How Rare is a Shiny 100% Pokémon?
The pursuit of a shiny 100% IV Pokémon, often referred to as a “shundo,” is the holy grail for many Pokémon GO players and collectors. It represents the absolute peak of rarity, combining two already elusive traits: a shiny coloration and perfect Individual Values (IVs). The odds of obtaining such a creature are incredibly slim, making it one of the most coveted prizes in the game. Simply put, a shundo is exceptionally rare. Mathematically, the base probability of finding a 100% IV Pokémon is 1 in 4096 (0.0244%). The standard probability of encountering a shiny Pokémon in the wild is around 1 in 500 (0.2%). To find a specific shiny with perfect IVs is, roughly, 1 in 4096 * 500 = 1 in 2,048,000. This number is an estimate, it may be lower depending on special events or circumstances. However, the base odds alone tell the story; it’s an incredibly rare occurrence. But this is more complicated than just simply multiplying these odds, and we need to look at a number of in-game mechanics and how they are all affected to work out the true odds.
Understanding the Rarity Factors
What are Shiny Pokémon?
Shiny Pokémon are rare color variants of standard Pokémon. They have the same base stats and abilities as their normal counterparts but boast a different color palette. These are not always immediately obvious, but sometimes they are drastically different. For instance, Shiny Squirtle is a lighter blue with a light yellow shell, while some have much more distinct color changes. For example, some shinies are red, like Alolan Raticate, Skuntank, and Clawitzer. The standard shiny encounter rate is generally 1 in 500, but this can vary. Events like Community Days dramatically increase shiny spawn rates for featured Pokémon to somewhere between 1 in 20 and 1 in 35.
What are 100% IV Pokémon?
Individual Values (IVs) are hidden stats that range from 0 to 15 for each of the three categories: Attack, Defense, and HP. A 100% IV Pokémon, also known as a perfect Pokémon or 4-star Pokémon, has a maximum of 15 in all three IV categories (15/15/15). This is highly sought after because it signifies a Pokémon with the highest possible potential in battle. The base chance of encountering a 100% IV Pokémon in the wild is 1 in 4,096 (0.0244%).
The Intersection of Shiny and 100% IV
To get a shundo, you need both a shiny Pokémon and a 100% IV Pokémon at the same time. Given that each of these is rare, getting both at once is extremely improbable. It’s important to note that the IVs are determined the moment the Pokémon is encountered, and if the Pokémon appears to be shiny it will still retain its original IV determination. There is no way of rerolling IVs on a shiny.
How do Events Affect the Odds?
While the odds of finding a shundo are always astronomically low, various in-game events in Pokémon GO can affect these chances:
- Community Days: These significantly increase the shiny rate for the featured Pokémon. If a Pokémon with perfect IVs also appears during the Community Day, the chances of catching a “shundo” are better than normal, but are still extremely rare.
- Raid Events: If you are lucky enough to encounter a Shiny Legendary after completing a raid, it is guaranteed to have a 100% catch rate, but these Pokémon are still not guaranteed to be a 100% IV Pokémon, which makes a 100% IV Shiny Legendary an extremely rare occurrence.
- Weather Boosts: These increase the IV floor for wild Pokémon, boosting the chances of getting a perfect IV Pokémon. For a Weather Boosted catch, there is a 1 in 1,728 chance of finding a perfect IV rather than 1 in 4,096 chance.
Other Factors Affecting Rarity
- Shiny Charms and other buffs: Some games have mechanics or items which can boost the odds of a shiny encounter, such as a shiny charm. In the main line Pokémon games, stacking bonuses, like Sparkling Power, a Shiny Charm, and 60 Outbreak defeats can reduce the odds to 1 in 512. But these are not used in Pokémon GO.
- Trainer ID number and personality value: These are not used to determine shiny encounters in Pokémon GO, but are used in the mainline Pokémon games from Generation III onwards.
- Purification: A Shadow Pokémon will earn better IVs when purified. This can, on occasion, bump the Pokémon’s status up, even as high as a perfect 100% IV, even if it didn’t have this prior. However, you should be careful because these can also go down in IV ranking.
- Lucky Pokémon: While there is a low probability of a 100% IV Pokémon from a standard encounter, the mechanics of Lucky Pokémon can also make it much easier to obtain perfect IVs.
