Catch a Monster Update Guide (March 2026) Tidevex Boss & Shade Knight Evolutions
Welcome to the most comprehensive guide for the latest Catch a Monster update! If you’ve been logging in recently, you’ve likely noticed the server chatter about the massive new Tidevex Boss and the mysterious Shade Knight evolution line. As a long-time tamer, I know how overwhelming new patches can be—one minute you’re grinding levels, and the next there’s a world-changing mechanic you didn’t even know existed.
That’s exactly why I’ve put together this guide. After hours of testing, spawning, and battling, I’ve compiled everything you need to know to dominate this update. Whether you are looking to crush the Tidevex Boss for its exclusive loot or you want to add the terrifying Shade Knight to your team, you are in the right place.
Below is a quick overview of what this update brings to the table.
Quick Overview: New Content Summary
| Feature Name | Type | Rarity/Level | Primary Location | Key Reward/Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidevex | World Boss | Level 75+ | Abyssal Trench (Ocean) | Tidevex Egg, Oceanic Essence |
| Shade Knight | Monster/Line | Level 30 (Base) | Shadowfall Ruins | High Crit Rate, Dark Moves |
| Shadow Lord | Evolution | Level 45 | Evolution | Area of Effect (AoE) Dark Burst |
| Abyssal King | Final Evolution | Level 65 | Evolution | “Void Slash” (Ignore Defense) |
The Catch a Monster Update: What’s New in March 2026?
This update is more than just a few new skins; it shifts the meta. The introduction of Tidevex brings the first true “World Boss” mechanic to Catch a Monster, requiring coordination and specific elemental counters. Meanwhile, the Shade Knight line offers a long-awaited Dark-type progression path that many of us have been craving since launch.
Based on my research and hands-on experience, here is what you need to prioritize first:
- Defeating Tidevex: This is currently the only way to get the “Oceanic Essence,” a material needed for late-game crafting.
- Catching Shade Knight: Found in the new Shadowfall Ruins, this monster is essential for PvP due to its speed stats.
- Evolving the Line: The evolution method isn’t just leveling up—it involves a specific item that drops from the new mini-bosses.
Catch a Monster: Tidevex Boss Guide
The Tidevex Boss is the centerpiece of this update. It’s a massive, crustacean-like entity that controls the tides of the Abyssal Trench. If you go in unprepared, you will wipe. Trust me, I learned that the hard way.
Where to Find Tidevex
Unlike standard spawns that wander the map, Tidevex operates on a spawn timer.
- Location: Head to the Abyssal Trench. You can access this by swimming far south from the main docks until the water turns dark blue.
- Spawn Time: Tidevex spawns every 45 minutes to 1 hour after the server restarts or after the last defeat.
- Server Hop Strategy: If you join a server and someone says “Boss just died,” don’t wait. Hop to a new server immediately to catch the spawn window.
Recommended Team Composition
Tidevex is a Water/Dark type. This means it is weak to Electric and Bug types, but it resists Fire, Ground, and Ghost.
Here is the team setup I used to beat it solo:
| Slot | Monster Name | Role | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Voltrix (or any Electric) | Main DPS | Electric moves deal 2x damage. Use “Thunder Zap” to stun. |
| 2 | Stag Beetle | Debuffer | Bug moves are effective. Use “Horn Slash” to lower Tidevex Defense. |
| 3 | Tanky Rock/Ground | Shield | Use moves like “Stone Wall” to absorb Tidevex’s “Tsunami Slam”. |
| 4 | Healer (Plant type) | Support | Essential for keeping your DPS alive in Phase 2. |
| 5 | Shade Knight | DPS/Utility | Immune to Tidevex’s “Dark Pulse” phasing ability. |
| 6 | Flex | Backup | Revive items or extra DPS. |
Phase-by-Phase Boss Strategy
Phase 1 (100% – 70% HP):
Tidevex relies on basic physical attacks.
- Strategy: Send in your Electric type immediately. Save your “Special Move” (Z-move) for the transition to Phase 2. Don’t waste your potions here; let your Tank take the hits.
Phase 2 (70% – 30% HP):
Tidevex summons two “Tide Minions.” These are annoying, but if you ignore them, they will heal the boss.
- Strategy: Switch to an AoE (Area of Effect) monster. Clear the minions quickly. If you don’t have AoE, focus all damage on the boss—racing the heal is sometimes faster than killing minions.
Phase 3 (30% – 0% HP):
The boss enrages. Its attack speed doubles, and it starts using “Tidal Wave,” which hits your whole team.
- Strategy: This is the burn phase. Use every damage booster you have. Keep your healer on the backline and focus solely on survival. If you have a Shade Knight, use its “Shadow Cloak” ability to become invulnerable for 5 seconds—time this with the Tidal Wave!
Tidevex Loot Table
Defeating Tidevex isn’t just for glory; the drops are currently the best in the game.
- 100% Drop: 5000 Gold, Oceanic Shard (x5)
- Rare Drop (50%): Deep Sea Pearl (Used for crafting armor)
- Ultra Rare (15%): Tidevex Egg – You can hatch your own baby Tidevex!
- Legendary Drop (5%): Tidal Armor – Reduces water damage taken by 50%.
Catch a Monster: Shade Knight Evolution Guide
While Tidevex is the big group event, the Shade Knight is the monster that will define your personal playstyle. This evolution line is arguably the best Dark-type addition to the game in 2026.
Step 1: Catching a Shade Knight
Before you can evolve anything, you need the base form.
- Location: Shadowfall Ruins. This is a new zone located behind the Dark Forest.
- Spawn Condition: Nighttime only (in-game time cycle). If it’s day, you won’t find them.
