Shiny Pokemon are a badge of honor in the Pokemon community. Their extreme rarity (in the mainline games and Pokemon GO alike) means that to obtain one, fans often have to put in a lot of time and effort. The sheer joy from catching one (or heartbreaking loss from losing one) is unlike any other experience in gaming. As such, Pokemon Trainers will often go out of their way to look for these uniquely-colored Pokemon (some of which look fantastic), and undertaking such a task can be rather tedious.
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By default, the odds of encountering a shiny Pokemon are 1 in 8192 in Generations II through V, and 1 in 4096 in Generation VI and later. Game Freak hasn't left players entirely out to dry, though. Over the years, the company has included a variety of different methods that players can use to bolster their chances of finding shiny Pokemon.
10 The Shiny Charm: An Essential Tool
Introduced in the Generation V games, Pokemon Black 2 & White 2, the Shiny Charm is the most important item for any aspiring shiny hunter. Once a Trainer is given this item, every time they encounter a wild Pokemon, the game will roll the shiny odds three extra times. This effectively gives starting odds of 1 in 1365.
To obtain this item, Trainers have to catch 'em all: completing the largest Pokedex of that particular game unlocks the Shiny Charm (it's obtained from a specific NPC). After obtaining it, shiny odds will be improved for any other additional method Trainers wish to use.
9 Horde Encounters: Five Pokemon Are Better Than One
The sixth generation of games, Pokemon X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, had the distinction of being the first mainline Pokemon games to be launched on the 3DS system. This increase in power from the previous handheld console allowed a huge leap for the series. It meant that not only could things be rendered in 3D, but more Pokemon could be on the screen at once.
These games made the most of this by introducing Horde Encounters. These encounters have a rare chance of cropping up normally, but if a Trainer has a Pokemon with the move Sweet Scent, they can be encountered on command. While they don't inherently increase the shiny odds, encountering five of the same Pokemon at once vastly increases the speed at which players can have encounters, thus getting Trainers to the shiny all the sooner.
8 Island Scan: Rare Pokemon All Over Alola
One of the toughest problems shiny hunters face is finding a way to encounter their desired Pokemon. This is especially problematic if it's a Pokemon not typically encountered in the wild. Pokemon's seventh generation offered a potential solution to this problem, the Island Scan feature.
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Simply use the 3DS's camera to scan 10 QR codes found in the Pokedex, hit the Scan button and a rare Pokemon will appear in the wild. The selection of Pokemon is somewhat limited, but it does include every starter Pokemon from generations I through VI (which usually can't be encountered in the wild), making this method worth the effort.
7 Ultra Wormholes: Shinies From Another Dimension
The follow-up games in Pokemon's seventh generation, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, feature a more reality-bending story than the originals. In the post-game, players gain the ability to explore the multi-verse, entering Ultra Wormholes to encounter Pokemon not native to the Alola region.
Many of these other dimensions will be a joy to shiny hunters, as they feature increased shiny odds on any non-Legendary Pokemon encountered. The specific odds for each wormhole are determined by the distance Trainers travel through Ultra Space, and how many golden rings a portal has. However, at its maximum, the shiny odds can be as high as 1 in 3, the highest in any Pokemon game ever.
6 Chain Fishing: Tedious But Rewarding
As with a lot of titles, the fishing mechanics are rather solid in the Pokemon series. However, constantly casting a line with no Pokemon biting can be frustrating, and missing the small window to reel the line in can be devastating. However, the Generation VI games made sure players who mastered it were rewarded.
Fishing in the same spot over and over again will start a chain (when players manage to reel in the same Pokemon consecutively). Each Pokemon encountered this way brings increased shiny odds, maxing out at 1 in 100 with a chain of 20 or more. Chain Fishing made a return in Pokemon Sword and Shield, affecting the rate of Brilliant Pokemon appearances.
5 Dynamax Adventures: Fun But Time Consuming
2020's Crown Tundra DLC for Pokemon Sword & Shield allows Trainers to go on Dynamax Adventures. These adventures consist of four Trainers running a gauntlet of Dynamax Pokemon before encountering a Legendary Pokemon at the end.
These adventures require trainers to use rented Pokemon, and they can be tough if Trainers don't have the right strategy. However, with great challenge comes great rewards. Any Pokemon caught in a Dynamax Adventure, Legendary and excellent non-Legendary alike, have shiny odds of 1 in 300 (1 in 100 with the shiny charm), which is the best available in Sword & Shield.
4 Poké Radar: Rustling Grass Hides Shinies
Available in both the fourth and sixth generations, the Poké Radar is the shiny hunting method that requires the most focus. When activated while standing in a patch of grass, four patches of grass will rustle. If a player enters one of these rustling patches, they will encounter a Pokemon and start a chain. If they defeat that Pokemon in battle, the grass will rustle again. The patch that was rustling the most will usually lead to an encounter with the same species.
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This requires watching the grass carefully and the streak can be easily ruined if players aren't paying attention. However, the reward can be great: the chain maxes out at 40 encounters, with shiny odds of 1 in 200.
3 Catch Combos: Gotta Catch The Same One Over and Over
The seventh generation remakes of the Generation One games, Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu & Let's Go Eevee, added the beloved feature of Pokemon walking around in the overworld. This made encountering the Pokemon players want much easier.
If gamers catch the same Pokemon consecutively, they start a catch combo, which the game helpfully displays. Get this combo to 31 or higher and the reward is severely boosted shiny odds. These range from 1 in 340 to 1 in 270 if lures and the Shiny Charm are both used used. The best thing about this method is that once the chain is at 31, players don't have to do anything other than sit and wait for the shiny to appear. Shiny hunting is one big draw of the post-game in Let's Go, after all.
2 SOS Chaining: Calling For Help From Shiny Friends
Pokemon's seventh generation proved that, in Alola, Pokemon are just a bit more supportive of each other. If a player is in a battle with a wild Pokemon and gets it to low health, that Pokemon may choose to call for help. If successful, they will cause a second Pokemon to appear in the battle.
Shiny hunters quickly discovered that, by continuously fainting the ally Pokemon, more appeared. If players continue this chain for upwards of 70 Pokemon, their shiny odds double. This gives potential maximum odds of 1 in 512, which is very good for a method as quick as SOS Chaining can be.
1 Masuda Method: Bred To Shine
The most famous method of shiny hunting, the Masuda Method is extremely versatile. Introduced in Generation IV and available in every game since, the Masuda Method is a method of breeding Pokemon with increased odds of getting a shiny (as well as competitively viable Pokemon with breeding-exclusive Egg Moves which are often underrated).
To do this, a player must breed two Pokemon from different real-life regions. For example, breeding a Bulbasaur from the United States with a Japanese Ditto would give all the Bulbasaur eggs produced by this pairing increased shiny odds. Getting such a Ditto may seem like a challenge at first, but the Pokemon community has set up ways of conducting Ditto-for-Ditto trades between regions. With maximum odds of 1 in 512, for a method usable on almost every Pokemon in the Pokedex, this is one of the best methods.