The Appeal of the Shundo
The rarity of a shundo is a significant part of its appeal. It’s a symbol of dedication, patience, and a fair bit of luck. Players proudly display their shundos as badges of honor, and the search for them adds an exciting element to the game. Beyond the rarity, a shundo also represents a Pokémon that is both unique in appearance and has the highest possible potential, making it ideal for battles, raids, or just a great addition to any collection.
Conclusion
A shiny 100% IV Pokémon is an extremely rare and highly sought-after prize. The combination of low base probabilities for both shiny encounters and perfect IVs, further compounded by the fact that these two need to be found simultaneously, makes a shundo a symbol of the pinnacle of collection. While in-game events can slightly skew these probabilities, the underlying rarity remains intact. This pursuit for the perfect shiny Pokémon continues to fuel the passion of Pokémon GO players worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does it mean when a Pokémon is “shiny”?
A shiny Pokémon is a Pokémon with a unique, alternate color palette compared to its standard form. It’s a purely cosmetic difference but denotes a very rare encounter.
2. What are Individual Values (IVs)?
Individual Values (IVs) are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon’s potential in battle. They range from 0 to 15 for Attack, Defense, and HP. A 100% IV Pokémon has a maximum of 15 in all three IV categories.
3. What is a “shundo” Pokémon?
A “shundo” is a community term for a Pokémon that is both shiny and has perfect 100% IVs. It is one of the rarest forms to encounter in Pokémon GO.
4. How can I tell if a Pokémon is 100% IV before catching it?
In Pokémon GO, the appraisal system uses stars and stamps to indicate the IVs of a Pokémon. A Pokémon with three stars and a red stamp is a 100% IV Pokémon. If it has three stars with an orange stamp, it has around 80-99% perfect IVs.
5. What is the standard shiny rate in Pokémon GO?
The standard shiny rate for most Pokémon in the wild is about 1 in 500. However, this rate can vary during special events, where it may be much higher, such as on Community Days.
6. How does weather boost affect IVs?
Weather boosts can increase the IV floor for wild Pokémon. Instead of the 1 in 4,096 chance, a Weather Boosted catch gives you a 1 in 1,728 chance of finding a perfect IV Pokémon.
7. Do Shiny Pokémon have a 100% catch rate?
No, not in general. However, if a Shiny Legendary is found after completing a raid, it has a 100% catch rate. But in the wild, Legendary Pokemon are difficult to catch, even if they are Shiny, although they cannot flee from the trainer.
8. How do Community Days affect shiny odds?
Community Days typically have greatly boosted shiny rates for the featured Pokémon, with the rates usually ranging between 1 in 20 and 1 in 35. This does not affect the odds of them having perfect IVs.
9. Are 0% IV Pokémon rare?
Yes, 0% IV Pokémon are very rare and considered just as collectable as perfect 100% IV Pokémon. While they’re not as useful in battle, they have a certain rarity value to collectors.
10. Is a shiny Detective Pikachu rare?
Yes, Shiny Detective Pikachu is considered one of the rarest shiny forms in Pokémon GO. While many hat-wearing variants are available, Detective Pikachu is particularly elusive.
11. Can Shiny Legendary Pokémon flee from encounters?
In general Shiny Legendary Pokémon cannot flee from trainers during an encounter, and can only be defeated in battle, or if the encounter is affected by speed limitations, or by the Go Plus/Gotcha trying to catch it.
12. Does Pokegenie provide an advantage in finding shiny Pokémon?
Pokegenie is a third party app and only used to check IVs from screen capture data. It does not increase the odds of a shiny appearing, and is in full compliance with Niantic’s terms of service.
13. What are the best ways to increase my chance of a perfect IV Pokémon?
Weather boosts and lucky trades can increase your chances for a perfect IV Pokémon. But the best thing is perseverance.
14. What Pokémon is number 000?
Victini is the only Pokémon listed as #000 in the Pokédex, a unique designation among mythical Pokémon, and it’s tied to a special in-game event.
15. What is a 4* Pokémon?
A 4* Pokémon in Pokémon GO means it has perfect stats, with all IVs at 15 out of 15. That doesn’t mean they are worth investing in though, and depends on the usefulness of that specific Pokémon.