Aside from exploring, capturing Shiny Pokemon serves as one of the highlights of any Trainer’s experience. After all, with over 890 Pokemon to collect, Trainers get positively giddy whenever they “crack” the jackpot of getting a Shiny. And thanks to Nintendo’s recentPokemon Sword and Shield, Trainers can fulfill their capturing desires in the newPokemongame’s Galar region.
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However, Trainers who don’t focus on capturing Shinies on the get-go only have a slim 1 in 4,096 chance of getting one. Thankfully, items like the Shiny Charm can increase the odds. Interestingly, several other factors come into play in determining the difficulty of getting a Shiny. For instance, the type of Pokemon may actually determine the difficulty of getting its Shiny variant. As such, just which Shiny Pokemon are worth the effort inSword and Shield?
Updated on January 12th, 2021 by Russ Boswell:Pokemon Sword and Shield brought a lot of upgrades to shiny Pokemon thanks to its change in visual style, giving players a better look at some of the great Shiny options that have appeared over the years via the National Pokedex. That said, there are still a lot of greatShiny Pokemon from Sword and Shieldthat are native to the game. ThesePokemon Sword and Shield shiniesprove that Nintendo is still a bit hit-or-miss when it comes to a great color re-design. Here’s a look at some of the absolutebest shiny Pokemonto stem from Generation 8.
21#840 - Applin
There are many out there that would argue that some Pokemon designs are simply uninspired. A lot of the “everyday object” Pokemon get the cold shoulder due to their non-sensical designs and lackluster appearance. That said, there are still some of these ‘Mon out there that are so endearing that they capture the hearts of the fanbase. Applin is a prime example, a Pokemon modeled after an apple that manages to look both kooky and outright adorable.
Its shiny form is precious and practical, giving it a Granny Smith makeover that transforms its red hues into green ones. This carries over well into both of its evolutions and actually makes Flapple look a bit more appealing overall.
20#873 - Frosmoth
Those that catch a Shiny Snom and evolve it into its next form will be rewarded with a Frosmoth that appears similar but sports a set of wings that have a beautiful patterned and translucent design on the inside, this time with a slight green tinge that accentuates everything extremely well.
19#870 - Falinks
Pokemon Sword & Shield brought some interesting new Pokemon designs with it but some stood out more than others. A great example of an often-overlooked but supremely interesting Pokemon is Falinks. This rank-and-file-inspired soldier-esque marching Pokemon has a simplistic yet eye-catching design and its red and yellow markings (and overall shape) are reminiscent of the iconic Wiggler enemies from Super Mario Bros.
Its shiny version is a drastic change, dropping the Wiggler-like design in favor of a brown and yellow motif that gives it a much more subdued appearance.
18#834 - Drednaw
Drednaw adds yet another turtle to the slate of Pokemon in the franchise. Arriving in Generation 8, Drednaw serves as the final form of Chewtle, achieved at Level 22. Befitting its stature, Drednawpossesses a larger and fiercer Gigantamax form. However, in its base form, Drednaw possesses teal scales inside a brown shell with golden highlights. It also has a yellow horn with two sections.
As a Shiny, Drednaw has a more fearsome appearance. Its skin becomes dark green, akin to a tortoise. Its shell becomes a harder gray with orange accents, which is a color shared in its horns. Players who want a Drednaw that packs more aggression will love its Shiny variant.
17#861 - Grimmsnarl
Who would’ve thought that mischievous Impidimp will evolve intothe monstrous Grimmsnarl? When players achieve this evolution at Level 42, Grimmsnarl will boast swirling purple skin with fearsome green details. This Dark/Fairy Pokemon also boasts a Gigantamax Form, giving it a much scarier appearance.
However, perhaps more awesome would be acquiring Shiny Grimmsnarl. Opposite its normal variant, Shiny Grimmsnarl boasts white-purple skin with violet accents. This color scheme gives Shiny Grimmsnarl a more imposing and “whole” appearance that emphasizes its Fairy typing more than its Ghost roots.
16#818 - Inteleon
Opposite Fire Type Charmeleon is Water Type Inteleon. However, whereas Charmeleon is the second form of Charmander, Inteleon is the final evolution of starter Sobble. Achieved at Level 35, Inteleon boasts the appearance of a slim chameleon, with a blue upper torso, black lower limbs, and yellow accents. Italso has a Gigantamax Form, that of a long snake form wrapped around a tower.
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Fans who want a stylish take on Sobble’s final form might want Shiny Inteleon. Instead of the light blue skin and dark blue torso of the original, Shiny Inteleon boasts royal blue skin and a lighter blue top. Instead of black as a secondary color, Shiny Inteleon gets a white sub-color instead. Lastly, it replaces its yellow highlights with that of purple. Overall, this gives Shiny Inteleon a more sleek appearance.
15#858 - Hatterene
Hatterene is already a fan favorite of many, so it’s no surprise that many would be on the hunt for a shiny version of the “Silent Pokemon.” Many Pokemon palettes and designs are dictated by their type, and Hatterene’s dual Psychic/Fairy-type almost guaranteed it would be pink in some form, but this also applies to its shiny form.
Not only is its middle body a flattering deeper shade of pink, but the absence of blue on its top half makes the pink appear more like a dress than its non-shiny form, a unique decision choice for such a humanoid-looking Pokemon. Hatterene looks different enough from its non-shiny form, but still a good design, which is really what every trainer wants of their favorite Pokemon.
14#263 - Zigzagoon
Players first encounter Zigzagoon and eventually its evolved form,#264 Linoone, in Generation 3 games. Moreover, Zigzagoon sports an innocent look that makes itone of the cutestout there. Their regular Shiny variants give them orange fur instead of brown, which remains quite ordinary for Shiny standards.
It’s Galarian Zigzagoon that makes its Shiny worth the while. After all, the Galarian Zigzagoon in Generation 8 sports red eyes, a mischievous look, and black-and-white fur that fit its Dark/Normal classification. Linoone and newcomer #862 Obstagoon sport the same impish look, enhanced with their red-and-white Shiny form.
13#878 - Cufant
Of all new Pokemon in Generation 8, #878 Cufant and #879 Cooperajah sport quite a cuteand unique elephant-like appearance. Their Steel classification remains obvious with their metallic details and appendages. Cufant sports a light orange look with dark teal accents, while Cooperajah has an imposing dark teal main color with golden accents.
However, despite the simplicity of their Shiny variants’ visuals, they do exude a more regal look. Instead of orange, Shiny Cufant has brighter yellow skin with green accents. Meanwhile, Cooperajah sports a moss-like green skin with golden accents, as though there’s hidden treasure beneath its appearance.
12#837 - Rolycoly
There aren’t any Rock-type or Rock-looking Pokemon in the entire series, which makes #837 Rolycoly a welcome change of pace. Moreover, its evolutions #838 Carkol and #839 Coalossal all share the Golem motif. Thanks to their coal make-up, they all share dark gray rocks as bodies with burning charcoal as details. Rolycoly grows eyes and a mouth once it turns into Carkol. Lastly, Coalossalgrows a massive bodyout of rock with charcoal forming its top portion.
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The Rolycoly evolutionary tree looks awesome as it is, but its Shiny variant adds a glimmer of sophistication. At first glance, Shiny Rolycoly sports blue rocks instead of dark gray, as though it’s made of a hard mineral. Others might think this change is a bit too generic for a Shiny. However, Shiny Rolycoly becomes more pristine when laid side-by-side with a typical Rolycoly.
