Pokemon Legends: ZA has made a big change to how Shiny Pokémon spawn, potentially making it much easier for players to catch them. Opinions about the change are mixed, with some feeling of it Pokemon Legends: ZA takes a step in the right direction, while others prefer the old way of doing things.
Shiny Pokémon have been a big deal for as long as they've been in the series, as they're a rare variety that can be hard to come by. Shiny Pokémon don't offer significant advantages over their standard versions, but they tend to impress the community, making fans covet them.
Pokemon Legends: ZA Changes How Shinies Spawn
Now, players have discovered that there appears to be a significant change in how Shiny spawns work Pokemon Legends: ZA. In the event that a player is lucky enough to have a Shiny Pokémon on the map, those Shiny Pokémon will no longer disappear unless they flee from a battle or are intentionally chased away by a player. Many players have tested this and found that while some Shiny spawns will disappear temporarily when the time of day changes, they will return during their normal spawn hours in the same location they were originally seen in. Walking away, zoning, or even restarting the game will not cause the Shinies to disappear anymore.
As longtime fans of the series know, this is a big change that could eliminate some headaches with Shiny hunting. Many fans have experienced the experience of spotting 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 around Pokemon Legends: ZAs auto-save system, players don't have to worry about auto-save ruining their chances of a Shiny.
As mentioned, fans have a mixed reaction to this news. Some are delighted, as it should make it harder to accidentally drop Shinies. However, others feel that this move devalues Shinies, as it eliminates much of the chance and challenge involved in spotting and successfully catching them. It is 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 Pokémon population.
- Released
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16 October 2025
- ESRB
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All 10+ / Fantasy violence, in-game purchase
Source: CentroLeaks
