Are Raids More Likely to Be Shiny? Unveiling the Shiny Truth in Pokémon GO
Yes, raids generally offer better shiny odds compared to encountering Pokémon in the wild in Pokémon GO. While the base shiny rate for wild encounters hovers around 1 in 500, many raid bosses, especially during Raid Days or Raid Hours, boast significantly increased shiny rates. This makes raiding a prime strategy for dedicated shiny hunters. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics and explore the fascinating world of shiny hunting in raids!
Understanding Shiny Rates: A Crash Course
Before we dive into the nuances of raid shiny rates, it’s essential to understand the underlying mechanics. A shiny Pokémon is simply a Pokémon with a different color palette than its standard form. These alternate colors are purely cosmetic but highly sought after by collectors and players alike. In Pokémon GO, as in other Pokémon games, shinies are rare and determined by a random number generator. Each Pokémon encounter has a chance, often expressed as a ratio (e.g., 1 in 500), of being shiny.
Base Shiny Rate: This refers to the typical shiny rate for most wild Pokémon in Pokémon GO. As mentioned, it’s generally around 1 in 500.
Boosted Shiny Rate: Certain Pokémon, either permanently or during special events, have a boosted shiny rate. This means their odds of appearing shiny are much higher than the base rate. Raid bosses frequently fall into this category.
Permaboosted Shiny Rate: This refers to Pokemon with a permanently boosted shiny rate, for any reason. Sometimes, a permaboosted shiny rate refers to an increased shiny rate of 1/64, though this is not always the case.
Why Raids Offer Better Shiny Chances
Several factors contribute to the improved shiny odds in raids:
- Designated Shiny Rates: Many raid bosses have specific shiny rates that are much better than the wild encounter rate. For example, during a Raid Day featuring a particular Pokémon, its shiny rate might be boosted to 1 in 25 or 1 in 50. This is a substantial improvement over the 1 in 500 base rate.
- Event Bonuses: Niantic, the developer of Pokémon GO, often introduces special events with boosted shiny rates for specific Pokémon appearing in raids. Raid Hours are a prime example, where the focus is on a particular Pokémon, and its shiny availability is often increased.
- Fixed Encounters: Raid encounters are fixed. Meaning the Pokémon is guaranteed to be there if you successfully complete the raid. This allows you to focus your shiny hunting efforts on a specific target, rather than randomly encountering Pokémon in the wild.
Debunking Myths and Misconceptions
It’s essential to address some common misconceptions about shiny rates in raids:
- Remote Raids Don’t Affect Shiny Odds (Currently): There was a time when players suspected that Remote Raid Passes might affect shiny odds. However, Niantic has clarified that this was a technical error and has since been resolved.
- Shiny Odds Don’t Stack: Each raid encounter is an independent event. Just because you haven’t found a shiny in 20 or 50 raids doesn’t mean your chances increase for the next raid. Every raid offers the same odds.
- Shiny Pokémon are Not Guaranteed Catches, but will not Flee (Raid): Shinies obtained from raids have a 100% catch rate on the first throw, so you will not encounter a fleeing shiny pokemon.
Optimizing Your Raid Shiny Hunting Strategy
To maximize your chances of finding a shiny Pokémon in raids, consider these tips:
- Prioritize Raid Days and Hours: These events offer the best opportunities due to the increased shiny rates for featured Pokémon.
- Focus on Species with Boosted Shiny Rates: Some Pokémon inherently have better shiny rates in raids than others. Research the current raid bosses and their respective shiny odds.
- Coordinate with Friends: Team up with other players to increase the number of raids you can participate in, especially when Remote Raiding is available.
- Be Patient: Shiny hunting requires patience and persistence. Even with boosted odds, it can still take multiple raids to find a shiny.
- Stock Up on Berries: Since you are guaranteed to catch the shiny raid boss on the first ball, use a Pinap Berry to increase the amount of candy you receive, if you are not concerned with conserving berries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Shiny Raids
1. What’s the difference between a regular raid and a shiny raid?
A regular raid features a standard Pokémon, while a shiny raid features a raid boss who is shiny. The Pokémon will not appear shiny during the raid itself, but the Pokémon will appear shiny during the encounter after the raid boss is defeated.
2. Can you tell if a raid Pokémon is shiny before battling it?
No, you cannot tell if a raid Pokémon is shiny before battling it. The shiny determination happens upon encounter, after you’ve defeated the raid boss.
3. What is the typical shiny rate for Legendary Pokémon in raids?
The typical shiny rate for Legendary Pokémon in raids is often cited as approximately 1 in 20. However, rates may vary depending on the event or specific Pokémon.
4. Does participating in more raids guarantee a shiny Pokémon?
No. Each raid has the same probability. You are not guaranteed a shiny raid pokemon after completing a certain number of raids.
5. Do Remote Raid Passes affect shiny odds?
As confirmed by Niantic, Remote Raid Passes do not affect shiny odds. Any previous discrepancies were due to a technical error.
6. Is there a way to increase my shiny odds in raids beyond event bonuses?
No, there is no way to increase shiny odds beyond taking advantage of the Permaboosted shiny rates.
7. Are shiny Pokémon from raids guaranteed catches?
Yes, shiny Pokémon from raids have a 100% catch rate after the raid encounter on the first ball.
8. Can only one person get a shiny in a raid?
Yes. Each player has their own independent chance of encountering a shiny. If one player encounters a shiny, it doesn’t affect the shiny status for other players in the same raid.
9. What is a “shundo” legendary, and how rare is it?
A “shundo” legendary is a shiny, 100% IV (perfect) legendary Pokémon. The odds of obtaining a shundo from raids are approximately 1 in 4,320.
10. Does raid hour increase the shiny chance?
Yes, some raid bosses may have their shiny form available during raid hours, increasing the odds of encountering a shiny Pokémon.
11. What is the rarest shiny in Pokemon GO?
Determining the absolute rarest shiny is difficult and can change, but some of the contenders include Shiny Darkrai, and certain event-exclusive or region-locked shinies.
12. What is a full odds shiny Pokemon?
Full odds means no modifiers, a 1/4096 chance of getting it. It is a term generally used in reference to the mainline Pokemon series.
13. What is the best odds for shiny Pokemon?
For the best possible odds of finding shiny Pokémon, stack Sparkling Power, Shiny Charm, and 60 Outbreak defeats, for a 1-in-512 chance of finding a shiny Pokémon. (Mainline Pokemon series)
14. Is a shiny rarer than a legendary?
Yes. Shiny Pokemon will always be the rarest Pokemon you can catch in any game, and at the very least, much rarer than legendaries.
15. What is Permaboost Pokémon GO?
As far as I am aware, “permaboosted” refers to ANY Pokemon with a increased shiny chance (ONLY shiny chance! Nothing else) for any reason – some sources seem to say that they’re only considered “permaboosted” if the increased shiny rate is 1/64.
Final Thoughts
While finding a shiny Pokémon through raids can be challenging, the boosted shiny rates make it a far more efficient method compared to relying solely on wild encounters. By understanding the mechanics, taking advantage of events, and implementing smart strategies, you can significantly increase your chances of adding those coveted shiny raid bosses to your collection. Remember to stay informed, be patient, and most importantly, have fun!
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