shadow Pokémon get a stat modifier compared to their regular counterparts:
That’s why a Shadow Pokémon at the same level and IVs as a regular one will usually show a different CP — often close, but not identical, because the Attack boost and Defense penalty push the number in opposite directions.
On top of the stat changes, Shadow Pokémon are 20% more expensive to power up in Stardust than a regular Pokémon at the same level. So if a regular power-up costs 1,000 Stardust, the Shadow version of that same power-up will run you 1,200 Stardust. This is intentional — Niantic prices Shadow power-ups higher as a tradeoff for the Attack boost.
Purify a Shadow Pokémon and the opposite happens:
So a Purified Pokémon isn’t just “a Shadow Pokémon that got nicer” — stat-wise, it’s functionally back to baseline, but it’s cheaper to invest in than a regular Pokémon of the same level. That discount is Niantic’s reward for going through the purification process.
Regular Pokémon are the reference point everything else is measured against — standard stats, standard Stardust costs, no multiplier applied in either direction.
| Type | Attack | Defense | Stardust Cost to Power Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | Baseline | Baseline | Baseline (100%) |
| Shadow | +20% | −20% | +20% more expensive |
| Purified | Baseline | Baseline | −10% cheaper |
This is exactly why your calculator result can look “off” if you don’t select the right Pokémon type. Two identical IV spreads at the same level will produce different final CP for a Shadow Pokémon versus a regular one, and the Stardust needed to get there won’t match either.
If you’re deciding whether a Shadow Pokémon is worth investing in, it helps to check the actual Stardust cost side by side before committing your dust. Our Stardust Calculator does exactly this — plug in the Pokémon’s current level and target level, and it accounts for the Shadow/Purified/Regular difference automatically so you’re not left guessing.
It’s also worth double-checking the Pokémon’s actual IVs before you invest any Stardust at all, since a Shadow Pokémon with poor IVs is a much worse long-term investment than one with strong IVs, even with the Attack bonus. Our IV Calculator can help you confirm that before you commit resources.
Shadow, Purified, and Regular Pokémon all use the same underlying CP formula — but Shadow Pokémon trade Defense for Attack and cost more Stardust, while Purified Pokémon return to normal stats at a discount. Knowing this ahead of time means fewer surprises when you’re planning your next power-up, and a lot less “why doesn’t this match” confusion.
For all your other CP, IV, and evolution planning, head back to the homepage to find the full set of calculators and tools.