How to Find Shiny Pokemon

 

Shiny Pokemon were introduced in Generation II, and have been an attraction ever since. Those who find one were either lucky or extremely dedicated. I found 6 before they made it easier. Insert evil laughter here. It’s kinda sad for those finally happy to find a shiny in Generation VI to be surrounded by others getting shinies out the woodwork.

 

A shiny Pokemon would make a “ping” sound and “shine” as it appears. The name Shiny actually came from the Pokemon community, not Game Freak.

 

 

Quick History:

1. Generation II: Completely determined by a specific IV structure. The Odd Egg in the US Crystal Version has a 14% chance of being shiny. There’s also the Red Gyarados.
2. Generation III: Made shininess determined by Personality Values, Original Trainer’s ID Number, and the Hidden Numbers.
3. Generation IV: The Masuda Method was introduced, making it so much easier to breed for Shininess. The Poke Rader helped with finding shinies faster as well.
4. Poke Rader gone, but Masuda Method is more effective. Beating Benga will get you a shiny Gible (B2) or Dratini (W2). Completing the National Pokedex will earn you the Shiny Charm from Professor Juniper, boosting chances in the wild from 1/8192 to 1/2731.
5. The previous possibly finding a shiny Pokemon was doubled. This applies to both the Shiny Charm and the Matsuda method. Poke Rader returns.

 

The chances of finding a shiny in the wild before Generation VI is 1/8192. Now it is 1/4096. The odds are not in your favor, regardless.

 

How to Get Shiny Pokemon – Breeding

Increasing the chances of finding a shiny through breeding is tough. You would need to know how to manipulate Personality values. So don’t bother unless you have a cheating/modding device, or are really phenomenal with math.

– A much easier method in breeding is the Masuda Method. This comes from the developer, Junichi Matsuda. Breed Pokemon from other countries with yours. Around 40 egg cycles will result in a shiny as it hatches. This is only an estimate. Now in Generation VI, it is 1/683. With the Shiny Charm, it is 1/512. This is a confirmed Game Freak method, discovered by Smogon.

 

PokeRadar:

Can only be used if you complete the national PokeDex in Generations IV and VI. Knock out and capture Pokemon consecutively to increase your chances of finding a shiny. Use the chain fishing method for aquatic Pokemon.

 

Friend Safari:

Pokemon in the Friend Safari have a shiny rate of 1/512. There are many theories to accomplish this. The Shiny Charm will not work here.

 

Chain Fishing:

Keep on fishing; the shiny rate will naturally increase if you keep going uninterrupted. This is preferable to a random 1/4096 chance every time (without Poke Radar), but your options are limited. But hey, a shiny Staryu is waiting for you.