Regional Variants were first introduced to the Pokémon series in 2016's Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, and they also feature in Pokémon GO. Set in the tropical Alola region, these games debuted new forms of fan-favorite critters such as Raichu and Vulpix and set a precedent for how new installations in the Pokémon franchise can refresh older species while simultaneously building unique cultures in new generations and regions. The franchise's next generation, which was ushered in by 2019's Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, added more Regional Variants but expanded on them, introducing new Pokémon by way of further evolving Regional Variants.
Set in the Galar region, Sword and Shield's Regional Variants included a rock and roll take on Zigzagoon, a Ponyta ripped from the pages of a fairy tale, and a Corsola who seemingly died from climate change-induced coral reef poisoning. Some of these species, such as Galarian Corsola and Galarian Zigzagoon, gained extra evolutions. Where a traditional Zigzagoon could only evolve into Linoone, a Galarian Linoone could evolve once further into the new Obstagoon. Similarly, Corsola could never evolve, but its Galarian form can evolve into the new Cursola. Some Pokémon, such as Meowth, received new forms in both Alola and Galar. Introduced in Sword and Shield, monsters rarer than shinies were even introduced. This expansion proved to fans that Regional Variants weren't a one-off gimmick rooted in how different Alola's climate was from other regions, and eventually, Pokémon GO transported these creatures once more: this time to everyone's phones.
Regional Variants allow Pokémon to constantly reinvent itself every generation, making it one of the series' smartest moves, and Pokémon GO was there to capitalize on it, too. GO introduced Regional Variants to its global user base in 2018 just in time for the release of Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon Let's Go, Eevee! for the Switch. GO added Alolan Forms at the time because every Alolan Form was given to a Pokémon from Kanto, where the new Let's Go games were set and where they could be transferred from GO for Switch gameplay. Likewise, Pokémon GO added Galarian Regional Variants around the time of Sword and Shield's release, and over time, most Regional Variants' shiny forms have been enabled in GO. Some can be encountered in the wild, such as Alolan Rattata, while others are locked behind 7km Eggs, which players can get in Gifts from their GO friends. If players are lucky, they can also encounter a shiny version of some Regional Variants.
Every Shiny Regional Variant In Pokémon GO
Shiny Regional Variants are some of the most fun shiny forms to hunt for in Pokémon GO due to their rarity. They most often appear in Eggs, but Niantic sometimes adds wild spawns of them during specific events, such as some events including increased spawns of Alolan Geodude or Galarian Farfetch'd, whose evolution could be considered one of the best generation 8 Galarian shiny Pokémon designs. (The latter of which was important for Western fans as Kantonian Farfetch'd is region locked to Asia, and its Galarian counterpart's inclusion meant Western fans could fill Farfetch'd's Pokédex page.) Increased wild spawns are helpful for hunting shiny Regional Variants, but players first need to understand which Regional Variants can be shiny in the first place.
The following Regional Variants have their shiny forms enabled in Pokémon GO:
- Alolan Rattata
- Alolan Raticate
- Alolan Raichu
- Alolan Sandshrew
- Alolan Sandslash
- Alolan Vulpix
- Alolan Ninetales
- Alolan Diglett
- Alolan Dugtrio
- Alolan Meowth
- Galarian Meowth
- Alolan Persian
- Alolan Geodude
- Alolan Graveler
- Alolan Golem
- Galarian Ponyta
- Galarian Rapidash
- Galarian Farfetch'd
- Alolan Grimer
- Alolan Muk
- Alolan Exeggutor
- Alolan Marowak
- Galarian Weezing
- Galarian Zigzagoon
- Galarian Linoone
- Galarian Stunfisk
- Obstagoon
- Perrserker
- Sirfetch'd
Hunting for these shiny forms is fun because, as rare forms, they're excellent to show off in the GO Battle League or as a Buddy Pokémon. However, some stand out more than others. Galarian Zizagoon and its two evolutions, for example, are already a dream in their black and white appearance, but their shiny forms elevate their aesthetic even higher with light red and blue tones in place of the black. Likewise, Alolan Exeggutor's shiny form appears like how this creature would look if it naturally adapted to season, taking on an autumnal color palette. Galarian Ponyta and Rapidash in Pokémon GO also take on paler green colors. These Fairy-type Pokémon swap their pink and purple color palette for one that makes them resemble fairy wings or other similar fairy features. These shiny forms are smart and build on the given Pokémon's existing features and lore.
If players want something a little less flashy, a few standout Regional Variants have them covered. Alolan Raichu and Alolan Marowak change colors nicely but not in the same way that the aforementioned forms do. Instead, Raichu's shiny form is milk chocolate in color rather than yellow and makes it look even more endearing. Marowak keeps its white skull head and green bone flames and instead changes its extremities to a lighter shade of purple and turns its midsection black instead of white. It's striking enough to know it's different from regular Alolan Marowak without being too much. Pokémon GO's Shiny Alolan Meowth and Persian are similar in that regard. They're both purple to begin with and simply turn deeper shades of bluish-purple in their shiny forms. If players do want something shiny, they can always search for Galarian Meowth or Alolan Geodude, as these two evolution lines become brightly golden in their shiny forms.
At present, all Alolan Forms can be shiny in Pokémon GO. However, remaining Regional Variants from the current generation that cannot be shiny yet in GO include Galarian Darumaka, Darmanitan, Corsola, Yamask, Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking, Mr. Mime, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, as well as their regional evolutions, Mr. Rime, Runerigus, and Cursula. It's unknown when these Regional Variants and evolutions will be shiny eligible in GO. However, what is known is that Pokémon GO hosts new events frequently, during which they often drop feed new Pokémon species and forms.
It's possible that these shiny forms will appear in Pokémon GO slowly but surely. After all, some, such as the legendary bird Pokémon, haven't appeared in the game whatsoever, nonetheless shiny. It's a waiting game, but it's one that's worth it. In the meantime, players can have fun hatching 7km Eggs in search of shiny Regional Variants.