Pokemon Go Shiny Pokémon made their debut in March 2017 with Magikarp and Gyarados. For many players, the Red Gyarados at the Lake of Rage from Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal was the first shiny Pokémon players had encountered since this battle was inevitable due to the game's story.
Several months afterward, Pokémon Go started to release more Shiny Pokémon either through specific events or by rolling them out for specific species that could have a chance to be Shiny. We will go through the different methods to get your own Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Go.
Methods to Getting Shiny Pokémon
- Catching Pokémon. Pokémon on the map will not appear as Shiny but as their ordinary/original color palette. You will not know a certain Pokémon is Shiny until you engage with it.
- Spotlight Hours. Spotlight Hours will spawn an increased species of Pokémon. Sometimes depending on the exact Spotlight Hours, the species appearing have a chance to be Shiny.
- Hatching Eggs. When using egg incubators to hatch eggs, there is a chance the Pokémon hatched will be Shiny.
- Trading. Players tend to catch extra Shiny Pokémon of the same species, so you can ask or trade your Shiny to another player. The Stardust required will be lowered the higher of Friendship Level is between both players.
- Raids. After defeating a Pokémon in a raid, when the opportunity to catch it begins, there is a chance the Pokémon is Shiny.
- Field Research. Special Field Research can have rewards such as Shiny Pokémon being guaranteed. The Five-Year Anniversary Pokémon Go Event allowed players to complete Special Research that upon completion had the encounter of a Shiny Eevee.
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Shiny Hunting Tips
- Gotta Not Catch 'Em All. Catching Pokemon takes time, but for Shiny catching, you should click on every Pokemon in the vicinity. You can sift through each encounter to determine if it is a Shiny Pokemon because, at the start of the encounter, sparkles will emit in a circular fashion from the Pokemon itself.
- You may already caught a Shiny Pokemon previously, so you can go through your inbox. Outside of a slightly different color scheme, Shiny Pokemon will have a three-star icon above the left.
- Attend Events. Spotlight Hours, Community Days, and other Pokemon Go events will increase the chances of Shiny Pokemon. Community Day Shiny rates are 1/25. Specific Shadow Pokemon, Raid Pokemon, and very rare Pokemon spawned in the wild can have an increased chance of being Shiny.
- Hatching Eggs. Baby Pokemon have a 1/50 chance for it to be Shiny. Hatching eggs is a great way, and it helps to have multiple eggs in incubators.
- Patience. Shiny Pokemon have about a 0.2% chance. It takes almost 500 wild encounters to see a Shiny Pokemon. Legendary or Mythical Pokemon have a 5% or 1/20 chance of being Shiny.
