Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Is Bringing Back Legends: Arceus' Best Mechanic

Screen Rant

By Brent Koepp

Published Oct 25, 2022

The Pokémon Scarlet & Violet previews are finally here. The early look has revealed that Gen 9 will bring back Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Shiny feature.

Previews for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have revealed that the Generation 9 RPGs are bringing back a popular Pokémon Legends: Arceus feature that will improve Shiny Pokémon in the Paldea Region. With only a month away from release, the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet previews have finally been released, and the sneak peek has given players a wealth of new information about Gen 9. One of the biggest takeaways from the preview event, however, is that Pokémon Legends: Arceus' best feature is making its return in Scarlet and Violet.

In October, Game Freak invited members of the gaming press to experience Scarlet and Violet in a hands-on gaming session. The demo showed off the RPG's new customization features, Gym Battles, as well as the Starfall Street campaign, which involves Paldea's new villain's Team Star. While demoing the game, however, Serebii owner Joe Merrick stumbled upon Scarlet and Violet's first-recorded Shiny Pokémon. As a result, the veteran Pokémon insider was able to confirm that the Gen 9 game's have brought back Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Shiny Pokémon mechanic.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Shiny Pokémon Return In Scarlet and Violet

Pokemon Legends Arceus Shiny Machamp Screenshot — Screenshot of Shiny Machamp in Pokémon Legends Arceus.

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, players were able to physically spot Shiny Pokémon that were traveling around the over world. The rare variants would also make an audible sound when spawning in the map nearby. The feature was first implemented in the Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee games, but was improved in the 2022 Sinnoh origin title. According to the Gen 9 previews, the mechanic will make its return in the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Given that the ninth generation is the series first open-world RPG, it means that players will be able to explore every nook and cranny of the Scarlet and Violet Paldea Region map to spot the elusive Shiny forms.

The Scarlet and Violet previews weren't able to confirm how the "Let's Go" mechanic works with Shiny encounters, so it's still up in the air what happens when shinies are encountered with the auto-battle feature on. Serebii's Joe Merrick also stated that he isn't sure whether the Pokémon Legends: Arceus sound effect plays when the rare Pokémon appear on the map. Interestingly, several insiders have claimed that Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Mass Outbreak feature would also make its return. The popular mechanic allowed players to catch dozens of the same Pokémon in a wave of spawns. If the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet leak is true, then Shiny hunting in the Gen 9 RPGs ill be the best that it's ever been.

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