How To Get TM30 Shadow Ball in Pokémon ORAS

Gengar using Shadow Ball in Pokémon ORAS

The TM for Shadow Ball can be obtained by going to the fourth floor of Mt. Pyre, which is a memorial site for Pokémon on Route 122. To access this area you’ll need a Pokémon that can use Surf outside of battle.

TM30 Shadow Ball is a Ghost-type damage-dealing move that has a chance of lowering the target’s Special Defense stat.

Whether playing through the story or battling competitively, Shadow Ball is a great move for almost every Ghost-type special attacker. It’s a reliable move with an excellent additional effect. A lot of non-Ghost-type Pokémon can even learn it, giving you coverage against Pokémon weak to Ghost.

TM30 Shadow Ball Location (Step-by-Step)

Mt. Pyre is a Pokémon memorial site located inside a mountain on Route 122. It’s a structure you can access through an entrance on the mountain’s base.

The building inside Mt. Pyre has four floors. Each floor contains various trainers ready to battle you. On the third floor of the building, there’s an exit that leads to the summit of the mountain.

If you’re just here to obtain TM30 Shadow Ball, you will only need to reach the fourth and final floor of the building inside Mt. Pyre. To do that, make sure you already have access to Route 121 and have a Pokémon that knows Surf.

If you’re all set, head over to Route 121.

Step 1: Start following the path heading east from Route 121.

Biking along Route 121 / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Biking along Route 121

Step 2: Head down the stairs, and use the route’s south exit.

Exiting Route 121 / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Exiting Route 121

Step 3: Use HM03 Surf on Route 122.

Surf spot on Route 122 / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Surf spot on Route 122

Step 4: Follow the path heading south until Mt. Pyre’s entrance is visible.

Surfing around Mt. Pyre / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Surfing around Mt. Pyre

Step 5: Disembark here to enter Mt. Pyre.

Mt. Pyre’s entrance / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Mt. Pyre’s entrance

Step 6: Follow the hallway heading north, then walk toward the northwest side of the room.

Inside the first floor of Mt. Pyre / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Inside the first floor of Mt. Pyre

Step 7: Climb up the staircase near the Hex Maniac.

The staircase on the left side of the room / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
The staircase on the left side of the room

Step 8: On this next floor, make your way toward the east side of the room.

The second floor of Mt. Pyre / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
The second floor of Mt. Pyre

Step 9: Climb up another set of stairs.

The staircase on the right side of the room / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
The staircase on the right side of the room

Step 10: In this next room, there are two different exits.

The exit on the south hallway leads to the mountain’s summit outside, while the staircase on the left leads to the fourth floor of the building. So we want to head towards the left-hand side so we can reach 4F.

The third floor of Mt. Pyre / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
The third floor of Mt. Pyre

Step 11: Use the staircase on the room’s left side (top-left corner) to get to the building’s highest floor.

The hallway that leads to the fourth floor of the building / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
The hallway that leads to the fourth floor of the building

Step 12: TM30 Shadow Ball should be in the middle of the room on the fourth floor.

The location of TM30 Shadow Ball / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
The location of TM30 Shadow Ball

Shadow Ball Details + Uses

In-game details for TM30 Shadow Ball / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
In-game details for TM30 Shadow Ball
Shadow Ball Move Details
Type Ghost
Category Special
Power 80
Accuracy 100%
PP 15 (max. 24)

TM30 Shadow Ball is a Special Ghost-type move with a 20% chance of lowering the target’s Special Defense by one stage. Any stat can be lowered up to six times; here’s how much each stage modifies a stat value:

Stage Main Stat
0 x1
-1 x0.66
-2 x0.5
-3 x0.4
-4 x0.33
-5 x0.285
-6 x0.25

With a base power of 80 and 100% accuracy, Shadow Ball has been a staple since its introduction in Generation 2. It’s also been an iconic move frequently used in the Pokémon anime.

The move is comparable to TM29 Psychic, as it has around the same base power and effect as Shadow Ball. It has 10 less power than Psychic, but it also has a 10% higher chance to lower the target’s stats.

Shadow Ball is perfect against tanks that don’t deal much damage. Every time the Special Defense drop procs, it will make them easier to take down.

In competitive battles, Shadow Ball is the most commonly used Ghost-type move. It’s a reliable attack that provides a powerful Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) for Pokémon like Chandelure, Cofagrigus, and Gengar.

Another good thing about Shadow Ball is that it can be taught to a wide variety of Pokémon. A surprising amount of non-Ghost-type Pokémon can learn it too, including many Psychic-type Pokémon.

This is highly beneficial for Psychic-types, since it gives them coverage against Ghost-types, one of their biggest weaknesses.

Tip: Be wary of Pokémon with the Ability Bulletproof. It makes them immune to ball and bomb moves, including Shadow Ball. As of Generation 6, only Chespin, Quilladin, and Chesnaught have this Ability.

StormSwampert

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Though he spends most of his time playing a wide variety of games, Pokémon has always been his favorite. When he’s not playing games or writing guides, you can find him watching anime and collecting trading cards.

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