Pokémon Legends: Arceus Shiny Pokémon - Base Odds And How To Get Shiny Pokémon

Shiny Pokémon are colour variations of Pokémon that are very hard to find. For years players have been trying to work out the most efficient way to find these Pokémon, and in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it’s actually easier than usual.

Here’s everything you need to know about shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

How to get Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

First of all, the starter Pokémon you pick at the beginning of the game can’t be shiny. Neither can any Legendary or Mythical Pokémon, so don’t bother trying.

With that said, here are the shiny odds for Pokémon Legends Arceus and how to give yourself the best chance of getting one.

Base rate

The absolute highest odds you have of finding a shiny, or “base odds” are 1/4096. While it certainly feels like shiny Pokémon are much more common in this game, the odds are still pretty high. Thankfully, there are several ways to increase that.

Complete Pokédex page

If you complete a Pokédex page for a Pokémon, by getting it to Level 10, your odds will become 1/2048. Scientists reading this will realise that’s half the odds of the “base” shiny odds. Completing a Pokémon’s Dex entry to level 10 is very easy, so definitely do this if you’re hunting a specific Pokémon.

Perfect page

If you really like a Pokémon, you can complete their Pokédex page to a perfect standard. That means completing every task on this list to the highest level. If you do this, you’ll slash your odds again to 1/1024.

Mass outbreak

Mass outbreaks are clusters of Pokémon that you’ll be told about as you leave the village. They show up on the map and when you had over there, you’ll see 6 Pokémon together. If you’ve completed the Pokédex page to level 10 for these Pokémon, your odds will be the tiny 1/158.

SweetAssGamer On Reddit has put together a handy chart on how to maximise your shiny chances in mass outbreaks:

Shiny Charm

If you complete every Dex page to level 10, you’ll be given the Shiny Charm. Having this item slashes all of the above odds in half. You’ll be swimming in shinies.

The Maths

Here's an in-depth look at how your odds improve with each one of these additions, as documented by Austin John Plays and Anubis (@shibuna_switch):

This article is part of our Pokémon Legends: Arceus walkthrough and guide series. You can find every Pokémon in the game using our Complete Hisui Pokédex List And Pokémon Locations guide, or hunt for specific hard-to-catch Pokémon with our individual guides, including Every Alpha Pokémon (with Maps), Every Rare Space-Time Distortion Pokémon, Where To Find Every Unown, Where To Find The Other Starters, Where To Find The Sinnoh Starters, How To Catch Darkrai, How To Catch Shaymin, Where To Find Hisuian Zorua, Where To Find Hisuian Growlithe, Where To Find Hisuian Electrode, How To Get Sneasler, How To Get Wyrdeer, How To Get Alolan Vulpix, How To Get Kleavor, How To Catch Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus, How To Get Every Eeveelution, How To Catch The New 'Secret' Legendary, and (of course) How To Catch Arceus.

Elsewhere we've got starter guides with answers to simple questions like "How Do You Break Cracked Rocks?" and "How Long Is Pokémon Legends: Arceus?", plus tips on How To Swap Pokémon, How To Turn On Gyro Controls, or where to find specific items and make the most of your resources, including How To Increase Your Bag Size And Carry More Items and Where To Buy Every Evolution Item, Plus A Complete Price List. We also have our Ginkgo Guild Item List And Prices guide and cover How To Get Shiny Pokémon and how to access and complete various side quests and missions, such as The Sea Legend, the Eerie Apparitions In The Night Mission Guide - Maps With Every Wisp Location, and How To Defeat Volo, as well as a 'Snow-White Vulpix In The Snow' Map.

We also have a Ginkgo Guild Item List With Prices and explain How To Change Pokémon Forms, Every New Evolution Method, How To Unlock The Mystery Gift Function, in addition to a regularly updated Full List Of Mystery Gift Codes.

And finally, Where to Buy Pokémon Legends: Arceus on Nintendo Switch, if for some reason you haven't yet picked up the game!