Pokémon GO: A Striking Shadow Special Rewards Guide [Updated]

Want a guaranteed Marshadow encounter? The Pokémon GO Striking Shadow Special Research rewards encounters with Marshadow Pokémon. With this rare Fighting- and Ghost-type Mythical Pokémon, you will also encounter other featured Pokémons and in-game rewards.

This guide will walk you through each step of A Striking Shadow, break down all the tasks and rewards, and share tips for completing them faster. Also, highlight the special bonus for Trainers who already claimed Marshadow during Go Fest.

Part 1: Introduction to A Striking Shadow Pokémon

“A Striking Shadow” is the Special Research that finally opened Marshadow up for every Trainer. Marshadow (Fighting/Ghost) first appeared as a paid exclusive reward for Pokémon GO Fest attendees, but Niantic later made it available during the Stunning Styles event in April 2025. The important bit to know: if you logged in during that event and the research was unlocked on your account, it would not expire. You can finish it at your own pace.

If you have already completed the earlier Go Fest research called “A Shadowy Caper”, you will get a second Marshadow encounter. Instead, you will get extra Marshadow Candy as a one-time make-good because mythical Pokémon are not handed out twice.

Part 2: All “A Striking Shadow” Research Tasks Breakdown

The special research “A Striking Shadow” consists of six steps. Each step bundles several objectives. You will get encounters and items when you complete each step.

Step 1 – Getting Started

• Catch 50 Pokémon – (small reward during progress: 10 Razz Berries)
• Spin 50 PokéStops or Gyms – (progress reward: Mankey encounter)
• Explore 10 km – (progress reward: 20 Poké Balls)

Step completion rewards include 2,000 XP, an encounter with Timburr, and 3 Golden Razz Berries.

Step 2 – Eggs, Buddy, and Gifting

• Hatch 10 Eggs – (progress encounter: Duskull)
• Earn 3 candies walking with your buddy – (progress reward: 10 Razz Berries)
• Send 10 gifts to friends – (progress reward: Misdreavus encounter)

Step completion rewards: 2,000 XP, Frillish encounter, and 3 Silver Pinap Berries.

Step 3 – Incense, Evolves, and Field Research

• Use 3 Incense / Daily Adventure Incense – (progress reward: 10 Great Balls)
• Evolve 5 Pokémon – (progress encounter: Shuppet)
• Complete 20 Field Research tasks – (progress reward: 3 Pinap Berries)

Step completion rewards: 2,000 XP, Meditite encounter, and 1,500 Stardust.

Step 4 – Shadow Raids and Rocket Pushes

• Win 5 Shadow Raids – (progress encounter example: Mienfoo)
• Defeat 10 Team GO Rocket members
• Land 15 supereffective charged attacks

When you complete the step, you will get rewards: 2,000 XP, a Makuhita encounter, and 1,500 Stardust, plus two Fast TMs and two Charged TMs sprinkled across the objectives.

Step 5 – The Big Hurdle

• Earn 25,000 XP
• Earn 25,000 Stardust
• Make 5 Excellent throws

Step completion rewards include: 2,000 XP, a Marshadow encounter, and 1,500 Stardust.

Important exception: If you already claimed “A Shadowy Caper” during Go Fest 2024, completing Step 5 will grant 25 Marshadow Candy instead of an additional encounter.

Step 6 – Candy and Celebration

• Explore 10 km – (progress reward: 5 Marshadow Candy)
• Power up 10 Ghost-type Pokémon – (progress reward: 5 Marshadow Candy)
• Power up 10 Fighting-type Pokémon – (progress reward: 5 Marshadow Candy)

Completing this step rewards: 2,000 XP, 20 Marshadow stickers, and 15 Marshadow Candy.

Part 3: Common Tips to Complete A Striking Shadow Tasks Faster

By following these tips, you can complete the “A Striking Shadow” special research smoothly and efficiently:

Part 4: Pro Tip to Complete A Striking Shadow Tasks Faster

Grinding through six steps of A Striking Shadow can be time-consuming because the tasks involve hatching eggs, spinning dozens of PokéStops, and farming Shadow Raids. That’s where MocPOGO – Auto Scanner steps in as a game-changer.

Not only does MocPOGO let you spoof safely to Rocket-rich zones and raid hotspots, but it also comes with the Go Catcher, a built-in tool that works like a virtual Pokémon GO Plus. With it, you can automate catches, spin PokéStops, scan nearby raids, and keep the grind running. This way, you can focus on the harder parts of the research and complete tasks faster.

Complete A Striking Shadow Tasks Faster

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• Compatible with iOS 26 & Android 16.

What the MocPOGO Go Catcher Can Do

• Virtual GO Plus: It catches Pokémon and spins PokéStops automatically as long as you have Poké Balls and space in your bag.
• Quick Catch Mode: Skips the catch animation, so you can snag Pokémon much faster.
• Auto-Walk Support: Pair with MocPOGO’s joystick or two-spot navigation to simulate natural movement while the Go Catcher runs in the background.

How to Use MocPOGO Go Catcher on PC

Step 1: Unlock the Feature

Launch MocPOGO, find the Auto/Go Catcher icon, and activate it with your email and code.

Step 2: Pair as a Virtual Pokémon GO Plus

Inside the app, head to Settings > Connected Devices, then select the virtual GO Plus (Go Catcher). Once paired, a Poké Ball icon appears on-screen.

Step 4: Turn On Auto-Catch

Tap the icon to toggle auto-catching. A flashing pink ball means the Go Catcher just caught a Pokémon or collected items for you.

How to Use MocPOGO Go Catcher on iOS

Step 1: Open the MocPOGO App

On your iPhone/iPad, tap the Go Catcher icon on the home screen to start setup.

Step 2: Connect the Virtual GO Plus

Go into Settings > Connected Devices and select Go Catcher from the list. The Poké Ball button will now show on your screen.

Step 3: Automate Your Play

Switch on the joystick or two-spot mode in MocPOGO, then return to the POGO app. When the pink icon blinks, it means Pokémon are being caught and items collected automatically.

Part 5: What You’ll Earn from Completing the Research

Finish the whole line and you will walk away with: repeated pockets of XP and Stardust in each step, multiple wild encounters (Timburr, Frillish, Meditite, Makuhita, and the like), item bundles (Golden Razz, Silver Pinap, TM bits), specialty stickers, Marshadow Candy, and most importantly, a Marshadow encounter (unless you already claimed it, in which case you get Candy instead). Marshadow is the headline prize, but the cumulative XP, Stardust, and TMs make the research very useful even after the encounter.

Conclusion

“A Striking Shadow” is a generous, well-paced Special Research that finally gives Marshadow to every Trainer who logged in during April 2025’s Stunning Styles event. Tackle it step-by-step: incubate your eggs, line up Shadow Raids, save your excellent-throw practice for the right moment, and if you already have Go Fest’s A Shadowy Caper, remember the candy compensation. Between the stickers, Stardust, TMs, and that much-wanted Marshadow (or Candy), finishing this research is well worth the effort, and with a few planning tricks and careful use of tools like MocPOGO Auto Catcher, you can clear it far faster than most.