Shiny Pokémon were introduced in Generation II. Here are the best rates of encountering them across all modern titles in the series.
Even though Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet represent the latest core entries, these games aren’t considered the best for farming shinies. Luckily, with the help of Pokémon HOME, you can easily transfer your mons between games. That means you can go farm shinies in another and bring those over to the latest experience!
5. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
| Base Rate | 1/4096 |
| Outbreak: 30-59 cleared | 1/2048.25 |
| Outbreak: 60+ cleared | 1/1365.67 |
| Sparkling Power Lv. 3 | 1/1024.38 |
| Sparkling Power Lv. 3 + Outbreak: 30-59 cleared | 1/1365.67 |
| Sparkling Power Lv. 3 + Outbreak: 60 cleared | 1/1024.38 |
| Shiny Charm | 1/1365.67 |
| Shiny Charm + Outbreak: 30-59 cleared | 1/1024.38 |
| Shiny Charm + Outbreak: 60+ cleared | 1/819.60 |
| Shiny Charm + Sparkling Power Lv. 3 | 1/683.08 |
| Shiny Charm + Sparkling Power Lv. 3 + Outbreak: 30-59 cleared | 1/585.57 |
| Shiny Charm + Sparkling Power Lv. 3 + Outbreak: 60+ cleared | 1/512.44 |
In addition to the Shiny Charm which requires the player to catch all 400 unique Pokémon in the base version of the Scarlet and Violet games, the use of “Sparking Power” sandwiches helps to increase the probability of encountering shinies in the Paldea region.
Outbreaks for certain Pokémon species will appear on the map at random, allowing players to go and encounter a large number of the same Pokemon species. It’s possible to reset Outbreaks to get a Pokémon you want by changing the Date and Time on your Switch.
4. Pokémon GO
| Base Rate | 1/450 |
Pokémon GO is not a core entry, but it is one of the best games in the history of the series to hunt for shinies. The base encounter rate across the board is 1/450, and this improves during special events, especially GOFest. Thanks to Pokémon HOME, it’s far easier to transfer the mons you catch to other games.
3. Pokémon Let’s Go
| Base Rate | 1/4,096 |
| Shiny Charm | 1/1,365 |
| Shiny Charm + Lure | 1/1,024 |
| Shiny Charm + Lure + Catch Combo | 1/273 |
With the help of the Shiny Charm, Lures, and Catch Combo, you can get a really decent chance at encountering a shiny Pokémon in Let’s Go Pikachu / Let’s Go Eevee. Keep in mind that you are restricted to encountering mons from Generation I (Kanto). However, this makes it easier to find the specific shiny you’re looking for from that region.
The Catch Combo in Let’s Go Pikachu / Let’s Go Eevee is what happens when you catch the same species of Pokémon over and over again. A combo maxes out at 31 and does not reset. Everything except the starter Pikachu or Eevee Pokémon can be shiny.
2. Pokémon Sword and Shield
| Base Rate | 1/4,096 |
| Shiny Charm | 1/1,365 |
| Shiny Charm + Masuda Method | 1/512 |
| Shiny Charm + Battle 100 Pokémon | 1/3 |
Although there are quite a noticeable number of unobtainable Pokémon from the National Dex even with two DLCs, Sword & Shield are considered the best main series games for shiny hunting. These titles include the Catch Combo, Masuda Method, and Shiny Charm. However, they also introduce the Battle Combo.
The Masuda Method involves breeding the same Pokémon but with different languages of origin.
The Battle Combo is straightforward. Simply defeat 100 Pokémon of the same species with a Shiny Charm in hand to increase the probability of the next encounter being Shiny by an unheard-of 33%.
1. Pokémon Legends: Arceus
| Base Rate | 1/4,096 |
| Finished Research | 1/2,048 |
| Perfect Research | 1/1,024 |
| Shiny Charm + Perfect Research | 1/585 |
| Shiny Charm + Perfect Research + Outbreak | 1/128 |
For a game whose primary mechanic revolves around catching, it comes as no surprise that the very first fully open world Pokémon adventure has the most lenient shiny rates.
Although it does not include Catch Combos or the Masuda Method, Pokémon Legends: Arceus brings with it its own unique mechanics. As you continue to catch the same species of wild Pokémon, you will progress the research on its Pokédex entry, which is far more in-depth than merely capturing it once.
Once you complete the research for a given Pokémon’s Pokédex entry, you will dramatically increase the rate of a shiny from 1/4,096 down to 1/2,048. If you manage to perfect the Pokédex entry, this goes down to 1/1,024. With the help of the Shiny Charm on top of that, you can get it down to 1/585.
However, with the aid of the new Mass Outbreaks and Massive Mass Outbreaks combined with everything mentioned before, the odds are as gentle as 1/128, making this the absolute best Pokémon game ever to farm shinies. Unfortunately, Pokémon Legends: Arceus only includes mons from Generations I-IV, so you’ll need to check out a different entry in this list if your intended shiny came later.