How to Farm for Shiny in Pokémon Legends Z-A

Pokémon Legends Z-A has shaken up shiny hunting compared to previous Pokémon games. If you’ve ever wanted that rare golden Pokémon in your collection, this guide will show you everything you need to know: shiny odds, the best hunting methods, how to never lose a shiny, and the shiny charm grind.

Understanding Shiny Odds

In Pokémon Legends Z-A, every wild Pokémon has a base shiny chance of 1 in 496. This is simple—shiny Pokémon are purely cosmetic, meaning they look rare and cool, but don’t get extra stats. The only way to increase your odds is by obtaining the shiny charm, which raises your chances to about 1 in 1024.38.

Unlike some past Pokémon games, there’s no breeding trick, mass outbreaks, or other methods to boost your shiny odds. That’s it—your chances rely on the base rate or the shiny charm.

How to Hunt Shiny Pokémon Efficiently

Shiny hunting in this game works differently from the usual methods. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Use Pokémon Rerolls
   Wild Pokémon reroll when you leave and return to an area. If you don’t interact with them—no battles, no catching—they’ll respawn with new stats and a new shiny chance. The more Pokémon you see, the higher your overall chances of encountering a shiny.
2. Pay Attention to Slots
   Pokémon in the world occupy “slots.” Some slots change between day and night, while others are static. Understanding which Pokémon appear when helps you maximize the number of Pokémon you can check.
3. Shiny Notification
   You won’t always know a Pokémon is shiny until you’re close enough. Once you approach, a shiny icon, visual effects, and sound notification confirm it. This is essential for catching rare Pokémon before they despawn.
4. Autosaves Are Your Friend
   Unlike older games, Pokémon Legends Z-A preserves shiny Pokémon in memory if autosaves are enabled. If you see a shiny and immediately save the game, it will be preserved even if you fast travel, get knocked out, or leave the area.

How to Never Lose a Shiny Pokémon

Shiny Pokémon can despawn under certain conditions, so follow these rules to secure them:

• Catch it or engage in battle safely: Make sure you have the right Poké Balls and enough HP.
• Save immediately: Press X for a hard save as soon as you see or hear a shiny Pokémon.
• Avoid walking away too far: Exceeding roughly 50 meters from a Pokémon without saving can despawn it.
• Watch for fleeing species: Some timid Pokémon, like Froakie, will run and despawn if you approach incorrectly.

Following these steps ensures you never lose a shiny Pokémon you find.

Shiny-Locked Pokémon

Not every Pokémon in the game can be shiny. Important points:

• All starter Pokémon are shiny locked, including Kanto starters and ZA starters.
• Gift Pokémon, static quest Pokémon, and most event Pokémon cannot be shiny.
• Legendary Pokémon are shiny locked by default.
• Fossil Pokémon are an exception—they can be shiny.

This means your hunting should focus on wild Pokémon rather than gift or event Pokémon.

Getting the Shiny Charm

The shiny charm is the ultimate tool for shiny hunters, but it’s a monumental grind. You’ll need to:

• Complete nearly every quest in the game.
• Finish all battles in the Mega Evolution decks.
• Complete postgame content and secret battles.

Reaching level 50 with Mabel grants the shiny charm, and this can take 100–120 hours of dedicated gameplay. Once acquired, it slightly improves shiny odds but is a reward for mastering the game.

Best Practices for Shiny Hunting

1. Explore wild zones thoroughly, and reroll Pokémon by leaving and returning.
2. Save immediately when you see or hear a shiny Pokémon.
3. Use the right Poké Balls and combat strategy to secure your shiny safely.
4. Track day/night cycles for Pokémon that occupy different slots.
5. Avoid shiny-locked Pokémon for wasted efforts.

Shiny hunting in Pokémon Legends Z-A is rewarding but requires patience, planning, and knowledge of how the game preserves Pokémon. By following these methods, you can steadily build your shiny collection without fear of losing your rare finds.