There are many ways to increase the chances of encountering a Shiny in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Some of these methods have been present in the games for many years, while others have been newly added. Combined, old and new methods now make it easier than ever to find a Shiny Pokémon.

At the core of any Shiny hunt is an element of chance. A player can encounter Shinies no matter what factors are at play, and depending on their luck may even come across several without any effort to improve the odds. However, lowering the odds as much as possible will still naturally have a notable effect on the overall frequency of enoucnters while Shiny hunting in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, or indeed any other Pokémon game. As such, any Pokémon fan specifically looking for Shinies would be wise to do whatever they can to improve the odds.

Related: Pokémon GO Shiny Odds (& Why Raids Are Best) Explained

Scarlet & Violet’s Picnics Can Boost The Shiny Rate Dramatically

Picnics are a cornerstone of Shiny hunting in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Obtaining Herba Mystica from high-level Tera Raids means that the player can make sandwiches with the Sparkling Power trait, which boosts Shiny rates. Quickly setting up and packing away a picnic will also make all the Pokémon in the area respawn, which generally makes it quicker to find a Shiny. This is especially effective in Mass Outbreaks, where defeating Pokémon will confer its own Shiny bonus. Picnics also allow for breeding, and by extension the classic Masuda Method of Shiny Pokémon hunting. Meanwhile, the Shiny Charm compounds all of these methods, which can all be combined in various ways.

Shiny Hunting Odds When Combining Methods In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Of course, not all of these methods work equally fast. Using the Masuda Method is notably slower than the quick respawns afforded by picnics, for example. And the Shiny Charm, the reward for completing the Pokédex, requires a similar investment. Defeating 60 Pokémon spawned in Mass Outbreaks will boost Shiny odds to a maximum of 1/1,365.67 in all Outbreaks, three times the base rate of 1/4,096. Meanwhile, a Level 3 Sparkling Power effect gives odds of 1/1,024.38 for finding a Shiny in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. And as seen in the table below, combining both with a Shiny Charm makes the rate 1/512.44

Shiny Pokémon will never be common, but the various methods available to players looking for them can make the search much easier. Of course, even with the best odds possible, the 1/512.44 rate, finding a Shiny could take a while depending on one’s luck and method. Regardless, the variety of methods available in Scarlet and Violet perhaps makes Shiny hunting now quicker than in any other Pokémon game overall; old and new methods of boosting the odds can multiply each other to incredible effect. Some of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's worst-looking Shinies may ittedly be unappealing, but fans will be able to catch them all with ease.

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