Highlights

  • Shiny hunting in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is made easier with specific methods and items like the Shiny Charm and Sparkling Power.
  • Trainers can increase their odds of encountering shiny Pokemon by completing the Paldea Pokedex, crafting specific sandwiches, and seeking out Mass outbreaks.
  • The Shiny Charm doubles the chances of encountering shiny Pokemon, while Sparkling Power from sandwiches and Mass outbreaks can further lower the odds.

Trainers in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet now have a strategy offered from The Pokemon Company itself to catch shinies. Throughout all of Paldea and the expansion regions of Kitakami and Blueberry Academy, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet give trainers many opportunities to engage in "shiny hunting." These methods do not guarantee encounters, but promise to increase the odds of their occurrence.

Shiny variants of Pokemon have been occurring since the second generation games, Pokemon Gold and Silver. The visual cosmetic change has no competitive aspect whatsoever, but explores different color schemes. It is important to note that not all Pokemon can be shiny, such as certain legendaries.

Pokemon Shiny Hunting Methods
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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Best Shiny Hunting Methods, Ranked

Finding Shiny Pokemon can be very challenging in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, but these methods will make it much easier.

On the Pokemon website, trainers can review the specific goals to meet in order to encounter more shiny Pokemon more frequently. These are all methods that can be explored within the game itself, but this comprehensive list details all the shiny-specific mechanics of the game. The rate of catching shinies in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet can vary from 1 out of every 4096 encounters to 1 out of every 512.

Pokemon Shiny Hunting Guidelines

  • Complete the Paldea Pokedex (400 entires)
  • Craft sandwiches with Salty + 1 Herba Mystica combos to activate Sparkling Power
  • Mass outbreak encounters

The increase in odds of an encounter is immediately doubled to 1 out of every 2048 encounters once trainers receive the Shiny Charm in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. This item is given to the trainer by Jacq in Mesagoza after completing 400 unique entries in the Paldea Pokedex. Once that happens, shiny encounter rates are twice as likely for the duration of the player's game, regardless of region visited. The Shiny Charm also increases the odds of hatching a shiny Pokemon from an egg.

A second method trainers can try is using Sparkling Power from any meals they might put together for their Pokemon during a picnic. In order to activate Sparkling Power in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, trainers must put together a sandwich for their team using specific combinations. These recipes require the use of two Herba Mysticas (one always Salty), which can be obtained through winning 5- or 6-star Tera Raid battles. Combined with the right ingredients, trainers may specify what type of Pokemon they wish to encounter.

Herba Mystica Combinations

  • Sparkling Power: Normal – Tofu, Salty Herba Mystica, Sour Herba Mystica
  • Sparkling Power: Fire – Red Bell Pepper, Salty Herba Mystica, Spicy Herba Mystica
  • Sparkling Power: Water – Cucumber, Salty Herba Mystica ×2
  • Sparkling Power: Grass – Lettuce, Salty Herba Mystica, Sour Herba Mystica
  • Sparkling Power: Electric – Yellow Bell Pepper, Salty Herba Mystica, Spicy Herba Mystica
  • Sparkling Power: Ice – Klawf Stick, Salty Herba Mystica ×2
  • Sparkling Power: Fighting – Pickle, Salty Herba Mystica ×2
  • Sparkling Power: Poison – Green Bell Pepper, Salty Herba Mystica, Spicy Herba Mystica
  • Sparkling Power: Ground – Ham, Salty Herba Mystica ×2
  • Sparkling Power: Flying – Prosciutto, Salty Herba Mystica ×2
  • Sparkling Power: Psychic – Onion, Salty Herba Mystica ×2
  • Sparkling Power: Bug – Cherry Tomatoes, Salty Herba Mystica ×2
  • Sparkling Power: Rock – Bacon, Salty Herba Mystica, Sour Herba Mystica
  • Sparkling Power: Ghost – Red Onion, Salty Herba Mystica ×2
  • Sparkling Power: Dragon – Avocado, Salty Herba Mystica ×2
  • Sparkling Power: Dark – Smoked Fillet, Salty Herba Mystica, Sweet Herba Mystica
  • Sparkling Power: Steel – Hamburger, Salty Herba Mystica, Sweet Herba Mystica
  • Sparkling Power: Fairy – Tomato, Salty Herba Mystica ×2

The most effective way of encountering shiny Pokemon is seeking out Mass outbreaks within Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Combined with the Shiny Charm and Sparkling power from the right sandwich, the chances of encounter can reduce to as low as 1 out of 512. Look for the caption “There are not many [Pokémon's name] left from the original outbreak...” and survey the area, for this is when a shiny encounter is most likely to occur in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.