Shiny Titans: The Unseen Hunt in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
The short answer is a tantalizing yes, but with a massive caveat: you cannot visually confirm a Shiny Titan during normal gameplay. A Pokémon researcher known as Anubis discovered evidence suggesting that there’s a 1 in 4096 chance for the Great Tusk Titan to be shiny upon generation at the end of the first phase of the battle. However, this shiny Titan would be invisible to the player, making it practically unobtainable. Let’s delve into this fascinating, albeit frustrating, aspect of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.
The Elusive Shiny Titan Phenomenon
The Titan Pokémon are a core part of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet’s Path of Legends storyline. Players encounter enhanced, larger-than-usual versions of Pokémon, known as Titans, guarding Herba Mystica. Initially, players believed these Titan encounters were entirely shiny locked, meaning the game’s code prevented shiny versions from appearing. However, Anubis’s discovery has shaken this assumption.
The key lies in the initial generation of the Titan for the first phase of the battle. According to Anubis, the game rolls a shiny check at this moment. If it lands on the incredibly rare 1/4096 chance, a shiny Titan is generated. The problem? The game doesn’t display the shiny sprite. Players are left battling a standard-colored Titan, blissfully unaware of the potentially shimmering rarity they face.
Why the game doesn’t display the shiny sprite remains a mystery. It could be a technical oversight, a deliberate design choice to maintain the Titan’s narrative consistency, or simply an unfinished feature left in the game’s code. Regardless of the reason, the result is the same: a potentially shiny Titan that cannot be appreciated or confirmed through normal means.
This discovery raises philosophical questions about shiny hunting. Is it still considered hunting if you cannot visually verify your success? Is the thrill of the hunt diminished if the reward is essentially invisible? For many players, the answer is likely yes. The visual confirmation is a crucial part of the shiny hunting experience.
Post-Game Titan Encounters: Shiny Locked
After completing the Path of Legends storyline, players can revisit the locations where they fought the Titans and battle standard-sized versions of those Pokémon. These encounters provide an opportunity to catch the normally unobtainable forms of these Pokemon. However, these encounters are shiny locked.
Therefore, while you can technically engage with a shiny Titan, the only point at which this is even theoretically possible is during the initial Titan battle phase. Once you defeat the Titan and can subsequently rebattle and catch its normal-sized counterpart, the possibility of finding a shiny vanishes entirely.
Implications for Shiny Hunters
For dedicated shiny hunters, this news is bittersweet. On the one hand, it’s intriguing to know that shiny Titans might exist within the game’s code. On the other hand, the inability to see and confirm these shinies makes the prospect of actively hunting for them largely unappealing.
The focus for most shiny hunters will likely remain on Pokémon that can be visually confirmed as shiny during the encounter, such as those found in the wild or through mass outbreaks. These methods, combined with shiny hunting methods like using sparkling power sandwiches, provide a much more rewarding experience. The Games Learning Society also has interesting articles on this topic.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions related to shiny hunting Titans in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet:
1. Can I see a shiny Titan during the main Titan battles?
No. Even if a shiny Titan is generated, it will appear as the standard-colored version during the battle.
2. Are the post-game Titan encounters shiny locked?
Yes. The smaller, catchable Titan Pokémon found in the post-game are shiny locked and cannot be obtained as shinies.
3. What are the odds of a Titan being shiny?
The estimated odds are 1 in 4096, the standard full-odds shiny rate in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet without any bonuses.
4. How was it discovered that Titans could be shiny?
Pokémon researcher Anubis discovered this information by analyzing the game’s code.
5. Is there any way to increase the shiny odds for Titans?
No. The standard methods for increasing shiny odds, such as the shiny charm and sparkling power sandwiches, do not appear to affect the initial Titan generation check.
6. Does the Masuda method work on Titans?
The Masuda method is irrelevant in this case, as the Titan Pokémon are not breedable.
7. Can other Titan Pokémon besides Great Tusk be shiny?
While the discovery specifically mentions the Great Tusk Titan, it’s reasonable to assume that the same mechanic might apply to other Titans, although this remains unconfirmed.
8. Is it worth shiny hunting Titans if I can’t see the shiny?
That depends on your personal preference. Most shiny hunters will likely find it unsatisfying, as the visual confirmation is a key aspect of the hunt.
9. Will Nintendo/Game Freak address this in a future update?
It’s possible, but unlikely. Addressing this would require either enabling the shiny sprite for Titans or confirming that they are indeed shiny locked, which would potentially disappoint players.
10. What is the hardest Pokémon to shiny hunt in Scarlet & Violet?
While subjective, some contenders include Special Breed Tauros, Tatsugiri, and Tynamo due to their small sizes, similar colors to their shiny forms, or difficulty spawning. GamesLearningSociety.org may have some information on rare Pokemon encounters.
11. Are Paradox Pokémon shiny locked?
No. The Paradox Pokémon, such as Roaring Moon and Iron Valiant, can be shiny hunted in the wild.
12. Can Tera Pokémon be shiny?
Yes. Wild Tera Pokémon can be shiny, making them incredibly rare and highly sought after.
13. What is the rarest shiny in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?
Determining the “rarest” is difficult, but shiny Antique Form Sinistea and Polteageist are strong contenders due to the rarity of the Antique Form itself.
14. Are shiny Legendaries guaranteed catches in Raids?
Yes, if you encounter a shiny Legendary in a Tera Raid, it has a 100% catch rate. However, this only applies to Raid battles, not wild encounters.
15. What is the best method for shiny hunting in Scarlet & Violet?
Mass outbreaks are generally considered the most efficient method for shiny hunting in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, especially when combined with a shiny charm and a sparkling power sandwich. This is due to the increased number of spawns that provide a higher chance of finding a shiny.