The Resetting Grind: How Many Attempts to Nab a Shiny Pokémon?
So, you’re after that elusive, shimmering Pokémon, huh? The short answer: it depends on the game, the method, and frankly, your luck. There’s no guaranteed number of resets. You could get a shiny on your first try. You could be resetting for weeks. Let’s break down the probabilities and factors that affect your shiny hunting journey, because understanding the odds is half the battle. Buckle up, because we’re diving deep into the world of shiny hunting!
Understanding the Basics: What is a Reset?
When we talk about “resetting” for a shiny Pokémon, we generally mean soft resetting (SRing). This is a specific button combination that restarts your game without completely turning off the system. This allows you to encounter a Pokémon, check if it’s shiny, and if it’s not, quickly restart the game to try again. This is vital for stationary encounters, like legendary Pokémon or starter Pokémon.
The key is that each reset generates a new random number seed, essentially reshuffling the deck for the next encounter. Remember, resetting doesn’t increase your odds of a shiny; it just gives you more opportunities to roll the dice. Think of it like buying more lottery tickets – each ticket has the same chance of winning, but the more you buy, the higher your overall chance becomes.
The Base Shiny Odds: The Lottery Ticket Price
Before diving into specific numbers, let’s talk base odds. These are the default chances of encountering a shiny Pokémon, without any modifiers.
- Older Games (Generations 1-5): 1/8192
- More Recent Games (Generations 6 onwards): 1/4096
These odds are daunting. Imagine flipping a coin 4096 times and needing heads to come up every single time. It puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?
Factors Affecting Shiny Odds: Tipping the Scales
Fortunately, the Pokémon Company has gradually made shiny hunting more accessible, introducing mechanics that can significantly improve your odds.
The Shiny Charm: The Coupon Clipper
The Shiny Charm is an item obtainable in most Pokémon games after completing the regional Pokédex. It drastically increases the chances of encountering a shiny Pokémon.
- Without Shiny Charm: 1/4096 (or 1/8192 in older games)
- With Shiny Charm: Typically around 1/1365 (depending on the game)
The Shiny Charm acts as a massive discount on your shiny hunting lottery ticket. It’s practically essential if you’re serious about hunting.
Masuda Method: The Foreign Exchange
The Masuda Method involves breeding two Pokémon from different language regions (e.g., a Pokémon caught in an English game and a Pokémon caught in a Japanese game). This significantly increases shiny odds for the offspring.
- Without Masuda Method: 1/4096 (or 1/8192)
- With Masuda Method: Varies, but often around 1/683 (or 1/512 with the Shiny Charm).
This method is fantastic for Pokémon that can breed, offering a more relaxed alternative to soft resetting.
Outbreaks and Methods: The Event Sale
Certain games, like Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, introduce mechanics like Mass Outbreaks or specific methods that dramatically boost shiny rates. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, defeating a certain number of Pokémon in a Mass Outbreak greatly increases the chances of finding a shiny within that outbreak.
Pokémon GO: A Different Ball Game
Pokémon GO operates on entirely different shiny odds. Base shiny rates are generally believed to be around 1/500, but this can vary significantly for specific Pokémon and events. Community Days, for example, often feature boosted shiny rates of approximately 1/25. Also, some Pokémon have a permaboosted rate of approximately 1/64.
The Hard Truth: There’s No Guarantee
Even with all these methods, remember this: probabilities are probabilities, not guarantees. You could still go thousands of encounters without seeing a shiny, even with the Shiny Charm and Masuda Method. Conversely, you could stumble upon a shiny completely by accident, without even trying.
Optimizing Your Resets: Speed and Efficiency
Since resetting can be tedious, optimizing your process is crucial:
- Know the Reset Combination: Familiarize yourself with the button combination for soft resetting in your specific game.
- Minimize Cutscenes: Skip cutscenes whenever possible to reduce the time between encounters.
- Stay Focused: Shiny hunting can be mind-numbing. Take breaks to avoid burnout and maintain focus.
- Track Your Encounters: Keep a tally of your resets. This helps you stay motivated and provides data on your progress.
Don’t Give Up! Games Learning Society
Shiny hunting is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, persistence, and a healthy dose of luck. But when that shimmering sprite finally appears, the feeling of accomplishment is truly rewarding. So, gear up, trainers, and embrace the challenge! And if you want to learn more about the mechanics and mathematics behind these games, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Shiny Pokémon Resets
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the world of shiny hunting and resetting.
