You Can't Get Shiny Versions of These Pokémon in 'Scarlet' and 'Violet'

Despite the many performance issues and glitches that riddled Pokémon Scarlet and Violet when it launched, the newest generation of Pokémon has performed better than most of its predecessors, selling more than 10 million copies in the game's first weekend, breaking all of Nintendo's previous sales records.

Though Shiny hunting has been easier than ever in Scarlet and Violet, leading many to get their first Shiny ever in this newest game, there are still certain Pokémon that players are just unable to obtain in their Shiny form. It's nearly impossible to obtain a Shiny living Dex in Scarlet and Violet, thanks to these Pokémon that are Shiny-locked.

Unfortunately, there are many Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet that are Shiny-locked, though some are only Shiny-locked in specific encounters. For some of the Pokémon on this list, you're able to obtain them in other ways, though it'll take a sufficient amount of grinding to do so.

Here's a breakdown of all of the Pokémon that are Shiny-locked in Scarlet and Violet:

• The three starter Pokémon (Sprigatito, Quaxley, and Fuecoco) at the start of the game.
• The box Legendaries Koraidon and Miraidon
• All four Pokémon of Ruin: Ting-Lu, Chien-Pao, Wo-Chien, and Chi-Yu
• Any Pokémon obtained in an in-game trade from an NPC
• All ex-Titan Pokémon
• Gimmighoul

Basically, any Pokémon you see in a cutscene within Scarlet and Violet will not be able to be Shiny, no matter how many times you soft reset the game.

That being said, though you cannot obtain the Shiny versions of these Pokémon through regular gameplay, with some grinding and breeding, you can obtain the Shiny forms later in the game.

All three starter Pokémon will not be Shiny at the start of the game, though you can breed them to obtain a Shiny through picnics and using the Masuda method. Though you can't obtain Shiny versions of ex-Titan Pokémon, their regular forms can be Shiny in the wild.

Unfortunately, the Legendaries Koraidon, Miraidon, Ting-Lu, Chien-Pao, Wo-Chien, and Chi-Yu are completely Shiny-locked, as they cannot be bred. Gimmighoul (and its evolution) also cannot be Shiny, as it also cannot be bred.

Because of this, you cannot get Shiny versions of any of these Pokémon — though all others in the game can be Shiny hunted.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are now available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.