Shiny Pokémon are extremely rare to capture in any Pokémon game, and Pokémon Go is no different. All players have a chance to capture them, but it’s an extremely low possibility for it to happen. You will know when you encounter a shiny Pokémon, not only because of it’s different colors, but because of a unique icon when you catch them.
How to catch shiny Pokémon
There’s no precise method to encountering a shiny Pokémon. You won’t be able to tell there’s one in front of you until you click on it and attempt to catch it. When you do, several stars sparkle around the Pokémon. It won’t have the same colors as the traditional Pokémon. It should have different shades. For example, if you encounter a shiny Charmander, it won’t look red and yellow, it should have a black outer layer and a yellow stomach.
You do have a chance of catching shiny Pokémon from field research tasks. While there’s a guaranteed encounter with particular Pokémon, some rarer than others, it does not guarantee it will be shiny when you encounter it.
Alternatively, you do have increased chances of encountering shiny Pokémon during Community Day events. These are monthly events where a single Pokémon shows up more frequently for three hours on a particular weekend. If you capture and fully evolve the Pokémon during this event, it has a chance to learn a powerful, previously unknowable move. Because there are so many of the same type of Pokémon spawning during the event, the chances of a shiny version showing up is dramatically increased.
When you do capture a shiny Pokémon and have it in your inventory, three stars will be above their portrait on the upper left corner.
What are the odds of obtaining a shiny Pokémon?
There’s a low chance for any trainer to encounter a shiny Pokémon. The chances of obtaining one of them in the wild is 1 out of 450, figured out by those over on The Silph Road. The chances are a bit off, but it’s a rough estimate of how many Pokémon of the same species you have to encounter to potentially find a shiny version of one.
What are the benefits of a shiny Pokémon?
The only benefit of a shiny Pokémon is to have one that looks different. Having a shiny Pokémon does not give it additional stats, or increase the chances of having a more version. It does also add an additional section in your PokéDex where you can see the original coloring and the shiny version.
Complete list of all available Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Go
Here are all of the potential Pokémon you can obtain, and their evolutions:
Kanto
- Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Venusaur
- Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard
- Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise
- Caterpie, Metapod, and Butterfree
- Pidgey, Pidgeotto, and Pidgeot
- Rattata and Raticate
- Ekans and Arbok
- Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu
- Sandshrew and Sandslash
- Nidoran, Nidorina, and Nidoqueen
- Nidoran, Nidorino, and Nidoking
- Clefairy and Clefable
- Vulpix and Ninetails
- Jigglypuff and Wigglytuff
- Zubat, Golbat, and Crobat
- Oddish, Gloom, and Vileplume
- Diglett and Dugtrio
- Meowth and Persian
- Psyduck and Golduck
- Mankey and Primeape
- Growlithe and Arcanine
- Poliwag, Poliwhirl, Politoed, and Poliwrath
- Abra, Kadabra, and Alakazam
- Machop, Machoke, and Machamp
- Tentacool and Tentacruel
- Geodude, Graveler, and Golem
- Ponyta and Rapidash
- Magnemite, Magneton, and Magnezone
- Farfetch’d
- Seel and Dewgong
- Grimer and Muk
- Shellder and Cloyster
- Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar
- Onix and Steelix
- Drowzee and Hypno
- Krabby and Kingler
- Exeggcute and Exeggcutor
- Cubone and Marowak
- Lickitung
- Koffing and Weezing
- Rhyhorn, Rhydon, and Rhyperior
- Chansey
- Kangaskhan
- Horsea and Seadra
- Mime Jr. and Mr. Mime
- Scyther and Scizor
- Smoochum and Jynx
- Electabuzz
- Magby, Magmar, and Magmortar
- Pinsir
- Tauros
- Magikarp and Gyarados
- Lapras
- Eevee, Vaporeon, Flareon, Jolteon, Umbreon, Espeon, Leafeon, and Glaceon
- Omanyte and Omastar
- Kabuto and Kabutops
- Aerodactyl
- Articuno
- Zapdos
- Moltres
- Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite
- Mewtwo
Johto
- Chikorita, Bayleef, and Meganium
- Cyndaquil, Quilava, and Typhlosion
- Totodile, Crocanaw, and Feraligatr
- Sentret and Furret
- Togepi, Togetic, and Togekiss
- Natu and Xatu
- Mareep, Flaaffy, and Ampharos
- Bellossom
- Azurill, Marill, and Azumarill
- Bonsly Sudowoodo
- Aipom and Ambipom
- Sunkern and Sunflora
- Yanma and Yanmega
- Murkrow and Honchkrow
- Misdreavus and Mismagius
- Dunsparce
- Pineco and Forretress
- Gligar
- Snubbul and Granbull
- Shuckle
- Sneasel and Weavile
- Swinub, Piloswine, and Mamoswine
- Delibird
- Skarmory
- Houndour and Houndoom
- Stantler
- Raikou
- Entei
- Suicune
- Ho-oh
- Lugia
- Larvitar, Pupitar, and Tyranitar
- Celebi
Hoenn
- Treeko, Grovyle, Sceptile
- Torchic, Combusken, and Blaziken
- Mudkip, Marshtomp, and Swampert
- Pocchyena and Mightyena
- Zigzagoon and Linoone
- Wurmple, Silcoon, Beautiful, Cascoon, and Dustox
- Lotad, Lombre, and Lucolo
- Taillow and Swellow
- Wingull and Pelipper
- Ralts, Kirlia, Gardevoir, and Gallade
- Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking
- Makuhita and Hariyama
- Sableye
- Mawile
- Aron, Lairon, and Aggron
- Meditite and Medicham
- Electrike and Manectric
- Plusle
- Minun
- Roselia and Roserade
- Carvanha and Sharpedo
- Wailmer and Wailord
- Spoink and Gumpig
- Spinda
- Trapinch, Vibrava, and Flygon
- Swablu and Altaria
- Zangoose
- Seviper
- Luntatone
- Solrock
- Barboach and Whiscash
- Lileep and Cradily
- Anorith and Armaldo
- Feebas and Milotic
- Castform (only normal)
- Shuppet and Benette
- Duskull, Dusclops, and Dusknoir
- Absol
- Snorunt, Glalie, and Froslass
- Clamperl
- Huntail
- Gorebyss
- Luvdisc
- Bagon, Shelgon, and Salamence
- Beldum, Metang, and Metagross
- Regirock
- Regice
- Registeel
- Latias
- Katios
- Kyogre
- Groudon
- Rayquaza
Sinnoh
- Turtwig, Grotle, and Torterra
- Chimchar, Monferno, and Infernape
- Shinx, Lucio, and Luxray
- Budew
- Burmy (Plant, Sandy, Trash), Mothim, and Wormadam
- Drifloom and Drifblim
- Buneary and Lopunny
- Bronzor and Bronzong
- Gible, Gabite, and Garchomp
- Rilou and Lucario
- Snover and Abomasnow
- Heatran
- Girtana
- Cresselia
- Darkrai
- Patrat and Watchoh
- Lillipup, Herdier, and Stoutland
- Yamask and Cofagrigus
- Minccino and Cinccino
- Klink, Klang, and Klinklang
- Cobalion
- Meltan and Melmetal
