
The extra 20% in candy & stardust just to level up & add a secondary charge move can add up.

With the additional cost, and alternatives, like purifying Pokemon to make use of their Mega, it is time to follow my Golden Rule:

1 Mega per type + 5 of the best Non-Mega Pokémon with viable Attacks of that type to fill up a raid team.

[Using Gamepress’ S & A+ Tiers](https://pokemongo.gamepress.gg/c/tier-lists/attackers-tier-list) I put together Thee Definitive List of “Worth it” Shadows Per Type for Raids:
***
*N0 good Shadows*

- Fairy: Despite being listed under A, Gamepress admits Enamorous is superior to the A+ Shadow Gardevoir. So don’t waste extra Stardust on Shadow Gardevoir.

- Bug: Mega-Heracross is sole usable Bug, so it is basically a last-resort filler on a team.

- Grass - Stick with a team of Mega-Sceptile and multiple Kartana… no other Grass is viable.

- Poison - Basically it’s the type you skip.
***
*Just 1 good*

Flying:

- Only Shadow Moltres. 
- Multiples of it, and Rayquaza will need to fill up the remaining 5 non-Mega slots.

Dark:

- Only Shadow Tyranitar. 
- Multiples of it or Ghost-types like Necrozma Dawn Wings, Shadow Chandelure, and Shadow Gengar will need to fill up the remaining 5 Non-Mega slots. 

Steel:

- Only Shadow Metagross.
- Multiples of it, Zacian-Crowned, Zamazenta-Crowned, and/or Necrozma Dusk-Mane will need to fill up the remaining 5 Non-Mega slots.

Ice: 

- Only Shadow Mamoswine. 
- Multiples of it and Kyurem-White will need to fill up the remaining 5 Non-Mega slots.

Normal: 

- Only Shadow Regigigas. 
- Requires Hidden Power Ground, Rock, Ice, or Fighting.
- Only viable with a Partly Cloudy Weather Boost. 
- Partly Cloudy Weather boosting Crush Grip with HP Ground outperforms Shadow Groudon with Precipice Blades VS Electrics.
- No other Normals (even Megas) are good.

Psychic: 

- Only Shadow Mewtwo. Psystrike is needed, but it’s ultimately the best Psychic Pokemon in the entire game. 
- Multiples of it alongside a Mega-Alakazam will fill up a team.
***
*2 Good Shadows*

Ghost:

- Shadow Gengar
- Shadow Chandelure

Fighting:

- Shadow Conkeldurr
- Shadow Machamp

Water:

- Shadow Kyogre
- Shadow Swampert
***
*4 Good Shadows*

Ground:

- Shadow Groudon
- Shadow Garchomp (equal on both types)
- Shadow Mamoswine (equal on both types)
- Shadow Excadrill

Electric:

- Shadow Zapdos
- Shadow Raikou
- Shadow Magezone
- Shadow Electivire
***
*5 Good Shadows*

Fire:

- Shadow Moltres (equally on both types)
- Shadow Apex Ho-oh
- Shadow Darmanitan
- Shadow Chandelure (equal on both types)
- Shadow Blaziken

Dragon: 

- Shadow Salamence
- Shadow Palkia
- Shadow Dialga
- Shadow Garchomp
- Shadow Dragonite

Rock: 

- Shadow Rhyperior
- Shadow Rampardos
- Shadow Tyrantrum
- Shadow Tyranitar
- Shadow Gigalith

Definitive Best Shadows for Raids to power up, per type!