Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen's best shiny hunting strategy is unfortunately version exclusive

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen can be an exciting and frustrating experience both for those new to these games with their recent Switch and Switch 2 ports, and in some cases even for those who played them all the way back when their GBA versions came out. This is especially true for shiny hunting, as each shiny can feel much more exciting and “deserved” than in modern games, where you can use multiple tools to increase the odds dramatically. In fact, there is no Masuda Method in the games, and there is no Shiny Charm either. Many hunters spend hours or even days in Professor Oak's lab looking for a shiny starter in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen for this very reason.

As it stands, the odds are to bring in a shiny animal Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen is 1 in 8,192, which is double what modern games offer in the base, 1 in 4,096. Not only that, but with tricks like Sparkling Power Sandwiches and Donuts combined with Shiny Charm and Mass Outbreaks, the odds can be as low as 1 in 512. Since you can't improve the odds in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenno matter what, the best strategy relies on a Pokemon that can only be found in Leaf green.

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Say goodbye to these 46 Pokemon in FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch and Switch 2 will force you to say goodbye to 46 Pokemon that you won't be able to get.

PSA: You should play Pokemon LeafGreen if you like Shiny Hunting

How to get Staryu in Pokemon LeafGreen

Among the versions exclusive in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen is Staryu, an animal that only appears in the later version. You can get Staryu very early too, as you can get one by fishing in the following locations:

Pallet Town: Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25
Vermilion City: Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25
Cinnabar Island: Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25
An island: Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25
Five Iceland: Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25
Icefall Cave (Back Cave only): Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)

Why Staryu and Starmie increase your shiny odds in FireRed and LeafGreen

The reason Staryu (as well as its evolution, Starmie) is a game changer for shiny hunting is because it comes with the Illuminate ability. What this does is essentially double how often you encounter wild Pokemon, as it increases your encounter rate by 100%. It's worth noting that this only works if the Illuminate Pokémon is first in your party, but it also works if that Pokémon faints, so you could technically use some of the best Pokémon to catch early in Fire red and leaf greenlike Pikachu for paralysis, Jigglypuff for sleep, or even Bulbasaur with sleep powder.

This makes the shiny hunting experience much faster, as you may sometimes encounter periods when it takes over 10 seconds to find just one Pokemon in the grass or while surfing. With Illuminate, you can halve the time it takes for each encounter to start, effectively “doubling” your shiny odds by seeing more wild Pokémon per hour. Given that some of the best Pokemon to use in Fire red and leaf green end with high speed and attack or special attack, a Starmie can even fit your team seamlessly.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen's Best Shiny Hunting Strategy Explained

A Staryu or Starmie with Illuminate can make your shiny hunt in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen even easier by having one at the cutoff level for the encounter you're looking for and using a Max Repel. For example, if you want a shiny Raticate from Route 16, which appears at levels 23 to 25, you can lead with a Staryu or Starmie at level 23 to skip any other encounters that are lower if you use a Max Repel, making Raticate the only Pokemon that appears.

As much as this strategy can make shiny hunting smoother, it's not available to you if you're playing solo and you have a copy of Fire red only. If you happen to have two Switch consoles with you Fire red and leaf green installed, then you can catch a Staryu in the latter and exchange it for the former, and the same applies if you have local friends or family who can help with this. But if you don't, the only option would be to use glitches to create an NPC that can trade with you so you can get all the trade developments in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen solo. Otherwise Staryu is unfortunately not available Fire red.

Alternatives to Staryu and how to get them in Pokemon FireRed

The other option is to use Volbeat, Chinchou, or Lanturn, all of which have Illuminate as an ability. The problem is that 166 Pokemon are unobtainable Fire red and leaf green built-in, including these three, and they can only be traded from Gen 3 games. If (most likely when) Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire released on Switch this might be easier with Pokemon home support. Until then, Staryu is your only option.