Do Lucky Pokémon Become Shiny? Unveiling the Mysteries of Pokémon GO
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Yes, a Pokémon in Pokémon GO can absolutely be both Lucky and Shiny. These are two distinct characteristics that a Pokémon can possess, and they aren’t mutually exclusive. A Pokémon can be found as a shiny, then traded and become lucky, or vice versa, or even acquired as both simultaneously! It’s the holy grail for Pokémon GO trainers! This article dives deep into the fascinating world of Lucky Shiny Pokémon and answers all your burning questions.
Understanding Lucky and Shiny Pokémon
Before we delve deeper, let’s clarify what makes a Pokémon Lucky and what makes it Shiny.
What is a Lucky Pokémon?
Lucky Pokémon are special Pokémon acquired through trading. When you trade Pokémon with a friend, there’s a chance both Pokémon involved in the trade will become Lucky. The older the Pokémon, the higher the chance of becoming lucky.
Benefits of Lucky Pokémon:
- Reduced Stardust Cost: Powering up a Lucky Pokémon requires significantly less Stardust than a regular Pokémon.
- Guaranteed Good IVs: Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12, meaning they are guaranteed to have decent stats.
- Visual Cue: They display a shimmery effect in your Pokédex and on their summary page, making them easily identifiable.
What is a Shiny Pokémon?
Shiny Pokémon are Pokémon with a different color variation than their standard counterparts. They are incredibly rare to find in the wild, making them highly sought after by collectors. The base shiny rate for most wild Pokémon is approximately 1 in 500. Some events and special encounters can increase these odds.
The Allure of the Lucky Shiny
Combining the rarity of a Shiny with the practical benefits of a Lucky Pokémon creates an extremely desirable combination. A Lucky Shiny is not only visually appealing but also much easier to power up and guaranteed to have decent stats, making it a valuable asset for battles and raids. Securing one requires patience, luck, and a strong network of trading partners.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Lucky and Shiny Pokémon to further enhance your understanding:
1. How rare is a Lucky Shiny Pokémon?
The rarity of a Lucky Shiny is the product of the individual probabilities of a Pokémon being Shiny and becoming Lucky through a trade. Given the base shiny rate is 1/500 and the lucky rate varies, it’s safe to assume that securing a Lucky Shiny is extremely rare.
2. How do I increase my chances of getting a Lucky Pokémon?
Trading older Pokémon significantly increases the chance of a Lucky trade. Pokémon that have been in your storage for months or years have a much higher likelihood of becoming Lucky when traded. Also, becoming Lucky Friends with other players guarantees a Lucky trade the next time you interact.
3. Do Lucky Pokémon stay Lucky when evolved?
Yes, evolving a Lucky Pokémon will result in an evolved Lucky Pokémon. The Lucky status is permanent. You won’t lose the Lucky quality.
4. Can any Pokémon be Shiny?
While most Pokémon have a Shiny variant available in Pokémon GO, there are exceptions. Some Pokémon may not have been released in their Shiny form yet, or they may only be available during specific events.
5. What Pokémon are best suited to be Lucky?
Powerful and meta-relevant Pokémon are ideal candidates for becoming Lucky. Mewtwo, Metagross, Rayquaza, Giratina, and Garchomp are great choices due to their high stats and usefulness in raids and battles. Any Pokémon that you use frequently in raids or battles will benefit from the reduced Stardust cost that Lucky Pokémon offer.
6. Can you trade a Lucky Pokémon back?
No, Pokémon GO does not allow you to trade a Pokémon more than once. Once a Pokémon has been traded, it cannot be traded again.
7. What is a Lucky Friend?
A Lucky Friend is a special status you can achieve with your Best Friends. There is a small chance (around 1.1%) of becoming Lucky Friends each day when you interact with a Best Friend for the first time. When you are Lucky Friends, your next trade is guaranteed to result in both Pokémon becoming Lucky. You can learn more about friendship bonuses and other features that enhance gameplay at the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
8. Are Lucky Pokémon always 3 stars?
Lucky Pokémon are not always 3 stars, but they have a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12. This means their Individual Values (IVs) for Attack, Defense, and HP will each be at least 12 out of 15. This guarantees a minimum of 80% IVs. Anything 82% or higher (13/12/12+) will be 3*.
9. Do Lucky Trades give better IVs?
Lucky Trades guarantee IVs between 12 and 15 for all three categories. This means you are guaranteed to have a strong Pokemon.
10. Can Purified Pokémon be Lucky?
Yes, Purified Pokémon can be Lucky.
11. What are the odds of finding a Shiny Pokémon in the wild?
The base odds of finding a Shiny Pokémon in the wild are approximately 1 in 500. However, some Pokémon and events may have boosted Shiny rates. Community Days, for instance, often feature a significantly increased Shiny rate for the featured Pokémon.
12. What is the rarest Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
Determining the absolute rarest Shiny is tricky, as availability changes with events. However, Shiny Unown forms are generally considered some of the rarest due to their limited availability. Shiny Mew, Shiny Celebi and Shiny Jirachi are also rare.
13. Is it OK to transfer Lucky Pokémon?
While it’s generally not recommended to transfer Lucky Pokémon, the decision depends on the Pokémon’s IVs and your needs. If you have a Lucky Pokémon with poor IVs, you might consider transferring it to free up space.
14. Can you trade Shiny Pokémon?
Yes, you can trade Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO, provided you have reached the required Friendship level with the other trainer. Trading Shiny Pokémon can be expensive in terms of Stardust, especially if you don’t already own the Shiny Pokémon being traded.
15. Why are 2016 Pokemon guaranteed Lucky?
All July-Aug 2016 Pokémon are guaranteed Lucky if the sender has been in fewer than 10 trades (as sender or recipient) where at least one party was guaranteed. This is done to encourage players to use older Pokemon and make trading more exciting for those who have been playing since the game’s launch.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a Lucky Pokémon can indeed be Shiny, and obtaining such a creature is a testament to dedication and luck in Pokémon GO. By understanding the mechanics of Lucky and Shiny Pokémon, you can optimize your trading strategies and increase your chances of acquiring these coveted treasures. Happy hunting, Trainers!