An upcoming update for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will make Shiny hunting in the game notably harder. In recent Generations, finding the rare Pokémon variants has become easier thanks to the introduction of various methods like the Masuda Method. However, it seems that this may well be about to change.
As well as well-known methods, Scarlet and Violet added other ways to increase the odds, such as allowing Pokémon to spawn in the overworld. Players can take advantage of this to rapidly check an area for Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and trigger a respawn if none are found. This has made Shiny hunting notably simpler in the most recent additions to the franchise.
A New Pokémon Scarlet And Violet Patch Could Make Shinies Rarer
Official patch notes released by Nintendo indicate that fewer Pokémon may spawn at a time after the update at the end of February. This is intended to improve performance, as Scarlet and Violet have suffered from various bugs since their release. However, this will also have a serious effect on Shiny hunting; the more Pokémon that spawn in a given area, the more chances players have of finding a Shiny. But with the number of spawns soon to decrease, the odds of finding a Shiny Pokémon will fall too. This means payers will likely need to trigger more respawns, taking more time overall, in order to find a Shiny Pokémon.
Pokémon SV’s Shiny-Reducing Patch Will Combat Major Glitches
Glitches have always been a prevalent part of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, although recent patches have sought to rectify these problems. Scarlet and Violet players have experienced frustrating amounts of lag at times, as well as poor rendering and even crashes Presumably, the lower numbers will reduce the strain on the Switch. The impact on Shiny Hunting in Scarlet and Violet, while frustrating, therefore appears necessary in order to resolve the crash-triggering glitch.
Of course, the full extent of the reduction in Pokémon numbers is unclear at this time, and so, depending on the circumstances, the effects of this patch may not even be noticeable. Nevertheless, it seems likely that Shiny hunters will find the average time taken to find a Shiny increasing with the arrival of this patch. As a result, some players may wish to avoid downloading it in order to preserve the current spawn rates, even at the cost of general game performance. However, this will also prevent Pokémon fans from using online features such as trading and battling functions, potentially making the game a more lonely experience.
It is clearly very unfortunate that Shinies seem to be about to become rarer in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. However, Shiny Pokémon have always been intended to be rare; it could be said that this patch will only strengthen this idea. And, of course, the goal of smoother gameplay is an entirely understandable reason for the change. With some time left until the patch is released, Shiny hunters may wish to take advantage of the current spawn rates whilst they are in place. Beyond that, it seems that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Shiny Charm and other Shiny hunting methods will soon become much more important in finding the elusive Pokémon.
Sources: Nintendo, Nintendo of America/YouTube