The phenomenon of
Pokémon has reached so many lengths that many fans of the franchise are aware of shiny variants of the creatures - regardless if that is from the mainline titles like
Pokémon Sun and Moon, X and Y, Black and White, Diamond and Pearl, Ruby and Sapphire, or
Gold and Silver - or other remake and adjacent titles like
Pokémon: Let's Go! Pikachu and Let's Go! Eevee, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Black 2 and White 2, Heart Gold and Soul Silver, and Fire Red and Leaf Green.
Despite all of those popular games, there is also or the popular augmented reality mobile game from Niantic,
Pokémon Go, which features a large audience of players who grew up on the core titles mixed with newcomers to the experience of the pocket monster world. In that game, Niantic is constantly adding new shiny variants so that players will continue to tune in even when it gets cold outside to make sure their dex is filled with as many pages as possible. This means that plenty of people in the community are familiar with shiny creatures - and that's exactly why
Pokémon Sword and Shield just released a chance for trainers to capture one of the most coveted shiny creatures of all - Magikarp.
Sure, Magikarp may seem like a useless Pokémon - at least for his first 20 levels - but most players know that if you are patient with a Magikarp, it can grow and evolve in a very powerful species - the elusive Gyarados. Both of these creatures are two of the most famous pocket monsters with shiny variants because of the game and the anime respectively.
In the anime series, there is a famously remembered episode where James, a member of Team Rocket is easily duped into spending all of his teams' paychecks on a Magikarp - what happened to be shiny and gold, though it is worth mentioning that it didn't stay shiny when it evolved, so it likely wasn't something that was done on purpose. Gyarados however is remembered by any fan of
Pokémon Gold and Silver as the shiny creature was obtainable from the Lake of Rage and was a shiny variant that was gotten during the story - the only time the games featured something like that.
Usually, it's extremely difficult to find shiny variants, with hardcore players chaining certain species for hours on end in an attempt to claim them. Whith Pokémon Sword and Shield's new increased Magikarp shiny raids however, trainers will have a better opportunity to get their hands on one of the community's favorite - and coolest looking pocket monsters.
The event is currently running and will remain active until 6:59 P.M. EST on Friday, January 3, 2020. Players can only hope that this might signify a regular thing going forward with increased chances of different creatures being shiny each month, but it could always just be to celebrate the holiday. That's just something we're going to have to wait and find out.
In the meantime, to have a shot at the golden shiny Magikarp variant and its evolutionary Red Gyarados, be sure to connect to the internet, update your wild area news, and go to mystery gifts. Afterwards you'll be able to check your dens with Dynamax creatures and once entered trainers can tell whether they are shiny or not. Get out there and battle alone or with friends while the chance is still available!
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section and check out the recent accolades trailer for
Pokémon Sword and
Pokémon Shield below!
Your journey to become a Pokémon champion starts here in the Galar region. Meet never-before-seen Pokémon, and embark on an adventure where you can battle gigantic wild Pokémon.
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are now available on Nintendo Switch.