How to find Shiny Pokémon (estimated odds by event)
EventsLast checked 2026-10-31
In 3 lines
- Shiny Pokémon sparkle when you encounter them. They're very rare in the wild normally, but the odds go way up during events.
- The fastest way is to aim for high-odds situations, like Community Day Pokémon or raid bosses.
- The game company doesn't publish the odds, so the numbers below are estimates gathered by players.
Where they show up most (estimates)
| Situation | Rough odds |
|---|---|
| Normal wild encounters | About 1 in 500 |
| Community Day Pokémon | About 1 in 25 |
| Raid Day | About 1 in 10 |
| Five-star (Legendary) raid bosses | About 1 in 20 |
The game company doesn't publish the odds, so these numbers are estimates gathered by the player community. If an event announcement mentions "increased chance to encounter Shiny Pokémon," the odds are up.
Hunting tips
- Community Day: Just "encountering" as many of the featured Pokémon as you can is enough. If there's no sparkle, move on without catching it to save time (Community Day prep checklist).
- Spotlight Hour: One Pokémon appears a lot for an hour, so you get more chances (Recurring events guide).
- Raids: The color is decided on the catch screen after you win. The odds are especially high on Raid Day.
- Eggs and research rewards: Pokémon that hatch from Eggs or that you meet as research rewards can also be Shiny.
Good to know
- Some Pokémon don't have a Shiny form released yet. When an event post says "Shiny debut," that's when it starts appearing.
- Lucky Trades don't change the color. Trading Shiny Pokémon with each other counts as a Special Trade (Trading and Lucky Pokémon).
- You can mark Shiny Pokémon you've caught as "Shiny" in "My Pokédex" on each Pokémon's page.
Checklist
- Check the Community Day and Raid Day schedules
- Skip non-sparkly ones and encounter as many as you can
- Mark your Shinies in My Pokédex
Sources
- Bulbapedia: Shiny Pokémon (GO)) — estimated odds by event (not official figures)
Upcoming major eventsSee all
Related Pokémon & events
- Pawniard
- Giratina (Origin Forme)
More in Events
- Weekly and monthly recurring events (Max Monday, Raid Hour, Spotlight Hour)Every week there's Max Monday on Mondays (06:00–21:00 local), Raid Hour on Wednesdays (18:00–19:00) and Spotlight Hour on Thursdays (18:00–19:00).
- Understanding the GO Pass (free, Deluxe, ranks and milestones)The GO Pass is a free monthly reward pass. Earn GO Points to rank up, and each rank unlocks rewards.
- Event bonus terms explained (special backgrounds, Snapshot photobombs and more)Short, plain explanations of the bonus terms that often show up in event announcements.
- Community Day prep checklistCommunity Day usually happens once a month, from 14:00 to 17:00 local time. One Pokémon appears a lot and your odds of meeting its Shiny form go up.
- Lure Module types and evolving with special Lure ModulesPut a Lure Module on a PokéStop and more Pokémon appear around it. Everyone nearby can share it.
- Following Routes and collecting Zygarde Cells (Mateo's Gift Exchange)Routes are set paths that link PokéStops and Gyms. Walk one to the end for a Route Badge and an XP bonus, and your buddy earns Candy faster too.
- PokéStop Showcases and Pokémon size (XXS and XXL)PokéStop Showcases are contests where you enter a Pokémon at a set PokéStop and compete on size. These days they're held every Tuesday.
Game rules and numbers can change, so each article shows when it was last checked. Articles are rechecked once that date is 6 months old. If you spot a mistake, let us know with 'Report an error' at the bottom of the page.