Shiny Pokémon (GO)

Shiny encounter in Pokémon GO

A Shiny Pokémon (Japanese: 色違いポケモン differently colored Pokémon) is a specific Pokémon with different coloration to what is usual for its species. It is one of the many differences that a Pokémon can have within its species.

Overview

In Pokémon GO, Shiny Pokémon may be encountered randomly in all types of encounters: the wild, from hatching Eggs, by completing Field Research tasks, or by winning Raid Battles. During Community Day events, featured Pokémon have an increased chance of being Shiny in the wild. Shiny Pokémon are represented by a icon. When a Shiny Pokémon is encountered in the wild, the icon appears at the upper left of the Pokémon's CP. When browsing the Pokémon Box, the icon appears at the upper left of its sprite. Upon capturing a Shiny Pokémon in the wild, its name is shown in yellow text instead of white. Shiny encounters are random for each player, meaning that if two players attempt to catch the same Pokémon, one player may encounter a Shiny Pokémon and the other may not.

All Pokémon seen in the overworld appear non-Shiny, but when a player attempts to capture a Pokémon, it may appear as a Shiny Pokémon. Likewise, during a Raid Battle, the Raid Boss always appears non-Shiny during battle, but it may become Shiny during the bonus challenge. Similarly, all Shadow Pokémon used by Team GO Rocket members appear non-Shiny in battle, but certain ones have a chance of becoming Shiny during the bonus challenge.

Shiny Pokémon from Raid Battles and from Team GO Rocket have a 100% catch rate when successfully hit with a Premier Ball.

Only the Shiny forms of certain Pokémon have been released, often coinciding with a special event or update. For most evolutionary lines, only the first-stage Pokémon is obtainable as Shiny, including those with baby Pokémon; however, there have been several exceptions for evolutionary lines with baby Pokémon and during limited-time events.

Shiny rates

Unlike in the core series, Shiny rates vary across different species but are constant across all encounter methods. However, since 2022, Shiny rates specific to encounter methods have been implemented, such as boosted Shiny rates from 7 km Eggs during certain events.

The following lists the various Shiny rate estimates that have been observed.

Shiny rate	Applies to
1 in 512	The base Shiny rate for the vast majority of Pokémon.
1 in 256	Eligible Shadow Pokémon from Team GO Rocket Grunts
1 in 128	Some rare species (e.g. Gible). Pokémon that have been obtainable from Mega Raids Single-stage Pokémon whose Shiny rates were previously 1 in 512, like Pinsir and Sableye, had their rates permanently increased since their Mega Raid debuts. Single-stage Pokémon that already had the higher 1 in 64 Shiny rate, like Absol, were unchanged.
1 in 64	Pokémon that rarely or never spawn in the wild (e.g. Pineco, Alolan Marowak, and baby Pokémon) Shadow Pokémon from Team GO Rocket Leaders, Jessie, and James
1 in 20	Pokémon obtainable from 5-star Raid Battles Legendary Pokémon Mythical Pokémon Ultra Beasts

Event-boosted Shiny rates

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

Shiny rate	Applies to
1 in 256	Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, during Catch Mastery in March 2023 Snorunt and Bergmite, during Catch Mastery in December 2023
1 in 128	Featured Pokémon from GO Fest and Safari Zone global tie-ins since November 5, 2018 Some global ticketed events, including GO Fest after 2020 Meltan, during the limited times when its Shiny form was available The lower Shiny rate may be to compensate for the Mystery Box cooldown timer being reduced from 7 days to 3 days. Event-boosted Pokémon in some standard events (e.g. Chinchou during Festival of Lights 2022, Houndour, Hoppip, Buizel, and Fletchling during Ultra Unlock: Paldea)
1 in 64	Some ticketed events, including GO Fest 2020 GO Tour: Kanto and Go Tour: Johto Some ticketed, local events, including Pokémon GO Tour: Hoenn - Las Vegas Pokémon GO Tour: Sinnoh - Los Angeles In-person Pokémon GO Fest events Meltan, the first time its Shiny form was available. Event-boosted Shiny rate for 7 km Eggs.
1 in 40	Feebas Limited Research, for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa Gyarados, during the Pokémon GO Lunar New Year Event in 2020
1 in 25	Featured Pokémon during Community Days Featured Pokémon from GO Fest and Safari Zone global tie-ins prior to November 5, 2018
1 in 20	Some Limited Research events
1 in 10	Raid Days (usually 3-hour events) Some Limited Research events Hatch Day events

Pokémon released as Shiny

Main article: List of Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO

Trivia

• On June 2023, shiny rates for Legendary Pokémon were accidentally nerfed, but only for remote raids (1 in 64 for Uxie; 1 in 128 for Azelf). Niantic has acknowledged this and compensated affected players.
• During Kleavor Raid Day, players observed a unique, but statistically significant, rate of 8.7% (1 in 11.5). Niantic has acknowledged this and compensated affected players.

See also

• Shiny Pokémon

Pokémon forms and variants Permanent: Shiny Pokémon (GO) • Alternately colored Pokémon (animated series) Gender differences • Form differences (GO) Brilliant Pokémon • Alpha Pokémon Transformations: Mega Evolution (Shuffle • Masters • GO) • Primal Reversion (GO) • Bond Phenomenon Ultra Burst • Dynamax (GO) • Gigantamax • Eternamax • Terastal phenomenon Groups: Totem Pokémon • Noble Pokémon • Titan Pokémon Regional forms: Alolan • Galarian • Hisuian • Paldean Analogous: Paradox Pokémon • Ecologically similar Pokémon Pikachu variants: Surfing Pikachu • Flying Pikachu • Cosplay Pikachu • Pikachu in a cap Miscellaneous: Fusions (GO) • Giant Pokémon • Spiky-eared Pichu • Partner Pokémon (LGPE) Side series original: Shadow Pokémon • Shadow Lugia Spin-off original: Shadow Pokémon (GO) • Primal Dialga • Toy Pokémon (Rusty Pokémon) Shadow Mewtwo • Pokéxel • Illumina phenomenon Animated series original: Pink Butterfree • Clone Pokémon • Crystal Onix Mirage Pokémon • Meta Groudon • Green-crystal Deoxys Manga original: Thu-Fi-Zer • Black Fog • Black Tyranitar

This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames.