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Shiny Pokemon are extremely rare, different colored Pokemon that can be found in the wild or hatched from Eggs. Like its predecessor, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet completely abandon the Random Encounters method of finding and catching Pokemon. This means that Shiny Pokemon can be spotted in the overworld... as long as Pokemon trainers are paying close attention to their surroundings.
Despite their rarity, there are certain ways to increase the odds of finding Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet. If trainers can obtain the Shiny Charm, then the chances of finding a Shiny Pokemon is split in half, making it easier for them to spawn in the wild. There's only one way to get the Shiny Charm in Scarlet/Violet, and it isn't easy.
Updated on August 15, 2023 by Renri Seong: Shiny Hunting has arguably become easier with each new mainline Pokemon game. A Key Item called the Shiny Charm increases the odds of finding a Shiny Pokemon whether in the wild or hatching from eggs. In Scarlet & Violet, trainers can craft sandwiches with a special ingredient that increases the odds of finding Shiny Pokemon. This combined with the Shiny Charm makes Shiny Hunting much easier. However, to get the Charm, Scarlet/Violet trainers will need to catch every Pokemon in the Paldean Pokedex. The following guide has been updated to include a tip on how to complete the Pokedex by using Pokemon HOME.
Where to Get the Shiny Charm in Scarlet & Violet
In short, Scarlet/Violet players can obtain the Shiny Charm from Jacq, the biology teacher at Naranja/Uva Academy. They will need to complete the Pokedex in order to get the charm. This means catchingevery Pokemon in Paldea - not "seeing" them. Familiar fans of the series may already be familiar with this, as getting the Shiny Charm in Sword/Shield and Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl required completing the Galar and National Pokedex respectively.
Each time a Pokemon is caught, its entry is registered into the Pokedex app. By opening the Pokedex with (-) and pressing (A), players can view every Pokemon they've seen/caught. Tap (X) to collect Pokedex Rewards, which are each time players catch a set amount of Pokemon. For example, 90 volumes/caught Pokemon gives x10 Nest Balls.
In short, here is how to get the Shiny Charm:
- Catch all 400 Pokemon. Players will need to trade with someone who has the opposite version of Scarlet/Violet to get Version Exclusives (ex: Larvitar, Deino) and evolution-by-trade Pokemon.
- Return to Naranja (Scarlet)/Uva (Violet) Academy.
- Go to the Biology Lab and speak to Jacq to get the Shiny Charm.
Shiny Pokemon do not have higher IVs or special moves than their normal-colored counterparts.
How to Increase Shiny Odds with Shiny Charm
The exact odds of finding and hatching a Shiny Pokemon is 1 in 4096. With the Shiny Charm, this rate drops to 1 in 2044.To use the Shiny Charm, all trainers need to do is have it in their bag - that's it. Both Shiny Rates apply for wild Pokemon and those that are hatched from Eggs. There are a few ways to increase the odds of finding/hatching a Shiny Pokemon:
Make Sandwiches
Once Scarlet/Violet players make it into the postgame, they will be able to take part in 5-Star Tera Raid Battles. After beating the postgame's tournament, they'll unlock 6-Star Tera Raids. Whether 5-Star or 6-Star, Tera Raids have a small chance of giving Herba Mysticas as rewards. The reward output can be increased by having the Raid PowerMeal Effect active.
If there are at least two Herba Mystica in a sandwich, it'll generate a Meal Effect called Sparkling Power. The Type of Pokemon that generates from Sparkling Power will depend on the ingredients and condiments. Herba Mystica can be added in Creative Mode during Picnics, and with two Herba Mystica, the Sparkling Power should be level 3.
The odds of finding a Shiny with the Sparkling Power Meal Effect bring it down to 1 in 1024. However, with the Shiny Charm decrease the odds of finding a Shiny by 1 in 683.
The Masuda Method
This involves breeding a Pokemon with another Pokemon of a compatible Egg Group (or a Ditto), but one of the Pokemon must be of a different language. This can be obtained by Trading with other Scarlet/Violet players online, or transferring them from one Scarlet/Violet save file (in a different language) to another in Pokemon HOME, which will be compatible with Scarlet/Violet in Spring 2023.
With the Shiny Charm, the Masuda Method lowers the Shiny Rate down to a 1 in 512.
