Shiny Hunting Methods
Throughout every generation of Pokémon there have been a number of different methods used to hunt for shinies. Some methods are simple while others can be more complicated. Here is a run down of all the possible shiny hunting methods.
Random Encounters
This is the most self-explanatory method. All you do is do random encounters in an area until you find a shiny. If you are hunting in Gen 2-5 (Gold, Silver, Crystal Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Fire Red, Leaf Green, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Heart Gold, Soul Silver, Black, White, Black 2 and White 2) the chance that you will find a random shiny is 1/8192. If you are hunting in Gen 6-7 (X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun and Moon) your odds to find a random shiny are 1/4096.
This is the most self-explanatory method. All you do is do random encounters in an area until you find a shiny. If you are hunting in Gen 2-5 (Gold, Silver, Crystal Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Fire Red, Leaf Green, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Heart Gold, Soul Silver, Black, White, Black 2 and White 2) the chance that you will find a random shiny is 1/8192. If you are hunting in Gen 6-7 (X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun and Moon) your odds to find a random shiny are 1/4096.
The Shiny Charm
The Shiny Charm is a special item that was introduced in Black and White 2. It was awarded to you if you caught every Pokémon in the Unova Pokédex. If you had a Shiny Charm, your odds of finding a Shiny are made better at odds of 1/4096. The Shiny Charm reappeared in Gen 6-7, with you having to complete the National Dex in X, Y, Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire (not including Mythical Pokémon). This would made your odds 1/1365 to find a random shiny. In Sun and Moon, you had to complete the Alola Dex to get the charm with the same odds as Gen 6.
The Shiny Charm is a special item that was introduced in Black and White 2. It was awarded to you if you caught every Pokémon in the Unova Pokédex. If you had a Shiny Charm, your odds of finding a Shiny are made better at odds of 1/4096. The Shiny Charm reappeared in Gen 6-7, with you having to complete the National Dex in X, Y, Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire (not including Mythical Pokémon). This would made your odds 1/1365 to find a random shiny. In Sun and Moon, you had to complete the Alola Dex to get the charm with the same odds as Gen 6.
Soft Resetting
Soft Resetting is when you press certain button at the same time to reset your game. This method is often used when hunting for a shiny legendary. Between each generation, the buttons you have to press vary.
Gen 2-3: A+B+START+SELECT
Gen 4-5: L+R+START+SELECT
Gen 6-7: L+R+START/SELECT
Soft Resetting is when you press certain button at the same time to reset your game. This method is often used when hunting for a shiny legendary. Between each generation, the buttons you have to press vary.
Gen 2-3: A+B+START+SELECT
Gen 4-5: L+R+START+SELECT
Gen 6-7: L+R+START/SELECT
PokéRadar
The PokéRadar was first introduced in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl andPlatinum and was awarded to you when you have completed Sinnoh's National Dex (seeing every Pokémon, not having to catch all of them). The way to use the PokéRadar goes like this:
What you will need:
The PokéRadar from Professor Oak (Talk to Rowan when you have seen all Pokémon in Sinnoh)
PokéBalls
PokéRadar App for Pokétch (Optional)
How it works
1. Spray a repel and save your game while standing in grass
2. Use the PokéRadar and walk into any grass that shakes.
3. If you find a Pokémon you want to Chain either KO it or catch it to continue the chain.
4. Remember if you walked into normal shaking grass or sparky shaking grass. You want to stick to that kind of grass as long as it is 4 columns/rows away from you.
5. If you don't have good grass, walk for 50 steps to recharge the PokéRadar and repeat until you find a good patch.
6. Once you reach a chain of 40, you no longer need to go into shaking grass as your odds are at the maximum of 1/200. So now you just keep resetting the Radar until you find a shiny patch. Once you do, walk into that patch for a 100% guaranteed shiny.
7. After catching the shiny, you can continue the chain to get another if you wish as your odds are still at 1/200 until your chain breaks
Ways a chain can break
1. Walking into shaking grass on an edge (not all the time)
2. Walking too far away from the grass
3. Closing the game
4. Leaving the area
5. Walking into bad grass
6. Walking into a patch that was shaking next to another shaking patch.
The PokéRadar made a return in X and Y with some differences:
Every so often, fast music will play which means you have 1/200 odds of a shiny patch for a few resets of the Radar.
