How to Catch Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

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If you’re interested in finding shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, you’re in luck. The latest adventure in Lumiose City has introduced several quality-of-life improvements since Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, making it much easier to spot rare Pokémon.

Shiny Pokémon are special versions of Pokémon with different color schemes. They sparkle visually and emit a distinct sound when they appear and leave their Poké Balls. These rare Pokémon have been part of the series since Generation 2’s Pokémon Gold and Silver, with the initial chance of encountering one being 1 in 8,192. In Pokémon X and Y, that chance was improved to 1 in 4,096.

In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, catching shiny Pokémon is more straightforward. When a shiny Pokémon appears, you’ll hear a jingling sound similar to the shiny sound from Pokémon Legends: Arceus. This sound indicates the Pokémon has spawned, but you’ll need to look around to spot it. Once seen, large stars will burst out, and the Pokémon will shimmer with a sparkle that’s reminiscent of Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee. As you get closer, you’ll notice a softer shimmer sound that gets louder. You can also focus on the Pokémon with the ZL button; a symbol with two sparkles will appear next to its name, confirming it’s shiny.

Although Pokémon Legends: Z-A doesn’t explicitly state its shiny odds within the game, data miners suggest that the base chance is 1 in 4,096, matching previous titles from recent years. The Shiny Charm instance boosts these odds to approximately 1 in 1,024, similar to what has been seen in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. However, these figures haven’t been officially confirmed—just based on community reports and data mining. Many players, including myself, have found shiny Pokémon without the charm, which supports these estimates.

To increase your chances, obtaining the Shiny Charm is key. You can earn it by completing all of Mable’s research tasks—reaching Research Level 50 through activities like filling out your Pokédex and catching various Pokémon types. Once you have the charm, your odds of encountering shinies improve significantly.

Regarding shiny Pokémon despawning, players report positive news. Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A seem not to vanish when you move, fast travel, or even when the in-game clock changes. It’s also believed that the game can hold up to 10 shiny Pokémon in the overworld at once, which will stay there until you catch them, defeat them, or scare them off. Just remember, they won’t respawn if they see you and get scared away. You can increase your catch chances by sneaking up behind Pokémon using the crouch button (“L” stick).

For a quick way to find a shiny Mareep, there’s an early side quest called “A Shiny Mareep?” near Wild Zone 1. During the quest, an NPC named Duve asks you to find a shiny Mareep she saw in the area. After accepting and completing the quest by climbing a ladder to a roof, the shiny Mareep will remain in the area for you to catch at your leisure.

Keep in mind that these details are based on community reports and observations, and while they align with past experience, some outcomes may vary. Happy hunting!