Pokémon Legends Z-A shiny hunting: Odds, shiny charm, and best methods

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No Pokémon game feels complete without ‘shiny hunting’ – the often time-consuming process of searching for Pokémon with rare and different colors. While it’s a beloved activity for many, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has some of the most unusual shiny hunting rules in any core Pokémon game, with the exception of the specific quest that guarantees a shiny Mareep.

Okay, so I’m gonna break down everything about shiny hunting in this game. I’ll cover the shiny rates, how to snag that Shiny Charm, and all the weird little things about shiny Pokémon here. Basically, I’m going to show you how to get shinies as fast as humanly possible – let’s get hunting!

Pokémon Legends: Z-A shiny odds

Finding shiny Pokémon in Legends: Z-A has the standard 1 in 4096 chance, just like in Pokémon games since X & Y. However, the Shiny Charm is more effective now than it was in Scarlet & Violet and earlier games. It boosts your chances to 1 in 1024, a significant improvement from the previous 1 in 1365 rate.

This game has a special feature: it can save up to 10 shiny Pokémon on the map and keep them from disappearing. If a shiny appears in a place like Lumiose City or the Wild Zones, it will stay there permanently, even if you travel to a different area or the time of day changes. You can only lose a shiny by defeating it in battle, scaring it away, or turning off your game.

Most noticeably, the game now features visual and audio cues when rare Pokémon appear, making them much easier to find.

How to get the shiny charm – Legends ZA

You can get the Shiny Charm by reaching Level 50 in Mabel’s Research. You earn points by completing tasks in the research menu – you’ll naturally gain points just by playing, but you’ll likely need to actively complete your Pokédex and catch many different Pokémon to reach Level 50 and unlock it.

Shiny hunting methods – Legends ZA

Currently, the community has discovered two primary ways to do this, but one needs some extra equipment. Let’s start with the simpler method first.

Fast travel method

You can make new Pokémon appear in the game by either changing the time of day or using fast travel. If you repeatedly fast travel to the same spot in the Wild Area, new Pokémon will continuously spawn nearby. This lets you quickly see a lot of different Pokémon, and because shiny Pokémon stay in the game, checking every 10-20 fast travel cycles should eventually lead to finding a shiny one.

Turbo method

If you’re using a controller with a turbo function, you can automate shiny hunting in Wild Zones. Set the turbo to rapidly press the B button while standing right at the zone’s entrance, then leave your console unattended for an extended period, such as overnight. The turbo will quickly cycle through the day and night, resetting most Pokémon spawns each time, but leaving shiny Pokémon visible.

I’ve found that hanging out just outside the Wild Zone is a sweet strategy. It keeps me safe from battles and lets Pokémon actually spawn while I’m away from the game. Seriously, I’ve come back to a ton of shiny Pokémon that popped up while I was doing other things – it’s awesome!

Shiny locked Pokémon – Legends ZA

Some Pokémon in these games are simply impossible to find in their shiny form. Here’s a complete list of those Pokémon:

  • The three starter Pokémon
  • Kanto starter gift from Mabel
  • Kalos starter gifts from side quests
  • The gift Absol from the main story
  • All Pokémon received from in-game trades via NPCs
  • All Pokémon you fight as part of the main story
  • All Rogue Mega Pokémon
  • All Legendary Pokémon
  • Eternal Flower Floette

Only Pokémon obtained through the Mystery Gift event are guaranteed to be Shiny Locked. This means wild encounters, Alpha Pokémon, Fossil Pokémon, and even starter Pokémon found in the wild are *not* guaranteed to be shiny.

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2025-10-17 18:49