Guide: Pokémon Shiny Hunting

Nine Methods To Net You The Rarest Monsters Around, From Gen 2 to X & Y

Shiny Pokémon: Pokémon that present as a different colour to the rest of their species. They can also be identified by the sparkles that appear when you encounter them. Being shiny doesn't offer them any advantages over the rest of their kind, the change is purely cosmetic, but their extremely rare appearance rate means they are sought after by Pokémon trainers worldwide, with some dedicating large amounts of time to 'Shiny Hunting'. Here's my guide to the ways you can find your very own Shiny Pokémon.

Masuda Method:

Games you can do this in: Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black, White, Black 2, White 2, X, Y.

What you need: A Pokémon of which is a different region to the game you are playing, another egg group-compatible Pokémon to put in Day Care with it.

What could help: Pokémon with the ability 'Flame Body' to speed up hatching, Nursery shop in Join Avenue (Gen V), O Power for faster hatching (Gen VI).

Ever wondered why people are so keen to get hold of Japanese Dittos? The answer could be they are keen to try the Masuda Method. Named after Game Freak director Junichi Masuda, this method of obtaining Shiny Pokémon involves putting two Pokémon in the day care, each from different regions, for a higher chance of a Shiny Pokémon hatching from the egg. Using the Masuda Method your chances of receiving a shiny go from the standard rate of 1/8192 to 1/2048 (Gen IV) or a further boost to 1/1365.3 (Gen V). It would seem that the rate of finding a shiny through Masuda Method has increased again in Pokémon X and Y but this is unconfirmed.

PokéRadar:

Games you can do this in: Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, X, Y.

What you need: PokéRadar, loads of Max Repel, a selection of PokéBalls

What could help: The ability to keep calm when you break the chain

The PokéRadar is a useful tool that when used correctly, allows you to encounter the same Pokémon continuously. This is known as 'chaining'. This is a very tricky and time consuming method of shiny hunting. After a brief time away, the PokéRadar has returned in Pokémon X and Y. The PokéRadar is obtained after defeating the Pokémon League.

How to use the PokéRadar:

• To start, find a huge square area of grass and use a Max Repel so you do not encounter wild Pokémon outside of the chain. If this happens the chain will break.
• Use the PokéRadar and you'll see 4-5 patches of grass shake.
• Go into a patch of grass to encounter a Pokémon - this will be the Pokémon you will be chaining.
• If you don't want to chain that Pokémon, walk 50 steps to recharge then use it again.
• Defeat the Pokémon for the chain to continue.
• When battle is over more grass will shake. Remember which patches of grass move and how.
• The grass can move in different ways. Little shake, big shake, and shiny patch. It is advised to always go into patches of grass that shake rapidly. There is a chance that entering a patch with little grass movement will spawn a Pokémon that would break the chain, or even more annoyingly in X and Y, there might be no Pokémon there at all.
• You should try and enter shaking patches of grass at least four spaces away from you.
• In the Generation IV games it was advised to not enter grass patches on the edge/near objects/leave the grass area as it would break the chain. Also do not enter a patch of grass that is next to another patch of grass that shakes.
• If there are no safe patches of grass, reset the PokéRadar by walking 50 steps, away from the moving grass patches so you don't break the chain.
• Keep defeating the target Pokémon and your chain will increase. The higher the chain, the more likely you will see a shiny patch of grass. The highest chance of finding a shiny patch is if your chain reaches 40.
• If you see a shiny patch (even if your chain isn't 40) enter it - it's a Shiny Pokémon!

Shiny Charm:

Games you can do this in: Black 2, White 2, X, Y.

What you need: Complete National Pokédex (excluding event Legendaries), a selection of PokéBalls.

What could help: Friends with the game to help you trade evolve Pokémon, friends with the opposite game to help you obtain version exclusives.

Completing the National Pokédex is by no means an easy task. In Black 2 and White 2 you are rewarded with the Shiny Charm. The Shiny Charm is a key item that, when obtained, increases the rate of finding Shiny Pokémon. If you are using the Masuda Method in Black 2/White 2 along with owning the Shiny Charm, that increases the rate of hatching a shiny down to only 1 in 1024! In Pokémon X and Y the item suggests it only works on encountering wild Pokémon, however online studies testing if it works alongside Masuda Method in X and Y are looking very promising.

Chain Fishing:

Games you can do this in: X, Y.

What you need: Fishing rod, a selection of PokéBalls.

What could help: Pokémon with the ability 'Suction Cups', Pokémon with the move 'Surf'.

Chain fishing is a new method of finding Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon X and Y. All you need to do is find a fishing spot, and fish. You must not move from the spot you are fishing or the chain will break. You can defeat the Pokémon or run, it is believed catching the Pokémon will break the chain. It's as simple as that. Keep fishing and do not move and your chances of increasing a shiny will increase. It's not known what the odds are for chain fishing.

Horde Method:

Games you can do this in: X, Y.

What you need: Pokémon with the move 'Sweet Scent', a selection of PokéBalls

The new horde encounters in Pokémon X and Y are another new way you could find Shiny Pokémon. While it is possible to encounter hordes at random, they are pretty rare so I would advise using a Pokémon with the move Sweet Scent, which attracts horde encounters. While hordes technically don't have increased shiny rates, it counts as encountering five Pokémon at once. Also you may be lucky and find a Pokémon with a hidden ability this way.

Friend Safari:

Games you can do this in: X, Y.

What you need: 3DS Friends, a selection of PokéBalls

After you've gained access to Kiloude City you can find the Friend Safari. All of the 3DS friends you have added will have their own area with 2-3 Pokémon available to catch. These Pokémon could have their hidden abilities and will have at least two Individual Values of 31 (to put it simply if you're not into the technical side of Pokémon, have at least two really good stats). While not confirmed, it seems very likely that Friend Safari areas have increased chances of finding a shiny.

Events:

Games you can do this in: Most Pokémon games.

What you need: Pokémon games that have event/download options

What could help: Internet Access, a real life event

Over the years there have been many events that distribute Pokémon, some of which are shiny. This could be through Nintendo Wifi or more often through distribution at an event. Last year, before the release of Pokémon X and Y, GAME stores across the UK distributed Shiny Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina.

In-Game Event Shiny Pokémon:

Games you can do this in: Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black, White, Black 2, White 2.

In some Pokémon games there are in-game events that guarantee you a Shiny Pokémon. Pokémon Gold and Silver were the first time we were introduced to Pokémon of a different colour to normal. Who can forget the mighty red Gyarados on the Lake of Rage? In Pokémon Black/White you could obtain a shiny Gible or Dratini after defeating Benga. In Pokémon Black 2/White 2 you can find a shiny Haxorus in the Nature Preserve.

Just plain luck:

Games you can do this in: From Pokémon Gold/Silver

What you need: Luck

What could help: More luck

You know what they say - wait ages for a bus and two come along at once - you never can never find what you're looking for. Shiny Pokémon are very much like that. I know people that caught Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire, and I know others that have been playing for years and didn't catch their first shiny until Pokémon X and Y. You never know when it's going to happen to you. Get hunting!

Special Thanks to Marti Bennett for the Guide.