- Catch Rate: They are “Skittish.” They run away often. I recommend using “Sticky Traps” or a monster with the ability “Hypnosis” to catch them easily.
Step 2: Evolving to Shadow Lord (Stage 1)
Once you have your Shade Knight, you need to get it to Level 30. However, simply leveling it up isn’t enough.
- Requirement: You need an item called “Midnight Essence.”
- How to get Midnight Essence: This drops from the Gargoyles that guard the entrance to the Shadowfall Ruins. The drop rate is roughly 10%, so be prepared to grind for about 20-30 minutes.
- Action: Once you have the Essence, go to your inventory, click on Shade Knight, and select “Evolve.”
Stats at this stage: Shadow Lord gains a massive boost in Attack and learns the move “Soul Reaver,” which heals you for a percentage of damage dealt.
Step 3: Evolving to Abyssal King (Stage 2 – Final)
This is where the monster becomes a beast.
- Requirement: Level 65 + Defeated 10 Elite Monsters.
- Strategy: Take your Shadow Lord to the Elite Arena (located in the central city). You don’t have to win every fight; just participating and dealing damage counts toward the “Defeat” counter.
- Action: After the 10th elite defeat, a prompt will appear to evolve into Abyssal King.
Why Abyssal King is Meta-Defining
The Abyssal King isn’t just a cool-looking monster; its passive ability, “Void Walker,” allows it to ignore 30% of the enemy’s defense. This makes it incredibly effective against tanky monsters like Golems or other Rock types that usually wall Dark attackers.
Pro Tips and Hidden Mechanics
I’ve spent a lot of time in this update, and there are a few things that aren’t immediately obvious but will save you hours of frustration.
1. The “Lag Switch” Catch Method for Tidevex
If you are trying to catch a spawned Tidevex (yes, sometimes the boss spawns as a catchable level 10 variant in the wild during events), use a Net with a high success rate. However, if the server is lagging, your catch might not register. Wait until the boss is in its “idle” animation (raising its claws) before throwing the ball. This timing window ensures the server registers the throw.
2. Farming Midnight Essence Efficiently
Don’t just fight the Gargoyles randomly. I found a “spawn loop” in the ruins. If you circle the central fountain three times, it forces a respawn event. Use this loop to farm the essence for your Shade Knight evolution in under 15 minutes.
3. Synergy: Using Shade Knight Against Tidevex
It seems counter-intuitive to use a Dark monster against a Water/Dark boss, but Shade Knight’s “Shadow Cloak” provides immunity to Tidevex’s massive AOE water burst. If you are struggling in Phase 3 of the boss fight, swap in a Shade Knight to tank the burst, then swap back to your Electric type for damage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Soloing Tidevex under Level 50: The boss has a “level scaling” mechanic. If you are under level 50, the boss deals double damage. Don’t waste your time. Grind levels first.
- Selling Oceanic Shards: You might be tempted to sell these for quick gold. Don’t. In the next patch (rumored to be next month), these will be used to craft the best Dark-type weapon in the game. Stockpile them now.
- Evolving too Early: If you evolve your Shade Knight immediately to Level 30, you miss out on learning “Quick Attack,” a fast move that is great for catching other monsters. Level up Shade Knight to 35, then evolve it. (The move re-learner hasn’t been added to the game yet).
Community Resources and Updates
The Catch a Monster community is incredibly active. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, I highly recommend joining the official Discord Server and following the developer’s Twitter/X account. They often announce surprise “Tidevex Hour” events where the spawn rate is tripled.
Also, make sure to bookmark our Roblox Game Codes page, as we update it whenever new boost codes drop for this game.
FAQ’s
How often does the Tidevex Boss spawn in Catch a Monster?
The Tidevex Boss typically spawns every 45 to 60 minutes in the Abyssal Trench. However, this timer resets if the server crashes or undergoes maintenance. It is best to hop between high-population servers to find a fresh spawn.
What are the best monsters to counter the Tidevex Boss?
Electric-type monsters are the absolute best counter due to Tidevex’s Water typing. Specifically, monsters with high “Special Attack” stats and the move “Thunderbolt” or “Zap Cannon” will melt the boss’s health bar.
How do I get the Shade Knight to evolve into its final form?
To evolve Shade Knight into its final form (Abyssal King), you must first evolve it into Shadow Lord using a Midnight Essence at Level 30. Then, level the Shadow Lord up to 65 and defeat 10 Elite Monsters while it is in your party.
Can I catch a Tidevex without fighting the boss?
Rarely, during special events or “Wild Spawns,” a lower-level Tidevex may appear in the Abyssal Trench. These can be caught with Hyper Balls. However, the high-level boss variant (the one that drops loot) cannot be caught; it must be defeated.
Is the Shade Knight evolution line good for PvP?
Yes, absolutely. The final evolution, Abyssal King, has a passive that ignores enemy defense. This makes it a “tank buster,” capable of destroying high-defense walls that are commonly used in the current PvP meta.
What level should I be to fight the Tidevex Boss?
You should be at least Level 50 to attempt the Tidevex Boss fight. The boss has an area-of-effect attack that can one-shot players below this level. Bringing a team of Level 60+ monsters is recommended for a smooth run.
Conclusion
The Tidevex and Shade Knight update is one of the most significant content drops for Catch a Monster this 2026. It balances high-octane boss battles with deep creature collection mechanics. By following this guide, you now have the roadmap to farm the boss efficiently and secure the best evolution line in the game.
Remember, game updates change frequently. Developers often tweak boss health and drop rates based on player feedback. If you notice a change in the spawn timer or a new strategy, let us know in the comments! And don’t forget to check back next month for our updated tier lists.
Happy Hunting!