Are Koraidon Shiny Locked? Unlocking the Truth Behind Paldea’s Legendary

Yes, Koraidon is shiny locked in Pokémon Scarlet. This means that, without the use of external tools or glitches, it is impossible to obtain a legitimate, naturally occurring shiny version of Koraidon within the game.

Diving Deep into Shiny Locking: Why Can’t We Get a Shiny Koraidon?

Shiny locking is a deliberate design choice implemented by Game Freak to control the distribution and availability of certain Pokémon. Usually, this restriction applies to legendary and mythical Pokémon central to the game’s storyline. This is often to preserve the Pokémon’s uniqueness and prevent an overabundance of shiny variants that could devalue them. It also allows the Pokémon Company to release shiny versions later through special events.

It is important to note that the Ride Koraidon you receive in the game is the first encounter. The second one is also shiny locked, but it has a set nature (Adamant) and perfect IVs.

Understanding the Shiny Lock Mechanism

The technicalities behind shiny locking involve specific flags within the game’s code. When you encounter a shiny-locked Pokémon, the game checks these flags. If the flags are present, the game automatically overrides the Pokémon’s shiny status, ensuring it always appears in its standard coloration, regardless of random number generation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Shiny Locked Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet

Let’s address some common queries surrounding shiny locking, focusing specifically on Koraidon and other relevant Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

1. Which Other Pokémon are Shiny Locked in Scarlet and Violet?

Alongside Koraidon, several other Pokémon are also shiny locked in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet:

• Miraidon
• Wo-Chien
• Chien-Pao
• Ting-Lu
• Chi-Yu
• Gimmighoul
• Gholdengo

This includes all members of the Treasures of Ruin group.

2. Can I Get a Shiny Miraidon?

Just like Koraidon, Miraidon is also shiny locked in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Therefore, a shiny Miraidon cannot be legitimately obtained within the game through normal gameplay.

3. Will Shiny Koraidon/Miraidon Ever Be Released?

While currently shiny locked, there’s always a possibility that Game Freak could release shiny versions of Koraidon and Miraidon in the future through a special event or distribution. This has happened with other previously shiny-locked Pokémon like Zacian and Zamazenta in Sword and Shield.

4. Why Are the Starters Shiny Locked Too?

The Gen 9 starters—Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—are also shiny locked initially. However, it is possible to get shiny versions through breeding after you’ve obtained them. The initial encounter, however, is rigged.

5. How Can I Tell if a Pokémon is Shiny Locked?

There isn’t an in-game indicator that explicitly states whether a Pokémon is shiny locked. However, information gathered by the Pokémon community (like this article!) provides a reliable guide. If a Pokémon is reported as shiny locked by numerous reputable sources and no one has legitimately obtained a shiny version, it’s safe to assume it is indeed shiny locked.

6. What Happens if I Use a Cheat to Get a Shiny Koraidon?

Using cheats or hacks to obtain a shiny Koraidon or any other shiny-locked Pokémon is generally discouraged. While you might be able to use it in offline play, using hacked Pokémon in online battles or trades could lead to a ban from online services.

7. Is There a Code to Get a Shiny Koraidon?

There is no legitimate in-game code or method to obtain a shiny Koraidon without using external tools or hacks. Trading codes such as “0399-0400” are used for trading version-exclusive Pokémon, such as Koraidon and Miraidon, and do not affect their shiny status.

8. How Rare Are Shiny Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet?

The base shiny rate in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is 1 in 4096. However, this can be significantly improved using methods like the Shiny Charm and the Masuda Method (breeding with a Pokémon from a different region), which can reduce the odds to approximately 1 in 512.

9. What is the Best Way to Hunt for Shiny Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet?

The most effective methods for shiny hunting include:

• Mass Outbreaks: Focusing on Mass Outbreaks increases the odds of encountering shiny Pokémon of that species.
• Shiny Charm: Obtaining the Shiny Charm by completing the Paldea Pokédex further increases the odds of finding shiny Pokémon.
• Masuda Method: Breeding Pokémon from different regions (e.g., a Japanese Ditto with an English Pokémon) significantly increases the chances of hatching a shiny Pokémon.

10. Are Legendary Pokémon Harder to Catch When Shiny?

In games like Pokémon GO, shiny legendary Pokémon obtained through raids have a guaranteed catch rate. However, in mainline games like Scarlet and Violet, a shiny legendary retains its regular catch rate, which is still relatively low. Be prepared with plenty of Ultra Balls and status-inducing moves like Sleep or Paralysis!

11. Is Koraidon or Miraidon Better Competitively?

This depends on your team composition and strategy. Koraidon, with its Fighting/Dragon typing, is generally considered more adaptable due to the prevalence of types vulnerable to Fighting moves in the current meta. Miraidon, with its Electric/Dragon typing, excels against Flying and Water types, but these types are less common in high-level competitive play.

12. What is Koraidon Based On?

Koraidon is based on a Cuelebre, a mythological Dragon-Serpent from Northern Spain. This connection aligns with the Gen 9 region being inspired by the Iberian Peninsula.

13. What is the Hardest Shiny Pokémon to Get in Scarlet and Violet?

While subjective, Pokémon like Tynamo, Ditto, Zorua, and Zoroark, Mimikyu, and Tatsugiri are often cited as some of the most difficult shiny Pokémon to obtain due to their small size, camouflage, or rarity. Some Pokemon like Family of 3 Maushold/3 Segment Dudunsparce are harder due to the fact you are hunting not only a shiny, but a specific form.

14. Can you Soft Reset for Shinies in Scarlet and Violet?

No, you cannot soft reset for shiny-locked Pokémon. Because they are flagged, no amount of reset will change this.

15. What are some of the Coolest Shiny Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet?

Subjectively, some of the coolest shiny Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet include:

• Iron Thorns
• Iron Valiant
• Iron Bundle
• Sandy Shocks
• Kingambit
• Cetitan
• Toedscool
• Klawf
• Noivern

The Future of Shiny Hunting and Legendary Pokémon

Shiny locking is a complex issue that sparks a lot of discussion within the Pokémon community. While it can be frustrating for players who enjoy collecting shiny Pokémon, it’s important to remember that these decisions are made to preserve the rarity and value of specific Pokémon, and potentially pave the way for future events and distributions. It is interesting how video games like this can affect learning. The Games Learning Society explores how games are changing the landscape. You can learn more about this and its impact on education at GamesLearningSociety.org. Keep exploring the world of Pokémon and happy hunting!