Can You Get Shiny Legendaries in Omega Ruby?
Yes, you absolutely can get shiny Legendaries in Pokémon Omega Ruby! However, there’s a crucial caveat: some Legendaries are “Shiny Locked,” meaning they are programmed never to appear as shiny in that game. This article will break down which Legendaries can be shiny, which are locked, and provide helpful tips for shiny hunting in Omega Ruby.
Understanding Shiny Legendaries in Omega Ruby
Shiny Pokémon are rare, alternate-colored versions of Pokémon. Encountering a shiny is highly sought after by collectors and competitive players alike. In Omega Ruby, the hunt for shiny Legendaries requires patience, dedication, and an understanding of the game’s mechanics. Random Number Generation (RNG) plays a vital role, meaning each encounter has a small chance of yielding a shiny.
The Shiny Charm and Its Impact
The Shiny Charm is an item that significantly increases your chances of encountering a shiny Pokémon. It is obtained by completing the Hoenn Pokédex (excluding Mythical Pokémon) and talking to Professor Birch in Littleroot Town. With the Shiny Charm, your chances of finding a shiny in Omega Ruby increase from 1/8192 to approximately 1/1365.33. This item is essential for efficient shiny hunting.
Determining Which Legendaries Can Be Shiny
Not all Legendaries in Omega Ruby can be shiny. Some, due to in-game events or programming, are Shiny Locked. This means no matter how many times you encounter them, they will never appear as a shiny version.
List of Shiny Locked Legendaries in Omega Ruby:
- Groudon (Initial encounter): The Groudon encountered as part of the main storyline is always non-shiny.
- Deoxys: The Deoxys received during the Delta Episode is also shiny locked.
- Cosplay Pikachu: The special Pikachu you can dress up for contests is always non-shiny.
Legendaries That Can Be Shiny:
Almost all other Legendaries available in Omega Ruby can be shiny. These are typically encountered through the mirage spots, which appear randomly on the map. Here are a few examples:
- Rayquaza: While Groudon is locked, Rayquaza can be shiny. This creates a good balance, as a shiny Groudon can be obtained through trading with a friend who has Alpha Sapphire.
- Kyogre: The counterpart legendary in Alpha Sapphire, but can be obtained in Omega Ruby post-game.
- The Legendary Birds (Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres): Found in specific mirage spots.
- The Legendary Beasts (Entei, Raikou, Suicune): Requires having certain Pokémon in your party and encountering in mirage spots.
- Latias: The Latias you receive as part of the storyline can be shiny.
Shiny Hunting Strategies for Omega Ruby
The process of obtaining a shiny Legendary is known as shiny hunting. It involves repeatedly encountering the Legendary Pokémon and resetting the game if it isn’t shiny. This process can be lengthy, but here are a few tips to maximize your efficiency:
- Save Before the Encounter: Save your game before interacting with the Legendary Pokémon. This allows you to reset the game if the Pokémon isn’t shiny without wasting valuable resources or time.
- Turn Off Battle Animations: Disabling battle animations speeds up the process. You can do this in the game’s settings.
- Use a Pokémon with the Ability “Synchronize”: A Pokémon with the Synchronize ability (like Abra or Espeon) has a 50% chance of influencing the nature of the wild Pokémon you encounter if it’s in the first slot of your party. This does not affect the shininess, but can help get a competitively viable shiny Legendary.
- Keep Track of Encounters: Keep a record of the number of encounters you’ve had. This can help you stay motivated and track your progress.
- Be Patient: Shiny hunting requires immense patience. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find a shiny quickly. Some players have spent hundreds or even thousands of hours hunting a single shiny.
- Check Before Saving: Always double-check to ensure the Pokémon isn’t shiny before resetting. It’s easy to accidentally reset a shiny, especially if you’re tired.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does “Shiny Locked” mean?
“Shiny Locked” refers to Pokémon that are programmed to never appear as shiny within a specific game. This means that no matter how many times you encounter them through the intended method, they will always be their regular color.
