Are Shiny Pokemon Better than Normal Pokemon?

The infamous shiny Pokemon are better than normal Pokemon is a well-known statement throughout the ages. Ever since the first shiny Pokemon made its appearance in 2017, which was Magikarp, that will turn your Gyarados red. You spend all of your time collecting and battling Pokemon to finish the Pokedex. Once you’ve reached that point you’re given a shiny charm. This charm can be used to help catch shiny Pokemon frequently. The number of happiness trainers gets when they come across their first shiny is beautiful. Streamers will erupt in pure joy whereas casual gamers who aren’t aware of what a shiny Pokemon is will mistakenly kill them. Unfortunately, that’s us. The first shiny we came across ended up dead. With that being said, are shiny Pokemon better than normal Pokemon?

Shiny Pokemon versus Normal Pokemon – What’s Better

What are shinies and why are they so popular in the Pokemon franchise? Shiny Pokemon have a reputation for being some of the hardest types of Pokemon you can find in the wild. In order to find one you need to kill a lot of Pokemon of the same type. After you’ve killed enough Pokemon your odds of finding a shiny go up. A shiny Pokemon is exactly that. It’s shiny and differs in appearance from its counterpart. Just like Magikarp turning into a red Gyarados, it has physical differences people want. Does this make shinies better than regular Pokemon? Sorry to burst your bubble beginner trainers, but shiny Pokemon don’t add any value other than being pretty. They’re great to add to your rare collection and shiny hunting does exist, but other than being a rare find, they’re not going to add any special bonuses.

Shiny Hunting in Pokemon

If you’re still not convinced that shiny Pokemon add no real value and you still want to catch them we recommend using a few methods in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet to help. In other Pokemon games, catching shinies has a 1/4096 chance of finding a shiny. You will need to find clever methods to snag these beauties. One of these methods is by using the shiny charm that the professor gives you to boost your chances of finding a shiny. The second method is eating those tasty sandwiches, preferably one with a level three sparkling power. In order to make those types of sandwiches you will need Herba Mystica and they’re only dropped in 5 or 6 star Tera raids. You can also try breeding a Pokemon to become shiny. The only way to breed Pokemon in this game is by having a picnic and waiting until an egg is placed in the basket. Lastly, you will need to partake in mass outbreaks. Kill as many Pokemon as you can for the duration of the mass outbreak and you should be able to find a shiny through all the chaos.

Shiny Pokemon not included in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet there are some Pokemon you won’t find a shiny equivalent to. Starter Pokemon for example are locked so you wouldn’t be able to find a shiny for the three starter types. If you have received a Pokemon from an NPC such as Galarian Meowth, Johtonian Wooper, Snom, and Gregar you’re out of luck. They’re locked as well. Legendaries should be a given but those beautiful legendary Pokemon you worked hard to unlock? They’re shiny locked as well. Another notable Pokemon that won’t have a shiny is the annoying Gimmighoul chest. Lastly, titan Pokemon will not be able to turn into a shiny. Sad face.

Good luck catching those shiny Pokemon trainers! Even if they’re not as great as normal Pokemon they’re so beautiful and worth adding to your team. That’s everything you need to know about shiny Pokemon versus normal Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet! For more Pokémon Scarlet and Violet content, be sure to check out our posts! We’re covering everything about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Related: Is it harder to catch wild pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?