It appears that Pokémon’s Shiny Charm is no longer the game-changing boost to Shiny Hunting it once was. Always an endgame item with strict criteria to obtain, the charm provides a notable increase to Shiny encounter rates. However, Scarlet and Violet’s Shiny Charm shows how the effect has nevertheless become less significant in recent games.
There are a variety of ways to encounter Shiny Pokémon, from random chance to more targeted ways of Shiny Hunting such as the Masuda Method. The Shiny Charm is an item that greatly increases the rate of Shiny encounters. Originally introduced in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, it has appeared in every core game since. Currently, the Shiny Charm changes the base Shiny rate from 1/4096 to 1/1365.67, essentially tripling a player’s chances of finding a Shiny in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. However, getting this bonus does require a significant time investment; in order to obtain the Shiny Charm in Scarlet and Violet, as usual, players first have to complete the Pokédex.
The problem with the Scarlet and Violet’s Shiny Charm is that when taking into account all the other methods for increasing Shiny rates, it is hard to justify the effort required to receive it. Scarlet and Violet have made Shiny hunting more accessible than ever with a variety of new methods. For example, eating some types of Sandwich confers the “Sparkling Power” effect, which raises the chance of finding wild Shiny Pokémon to a maximum of 1/1024.38. Additionally, clearing any of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Mass Outbreaks also confers a bonus. Defeating 60 Pokémon raises the approximate Shiny rate in Outbreaks to 1/1365.67, the same as a Shiny Charm.
It is clear there are easier methods of achieving the same effect as a Shiny Charm. In Scarlet and Violet, simply eating the right Sandwich can surpass the Charm’s base boost. Combined with taking advantage of the Mass Outbreak effect, the wild Shiny rate becomes 1/683.08 in those same Outbreaks….
2023-02-12 19:00:03
Post from screenrant.com
In the Pokémon games, the Shiny Charm has been a coveted item since its introduction in the fifth Generation games. It has been sought after by those trying to complete their Pokédex, as it vastly increases the likelihood of encountering a Shiny Pokémon. However, the Shiny Charm is no longer worth the effort it takes to get it.
The Shiny Charm can be obtained by completing the Pokédex in the fifth generation games, or by completing a special set of tasks in the newer games. For those that have put in the work to get the Shiny Charm, the rewards have usually been worth it. A Shiny Pokémon was significantly more likely to appear, and players could save hundreds of hours of grinding for the elusive Shiny.
However, the new generation of Pokémon games have made it much easier to encounter Shiny Pokémon. In Sword & Shield, players can use Wishing Stars or purchase Wishing Stones in the Wild Area, which have a much higher chance to find a Shiny Pokémon. This can save players thousands of hours of grinding, instead of searching for the Shiny Charm.
Furthermore, the new games have also introduced Max Raids, which also have an increased chance of finding a Shiny Pokémon. Max Raids are an especially useful way of obtaining Shiny Pokémon, since they can be done with any number of players, from solo to four-player raids.
Overall, the Shiny Charm is no longer worth chasing after. The new generations of games have made it much easier to find Shiny Pokémon without having to put forth a time-consuming effort to obtain the Shiny Charm. For those wanting to get their hands on a Shiny Pokémon, Max Raids and Wishing Stars are the way to go.