Pokemon Legends: ZA made a big change to the way Shiny Pokemon spawn, which could potentially make it a lot easier for players to catch them. Opinions on the change are mixed, with some feeling that Pokemon Legends: ZA takes a step in the right direction while others prefer the old way of doing things.
Shiny Pokemon have been a big deal since they were in the series because they are a rare variation that is hard to come by. Shiny Pokemon don't offer any significant advantages over their standard versions, but they tend to impress the community, making them coveted by fans.
Pokemon Legends: ZA changes the way Shinies glow
Now players have discovered that there seems to be a significant change to the way Shiny spawns work Pokemon Legends: ZA. In the event that the player is lucky enough to have a Shiny Pokémon appear on the map, those Shiny Pokémon will no longer spawn unless they run away from battle or the player deliberately chases them away. Many players have tested this and found that while some shiny spawns will temporarily disappear when the time of day changes, they will return to the same location they were originally spotted during normal spawning hours. Quitting, zoning out, or even restarting the game won't make the Shinies disappear.
As longtime fans of the series know, this is a major change that could eliminate some of the headaches with Shiny hunting. A lot of fans have had the experience of seeing a Shiny only to lose it because they got too far away, or were interrupted by another Pokemon battle, or even something as simple as their system's battery dying, forcing them to reset the game. While there are mixed feelings about Pokemon Legends: ZAWith the auto-save system, players won't have to worry about auto-saves ruining their Shiny chances.
As noted, fans have mixed reactions to the news. Some are pleased because it should be harder to lose Shinies by accident. However, others feel that this move devalues Shinies as it eliminates many of the chances and challenges associated with spotting and successfully capturing them. It's also likely that this move could lead to a lot more Shinies per player and since then Pokemon Legends: ZA will be integrated with Pokemon Home in 2026, which could mean more Shinies overall Pokemon population.
- Released
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October 16, 2025
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy violence, in-game purchases
Source: CentroLeaks
