Shiny Pokemon - Pokemon X and Y Guide - IGN (2024)

Shiny Pokemon are extremely rare, alternate colored Pokemon. They were first introduced in Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver. Every time one of these Pokemon appears, shiny sparkles flash around them, hence the name.

These Pokemon are so rare that some trainers haven't seen one till this day! The exact odds of finding a shiny Pokemon is 1 in 8192. As of Generation VI the odds of finding a shiny are 1 in 4096. They can be found in the wild or through breeding. Other than the alternate color and sparkles, there is nothing special about them. Some Pokemon trainers will be willing to trade some more valuable Pokemon for lesser shiny Pokemon simply based on their rarity.

Masuda Method

If you have two Pokemon from two different language versions in one game, you can breed them and raise the odds of finding a shiny Pokemon to 1 in 1366.

Another tip for the Masuda Method is to garner up around 20 to 30 eggs from the Daycare man, place a Pokemon with "Flame Body" or "Magma Armor" (Volcarona or Talonflame are suggested - as they can learn 'Fly') in your first party slot, and then replace all other slots with the unhatched eggs. Then fly to the middle of Lumoise City (Prism Tower) and gently slip a dime beneath your Control stick. If you place it in the right position, you will continuously circle around the Prism tower, hatching all eggs at a speedy rate - thus reducing the time to find a Shiny.

Note:the Daycare man will be facing the Road if he has an egg available for you, otherwise, he will be facing the fence. Additionally, the abilities Flame Body and Magma Armor reduce the steps needed to hatch an egg by half.

Pokemon Radar

When you beat the elite four you will have the option to head back to Sycamores Lab in Lumiose City to pick up the Pokemon Radar. There is a scientist with levitating Poke Balls that states he has developed a new tool he wants you to try out. This tool is the Pokemon Radar.

To use this device, go into a large grass patch, activate the Poke Radar, and walk (use the D-Pad, not the Circle Pad). The grass will shake showing where Pokemon are located. There are several differing grass shakes. Remember which type you walked into when the Pokemon Battle started.

• Slight Shake: There are no Pokemon here.
• Regular Shake: Pokemon will be present here.
• Heavy Shake: Pokemon will be present here.
• Shining and Shaking: Shiny Pokemon will be present here.

When you first start your Poke Radar, you will have a chance to find a Pokemon. Once you find and defeat that Pokemon, more grass will shake. Grass that is four segments away with the same shake from before will most likely contain the same species of Pokemon you previously fought.

By chaining these Pokemon, you increase your odds of finding a shiny. If you get to 40 encounters of the same Pokemon without breaking the streak, your odds of finding a shiny are 1/50 (1/200 but 4 grass shakes happen). At this point you do not want to start any new battles, you will want to just recharge the Poke Radar by running back and forth 100 steps without running into any shaking grass.

Tips:

• Use super repels, this will help you maintain your streak.
• Shaking grass that is four segments away will most likely have the same species of Pokemon
• Rarer Pokemon are harder to chain.
• You can only chain in short grass and flowers.
• Quick Balls are your best friend in case you run into a shiny.
• Use a tally on your phone or keep a pen and paper to count your chain.
• If the music stops and no grass shakes, your chain is broken.
• Using the thumbstick for roller skates, or a bike, will break your chain.
• If no grass shakes, charge the Poke Radar anduse it again, sometimes the shaking grass will spawn outside of your area and your chain will continue.

Fishing Rod Chaining

This method uses an old and simple item introduced in the very first generation of Pokémon: the Fishing Rod. This is how you can get a Shiny Pokémon by fishing:

• First of all, you have to get either the Old Rod (Aquarium in Ambrette Town), the Good Rod (Coumarine City) or the Super Rod (Route 16).
• Once you get a Rod, start fishing. You need to create chains of hooked Pokémon, each time you get a battle from fishing, the chances of getting a Shiny Pokémon increases.
• It's important to note that the chain will break if you move from the space you are in, so pick one spot and don't move from there. Also, it's better to pick a place surrounded by blocks, rocks, etc., to, let's say, "corner" the Pokémon.
• Once you land a Pokémon there's no need to fight it, you can run from the battle and try again. Remember not to move from your spot after the battle.
• For better results, get yourself a Pokémon with the ability Suction Cups or Sticky Hold. When a Pokémon with one of these abilities is at the lead of your party, you will always land a Pokemon when fishing. If you don't have one of these abilities, you may get the message "Nothing seems to be biting...", which will break the chain. Also, if you press A too soon or too late, that will cause you to fail landing a Pokémon.