Shiny pokemon are rare, alternate colored variations of pokemon that have been available since the second generation of pokemon. As we are now in the sixth generation, encountering shiny pokemon has become much easier. This blog explains the different methods of hunting for shiny pokemon and answers any questions regarding the methods.
Methods only in X and Y:
Friend Safari:
The Friend Safari located in Kiloude City gives players an increased chance of 1/512 to encounter a shiny pokemon. However the Friend Safari is rather limited since it requires players to add more people to their 3ds friend's list to access more pokemon (since a typical player's safari only contains three pokemon). To encounter the shiny pokemon, players will have to randomly encounter pokemon until one appears.
Pokeradar Chaining:
Given to players in Professor Sycamore's Lab in Lumiose City, the Pokeradar is rather tricky to master, but it is rewarding if you do it. Players must enter a large patch of grass or flowers and activate the pokeradar, several patches of grass/flowers will begin to shake either violently or gently. Avoid the patches shaking gently, they have a chance of breaking your chain. Once you encounter a pokemon in the shaking patch, you must continue to encounter it, finding any other pokemon will break the chain. In some instances, the background music will speed up, this increases the chance of finding a shiny pokemon. Once a chain of 40 is reached, a patch of grass/flowers may shake violently and sparkle, this patch of grass will contain a shiny pokemon.
Methods only in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:
Dexnav Encounters:
Using the Dexnav feature of the Pokenav Plus, players can encounter a specific pokemon on the route or cave of their choice. When using the Dexnav, a pokemon's silhouette will appear coming out whatever area pokemon appear from on the route (grass, water, dirt, or sand), players must slowly approach the silhouette by gently pushing on the 3ds Circle Pad. It's highly recommended that players have Super Repels or Max Repels. As an added bonus, you can even get special items depending on what pokemon you encounter, an increase in the pokemon's level every 5 encounters, one egg move per pokemon after it is encountered enough times, a chance to catch one with its hidden ability (if it has one), and even perfect IV's! The rate of encountering a shiny pokemon using this method is inconclusive, but it is generally estimated to have the same odds as the Friend Safari in X and Y (1/512). This method is NOT a chain, if the pokemon you are hunting spots you and runs away, it is fine.
WARNING: Using the Dexnav in any area aside from tall grass is more challenging as the pokemon can move their location after a few seconds and after the fifth encounter they move much faster, making hunting more challenging. Nonetheless it is still possible.
Methods available in both games:
Random Encounters:
Encountering a shiny pokemon in the wild is rare, being a 1/4096. By completing the National Pokedex and talking to Prof. Sycamore (X and Y) or Prof. Birch (Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire), players are given the Shiny Charm, which increases the chance to encounter a shiny increases to 1/1024.
Horde Encounters:
Horde encounters are essentially the same as random encounters, however you encounter 5 pokemon at once. Horde encounters don't generally have an effect on the rate of encountering a shiny, but each of the 5 pokemon in a horde can be shiny, this essentially makes the chances 5/4096 without the Shiny Charm and 5/1024 with the Charm.
Chain Fishing:
With a fishing rod, players can fish for a shiny pokemon, though this method requires precise timing. With this method it's best to have a pokemon with the ability Suction Cups or Sticky Hold. These abilities will ensure that a pokemon will increase the chances of catching a pokemon on the rod. To chain fish, you must use the fishing rod repeatedly without moving from the spot you began fishing. Once you reach a chain of about 30 - 40, you should find a shiny pokemon.
Soft Resetting:
This method doesn't require any item, but it will most likely take the longest. When the player is about to battle a legendary or rare pokemon, or receive a pokemon either as a gift or at the beginning of the game, it is possible to cause the game to soft reset by pressing L, R, Start or Select if the desired pokemon is not shiny. It will take a while but this method does work. However there are several pokemon that are "shiny locked", meaning they can not be legally shiny. These pokemon include Zygarde, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zapdos, Articuno, Moltres, Mewtwo, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, and Deoxys.
