Shiny hunting in Pokémon Legends: Arceus could present more challenges than in past games according to recent predictions from Pokémon fans. Shiny hunting has become a popular staple of the Pokémon series, enabling players to capture extremely rare variations of standard Pokémon. These variations possess alternate colorings and give off a shiny gleam when released from their Poké Ball in battle. However, catching a Shiny Pokémon has never been an easy task, and it appears there could be new hurdles in the upcoming title.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus will take place in the Hisui region, otherwise known as the modern-day Sinnoh region in the current main game timeline. From what has been seen in the trailers provided by Nintendo, players will be in charge of filling out the first Pokédex, as well as aiding in the creation of rudimentary Poké Balls, while exploring the vast Hisui region. Pokémon will appear in the overworld, and thanks to new catch mechanics, can be captured without entering a battle. Pokémon have also been revealed to possess certain natures, with some species eagerly jumping at a trainer for a battle, and others running from the encounter.
However, it is these new battle mechanics that could present a problem for Shiny hunters picking up Pokémon Legends: Arceus. According to Comicbook.com, a well-known Pokémon leaker on Twitter going by Riddler Khu has revealed possible information about future Shiny hunting mechanics. According to the leak, Pokémon will appear Shiny in the overworld similar to what was seen in Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! However, it isn't clear what sort of chaining methods could be present, or if Pokémon Legends: Arceus will include the Shiny Charm, a must-have item that greatly increases Shiny odds in previous games. The leak suggests Shiny hunting will be harder than ever before, with Shiny Pokémon able to run from battle. This is bad news for Shiny hunters, who previously only had to worry about a shiny escape with certain Pokémon species.
Shiny Chaining Is An Important Part Of Shiny Hunting In Pokémon
Hunting Shiny Pokémon takes both skill and patience. The act of hunting down these alternate variations has become a popular stream focus on both YouTube and Twitch, as well as becoming a core objective in recent games. The mechanic was added back in Generation 2 with Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, but was so difficult to do that many players didn't even know it existed. The odds of encountering a Shiny Pokémon was roughly 1 in 8192 encounters and could be improved through breeding. In recent games like Pokémon Sword and Shield, the base Shiny odds have been altered, with a base possible Shiny chance set at 1 in 4096 encounters.
However, Shiny chaining, the act of hunting a specific species of Pokémon with a chance to improve Shiny odds, has become a primary method for finding these variations. Shiny chaining has taken many forms throughout the Pokémon series. Breeding via the Masuda Method can greatly increase Shiny odds. This method requires players to breed two Pokémon in the same egg group together, with one parent coming from a country outside the player's own. In earlier versions, this method was particularly difficult due to a lack of easy online trading. Now the hardest part of breeding for Shiny Pokémon is the grind to hatch the eggs.
However, other chain methods require players to encounter the same Pokémon in the wild repeatedly, slowly raising the odds of a Shiny encounter with every successful battle. For example, in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, chaining is done using the DexNav. The DexNav allows players to search for specific Pokémon once they have been discovered on a route, and using Super Repels to avoid random wild battles, players can continuously encounter the same Pokémon, increasing their Shiny odds with every successful knockout.
Pokémon GO Shiny Mechanics Have Become A Problem For Shiny Hunters
However, Shiny hunting has taken a frustrating turn in recent years thanks to mechanics introduced in Pokémon GO. The mobile Pokémon game has introduced new methods of capturing Pokémon, removing battle encounters in exchange for a point-and-throw Poké Ball minigame. Players can increase catch chances by using a better Poké Ball, or by throwing items like Razz Berries, but there is always a chance a wild encounter not tied to a Special Research could run away. This mechanic made its way into Let's Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!, with the catch mechanics for the Kanto-based title mimicking the mobile game almost entirely. This gameplay could have a big influence on Pokémon Legends: Arceus, changing the way players have been Shiny chaining for decades.
While nothing has officially been confirmed by Nintendo or Game Freak regarding Shiny mechanics in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the trailers do seem to show catch mechanics similar to Pokémon GO. Players will be able to throw Poké Balls from a quick menu shown in the lower right hand of the screen without needing to engage in battle, and it appears a large number of Poké Balls could be necessary, implying players could need to catch quantities of the same species of Pokémon. This could mean Pokémon Candies could make a return, and that encountering a Shiny Pokémon could have a high potential for failure if the right items aren't used, or if the Pokémon simply flees a battle. There is also a possibility Shiny Pokémon may be less rare, allowing players more chances to see them, but fewer opportunities to catch them. While this would increase the challenge, it may also be a frustrating change for those who have enjoyed the steady, reliable grind of Shiny hunting in past Pokémon titles.
Because Pokémon Legends: Arceus has already shown dramatic changes to major gameplay from past titles in the series, it would seem fitting to change how Shiny hunting progresses in the Hisui region. Hopefully, these changes will be accompanied by items earned through Pokédex achievements. This could include a Shiny Charm, a Critical Capture Charm, and potentially new items to help lower escape rates of wild Pokémon. It is also possible new Poké Ball types may be added, allowing players to craft balls with better catch rates to help reduce failed catch attempts. Despite the big changes, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is sure to offer fans of the series new challenges, and potentially change the way trainer journeys unfold, opening new possibilities for future games.
Source: Comicbook, Riddler Khu/Twitter