Should I Keep All My Shiny Pokémon? A Detailed Guide for Collectors
As an avid Pokémon trainer with over 20 years of catching and battling experience, one question I get asked a lot by fellow players is "Should I keep every shiny Pokémon I catch, or transfer some of them?"
As we all know, shinies are the rarest and most coveted types of Pokémon. When one finally appears after hundreds of encounters, it‘s hard not to get attached!
But with shiny hunting more popular than ever in Pokémon GO and the main series games, your shiny collection can quickly outgrow your storage space.
So how do you decide which shinies are worth keeping and which you can let go? Let‘s dive into some expert analysis as a long-time shiny hunter.
What Makes Shiny Pokémon So Special?
Before we talk logistics, let‘s discuss what makes shinies so desirable to begin with. What drives us to spend hours chained to a bush or hatching endless eggs in search of that one elusive color variant?
For me, there are a few key factors:
Novelty – Shinies represent a fun twist on a familiar Pokémon. It’s exciting to see an iconic Pokemon like Charizard or Gyarados transform into a totally different color.
Rarity – With normal odds between 1 in 4096 to 1 in 450, shinies take patience and dedication to obtain. As a collector and completionist, I love tracking down rare finds.
Nostalgia – Encountering my first ever shiny Magikarp in Gold version as a kid got me hooked on shiny hunting for life. That magic of seeing a shiny never fully goes away.
Flexing – Let‘s be real, shinies have bragging rights. As a gaming content creator, I love being able to show off my rarest shinies to impress viewers.
No matter your motivation, there‘s just something special about seeing a shiny Pokémon appear in the wild or hatching from an egg. Now let‘s talk about building your collection.
The Evolution of Shiny Odds and Availability
To understand which shinies are rarest, we need to look at how shiny rates have changed across Pokémon generations.
In the beginning, shinies were purely luck based with a 1 in 8192 chance of appearing in Generation 1. As the games continued, the odds gradually improved:
- Gen 1: 1 in 8192
- Gen 2: 1 in 8192
- Gen 3: 1 in 8192
- Gen 4: 1 in 8192
- Gen 5: 1 in 8192
- Gen 6: 1 in 4096
- Gen 7: 1 in 4096
- Gen 8: 1 in 4096
However, certain methods could further increase odds:
- Chaining: Gen 4 (1 in 1365), Gen 6 & 7 (1 in 315)
- Masuda method: Gen 4 & 5 (1 in 1638), Gen 6 & 7 (1 in 1024)
- Ultra Wormholes: Gen 7 (1 in 100)
- Shiny Charm: Gen 5 (3x rate), Gen 6 & 7 (2x rate), Gen 8 (3x rate)
In Pokémon GO, the base rate has been around 1 in 450 for wild spawns. But rates get boosted during events to as high as 1 in 25!
Clearly, the rarity of shinies has decreased over time, making them more accessible. But some species remain very elusive…
The Rarest Shinies Worth Keeping
In my opinion, these are the absolute rarest and most valuable shinies worth holding onto:
Mythicals
Mythical Pokémon like Mew, Celebi, and Jirachi are guaranteed shiny rewards after completing long Special Research stories. I recommend never transferring mythic shinies!
Legends
Shiny legendaries were unlocked starting in Pokémon GO. These are available for a limited time in raids then disappear, making them extremely rare. Hoard as many as you can!
Wild Starters
Starter Pokémon in the wild have base shiny odds around 1 in 4000 – 8x rarer than normal species! I lost my mind finding a shiny Charmander in X.
Eggs and Raids
Anything hatching from an egg or appearing in a raid has boosted 1 in 50 to 1 in 20 shiny odds. I save these shinies since they‘re uncommon outside events.
Costumes
Costume Pokémon like Pikachu or Eevee with hats can‘t ever be obtained shiny again after their event ends. As a collector, I cherish these shinies.
Extinct Species
Shinies already evolved like Gyarados will be rarer going forward now that candy XL makes the base forms very usable. Keeping extinct shinies has extra novelty now.
Obviously personal favorites should be kept regardless of rarity. But when prioritizing storage space, these are the shinies I would never consider transferring.
Calculating Your Shiny Collection Value
To decide which shinies are okay to transfer, I actually give each species a rarity score then calculate my whole collection value. Here‘s my scoring system:
| Shiny Type | Rarity Score |
|---|---|
| Mythic | 100 |
| Legendary | 80 |
| Wild Starter | 70 |
| Egg/Raid Exclusive | 60 |
| Full Odds Wild | 40 |
| Community Day | 30 |
| Common (Pikachu, Eevee) | 20 |
| Event Increased | 10 |
I total up all my shinies by rarity category, multiply by the scores, then arrive at a collection "value".
This let‘s me objectively see which shinies are contributing the most value. For example, my shiny Mewtwo (80) is "worth" far more than 20 shiny Electabuzz from community day (30 x 20 = 600).
By periodically calculating this, I can determine which categories are safe to selectively transfer from when I need more space.
The Psychology and High of Shiny Hunting
After so many years collecting shinies, I‘ve come to realize much of the appeal is psychological. Here are the emotions and highs that keep me hooked on the shiny hunt:
Anticipation – That feeling when you‘re chained to a bush, waiting and hoping each encounter will be the one. The rush keeps you going.
Frustration – When the hunt drags on past odds, frustration builds. But that just makes finally getting the shiny more satisfying and worth it.
Euphoria – Ah, the joy of seeing those sparks appear and shiny animation start! Nothing beats that huge dopamine rush.
Pride – I love looking back at my shiny living dex filled with rare finds. It‘s a badge of honor.
Nostalgia – Each new shiny brings me back to those childhood memories of discovering shinies for the first time.
For me, forming connections with my shinies makes them more meaningful to keep. But I realize everyone plays for their own reasons.
Final Takeaways on Managing Your Shiny Collection
After reading my sheer enthusiasm, you might think I‘d never delete a shiny! But the reality is:
Storage space is finite – I can‘t realistically keep every single shiny I catch forever. Transferring some is necessary.
Event shinies return – These days, limited shinies do come back around fairly often. So less need to hoard every single one.
Trading improves circulation – Trading my spares to fellow collectors gets more people shiny dex entries. No Pokémon left behind!
At the end of the day, approach shiny collecting however fits your playstyle and brings you joy. But hopefully these tips from a seasoned shiny expert help guide your decisions on which shinies are keepers and which you can part with.
Happy hunting, fellow trainers. May your bush-chains stay unbroken and your egg batches blessed with shiny luck!
