Shiny Pokemon GO update: Meltan, updated listing, find rates
It's time to get serious about Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon GO – Meltan style. Summer is coming, and with the first blast of sunlight comes Niantic's most busy season of the year. As such, they're about to get WILD with Shiny Pokemon aplenty. This week's addition to the list of greatness is none other than the glorious Shiny Hex Nut Pokemon Meltan!
The Basics in Shiny-finding in Spring, 2019
The basics of shiny-catching in Pokemon GO start with a warning. I need to warn you, each time we talk about Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon GO, that your chances aren't good. We're talking about standard Shiny Pokemon rates of 1 in 450. The chances are different for each different sort of Pokemon – but there's a catch.
The rate of Shiny Pokemon appearance for each Pokemon is different depending on their base rarity. Rarer spawns have higher chances of Shiny appearance, strange as that may seem. Researchers at The Silph Road currently place Shiny rates of Rare Pokemon like Pineco at around 1 in 65.
If you're out seeking Shiny Pokemon on a Community Day event, you'll be in a far better arena for Shiny-finding. Community Days of the past have increased the find-rate for Shiny Pokemon (if they're Featured) to around 1 in 24. That's a pretty good chance!
If you're doing a Legendary Raid on any given day, you'll find that the resulting Legendary Pokemon has a Shiny Pokemon find rate of around 1 in 19. That's shockingly good, really.
The most updated list of Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon GO
Below you'll find a list of Shiny Pokemon that are currently in-game as of April 2019. These Pokemon continue to be available in the wild after their first appearance, unlike certain event exclusives. This includes everything from Absol to Zigzagoon.
This list is in alphabetical order by first letter of first name – you'll find a couple of Alolan versions of Pokemon right out the gate. Some of these Pokemon appear in the wild, while MOST can only be obtained by evolving a lesser-evolved version.
Starting with A we've got Absol. Then Aerodactyl, Aggron, Aggron, Alolan Marowak, Alolan Raichu, Altaria, Ampahros, Arcanine, Aron, Articuno, Azumarill, Azurill, Bagon, Banette, Bayleef, Beldum, Blastoise, Budew, Bulbasaur, Buneary, Butterfree, Castform, Caterpie, Charizard, Charmander, Charmeleon, Chikorita, Clamperl, Clefable, Clefairy, Cleffa, Cloyster, Croconaw, Cubone, Cyndaquil, Delibird, Dragonair, Dragonite, Dratini, Drifblim, Drifloon, Drowzee, Dusclops, Dusknoir, and Duskull.
Starting with the letter E we've got Eevee, Electabuzz, Electivire, Elekid, Espeon, Feebas, Feraligatr, Flaaffy, Flareon, Forretress, Froslass, Gastle, Gengar, Geodude, Glalie, Golduck, Golem, Gorebyss, Granbull, Graveler, Grimer, Groudon, Grovyle, Growlithe, Grumpig, Gyarados, Hariyama, and Haunter. If you're wildly lucky you'll find a Ho-Oh.
If you've already got a Ho-oh, go looking for Honchkrow, Houndoom, Houndour, Huntail, Hypno, Igglybuff, Ivysaur, Jigglypuff, Jolteon, Jynx, Kabuto, Kabutops, Kingler, Krabby, Kyogre, Lairon, Lapras, Larvitar, Latias, Latios, Linoone, Lombre, Lopunny, Lotad, Ludicolo, Lugia, Lunatone, Luvdisc, Luxio, and Luxray.
Down the list at M and N we've got Machamp, Machoke, Machop, Maganium, Magby, Magikarp, Magmar, Magmortar, Magnemite, Magneton, Makuhita, Mamoswine, Mankey, Mareep, Marill, Marowak, Mawile, Medicham, Meditite, Melmetal, Meltan, Metagross, Metang, Metapod, Mightyena, Milotic, Minun, Misdreavus, Mismagius, Moltres, Muk, Murkrow, Natu, Nidoqueen, Nidoran, and Nidorina. Ancient wild and weird Omanyte and Omastar are have Shiny editions.
Other Shiny Pokemon include Pelipper, Pichu, Pidgeot, Pidgeotto, Pidgey, Pikachu, Piloswine, Pineco, Pinsir, Plusle, Ponyta, Poochyena, Primape, Psyduck, Pupitar, Quilava, Raichu, Rapidash, Raticate, Rattata, Roselia, Roserade, Sableye, Salamence.
The final Pokemon on the list, alphabetically starting with S, include Sandshrew, Sandslash, Sceptile, Scizor, Scyther, Shelgon, Shellder, Shinx, Shuckle, Shuppet, Smoochum, Snorunt, Snubull, Solrock, Spoink, Squirtle, Sunflora, Sunkern, Swablu, Swellow, Swinub, Taillow, Togekiss, Togepi, Togetic, Totodile, Treecko, Typhlosion, Tyranitar, Umbreon, Vaporeon, Venusaur, Wailmer, Wailord, Wartortle, Wigglytuff, Wingull, Wobbuffet, Wynaut, Xatu, Zapdos, and Zigzagoon.
Zigzagoon also spawns a shiny Linoone when it evolves. That continues to be true of all Pokemon, seemingly irrespective of type or spawn place. If you find a Shiny Cleffa, when it evolves into Clefairy, it'll still be Shiny!
You won't ever find an evolved shiny Pokemon out in the wild, unfortunately – save a few rare exceptions. Pikachu, Nidorina, and Nidoqueen can be found in the wild in their Shiny forms. A Shiny Nidoran (male or female) can still evolve into its shiny counterparts – but you'll never find Shiny Nidorino or Nidoking out in the wild. Weird, isn't it?