Understanding how Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s shiny hunting method works is no easy task, much like most of the games in the series, but we’re going to explain it as best we can. The most useful way of hunting for shiny Pokemon in Paldea is known as the Masuda method, but you’ll also need to know the exact shiny odds, and if you’re wondering how to get the shiny charm in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, we can help with that too.
Not every Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet can be shiny – one of the rewards from the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet answers, for example, is impossible to get shiny. But most of the Pokemon you find in the wild, including almost all of the new Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet, can indeed be found in this extremely rare variant. Shiny Pokemon are the goal for most veteran trainers, so read on for all the details on the Masuda method, the odds of finding shiny Pokemon, how sparkling sandwiches work, and how to get the shiny charm.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet shiny hunting – Masuda method explained
To kick things off, the core of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet shiny hunting is done via the Masuda method, which is a brand new technique for finding shiny Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet compared to previous games in the series. It revolves around breeding but since breeding doesn’t require a daycare anymore, eggs are instead obtained via the Pokemon Picnic.
The Masuda method relies on having eggs from two versions of the game with different languages. Put two compatible eggs together from different languages and the odds will be 1/683, but this can be increased to 1/512 using a shiny charm.
The base odds for finding a shiny Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet are 1/4096. However, as mentioned above, using the Masuda method brings this down to 1/683, and down even further to 1/512 when using a shiny charm. A shiny charm without the Masuda method, however, returns odds of 1/1365.67.
In order to get the shiny charm, you simply need to complete the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Pokedex. This means you’ll need to trade with a friend who has the other version of the game to the one you’re playing on, or utilise the wonder trade mechanic to acquire Pokemon that you can’t find in the wild.
If you don’t want to breed Pokemon, then your best bet is to head to mass outbreaks. Defeating 30 Pokemon consecutively approximately halves the shiny rate to 1/2048.25, then if you defeat 60+ Pokemon, this is reduced even further to 1/1365.67 – the same as the shiny charm by default. You can speed up this process by using the Let’s Go mechanic to send out your most powerful Pokemon to auto-battle. Rest assured, if they encounter a shiny Pokemon, they won’t defeat it so you’ll be free to approach and battle it instead.
Rest assured that if you are hunting shiny Pokemon in the wild, you’ll be able to spot the alternate colour scheme on their overworld model, but they will no longer make a sound when spawning in, unlike in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
You can also use specific sandwiches to increase the chance of finding shinies – specifically ones that increase both your sparkling and encounter power. But, we will dive into those a little later on.
So what are the odds if you’re encountering wild Pokemon in a mass outbreak, but you have a shiny charm, you’ve defeated 60+ Pokemon consecutively, and you’ve increased your sparkling power to level three via the use of sandwiches? 1/512.44, approximately the same as the Masuda method with a shiny charm.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet sandwich recipes to boost shiny rates
Here are the sandwich recipes to boost shiny rates for each Pokemon type in the wild:
- Normal – 1x Chorizo, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Fire – 1x Basil, 1x Salty Herba Mystica, 1x Sweet Herba Mystica
- Water – 1x Cucumber, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Grass – 1x Lettuce, 1x Salty Herba Mystica, 1x Sour Herba Mystica
- Electric – 1x Yellow Bell Pepper, 1x Salty Herba Mystica, 1x Spicy Herba Mystica
- Fighting – 1x serving of Pickles, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Poison – 1x serving of Noodles, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Flying – 1x Prosciutto, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Ground – 1x Ham, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Rock – 1x Jalapeno, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Psychic – 1x Onion, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Bug – 1x Cherry Tomato, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Ice – 1x Klawf Stick, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Ghost – 1x Red Onion, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Steel – 1x Hamburger, 1x Salty Herba Mystica, 1x Sweet Herba Mystica
- Dragon – 1x Avocado, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
- Dark – 1x Smoked Fillet, 1x Salty Herba Mystica, 1x Sweet Herba Mystica
- Fairy – 1x Tomato, 2x Salty Herba Mystica
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet shiny mass outbreak exploit
At the time of writing, there is an exploit you can use to check for dozens of shiny Pokemon in a mass outbreak repeatedly with YouTuber ‘PhillyBeatzU’ spotting this. Essentially, you want to head to a mass outbreak and defeat 60 Pokemon, as explained above. This method works without the shiny charm or any sparkling sandwiches, but you’ll have more success with it if you do have both of those things.
Once you’ve defeated 60+ Pokemon, set up your picnic, then put it away again. After this, do a lap of the mass outbreak and scour the area for any shiny Pokemon. If you have no luck, set your picnic back up, put it away, then do the same again. What this essentially does is reset the spawns for all the Pokemon in the mass outbreak, so you have a refreshed chance of finding a shiny Pokemon each time. This method may be patched out at some point though, so do keep your wits about you.
That’s everything you need to know about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet shiny hunting method. Some aspects will be familiar to shiny hunting veterans, while others have changed a little. If you want some free swag, check out our list of the best Pokemon Scarlet and Violet mystery gift codes, or our Pokemon type chart explains all you need to know about strengths and weaknesses for every type in the game.