Shiny Pokémon
Shiny Pokémon are rare, differently colored versions of a species that are identical in stats. A shiny is the same Pokémon with a new color palette and a small sparkle when it appears, with base odds of 1 in 4,096.
Shinies were introduced in Gold and Silver (Generation 2), and the coloring is purely cosmetic.
Last updated
- Base odds (current)
- 1 in 4,096
- Base odds (Gens 2-5)
- 1 in 8,192
- Introduced
- Gold and Silver
- Effect on stats
- None
- Tell
- Recolor and sparkle
- Odds boosters
- Masuda Method, Shiny Charm
What makes a Pokémon shiny?
A shiny Pokémon uses an alternate color palette instead of its normal one. A shiny Gyarados is red rather than blue, for example, but it is the same Gyarados in every other way. When a shiny appears, the game plays a short sparkle animation and sound to mark it.
The difference is purely cosmetic. A shiny has the same stats, the same moves, and the same type as a normal member of its species, so it is prized for its rarity and its look, not for any edge in battle.
What are the odds of a shiny Pokémon?
In the current games, meaning Generation 6 (2013) onward, the base odds of finding a shiny are 1 in 4,096. That is the chance for a random encounter with no boosts applied.
Shinies first appeared in Gold and Silver, the Generation 2 games. From Generation 2 through Generation 5 the base rate was rarer, at 1 in 8,192, so the modern games roughly doubled your chances before any boosters are added.
How to increase shiny odds
Several methods improve your chances beyond the base rate. The two best known are:
- The Masuda Method: breeding two Pokémon from games set to different languages raises the shiny odds of the Eggs they produce.
- The Shiny Charm: a key item, usually earned by completing the Pokédex, that raises your shiny chances across the board.
Individual games add their own methods too, and the exact size of each boost varies from game to game. The common thread is that they stack onto the base rate to make a shiny more likely.
Do shinies exist in Pokémon cards?
Yes. The Pokémon Trading Card Game has its own shiny card variants, which show a Pokémon in its shiny coloring on a special foil card. These shiny cards are collector favorites and are often among the most sought-after pulls in the sets that feature them.
Can any Pokémon be shiny?
Nearly all of them. The vast majority of Pokémon have a shiny form, so most can be found shiny with enough patience. The main exception is Pokémon that are shiny-locked in a particular game, meaning the game prevents that specific encounter from being shiny. Which Pokémon are locked, and in which games, depends on the title, so it is worth checking before you hunt for a specific one.
Frequently asked questions
What is a shiny Pokémon?
A shiny Pokémon is a rare version of a species that uses a different color palette than normal. It is exactly the same Pokémon underneath, with the same stats, moves, and type. The only difference is the look, plus a small sparkle animation when it appears.
What are the odds of a shiny Pokémon?
The base odds are 1 in 4,096 in the current games, meaning Generation 6 (2013) onward. In the older games, from Generation 2 through Generation 5, the base rate was 1 in 8,192. Certain items and methods can improve those odds beyond the base rate.
How do you increase shiny odds?
The two best known methods are the Masuda Method, which means breeding two Pokémon from games set to different languages, and the Shiny Charm, a key item that raises your shiny chances across the board. Both improve your odds over the base rate. Their exact effect varies by game.
Can any Pokémon be shiny?
Almost every Pokémon has a shiny form, so most can be found shiny with enough searching. A few are shiny-locked in specific games, which means the game blocks them from appearing shiny in that encounter. Which Pokémon are locked depends on the game.
Are shiny Pokémon better in battle?
No. A shiny Pokémon has the exact same stats and abilities as a normal one, so it holds no battle advantage. Shininess is purely cosmetic. Players chase shinies for their rarity and their unique coloring, not for power.
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