Are the Starters in Pokémon Black and White Shiny Locked?

The short and sweet answer is no, the starters in Pokémon Black and White are not shiny locked. This means you can, with enough patience and a bit of luck, obtain a shiny Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott at the very beginning of your adventure in the Unova region. Unlike some other Pokémon games where certain Pokémon are programmed to never appear as shiny, the starter Pokémon in Black and White adhere to the standard shiny encounter rate. However, there are some essential details and nuances players should be aware of when embarking on this potentially arduous shiny hunting quest. This guide will answer all your questions about this topic.

Shiny Hunting the Unova Starters: What You Need to Know

Embarking on the journey to acquire a shiny starter in Pokémon Black and White requires a dedicated approach. You’ll be soft resetting the game countless times, so preparation and understanding the process are crucial. Here’s what you should keep in mind:

• The Shiny Check: The key is that the shiny determination isn’t made until the Pokémon actually appears in battle. The starter selection screen will not indicate whether the Pokémon is shiny. This means you must choose your starter, watch the entire beginning cutscene, and then engage in the very first battle to see if your chosen Pokémon is shiny. If it isn’t, you’ll need to soft reset (hold L+R+Start+Select).

• Patience is Key: The odds of encountering a shiny Pokémon in Black and White are 1 in 8192. This means you could potentially soft reset thousands of times before finally getting a shiny starter. Be prepared for a long and potentially frustrating grind.

• Soft Resetting: Soft resetting allows you to quickly restart your game without turning off the power. On a Nintendo DS, holding the L+R+Start+Select buttons simultaneously will trigger a soft reset. This is how you efficiently reset after each non-shiny encounter.

• No Shiny Charm: The Shiny Charm, an item that significantly increases your chances of encountering shiny Pokémon, wasn’t introduced until later generations. Therefore, you’re stuck with the base odds of 1 in 8192.

FAQs About Shiny Starters in Black and White

1. What does it mean for a Pokémon to be “shiny locked?”

A “shiny locked” Pokémon is programmed in the game to never appear in its shiny form during a specific encounter. Game Freak implements this to control the distribution of certain legendary or event Pokémon.

2. Are Reshiram, Zekrom, or Victini shiny locked in Black and White?

Yes, Reshiram, Zekrom, and Victini are all shiny locked in Pokémon Black and White. You cannot obtain them as shiny through normal gameplay.

3. What are the odds of getting a shiny Pokémon in Black and White?

The base odds of encountering a shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Black and White are 1 in 8192.

4. Can you get the other starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle) in Black and White?

No, you cannot obtain Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle in Pokémon Black and White. These Kanto starters are not programmed to appear in these games through normal gameplay. You will need to trade them from another game.

5. Can you breed for shiny starters in Black and White?

Yes, you can breed for shiny starters in Black and White, but only after you’ve obtained the starters (or their evolutions) through trade from other games. The 1 in 8192 odds still apply to breeding.

6. Is there any way to increase your chances of getting a shiny starter in Black and White?

No, there are no in-game methods to increase your shiny encounter rate in Pokémon Black and White. The Shiny Charm, which does increase shiny odds, was not introduced until later generations.

7. What’s the best strategy for shiny hunting starters in Black and White?

The best strategy is to soft reset repeatedly. Choose your starter, watch the initial cutscene, and engage in the first battle. If the starter isn’t shiny, soft reset and repeat the process. Patience is key!

8. Do the shiny starters look different on the selection screen?

No, the shiny starters will not look different on the selection screen. You will only be able to tell if they are shiny when they appear in battle.

9. Are any other Pokémon shiny locked in Black and White besides Reshiram, Zekrom, and Victini?

Those three are the main ones. The plot relevant Pokemon like N’s Pokemon will always be the same.

10. Is it possible to transfer a shiny starter from Pokémon Black and White to later games?

Yes, you can transfer shiny starters from Pokémon Black and White to later games using the Pokémon Bank and Pokémon Transporter services (on the 3DS) and then transferring them to Pokémon Home. Note that these services may have associated costs or availability limitations. Check for official announcements.

11. Which starter is considered the “best” in Pokémon Black and White?

The “best” starter is subjective and depends on your play style. Many players consider Tepig to be a strong choice due to its powerful attack stat and access to STAB moves, allowing it to hit hard early in the game.

12. Does the Pokémon’s nature or IVs affect its shininess?

No, a Pokémon’s nature, IVs (Individual Values), or other stats do not affect whether it is shiny. Shininess is determined by a separate calculation when the Pokémon is generated.

13. Are the shiny rates different for different versions of Black and White?

No, the shiny encounter rate of 1 in 8192 is the same for both Pokémon Black and Pokémon White.

14. Are the NPC pokemon with the same stats as the other starters shiny locked?

No, the NPC pokemon are not shiny locked, so they can be shiny.

15. What are the possible alternatives to getting these rare Pokemon?

Many players are now emulating the old console games through PC. This can offer a variety of features to help with that.

Conclusion

While obtaining a shiny starter in Pokémon Black and White requires considerable time and dedication due to the low shiny encounter rate, it’s certainly possible. Just remember to be patient, soft reset strategically, and don’t give up hope! Good luck on your shiny hunting adventure. Learning through games is an ever-evolving field, and you can learn more at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.