Investigate Mass Outbreaks
Every day at 12am local, new Mass Outbreakers will appear in Paldea. As their name indicates, Mass Outbreaks are when a large amount of Pokemon of the same species start cropping up in a specific area. Mass Outbreaks are indicated by a Pokemon's icon with a faint "red aura" around them on the map. If the Pokemon has not yet been seen by the player (ie: not in the Pokedex), then there will be a question mark instead.
What Scarlet/Violet players should do is check the Map (with Y-button). Zoom out with ZR to see which Mass Outbreaks are occurring. Once player identify the Pokemon and their Typing, set up a Picnic and get the Sparkling Power Meal Effect. Go to the Mass Outbreak and have a high-leveled Lead Pokemon auto-battle with R button.
The Lead Pokemon will not engage a Shiny Pokemon in Auto Battle, so feel free to let the Lead Pokemon KO as much as it wants. Wandering too far away from the active Pokemon will cause it to return to its Ball, so try to stay close.
A Mass Outbreak with the Shiny Charm and the Sparkling Power will increase the odds of finding a Shiny Pokemon by 1 in 585/512 depending on the number of Pokemon in the Outbreak. 30+ Pokemon will generate 1 in 585 while 60+ will generate 1 in 512.
Shiny Pokemon will not sparkle from a distance or play a "chiming" sound when they spawn on the map, like they did in Legends: Arceus . Unfortunately, this makes it harder to detect them - especially small Pokemon like Smoliv or Foongus. Pokemon with barely any color differences (like Tadbulb) will be even harder to distinguish.
If players aren't sure if a Pokemon is Shiny, they should send out their Pokemon to Auto Battle.
How to Get the Shiny Charm in Scarlet/Violet with Pokemon HOME
Now that Pokemon HOME is compatible with Scarlet & Violet, trainers that have a copy of both versions can complete the Pokedex and get the Shiny Charm without the need to trade. True to mainline Pokemon formula, each version has its own exclusive Pokemon. For example, Pokemon Scarlet players can find a Larvitar in the wild, but they won't find Bagon and its evolutions. Pokemon Violet is the opposite with Bagon appearing in the wild, but Larvitar and its evolutions absent from Paldea.
This mechanic is set in so that players are forced to trade with others. In fact, it's impossible to catch every Pokemon in the Paldea Pokedex without trading. This is why many fans were waiting for Scarlet/Violet compatibility with Pokemon HOME. This is a free app that players can install on their smart device and the Nintendo Switch. Players can transfer the Pokemon they catch from Pokemon GO to a linked Pokemon HOME account. In order to transfer Pokemon from mainline games (i.e, Scarlet/Violet, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, etc), they'll need HOME on their Switch.
While HOME is free, a subscription will unlock more Boxes to store Pokemon. Without the subscription plan, players will only have access to the Basic Box. Fortunately, when it comes to transferring Pokemon from Scarlet to Violet (and vice versa), players really only need the Basic Box.
To complete the Pokedex with Pokemon HOME and without trading , players will need a copy of both Scarlet and Violet.
To transfer a Pokemon with HOME and have it registered in the S/V Pokedex, players need to do the following:
- In HOME, select either Scarlet or Violet.
- Go through the Boxes in Scarlet/Violet in HOME and select the Pokemon to transfer. Pokemon can be picked up in HOME with Y-button, or they can be selected all at once by choosing the multi-select feature with ZR-button.
- When finished, carry the Pokemon to the Basic Box.
- Press (+) and select Save and Exit.
- Now open the other game. If players opened and transferred Pokemon from Scarlet, then they'll need to open Violet.
- Carry the Pokemon in HOME's Basic Box to an empty slot in Scarlet/Violet's PC Boxes.
- When finished, press (+) to Save and Exit.
- Exit out of Pokemon HOME, and open the Pokemon game that received the transferred Pokemon.
- As long as players hit Save and Exit, then the Pokemon should have its Dex Entry registered in Scarlet or Violet.
Players don't need to keep the Pokemon in their Violet or Scarlet PC Box in HOME. Follow steps 1-7, only instead of exiting out of HOME, go back into the game where the Pokemon were transferred. Move them back to the Basic Box and select Save and Exit. Players can then move the Pokemon back to their home game.
Be sure to check if the Pokemon's data was entered in Scarlet or Violet. Players can see their recently caught Pokemon by opening the Pokedex with (-). Once all 400 Pokemon have been registered in the Dex, players can return to Naranja/Uva Academy and speak to Jacq to get the Shiny Charm.
Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet are available for Nintendo Switch.