You can't continue resetting for another shiny after finding one like in Gen 4. You would need to get to a chain of 40 again.
You have to walk into the grass that shakes the most instead of sticking to a certain kind of grass.
The PokéRadar can be found by talking to one of the scientists at Professor Sycamore's Lab in Lumiose City after becoming champion.
The PokéRadar was first introduced in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl andPlatinum and was awarded to you when you have completed Sinnoh's National Dex (seeing every Pokémon, not having to catch all of them). The way to use the PokéRadar goes like this:
What you will need:
The PokéRadar from Professor Oak (Talk to Rowan when you have seen all Pokémon in Sinnoh)
PokéBalls
PokéRadar App for Pokétch (Optional)
How it works
1. Spray a repel and save your game while standing in grass
2. Use the PokéRadar and walk into any grass that shakes.
3. If you find a Pokémon you want to Chain either KO it or catch it to continue the chain.
4. Remember if you walked into normal shaking grass or sparky shaking grass. You want to stick to that kind of grass as long as it is 4 columns/rows away from you.
5. If you don't have good grass, walk for 50 steps to recharge the PokéRadar and repeat until you find a good patch.
6. Once you reach a chain of 40, you no longer need to go into shaking grass as your odds are at the maximum of 1/200. So now you just keep resetting the Radar until you find a shiny patch. Once you do, walk into that patch for a 100% guaranteed shiny.
7. After catching the shiny, you can continue the chain to get another if you wish as your odds are still at 1/200 until your chain breaks
Ways a chain can break
1. Walking into shaking grass on an edge (not all the time)
2. Walking too far away from the grass
3. Closing the game
4. Leaving the area
5. Walking into bad grass
6. Walking into a patch that was shaking next to another shaking patch.
The PokéRadar made a return in X and Y with some differences:
Every so often, fast music will play which means you have 1/200 odds of a shiny patch for a few resets of the Radar.
You can't continue resetting for another shiny after finding one like in Gen 4. You would need to get to a chain of 40 again.
You have to walk into the grass that shakes the most instead of sticking to a certain kind of grass.
The PokéRadar can be found by talking to one of the scientists at Professor Sycamore's Lab in Lumiose City after becoming champion.
Example of normal shaking grass (top) and sparkly shaking grass (bottom)
Example of a shiny patch
Hordes
Hordes were a new kind of battle introduced in Gen 6. People were able to exploit this to get shinies much quicker. Considering that you get to see 5 Pokémon at once, your odds are much better with it being 1/819 without Shiny Charm and 1/273 with it. However, there is the very rare chance that you could get more than 1 shiny in a horde. If this happens, you are unable to catch both so you would need to kill one to get the other.
Hordes were a new kind of battle introduced in Gen 6. People were able to exploit this to get shinies much quicker. Considering that you get to see 5 Pokémon at once, your odds are much better with it being 1/819 without Shiny Charm and 1/273 with it. However, there is the very rare chance that you could get more than 1 shiny in a horde. If this happens, you are unable to catch both so you would need to kill one to get the other.
Shiny Starly in a horde.