2. Can I trade for a shiny Groudon in Omega Ruby?
Yes, you can trade for a shiny Groudon in Omega Ruby. The Groudon encountered in the story is Shiny Locked, but a shiny Groudon obtained in Alpha Sapphire can be traded to Omega Ruby.
3. Is the Shiny Charm necessary for shiny hunting Legendaries?
While not strictly necessary, the Shiny Charm significantly increases your chances of finding a shiny Pokémon. It’s highly recommended for efficiently hunting Legendaries. Without the Shiny Charm, the odds are much more daunting.
4. How do I access the Mirage Spots to encounter Legendaries?
Mirage Spots appear randomly on the Hoenn map after you’ve obtained the Eon Flute. You can fly on Latios or Latias to these spots, which appear as shimmering locations on the world map. Some spots require specific Pokémon in your party to trigger the Legendary encounter.
5. Can I use the Masuda method to breed for shiny Pokémon in Omega Ruby?
The Masuda method, which involves breeding Pokémon from different language games, does work in Omega Ruby. This increases the chances of hatching a shiny Pokémon. However, it’s not applicable for Legendaries, as most Legendaries cannot breed.
6. Does soft resetting damage my 3DS?
Soft resetting, which involves pressing a specific combination of buttons to restart the game, doesn’t typically damage your 3DS. It’s a commonly used method for shiny hunting.
7. What is the best nature for a shiny Rayquaza?
The best nature for a shiny Rayquaza depends on its intended role. Adamant (+Attack, -Special Attack) or Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack) are popular choices for a physical attacker. Modest (+Special Attack, -Attack) or Timid (+Speed, -Attack) are suitable for a special attacker.
8. Can I find shiny Pokémon in the Friend Safari in Omega Ruby?
The Friend Safari is a feature from Pokémon X and Y, not Omega Ruby. Thus, you cannot find shiny Pokémon in a Friend Safari in Omega Ruby.
9. What are the odds of finding a shiny without the Shiny Charm?
Without the Shiny Charm, the odds of finding a shiny Pokémon in Omega Ruby are approximately 1/8192.
10. Does the ability “Cute Charm” affect the shininess of Pokémon?
The Cute Charm ability only affects the gender ratio of wild Pokémon encounters, not their shininess.
11. Is it possible to get a shiny Regigigas in Omega Ruby?
Yes, it is possible to get a shiny Regigigas in Omega Ruby. You’ll need to transfer the three Regis (Regirock, Regice, Registeel) from other games or obtain them through trading, as they cannot be caught natively in Omega Ruby.
12. Can I use Action Replay or other cheating devices to get shiny Legendaries?
Using Action Replay or other cheating devices can generate shiny Legendaries, but it’s generally frowned upon by the Pokémon community. These Pokémon are often considered illegitimate and may not be allowed in competitive battles.
13. How long does it typically take to find a shiny Legendary?
The time it takes to find a shiny Legendary varies greatly depending on luck, whether you have the Shiny Charm, and your efficiency in resetting. It can range from a few hours to hundreds of hours.
14. Does the game show a visual cue when a Legendary is shiny?
Yes, when you encounter a shiny Legendary, you will see its alternate color palette during the encounter sequence. Be sure to pay close attention to the colors before resetting! There’s also a distinct sparkle animation at the start of the battle.
15. Are Mythical Pokémon (like Arceus, Mew, Celebi) obtainable and shiny in Omega Ruby?
Mythical Pokémon are generally obtained through special events and distributions. They are not naturally encounterable in Omega Ruby. Whether they can be shiny depends on the specific event. Historically, many event Mythical Pokémon have been shiny locked. Check the specific event details to be sure.
By understanding the mechanics of shiny hunting, knowing which Legendaries are Shiny Locked, and utilizing helpful strategies, you can greatly increase your chances of obtaining your own prized shiny Legendary in Pokémon Omega Ruby. Good luck, and happy hunting!