Shiny Hunting in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is About to Get Easier

Summary

Okay, so let’s talk shiny hunting in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. With this new free Switch 2 upgrade, things get wild, making the whole process way easier and more consistent. Crazy right? Now you get performance updates, which means more Pokémon on screen, upping those shiny chances. Gen 9 just got a glow-up, literally.

Been a hot minute since Pokémon Scarlet and Violet saw anything major — kinda expected, right? Especially with Pokémon Legends: Z-A dropping soon and those Gen 10 whispers floating around for a 2026 hit. Anyway, the Nintendo Switch 2 is just around the corner, releasing June 5. And guess what? There’s a free upgrade coming with it for Scarlet and Violet. Could be a game changer, especially for shiny hunters.

Shiny hunting was already neat, thanks to those wacky Herba Mystica sandwiches — made grabbing shinies more like a stroll in the park. Everyone’s been digging it as this whole shiny thing leveled up over the years. And now, just as this Switch upgrade rolls out, the game’s performance gets a boost. Spoiler: it’s big. More Pokémon to see, more shinies to chase. Sounds dreamy, right?

Why Now?

You might think Gen 9’s shiny hunts are already chill. But finding that sweet spot for spawns can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Random caves just because they’re shiny central? Yup, that’s been a thing. Those performance hiccups? Yeah, partly the culprit.

Anyway, with Switch Gen 9 games sometimes like molasses at under 30 fps, the older updates cut down Pokémon spawns to help. Bummer, right? Fewer spawns, fewer shinies. But hey, this new upgrade? Picture lush fields of Pokémon everywhere. Screenshots from The Pokémon Company? Total eye candy — and a promise of busier, shinier adventures.

How’s This Helping?

Base shiny odds in Gen 9 stand at 1 in 4,096. Sounds like a gamble? You can tweak the odds, of course. Post-upgrade, seeing 14 or even 20 Pokémon on your screen isn’t rare. Compared to the old max of about 10, this is massive for shiny chances. It’s like moving from basic black and white to a vivid, colorful universe.

Here’s a quick breakdown for the number lovers:

• No extra method: 1 in 4,096 odds.
• With the Shiny Charm: 1 in 1365.
• Mass outbreaks? Even better: 1 in 819 with the charm.

All this? Free! No catch, just more shinies to stumble upon as you wander through Gen 9’s redefined world. Get ready, trainers, it’s gonna be dazzling!