2 Shiny Murkrow in a horde. Screenshot from https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=36LEoWB4F7c (Video by GalacticElliot)
Friend Safari
The Friend Safari was introduced in X and Y and was located in Kiloude City after you become the champion. For every friend that you have on your 3DSSystem, there will be a Friend Safari for you to access. Each is represented by 1 of the 18 Pokémon Types and each contains 3 Pokémon. You can automatically access the first 2 Pokémon in a safari but the person must become champion for you the access the third. Here is a list of possible Pokémon that can be in each safari:
Normal:
Slot 1- Teddiursa/Aipom/Dunsparce/Lillipup
Slot 2- Loudred/Kecleon/Audino/Minccino
Slot 3- Chansey/Ditto/Eevee/Smeargle
Grass:
Slot 1- Oddish/Tangela/Sunkern/Pansage
Slot 2- Ivysaur/Swadloon/Petilil/Sawsbuck
Slot 3- Maractus/Quilladin/Gogoat
Fire:
Slot 1- Growlithe/Ponyta/Magmar/Pansear
Slot 2- Charmeleon/Slugma/Larvesta/Pyroar
Slot 3- Ninetales/Braixen/Fletchinder
Water:
Slot 1- Krabby/Octillery/Bibarel/Panpour
Slot 2- Wartortle/Gyarados/Quagsire/Floatzel
Slot 3- Poliwhirl/Azumarill/Frogadier
Electric:
Slot 1- Electrode/Pachirisu/Emolga/Dedenne
Slot 2- Pikachu/Electabuzz/Stunfisk/Helioptile
Slot 3- Manectric/Luxio/Zebstrika/Galvantula
Flying:
Slot 1- Pidgey/Spearow/Farfetch'd/Doduo
Slot 2- Hoothoot/Tranquil/Woobat/Swanna
Slot 3- Tropius/Fletchinder/Hawlucha
Rock:
Slot 1- Nosepass/Boldore/Dwebble
Slot 2- Onix/Magcargo/Corsola/Pupitar
Slot 3- Rhydon/Shuckle/Barbaracle
Bug:
Slot 1- Butterfree/Paras/Ledyba/Combee
Slot 2- Beautifly/Masquerain/Volbeat/Illumise
Slot 3- Venomoth/Pinsir/Heracross/Vivillon
Ground:
Slot 1- Sandshrew/Wooper/Phanpy/Trapinch
Slot 2- Dugtrio/Marowak/Nincada/Camerupt
Slot 3- Gastrodon/Palpitoad/Diggersby
Poison:
Slot 1- Kakuna/Gloom/Cascoon/Seviper
Slot 2- Venomoth/Ariados/Swalot/Garbodor
Slot 3- Muk/Drapion/Toxicroak/Whirlipede
Fighting:
Slot 1-Mankey/Machoke/Meditite/Mienfoo
Slot 2- Throh/Sawk/Pancham
Slot 3- Tyrogue/Breloom/Hariyama/Riolu
Psychic:
Slot 1- Abra/Drowzee/Grumpig/Munna
Slot 2- Wobbuffet/Sigilyph/Espurr
Slot 3- Xatu/Girafarig/Gothorita/Duosion
Ghost:
Slot 1- Shuppet/Lampent
Slot 2- Phantump/Punpkaboo
Slot 3- Dusclops/Drifblim/Spiritomb/Golurk
Dark:
Slot 1- Mightyena/Nuzleaf/Pawniard/Vullaby
Slot 2- Sneasel/Cacturne/Crawdaunt/Sandile
Slot 3- Sableye/Absol/Liepard/Inkay
Dragon:
Slot 1- Gabite/Fraxure
Slot 2- Dragonair/Shelgon/Noibat
Slot 3- Druddigon/Sliggoo
Ice:
Slot 1- Delibird/Snorunt/Spheal/Snover
Slot 2- Sneasel/Beartic/Bergmite
Slot 3- Dewgong/Cloyster/Lapras/Piloswine
Steel:
Slot 1- Magneton/Mawile/Ferroseed
Slot 2- Forretress/Skarmory/Metang/Klang
Slot 3- Bronzong/Excadrill/Klefki
Fairy:
Slot 1- Togepi/Snubbull/Kirlia/Dedenne
Slot 2- Jigglypuff/Mawile/Spritzee/Swirlix
Slot 3- Clefairy/Floette
The Friend Safari was introduced in X and Y and was located in Kiloude City after you become the champion. For every friend that you have on your 3DSSystem, there will be a Friend Safari for you to access. Each is represented by 1 of the 18 Pokémon Types and each contains 3 Pokémon. You can automatically access the first 2 Pokémon in a safari but the person must become champion for you the access the third. Here is a list of possible Pokémon that can be in each safari:
