The time has come. You've completed your Pokédex in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but you aren't done just yet. Now, it's time to exploit Hisui for all that it is worth and catch some shiny Pokémon. And when it comes to catching shiny Pokémon, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the best place to start.
The Pokédex tightly consists of 242 Pokémon from across generations, and there are lots of fan favourites to encounter. Additionally, amidst the satisfaction of taking on Alpha Pokémon and exploring illusive space-time distortions, the chances of catching a shiny in this title seem to be higher than ever before.
So, what are the best methods and tools for catching a shiny Pokémon? In this guide, we explain how to catch shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Shiny Pokémon Rates in Pokémon Legends: Arceus
The standard shiny rates in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, according to Serebii, are a 1 in 4096 chance. This isn't different from the prior Pokémon games, either. However, Pokémon Legends: Arceus has introduced a few new mechanics - like Mass Outbreaks and Pokédex research - that can increase our chances massively.
The below table displays the chances of encountering a shiny Pokémon under every condition:
Conditions | Standard Chances | Mass Outbreak Chances |
|---|---|---|
Standard | 1 in 4096 | 1 in 158.2 |
Pokedex Research Level 10 | 1 in 2048.25 | 1 in 152.9 |
Pokedex Research Perfect | 1 in 1024.38 | 1 in 141.7 |
Pokedex Research Level 10 and Shiny Charm | 1 in 819.6 | 1 in 137.02 |
Pokedex Research Perfect and Shiny Charm | 1 in 585.57 | 1 in 128.49 |
How to Catch Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus
First things first, it's important to note that shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus will appear as shiny in the overworld, and may have a different colour to usual. However, what can you do to increase the chances of a glistening 'mon spawning in the distance?
Visit Mass Outbreaks
Mass Outbreaks will regularly appear across Hisui and are indicated by a small icon on your map that displays a species of Pokémon. Head to this spot as fast as possible to witness many of that particularly Pokémon spawn all over, and get catching them in the hopes of finding a shiny!
The best practice for this is to turn autosave off, manually save before entering the Mass Outbreak area, and then relaunch the game repeatedly to hopefully encounter a shiny.
Increase Pokédex Research Level
As you'll probably know by now, increasing your Pokédex research levels for specific species of Pokémon serve more of a purpose than simply increasing your Survey Corps rank. If a species' entry reaches Level 10, chances of encountering a shiny in that particular species will increase.
This also increases even further if you manage to create a perfect Pokédex entry for a species of your choice!
- Read More: Pokémon Legends: Arceus Wisp Locations Guide
Use A Shiny Charm
The Shiny Charm is perhaps one of the most convenient ways of increasing the chances of encountering a shiny in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. However, it is frankly a pain to get your hands on.
To get the Shiny Charm, you need to raise the Pokédex research level of every Pokémon in the Hisui Pokédex to Level 10. There's 242 Pokémon in Hisui, and a lot of work to be put into raising even just a handful of their entries to Level 10. So, understandably, this one is the biggest grind of them all.
However, it's probably a pretty rewarding feeling to have all those Pokémon researched to such a high level, and rewards will be reaped when you can encounter more shiny 'mons than ever before... hopefully.
Those are three ways of increasing your chances of encountering a shiny, and remember, they're all the more powerful when used in combination with each other!
That's all there is to know about trying to farm for shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. For more on the title, check out our guides to increasing satchel space, how to evolve your Pokémon, and how to customise your character. More importantly, have fun traversing Hisui and filling out your Pokédex!