Masuda Method:
Named after developer Junichi Masuda, the Masuda Method involves breeding two pokemon from different countries of origin together in the day care. The chances of hatching a shiny pokemon normally using this method is 1/684, with the shiny charm it increases to 1/512.
Methods only in X and Y:
Friend Safari:
The Friend Safari located in Kiloude City gives players an increased chance of 1/512 to encounter a shiny pokemon. However the Friend Safari is rather limited since it requires players to add more people to their 3ds friend's list to access more pokemon (since a typical player's safari only contains three pokemon). To encounter the shiny pokemon, players will have to randomly encounter pokemon until one appears.
Pokeradar Chaining:
Given to players in Professor Sycamore's Lab in Lumiose City, the Pokeradar is rather tricky to master, but it is rewarding if you do it. Players must enter a large patch of grass or flowers and activate the pokeradar, several patches of grass/flowers will begin to shake either violently or gently. Avoid the patches shaking gently, they have a chance of breaking your chain. Once you encounter a pokemon in the shaking patch, you must continue to encounter it, finding any other pokemon will break the chain. In some instances, the background music will speed up, this increases the chance of finding a shiny pokemon. Once a chain of 40 is reached, a patch of grass/flowers may shake violently and sparkle, this patch of grass will contain a shiny pokemon.
Methods only in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:
Dexnav Encounters:
Using the Dexnav feature of the Pokenav Plus, players can encounter a specific pokemon on the route or cave of their choice. When using the Dexnav, a pokemon's silhouette will appear coming out whatever area pokemon appear from on the route (grass, water, dirt, or sand), players must slowly approach the silhouette by gently pushing on the 3ds Circle Pad. It's highly recommended that players have Super Repels or Max Repels. As an added bonus, you can even get special items depending on what pokemon you encounter, an increase in the pokemon's level every 5 encounters, one egg move per pokemon after it is encountered enough times, a chance to catch one with its hidden ability (if it has one), and even perfect IV's! The rate of encountering a shiny pokemon using this method is inconclusive, but it is generally estimated to have the same odds as the Friend Safari in X and Y (1/512). This method is NOT a chain, if the pokemon you are hunting spots you and runs away, it is fine.
WARNING: Using the Dexnav in any area aside from tall grass is more challenging as the pokemon can move their location after a few seconds and after the fifth encounter they move much faster, making hunting more challenging. Nonetheless it is still possible.
Methods available in both games:
Random Encounters:
Encountering a shiny pokemon in the wild is rare, being a 1/4096. By completing the National Pokedex and talking to Prof. Sycamore (X and Y) or Prof. Birch (Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire), players are given the Shiny Charm, which increases the chance to encounter a shiny increases to 1/1024.
Horde Encounters:
Horde encounters are essentially the same as random encounters, however you encounter 5 pokemon at once. Horde encounters don't generally have an effect on the rate of encountering a shiny, but each of the 5 pokemon in a horde can be shiny, this essentially makes the chances 5/4096 without the Shiny Charm and 5/1024 with the Charm.
Chain Fishing:
With a fishing rod, players can fish for a shiny pokemon, though this method requires precise timing. With this method it's best to have a pokemon with the ability Suction Cups or Sticky Hold. These abilities will ensure that a pokemon will increase the chances of catching a pokemon on the rod. To chain fish, you must use the fishing rod repeatedly without moving from the spot you began fishing. Once you reach a chain of about 30 - 40, you should find a shiny pokemon.
Soft Resetting:
This method doesn't require any item, but it will most likely take the longest. When the player is about to battle a legendary or rare pokemon, or receive a pokemon either as a gift or at the beginning of the game, it is possible to cause the game to soft reset by pressing L, R, Start or Select if the desired pokemon is not shiny. It will take a while but this method does work. However there are several pokemon that are "shiny locked", meaning they can not be legally shiny. These pokemon include Zygarde, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zapdos, Articuno, Moltres, Mewtwo, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, and Deoxys.
Masuda Method:
Named after developer Junichi Masuda, the Masuda Method involves breeding two pokemon from different countries of origin together in the day care. The chances of hatching a shiny pokemon normally using this method is 1/684, with the shiny charm it increases to 1/512.