Normal:
Slot 1- Teddiursa/Aipom/Dunsparce/Lillipup
Slot 2- Loudred/Kecleon/Audino/Minccino
Slot 3- Chansey/Ditto/Eevee/Smeargle
Grass:
Slot 1- Oddish/Tangela/Sunkern/Pansage
Slot 2- Ivysaur/Swadloon/Petilil/Sawsbuck
Slot 3- Maractus/Quilladin/Gogoat
Fire:
Slot 1- Growlithe/Ponyta/Magmar/Pansear
Slot 2- Charmeleon/Slugma/Larvesta/Pyroar
Slot 3- Ninetales/Braixen/Fletchinder
Water:
Slot 1- Krabby/Octillery/Bibarel/Panpour
Slot 2- Wartortle/Gyarados/Quagsire/Floatzel
Slot 3- Poliwhirl/Azumarill/Frogadier
Electric:
Slot 1- Electrode/Pachirisu/Emolga/Dedenne
Slot 2- Pikachu/Electabuzz/Stunfisk/Helioptile
Slot 3- Manectric/Luxio/Zebstrika/Galvantula
Flying:
Slot 1- Pidgey/Spearow/Farfetch'd/Doduo
Slot 2- Hoothoot/Tranquil/Woobat/Swanna
Slot 3- Tropius/Fletchinder/Hawlucha
Rock:
Slot 1- Nosepass/Boldore/Dwebble
Slot 2- Onix/Magcargo/Corsola/Pupitar
Slot 3- Rhydon/Shuckle/Barbaracle
Bug:
Slot 1- Butterfree/Paras/Ledyba/Combee
Slot 2- Beautifly/Masquerain/Volbeat/Illumise
Slot 3- Venomoth/Pinsir/Heracross/Vivillon
Ground:
Slot 1- Sandshrew/Wooper/Phanpy/Trapinch
Slot 2- Dugtrio/Marowak/Nincada/Camerupt
Slot 3- Gastrodon/Palpitoad/Diggersby
Poison:
Slot 1- Kakuna/Gloom/Cascoon/Seviper
Slot 2- Venomoth/Ariados/Swalot/Garbodor
Slot 3- Muk/Drapion/Toxicroak/Whirlipede
Fighting:
Slot 1-Mankey/Machoke/Meditite/Mienfoo
Slot 2- Throh/Sawk/Pancham
Slot 3- Tyrogue/Breloom/Hariyama/Riolu
Psychic:
Slot 1- Abra/Drowzee/Grumpig/Munna
Slot 2- Wobbuffet/Sigilyph/Espurr
Slot 3- Xatu/Girafarig/Gothorita/Duosion
Ghost:
Slot 1- Shuppet/Lampent
Slot 2- Phantump/Punpkaboo
Slot 3- Dusclops/Drifblim/Spiritomb/Golurk
Dark:
Slot 1- Mightyena/Nuzleaf/Pawniard/Vullaby
Slot 2- Sneasel/Cacturne/Crawdaunt/Sandile
Slot 3- Sableye/Absol/Liepard/Inkay
Dragon:
Slot 1- Gabite/Fraxure
Slot 2- Dragonair/Shelgon/Noibat
Slot 3- Druddigon/Sliggoo
Ice:
Slot 1- Delibird/Snorunt/Spheal/Snover
Slot 2- Sneasel/Beartic/Bergmite
Slot 3- Dewgong/Cloyster/Lapras/Piloswine
Steel:
Slot 1- Magneton/Mawile/Ferroseed
Slot 2- Forretress/Skarmory/Metang/Klang
Slot 3- Bronzong/Excadrill/Klefki
Fairy:
Slot 1- Togepi/Snubbull/Kirlia/Dedenne
Slot 2- Jigglypuff/Mawile/Spritzee/Swirlix
Slot 3- Clefairy/Floette
DexNav
The DexNav was introduced in the Gen 3 remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. This was a feature where a wild Pokémon can be seen rustling in grass. The player must sneak up to it to encounter it or it will run away. In order to create a chain, you must encounter the Pokémon from DexNav and catch or kill it. At every 5th encounter in a chain, the level jumps by 10 and then 1 level up afterwards (e.g. Chain 1-4 Lv 2, Chain 5 Lv 12, Chain 6-9 Lv 3, Chain 10 Lv 13). When you reach a chain of 100, it resets itself. This is also a way to get Pokémon with Hidden Abilities, IV's and Egg Moves. This is believed that the chain for DexNav doesn't affect Shiny odds and that the odds are 1/512 without the charm and 1/201 with it.
