Is ORAS Latias Shiny Locked? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer? No, Latias (in Alpha Sapphire) and Latios (in Omega Ruby) are NOT shiny locked in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (ORAS). This means dedicated trainers can, with patience and a little luck, encounter and capture a shiny version of these legendary Pokémon within the game. Prepare for a rewarding journey as you delve into the specifics of acquiring a shiny Latias or Latios.
Unlocking the Eon Ticket and Southern Island
Before you can even think about shiny hunting, you need to access Southern Island, the location where Latias (in Alpha Sapphire) or Latios (in Omega Ruby) resides. There are two primary methods to achieve this:
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The Eon Ticket: This is the traditional route. The Eon Ticket allows you to travel to Southern Island via a ferry after acquiring it. It was initially distributed through Nintendo’s StreetPass function. By StreetPassing with someone who already had the Eon Ticket, you could receive it in your game. While StreetPass is less common now, it’s still possible to find communities or events where trainers share the ticket.
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Story Event: The first time you visit Southern Island is actually during a story event with Steven Stone. In Alpha Sapphire, you’ll ride on Latias’ back, and in Omega Ruby, you’ll ride on Latios’ back. After completing this initial event, you have the opportunity to catch the opposite Eon Pokemon on Southern Island after you have obtained the Eon Ticket.
The Art of Shiny Hunting Latias/Latios
Once you have access to Southern Island, the real challenge begins: the shiny hunt. This involves repeatedly encountering Latias/Latios and resetting the game if it isn’t shiny. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
- Save Your Game: This is crucial. Save your game before interacting with Latias/Latios on Southern Island. Make sure you are prepared to encounter Latias or Latios.
- Initiate the Encounter: Interact with Latias/Latios to initiate the battle.
- Check for Shininess: If Latias or Latios appears in its regular color, it’s not shiny.
- Soft Reset: Press and hold the A+B+Start+Select buttons simultaneously to perform a soft reset. This will return you to the game’s title screen. This is much faster than manually turning the power off.
- Repeat: Load your saved game and repeat steps 2-4 until a shiny Latias/Latios appears.
Key Considerations for Shiny Hunting
- Patience is Key: Shiny hunting can be a long and arduous process. Be prepared to reset hundreds, or even thousands, of times before encountering a shiny.
- Shiny Charm: If you have completed the National Pokédex in ORAS, you can obtain the Shiny Charm from Professor Birch. This item triples your chances of encountering a shiny Pokémon, making the hunt significantly easier.
- False Swipe: Consider using a Pokémon with the move False Swipe to reduce Latias/Latios’s HP to 1, making it easier to catch without accidentally knocking it out.
Common Misconceptions
It’s important to dispel some common myths and misunderstandings:
- Shiny Locking: As stated earlier, Latias/Latios is not shiny locked in ORAS. However, Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza (the Weather Trio) are shiny locked in the main story.
- Guaranteed Shiny: There is no guaranteed way to obtain a shiny Latias/Latios in ORAS without external devices or exploiting glitches. It all comes down to luck and persistence.
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the details:
1. Are all Legendary Pokémon in ORAS shiny locked?
No, not all Legendary Pokémon are shiny locked. Only Groudon, Kyogre, Rayquaza, and Deoxys are shiny locked in the main story.
2. Can I get Latias in Omega Ruby and Latios in Alpha Sapphire?
Yes, after obtaining the Eon Ticket and catching the respective Eon Pokemon in your save, you can then get Latias in Omega Ruby and Latios in Alpha Sapphire.
3. What is the shiny rate in ORAS?
The base shiny rate in ORAS is 1 in 4,096. With the Shiny Charm, this improves to 1 in 1,365.33.
4. Does the Eon Ticket affect the shiny rate?
No, the Eon Ticket only provides access to Southern Island; it does not influence the shiny encounter rate.
5. Is there a way to increase the shiny rate besides the Shiny Charm?
Unfortunately, no. The Shiny Charm is the only in-game item that directly boosts the shiny encounter rate.
6. What is the best nature for Latias/Latios?
This depends on your intended use. Timid (+Speed, -Attack) is a popular choice for a fast special attacker. Modest (+Special Attack, -Attack) is another option for maximizing damage output.
7. What moves should I teach Latias/Latios?
Common movesets include Psychic/Psyshock, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and Calm Mind for offensive builds. Support moves like Heal Pulse can also be useful.
8. Can Latias/Latios be traded between ORAS and other games?
Yes, Latias/Latios can be traded to other Generation 6 and 7 games (e.g., Pokémon X/Y, Sun/Moon, Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon) via Pokémon Bank.
9. Are there any glitches that guarantee a shiny Latias/Latios?
While glitches may exist, using them is generally discouraged as it can corrupt your save file or violate the game’s terms of service.
10. What is the difference between Latias and Latios statistically?
Latios generally has higher Special Attack and Speed, making it better for offense. Latias has higher Defense and Special Defense, making it more suitable for a defensive or support role.
11. Can I use the Masuda method for Latias/Latios?
No, the Masuda method only applies to breeding Pokémon. Latias/Latios cannot breed.
12. What happens if I accidentally knock out Latias/Latios?
If you accidentally knock out Latias/Latios before catching it, you can defeat the Elite Four and it will respawn.
13. Is it possible to encounter a shiny Latias/Latios during the initial story event with Steven Stone?
No, the Latias or Latios encountered during the story event is programmed to appear only in it’s non shiny form.
14. What does shiny Latias/Latios look like?
Shiny Latias is yellow, while shiny Latios is teal. Their Mega Evolved forms are both green.
15. What are the best Pokémon to use for catching Latias/Latios?
Pokémon with moves like False Swipe (to lower HP to 1) and status conditions like Sleep or Paralysis are highly recommended.
Embrace the Hunt!
Shiny hunting Latias/Latios in ORAS is a testament to a trainer’s dedication and patience. While it can be challenging, the reward of obtaining a shiny version of these majestic Pokémon is well worth the effort. Now you are well-equipped to set out on your own shiny hunting adventure. As you immerse yourself in the world of Pokemon, remember that learning and fun are intertwined. For more information about games and education, consider exploring the resources available at Games Learning Society through its website, GamesLearningSociety.org. Happy hunting!