Shiny Pokemon have been a part of the franchise since Pokemon Gold/Silver, but recent entries such as Pokemon Sun/Moon and Sword/Shield have begun "Shiny Locking" the starter Pokemon. This means no matter how many times a Pokemon player may soft-reset their game, the starter Pokemon will not be Shiny. Unfortunately, this trend continues into Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet, in which the starter Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly are incapable of being Shiny.
However, it is possible to get Shiny Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly later on in Pokemon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet. Those who may have tried Shiny Hunting in Galar and Alola may already know what to do. The starter Pokemon can only be Shiny if they're hatched from Eggs or traded from someone that already has a Shiny Sprigatito/Fuecoco/Quaxly.
What Trainers Will Need
The simplest way to get Shiny Starter Pokemon is by breeding. Unfortunately, there's only one Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly per playthrough. Whichever starters the player doesn't choose will instead go to Director Clavell and Nemona. Unlike Pokemon Legends: Arceus, players can't get the two starters they didn't choose in Scarlet/Violet's postgame. If they want all three Shinies, they'll need to trade locally or online for the remaining starters.
The next step is to get a Ditto. As most know, Ditto is a Pokemon that is capable of transforming into any Pokemon. The best place to look for it is west of Medali, so it'll be around level 28-30. Unlike Sword and Shield, Ditto will appear disguised as one of the wild Pokemon. Players will know they've found Ditto because it will shed its disguise upon initiating battle. Catch one, and make sure the starter Pokemon and Ditto are both in the party.
With this done, set up a Picnic. Again: Ditto and the Starter Pokemon that Scarlet/Violet trainers are trying to Shiny Hunt must be in the party for this to work. Check the Egg Basket at the foot of the table for Eggs. A basket can hold up to 10 Eggs at once. Players can increase the chance of receiving an Egg by making sweet Sandwiches. Using sweet ingredients like fruit or whipped cream will grant the Egg Power meal effect. A Lv. 2 Egg Power is generally recommended, but it's entirely possible to get away with Lv. 1 Egg Power.
As for those that don't mind trading, they can initiate Pokemon trade by going into the menu (X button) and selecting Poke Portal. From here, they can either trade locally, use a Link Code, or trade online. If players know someone that has a Shiny Starter, they can try and trade for one, or they can just trade for a regular Starter Pokemon and breed it with their own Ditto.
Tips For Shiny Hunting Starter Pokemon
The chances of running into a Shiny Pokemon is around 1/4000, making them extremely rare and completely reliant on luck. However, Pokemon has made it a little easier to increase the probability of getting a Shiny.
- Receive the Shiny Charm from Jacq. This can only be obtained by completing the Pokedex, which means catching all 400 Pokemon in Paldea. Certain Pokemon like Scizor and Slowking require a Trade Evolution in order to obtain.
- Try the Masuda Method. This involves breeding two Pokemon of different languages. For example: Breed an English Sprigatito-line with a Japanese Ditto (or any from the Sprigatito-line) to increase the chances of getting a Shiny.
- Make sandwiches that have the Sparkling Power meal effect. These are only generated through Level 3 Sandwiches and require an Herba Mystica, which can be obtained in 5 or 6-star Tera Raids. Sparkling Power is divided into Pokemon Types, such as Electric, Dragon, etc.
- Breed Pokemon with different Trainer IDs. This may not increase the chance of getting a Shiny as well as the Masuda Method, but Pokemon with different IDs are more compatible than those that share the same ID.
One myth regarding Shiny Breeding is that the offspring of a Pokemon is more likely to be Shiny if one of the parent Pokemon are Shiny. The Pokemon's looks have nothing to do with Shiny Probability. Keep in mind that it's only the Trainer ID and the Pokemon's origin language that increases the chance of hatching Shiny Pokemon.
Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet are available for Nintendo Switch.