‘Pokémon Sun And Moon’: How To Get Shiny Pokémon Using Ally Chaining And Masuda Method

By Phillip Martinez Published 11/18/16 EST

Pokémon Sun and Moon

Platform(s)

3DS

Genre(s)

RPG

Release Date 2016-11-18

Red Gyarados is now included in 'Pokemon Shuffle' Pokemon Company

One of the many phenomenon of the Pokémon world are the presence of Shiny Pokémon. These special Pokémon don’t have any added stat bonuses or anything like that, but they come with a different color scheme that you can’t get anywhere else.

This makes Shiny Pokémon more desirable and way to show off a trainer’s dedication or luck.

But in Sun and Moon the way to find Shiny Pokémon has changed dramatically. While Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire made it relatively easy with Chain Fishing and using the DexNav, the method in the Alola Region is more random and more time-consuming.

Here are the way trainers can get Shiny Pokémon in Sun and Moon .

RANDOM ENCOUNTER

The most tried and true method to finding Shiny Pokémon. Just by exploring and walking through grass, water and caves you have a chance to encounter a Shiny Pokémon.

However, this is completely random and the odds of you encountering a Shiny Pokémon is very low. The odds to finding a Shiny Pokémon this way is 1 in 4096 from Pokémon X and Y onward. This is a slightly better chance than the 1 in 8192 it used to be.

ALLY CHAIN

The new method to Shiny Hunting is using the wild Pokémon’s ally call against them.

One new feature in Sun and Moon is how wild Pokémon can call for help from members of their species. This not only makes it more difficult to catch and defeat Pokémon it does give an increased chance to encounter Shiny Pokémon.

While there isn’t a concrete method found, a lot of trainers have figured out that ally chaining works and you’ll need an Adrenaline Orb, an item you can purchase early in-game. When you encounter a wild Pokémon use an Adrenaline Orb on your Pokémon and the wild Pokémon will call for help.

Here’s a flowchart of the steps needed to chain for a Shiny Pokémon.

Wild pokemon -> adrenaline orb -> call for help -> KO one of the two mons, doesn't matter -> call for help -> KO mon -> call for help -> KO mon -> ETC...

If you need a visual, check out our friend aDrive's tutorial below.

The method not only increases the chance of Shiny Pokémon encounters but each new Pokémon that appears will have a chance to get a Hidden Ability and have better EVs.

It should be noted that the Pokémon called will more than likely be of the same species, but there are some species that will call a different species. One example is Cubone calling for Kangaskhan.

NOTE: The only way to break the chain is by running or ending the battle by being knocked out or knocking all the Pokémon out.

You also have to be aware of running out of PP when chaining but if done right, this chain can go as long as you need it to.

MASUDA METHOD

This technique was named after the Pokémon developer Junichi Masuda who was the first to reveal this method. Introduced in Generation 4, the Masuda Method allows trainers to breed a shiny Pokémon with the stats, moves and abilities they want instead of searching the wilds for one.

How the Masuda Method works is you’ll have to breed two Pokémon who originate from different regions of the world. So your Squirtle from Japan and your Tyrunt from North America -- just as an example.

You have them breed until a Shiny Pokémon is hatched. The rate at which this happens is 1 in 1365.3 in Generation 5 -- and is even lower in Gen 6 and possibly in Gen 7 but no concrete number is known.

This method takes some patience but it definitely works to breed a Shiny Pokémon for competitive battling.

Are there any tips to finding Shiny Pokémon in Sun and Moon that you didn’t see above? Let us know in the comments section below.