Pokémon games throughout the years have had Shiny Pokémon to catch, but the odds of running into one were slim. The same principle applies to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, but there are some methods you can try to increase your chances. These methods are the more popular ways to try and catch a Shiny, and in this article, we will take a closer look at how these methods work in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – How to Get Shiny Pokémon
Shiny Pokémon can add some variety to your party by having a different coloration, but besides that their stats, moves, and attributes remain the same as their normal counterpart. The sole appeal for having a Shiny is for the hunt itself, as well as showing it off in battle. Currently, your chances of running into a Shiny normally is just about 1/4096, like most Pokémon games. There are several methods you can try to increase your chances to bump into a Shiny, and here we will take a look at them in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Participate in Mass Outbreaks in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Fans of Pokémon Legends: Arceus would be familiar with the mass outbreak method. This method is by far the more popular method to catch a Shiny. If you check your map at particular times, you can find question marks, or you get notified of a mass outbreak. This is where large hoards of Pokémon have gathered, and you can just jump in and fight them all. For every 30+ Pokémon you defeat during a mass outbreak, you increase your shiny chance by 1/2048.25. For every 60+ Pokémon you defeat, you further increase your chances by 1/1365.67. The best way to get a Shiny through this method is to utilize the Let’s Go! Auto Battle feature and let your Pokémon fight alongside you without your orders. You don’t have to worry about them defeating a Shiny if you run into one, as the feature disables fights on Shiny Pokémon unless ordered to.
Claim a Shiny Charm in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
You can unlock the Shiny charm to further increase your Shiny catching chances by 3x times. So that means you have a chance of running into a Shiny after every 1/1365.67 Pokémon. You can claim the Shiny Charm by completing the Paldea Pokedex and collecting all 400 Pokémon, which includes version exclusives as well. You will have to trade for the Pokémon you cannot get in your chosen version to complete the Pokedex. After that, speak to Professor Jacq, your homeroom teacher, to receive the Shiny Charm as a reward.
Making Sandwiches in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Consuming certain sandwiches can help you boost your Shiny encounters by 1/1024. You need one special ingredient to make that happen; Sparkling Power Level 3. Sparkling Power is nothing but Herba Mystica, a spice ingredient. You can get Herba Mystica in two ways; one way is to get it through 5-star Tera Raid battles, and the second way is to complete the Path of Legends storyline and fight Titan Pokémon to get it. Both of these methods can be found post-game, so you can try hunting for Shinies right after.
Try the Masuda Method in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
The Masuda Method is also a tried and tested method to get Shiny Pokémon in most Pokémon games. To do the Masuda Method, you need to breed with a Pokémon owned by someone who plays the game in a different language. Breeding the same Pokémon of opposite genders between Pokémon games from different regions can help increase the chances of hatching a Shiny by 1/683. If the player or you have a Ditto, then you can improve your chances drastically.
Tips to Get Shiny Pokémon Fast in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
You can further improve your chances by combining the Shiny Sandwich boost with the Shiny Charm and then participating in Mass Outbreaks. This will increase your chances of bumping into a Shiny by 1/512 if you manage to clear out 60+ Pokémon. In case you have cleared all the Pokémon in a Mass Outbreak but did not run into a Shiny, there is a glitch where you can set up your Picnic Table, then unpack it to respawn all the Pokémon and restart the Mass Outbreak. If you do this a couple of times, you can run into a Shiny in no time.
Shiny Pokémon do not produce any sound or glitter in the Overworld, and the only way you can know for sure that you have run into a Shiny is by its color variation. Since most Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet get hidden between the large blades of grass, you have to pay attention to spot them. They do a unique animation when they enter battle, so that way you know for sure that it is a Shiny you are up against.
This concludes our post about catching a Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Shinies can give a pop of color and variation to your party and is a unique addition to your Pokémon team.