1. Does resetting the game reset shiny odds?
These initial conditions, called a “seed”, do change when you reset, but it requires a lot of manipulation to make sure your next encounter is a shiny. Just blindly resetting is pretty much the same as flipping a coin; you’re not guaranteeing that the next time you start the game you’ll have “better luck”. So no, it does not technically reset the odds.
2. How many resets does it take to get a shiny starter in BDSP?
It could take well over 10k resets to get a shiny starter. Or you could get lucky and it will be your next attempt. Up to you whether to keep going, or to play the game and breed for one using the Masuda Method for much better odds. adding onto this, the odds with the masuda method is 1/683, 1/512 with the shiny charm.
3. How many Shinies does it take to unlock shiny Pokedex?
It doesn’t matter if you catch them or if you evolve them, as long as you register 15 different shiny you’ll get the shiny Pokedex.
4. How many pokemon do you need to beat to raise shiny odds?
Once you’ve defeated or caught about 30 Pokemon from that mass outbreak, your odds of finding a Shiny Pokemon in that particular outbreak will increase. After 60 are caught or defeated, that rate will increase once again to 1 out of 1,365.
5. Do shiny Pokemon have a 100 catch rate?
1 out of the 20 trainers will be guaranteed a shiny encounter. Shiny Pokemon also have a 100% catch rate. Just make sure not to miss the throws. To increase the chance of shiny Pokemon, its important to increase the amount of Pokemon that spawns in general.
6. What are the odds of finding a shiny Pokemon without a shiny charm?
The base game shiny odds in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are 1/4096, and that’s without the shiny charm or boosted shiny rates from making sandwiches.
7. Do shiny sandwiches work on eggs?
Shiny Sandwiches will not help with the chance for an egg to be Shiny, so players should prepare other sandwiches for their eggs. Players will need to repeat this until they have hatched a shiny Pokemon, though there are a few things they can do to further increase their chances.
8. What shiny Pokemon are illegal?
Some Legendary and Mythical Pokemon cannot be shiny. As of the release of generation 8, these are: Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Hoopa, Volcanion, Cosmog and Cosmoem, Magearna, Zeraroa, Zacian, Zamazenta and Eternatus. These Pokemon cannot be legally shiny under any circumstance.
9. Is there a way to get a guaranteed shiny?
You can take the Permit to the airport in Mistralton City to fly to the secret Nature Preserve. The Nature Preserve has a few rare Pokémon as it is, but the true reward is the stationary level 60 Shiny Haxorus waiting for you in the tall grass. You can save your game before fighting it.
10. Is there a sandwich to increase shiny odds?
For instance, if players combine an avocado with a Salty Herba Mythica and a Spicy Herba Mythica, they will have a sandwich that increases their chance of encountering a dragon type Pokemon, as well as increasing the chance that the encountered Pokemon will be a shiny Pokemon.
11. What are full odds Shinies?
Full odds means no modifiers, a 1/4096 (or in earlier games, 1/8192) chance of getting it. So right now I’m shiny hunting Groudon, and I have no shiny charm. If I get a shiny Groudon through this, that would be a full odds shiny? Without the shiny charm, you will have 1/4096 chance of getting the shiny Groudon.
12. What is the hardest Shiny Pokémon to get?
This alone makes Tauros one of the hardest Pokemon to shiny hunt, but getting a shiny version of the other breeds is something else entirely. The Blaze and Aqua Breeds of Tauros are difficult to shiny hunt for the same reason they are to encounter. They’re a rare spawn in a herd of ‘standard’ Tauros.
13. Why can’t I transfer Shiny Pokémon?
You’re unable to transfer multiple Shiny Pokémon, Lucky Pokémon, or Buddy Pokémon with whom you’ve reached Good Buddy status or above at a time. Additionally, certain Legendary and some Mythical Pokémon (e.g. Mew, Celebi) are not able to be selected for transfer.
14. Should I keep multiple Shiny Pokémon?
its really up to you, i keep decent cp with good stars if i have multiple of one pokemon. I keep a few for trading with friends who may not have then, but if they do I just scrap them and keep one. Definitely depends on how you play. I personally never keep more than one regular, one shiny, etc.
15. Should you purify Shinies?
Meanwhile, Purified Pokémon don’t have any defense penalties, can learn new moves any time you want, and are easier to level up. But, since higher attack power is generally a more desired trait, you shouldn’t purify your shiny Shadow Pokémon.