The DexNav was introduced in the Gen 3 remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. This was a feature where a wild Pokémon can be seen rustling in grass. The player must sneak up to it to encounter it or it will run away. In order to create a chain, you must encounter the Pokémon from DexNav and catch or kill it. At every 5th encounter in a chain, the level jumps by 10 and then 1 level up afterwards (e.g. Chain 1-4 Lv 2, Chain 5 Lv 12, Chain 6-9 Lv 3, Chain 10 Lv 13). When you reach a chain of 100, it resets itself. This is also a way to get Pokémon with Hidden Abilities, IV's and Egg Moves. This is believed that the chain for DexNav doesn't affect Shiny odds and that the odds are 1/512 without the charm and 1/201 with it.
DexNav Tutorial by aDrive
SOS Chaining
SOS Chaining is the newest method of shiny hunting introduced in Sun and Moon. The SOS feature is first shown in the Totem Pokémon Battles and can be done in almost every wild encounter. When a Pokémon is at low health, it can call for help and another Pokémon may appear. There is also the chance to get Hidden Abilities and better IV's.
Odds for a Shiny to appear:
Without Shiny Charm:
Chain 1-69: 1/4096
Chain 70-255: 1/1024
With Shiny Charm:
Chain 1-69: 1/1365
Chain 70-255: 1/683
Despite these odds, extra rolls for a shiny can be given randomly so it isn't rare to find a shiny before a 70 chain.
IV's:
Chain 0-4: 0IV's
Chain 5-9: 1IV
Chain 10-19: 2IV's
Chain 20-29: 3IV's
Chain 30-255: 4IV's
Hidden Ability:
Chain 0-9: 0%
Chain 10-19: 5%
Chain 20-29: 10%
Chain 30-255: 15%
Everything resets itself at a chain of 255.
SOS Chaining is the newest method of shiny hunting introduced in Sun and Moon. The SOS feature is first shown in the Totem Pokémon Battles and can be done in almost every wild encounter. When a Pokémon is at low health, it can call for help and another Pokémon may appear. There is also the chance to get Hidden Abilities and better IV's.
Odds for a Shiny to appear:
Without Shiny Charm:
Chain 1-69: 1/4096
Chain 70-255: 1/1024
With Shiny Charm:
Chain 1-69: 1/1365
Chain 70-255: 1/683
Despite these odds, extra rolls for a shiny can be given randomly so it isn't rare to find a shiny before a 70 chain.
IV's:
Chain 0-4: 0IV's
Chain 5-9: 1IV
Chain 10-19: 2IV's
Chain 20-29: 3IV's
Chain 30-255: 4IV's
Hidden Ability:
Chain 0-9: 0%
Chain 10-19: 5%
Chain 20-29: 10%
Chain 30-255: 15%
Everything resets itself at a chain of 255.
Masuda Method
The Masuda was first introduced in Diamond/Pearl/Platinum and has been in every game ever since. It was implemented into the games by Pokémon Composer Junichi Masuda, who named it after himself. The way it work is you are more likely to get a shiny from an egg if one parent is from your region and the other is from a different region (e.g. English and Japanese). The most commonly used parent is Ditto as it breed with almost everything.
Odds for each game:
Gen 4- 1/1683
Gen 5- 1/1365
Gen 5 with Shiny Charm- 1/1024
Gen 6 and 7- 1/683
Gen 6 and 7 with Shiny Charm- 1/527
The Masuda was first introduced in Diamond/Pearl/Platinum and has been in every game ever since. It was implemented into the games by Pokémon Composer Junichi Masuda, who named it after himself. The way it work is you are more likely to get a shiny from an egg if one parent is from your region and the other is from a different region (e.g. English and Japanese). The most commonly used parent is Ditto as it breed with almost everything.
Odds for each game:
Gen 4- 1/1683
Gen 5- 1/1365
Gen 5 with Shiny Charm- 1/1024
Gen 6 and 7- 1/683
Gen 6 and 7 with Shiny Charm- 1/527