Pokémon GO, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Legends Z-A: for several years now, the most experienced Trainers have made it their mission to find and catch all existing shiny Pokémon. On social media, we regularly see images of players proudly showing off their latest catch.
But what exactly is a shiny Pokémon? And why are players so eager to find them? Here's what you need to know about these special little monsters.
A shiny Pokémon is a Pokémon surrounded by little stars and sparkles, with colors that differ from its usual form. For example, a shiny Gyarados will be red instead of blue, and a Celebi will be pink instead of its usual green. Keep your ears open too: shiny Pokémon appear with a distinct little sound, like a tinkling or sparkling noise.
Note that depending on which region of the Pokémon world you're exploring, you may encounter commonPokémon that have different colors: Rattata can be purple or black, depending on where they live. However, this doesn't make them shiny: they lack the sparkle that is the distinctive feature of these special Pokémon.
These uniquely designed Pokémon are rare, so seeing one and catching one is a sign of good luck! But do they offer any advantages? Do they have better attacks or stats?
The answer is no: in modern games, shiny Pokémon have no particular advantage over their counterparts. The appeal of these little creatures lies in their rarity. Many players see hunting for shiny Pokémon as a side quest, one more mission to accomplish once the Pokédex is full. In addition, due to their rarity, shiny Pokémon are valuable on the trading market and can be traded for rare and powerful Pokémon.
So, do you accept this challenge? Will you manage to catch all the Pokémon in their shiny versions?
