The Cardinal Sins of Shiny Hunting in Pokemon Scarlet and…

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has revolutionized the shiny hunting dynamic with a plethora of new mechanics, improved odds, and innovative methods that make finding coveted alternate-colored Pokemon more accessible than ever. However, Scarlet and Violet's fresh outlook comes with risks for mistakes that can waste hours of precious hunting time.

Understanding what to avoid when going shiny hunting is just as crucial as knowing the proper techniques, and even experienced shiny hunters from previous generations may find themselves committing cardinal sins unique to Paldea's open-world environment. Successful shiny hunting in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet requires understanding and respecting the game's unique mechanics while avoiding these common pitfalls.

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By Drew Swanson

The Biggest Shiny Hunting Mistakes in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Leaving Mass Outbreak Areas Without Defeating Enough Pokémon

The Mass Outbreak system in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet may represent one of the most efficient shiny hunting methods available, but it's also the most fragile. Players who encounter a Mass Outbreak and immediately start hunting without understanding the mechanics are setting themselves up for failure. Successful outbreak hunting lies in defeating or catching at least 60 Pokemon of the target species to maximize shiny odds, which can reach one in 1,365 when combined with the Shiny Charm.

The error here is leaving the outbreak area or switching targets before reaching these crucial thresholds. Many hunters make the mistake of seeing a shiny Pokemon of a different species during an outbreak and abandoning their current hunt to pursue it, which inadvertently resets all progress. Experienced hunters know to stay focused on their target species and ignore other encounters, however tempting they may be, until their goal has been reached.

Hunting Without Understanding Picnic Powers

Scarlet and Violet introduced sandwich-making as a core shiny hunting mechanic, but the core workings are pretty much misunderstood. The Sparkling Power effect from sandwiches can dramatically increase shiny encounter rates, but only for specific Pokemon types and only for limited periods (about 30 minutes). Players who hunt without sandwiches or let their sandwich effects expire mid-hunt are essentially handicapping themselves.

The most common mistake is creating sandwiches without checking which Pokemon types they affect. A Ground-type sandwich won't help when hunting for a Flying-type Pokemon, no matter how perfectly the recipe is executed.

Expecting Instant Results or Hunting Inefficiently

Unlike previous Pokemon games where shiny hunting required incredible patience and luck, Scarlet and Violet offer significantly improved base odds of 1 in 4,096, which can be reduced even further through various methods. However, many players still approach shiny hunting with outdated expectations or inefficient strategies. Some expect immediate results due to the improved odds, while others wait for random encounters when more efficient options exist.

The worst offenders use methods that don't stack with modern shiny-boosting mechanics. For example, hunting for a specific Pokemon through random grass encounters when that same Pokemon has active Mass Outbreaks available is a massive waste of time and opportunity.

Not Saving Before Shiny Encounters

In an open-world environment like Paldea, it goes without saying that Pokemon can appear unexpectedly. Since the game doesn't pause when they spawn, players who don't make it a habit to save their progress beforehand risk losing it to game crashes, accidental knockouts, or critical hits. This can be particularly devastating when hunting legendary or rare Pokemon, so it's customary for players to save frequently (especially when using outbreak hunting or encountering Pokemon with low catch rates).

Hunting at the Wrong Time or Location

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet features time-based spawns and weather-dependent encounters that many shiny hunters overlook. Certain Pokemon only appear during specific times of day or weather conditions, and hunting for them at the wrong time is futile. Hence, not researching a target Pokemon's specific spawn requirements wastes valuable time and resources.

By staying focused during outbreaks, properly utilizing sandwich effects, understanding modern odds, saving frequently, and hunting in optimal conditions, trainers can maximize their chances of encountering these rare and beautiful Pokemon variants. The key is patience, preparation, and persistence – qualities that separate successful shiny hunters from those who give up in frustration.

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