What do you think about the way Pokémon GO handles shiny monsters?
Shinies. These are special types of Pokémon that stand out due to color differences and are extremely rare. In some monsters, these differences are especially pronounced. Trainers can immediately recognize a shiny creature. For example, you encounter a shiny Magikarp in yellow/golden color instead of its natural red. Instead of “shiny,” one could also say “iridescent.”
In many Pokémon games on devices like the Nintendo 3DS, almost every monster in the game can be caught in its shiny variant. In Pokémon GO, however, the developers follow a different plan.
Careful, one at a time
Instead of releasing shiny variants in Pokémon GO from the start, there were none at all. Niantic’s shiny plan for Pokémon GO requires trainers to be very patient. Instead of releasing all shinies at the beginning, they are slowly making their way into the game.
After the game was released in July 2016, it took almost a year before the first shiny Pokémon were found. These were golden Magikarp for the water event in March 2017. They evolve into red Gyarados instead of blue.
A big step for Pokémon GO, the community was excited. Finally, trainers could at least expand their PokéDex with one type of these especially rare creatures.
- In August 2017, the shiny Pikachu family followed, with Pichu and Raichu. This was after the Pikachu Outbreak event in Yokohama
- Then, with little delay, the next shiny monsters followed: In October 2017, for the Halloween event, shiny ghosts from the 3rd generation entered the game.
Many trainers wonder where the shiny monsters of the second generation remain. So far, only Pichu is known as a shiny from the second generation.
In the meantime, a few more shiny Pokémon from the 3rd generation followed. Just last week, five new shinies followed (Luvdisc, Swablu+Altaria, Poochyena+Mightyena) We show you an overview of all shiny Pokémon here.
In a few days, the second Community Day will follow with Dratini as the special Pokémon. Here we suspect that the shiny variant of this dragon and its evolutions will also be unlocked.
Would you rather release them all at once?
In the community, there has long been discussion about Niantic’s approach regarding shiny monsters. Is it all right like this? Why do they only let selected monsters “piece by piece” into the game instead of releasing them all at once?
Here, the trainers are divided:
- One side is pleased with Niantic’s tactic
- Through the slow, individual releases, there are always new reasons to go hunting. This way, the game remains interesting for these trainers.
- Others want Niantic to simply flip the switch and release all monsters
- That every monster should ideally have the same chance to appear as shiny. That would mean more variety and eliminate artificial delays.
We ask you: What do you prefer?
Our Pokémon GO community is very passionate about it. We always notice this in the comments under our articles, but also in our Pokémon GO group on Facebook. The comments on our Facebook page for Pokémon GO are also always full of great ideas and wishes.
For this reason, we would like to know your opinion on the current shiny “release system.”
- Do you think it’s good the way Niantic releases shinies piece by piece?
- Or should the shiny variants of all monsters in Pokémon GO be fully available right away?
Here should now be a survey. Those who cannot see this should turn off their ad blocker or other plugins or click here.
During the second Community Day in Pokémon GO, Dragonite can learn this special move
