Can Shiny Pokémon Run Away? A Comprehensive Guide
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The burning question on every Pokémon trainer’s mind, especially those hunting the elusive shiny Pokémon, is whether these rare creatures can flee. The short answer is: it depends on the specific circumstances and the game you’re playing. However, in the context of Pokémon Go, the answer is a bit more nuanced. While in core games, standard wild shiny Pokémon cannot flee, specific situations and types of encounters do have different rules. This article will delve into the intricacies of shiny Pokémon and their flee mechanics, primarily focusing on Pokémon Go, along with addressing numerous related questions.
Shiny Pokémon: A Rare Sight
Before we get into the flee mechanics, let’s understand what makes shiny Pokémon so special. They are rare color variants of normal Pokémon, often sporting a different color palette than their regular counterparts. These Pokémon are highly sought after by collectors and trainers due to their scarcity. The base rate for encountering a shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Go is roughly 1 in 500, which translates to a 0.2% chance for wild encounters. However, this rate can be increased during special events like Community Days, or for specific types of Pokémon in raids or shadow encounters.
Shiny Pokémon Run Away Mechanics in Pokémon Go
The No-Run Rule
In Pokémon Go, the core rule for wild encounters is simple: If you encounter a shiny Pokémon in the wild, it cannot run away. This rule was implemented to alleviate frustration for trainers and to prevent a rare encounter from turning into a missed opportunity. Unlike standard Pokémon that can flee if not caught quickly enough, a shiny Pokémon will remain on the screen until you catch it or deplete your Pokéball supply.
Exceptions to the No-Run Rule
While the above rule is the standard, some exceptions apply:
- Raid Bosses: If you encounter a shiny Legendary Pokémon after completing a Raid, it has a 100% catch rate. However, during standard wild encounters, even shiny Legendaries retain their base catch rate, but still adhere to the no flee rule, remaining on the screen.
- Soft Locks: If you are using a Go Plus or Gotcha device, they might cause a soft lock due to speed or connectivity, which might result in a shiny Pokémon disappearing. This situation is not an intentional flee; it’s a technical limitation.
- Roaming Legendaries: In certain events, Pokémon are treated as roaming Pokémon and might have a chance to flee, with Latias and Latios, for instance, being notorious examples. This is again not an intentional flee; it’s based on the mechanics of the specific Pokémon encounter during the particular event.
Why the No-Run Rule?
The “no-run” rule for shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Go was specifically introduced by Niantic to protect trainers from losing a rare encounter. Given how elusive and hard to find shiny Pokémon can be, losing one due to bad luck or a failed catch attempt would be extremely disappointing. This implementation prevents the heartache of having a shiny Pokémon vanish right before your eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are shiny Pokémon stronger or weaker than normal Pokémon?
No. Shiny Pokémon are not inherently stronger or weaker than their normal counterparts. The strength of a Pokémon is determined by its Individual Values (IVs), Combat Power (CP), and move set. Shiny Pokémon simply have a different color palette, offering no stat advantages or disadvantages.
2. Should I keep multiple shiny Pokémon?
Yes. Shiny Pokémon are the rarest of the rare and are highly valued by collectors. It is absolutely worth keeping multiple shiny Pokémon. They are a testament to your dedication as a trainer and can be used in trades or as unique Pokémon in battles.
3. How often do shiny Pokémon appear?
On average, there’s a 1 in 500 chance, or 0.2%, for a wild Pokémon in Pokémon GO to be shiny. This rate increases to about 1 in 62.5 (1.6%) for very rare wild spawns, certain Shadow Pokémon, and certain raid Pokémon, especially during events.
4. Should I evolve shiny Pokémon?
Yes. Evolving a shiny Pokémon will result in the evolved form also being shiny. If you want the evolved form to be shiny you should not worry about evolving as it keeps the shiny coloration. The decision ultimately depends on your preferences for aesthetics.
5. Should I purify shadow shiny Pokémon?
It’s really about preference. Purifying a shiny shadow Pokémon will increase its IVs slightly and lower its stardust cost to upgrade. However, shadow Pokémon have a 20% attack bonus but a 10% defense decrease. Many players often prefer the aesthetic appeal of the shadow shiny pokemon over the upgraded stats of a purified one.
6. What is the best way to identify a shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Go?
Besides the different color scheme compared to the standard Pokemon, a shiny Pokémon will have a three-star icon above the left. This visual cue is crucial to identifying the rare Pokemon during a random encounter.
7. Can I trade shiny Pokémon?
Yes, shiny Pokémon can be traded with other players. However, trading will have different costs depending on the types of Pokemon being traded. Additionally, multiple shiny, lucky, and buddy Pokémon cannot be transferred at once.
8. Do shiny Pokémon stay shiny after evolving?
Yes. Once a Pokémon is shiny, it remains shiny even after evolving. The only time you cannot get a shiny is evolving a non-shiny Pokémon.
9. Can you tell if a Pokémon will be shiny before the encounter starts?
No. A Pokémon’s shiny state is not predetermined and only shows up upon encounter. The best way to check if you have encountered a shiny pokemon is to observe the color palette and look for the three-star icon on the encounter screen.
10. Are shiny Pokémon always 100% catch rate?
No. Only shiny legendary Pokémon encountered in raids have a 100% catch rate. In wild encounters, even a shiny Legendary will retain its base catch rate for their species, but cannot run away.
11. What are the Pokémon with the highest flee rates in Pokémon Go?
Abra has the highest flee rate of 99% at all times. Other common Pokémon such as Rattata, Weedle, Caterpie, Zubat, Pidgey, Wurmple, and Zigzagoon all have flee rates of 20%.
12. Are shadow Pokémon better than purified Pokémon?
Shadow Pokémon generally have a 20% attack bonus, which makes them better for PvE scenarios (like raiding and taking down gyms). Purified Pokémon are better in PvP due to the additional defense stats that are acquired when purifying.
13. Should you power up Pokémon before evolving?
It’s recommended to evolve a Pokémon before powering it up. This is because you cannot predict a Pokémon’s moveset before evolving. If you evolve first and then receive a bad or unwanted moveset, then you will only have lost the candies of the evolution and not any additional stardust.
14. What is the difference between lucky and purified Pokémon?
Lucky Pokémon have a 50% stardust cost reduction when powering up, making them more affordable to max out at the highest CP. Purified Pokémon also receive a discount to power up, but only have a slight IV increase and a new purified move on evolution.
15. Should you evolve a shiny Pokémon with bad IVs?
If you would like to register the evolved form in your shiny Dex, then it is recommended you do evolve it, regardless of its IVs.
Conclusion
In summary, the rule is clear in Pokémon Go: standard wild shiny Pokémon cannot run away. This mechanic is designed to safeguard the hard-earned encounters that are so valued in the game. While exceptions exist in certain events and circumstances, the core rule provides trainers with a sense of security, allowing them to focus on catching the rare and beautiful shiny Pokémon. Remember to stay vigilant and informed of any event-specific changes to make the most of your Pokémon hunting journey. Happy shiny hunting!