Fans around the globe have always enjoyed picking up a copy of the latest Pokémon game, embarking on a new adventure with new creatures to catch. The games have been a popular staple of Nintendo's for decades. However, the gaming company may not have expected the popularity that would rise from the red Gyarados in Pokémon Gold & Silver. Shiny Pokémon variant colorings have become a sought-after part of the games for many fans. This has encouraged more and more players to take on Shiny-hunting challenges, which continue to evolve in each game.
Hunting Shinies requires a serious amount of patience and dedication from any player who embarks on the quest to obtain them. While some Shiny encounters happen at random, when the player isn't attempting to find one, most Shiny Pokémon are encountered by completing requirements created by developers. These criteria are never clear, however, and must be discovered by Pokémon fans through trial and error, leading to different Shiny-hunting methods in each set of games. Most are unconfirmed, but the most commonly accepted method is "Chaining," or the continuous encountering of the same Pokémon to slowly increase the odds of finding a shiny. Even once a reliable method is discovered, though, it can still take days to encounter just one Shiny, making Shiny hunting one of the most rewarding battles the Pokémon games can offer.
Shiny hunters also have a large incentive to finish the Pokédex. By catching every type of Pokémon available in a particular game, a player receives an item called the Shiny Charm. This rare item boosts the player's odds of coming across a Shiny Pokémon in the wild, greatly increasing the effectiveness of the Shiny hunting method for that specific game. With this incentive, Shiny hunters are more likely than most to complete the games' collect-them-all task and get the full Pokémon experience.
Shiny Pokémon Continue to Bring the Community Together
With the addictive hunting methods and the adrenaline of finally finding the alternate coloration of a player's favorite Pokémon, Shiny hunting has created a dedicated community of fans. It has added to the enjoyment and longevity of each game that has integrated the mechanic in a fulfilling way for players - including even Pokémon GO. By continuing to incorporate the joy of such a difficult hunt into its games, Game Freak ensures fans have endless ways to puzzle through the best methods for finding favorites to add to their collections. Some Shinies from certain games are so difficult to find that, when they are finally caught, fans have not only bragging rights but a hard-earned trophy, proving their dedication to conquering some of the hardest challenges Pokémon has to offer.
Shiny hunting has given members of the Pokémon community a unique way to bond over their journeys together. The coveted collections of Shinies and their dedicated hunters have fueled an entire community of players to help each other with Shiny Pokémon-hunting tips, guides and encouragement. Shiny hunting makes the games that much more fulfilling for fans who enjoy the opportunity to collect and challenge themselves in new and unique ways. It is another wonderful way that the world of Pokémon continues to bring players together, decade after decade.