You've heard of them. You've seen pictures of them. You've wanted one. Shiny pokemon, odd-coloured pokemon; whatever label you plaster on them, they are all the same, just different coloured pokemon. For example, a 'shiny' umbreon has blue rings instead of the usual yellow. A 'shiny' Ditto will be periwinkle-blue instead of pink. My point? they are unique, and one of every pokemon collector's must have.

Lets get to the point here; Shiny pokemon are extremely rare. Im talking 1 in a 8192 chance of encountering one. and its not like after 8191 battles your suddenly going to run into one. no, every battle holds the same odds. So trust me, its good to have one.

What are the benefits of Shinies? other than the bragging rights it SO is begging for, and the special different color that can be loved by so many, none. Really! Seriously, they have no Stat boosts, no exellerated EV training, nothing. Just the bragging rights. And that should be an award itself. Its very hard to find Shiny pokemon. Trust me; I know.

Another note, breeding shinies, weither it be Shiny with Shiny, shiny with regular, does NOT INCREASE CHANCES OF PRODUCING A SHINY POKEMON IN ANY WAY. the odds will still be 1/8192. So dont get smart; like I did @.@

Lets go back in time with shinies shall we?

First introduced in G/S/C, you had almost no chance of finding one. in Crystal however, you had a fifty percent chance of getting one. When you first pass the Daycare center, they offer you an egg. That baby pokemon inside has a fifty percent chance of being shiny!

In Ruby and Sapphire, it makes a return. There are no obvious ways of getting it like Crystal, just a one in a million, okay strictly speaking, 8192 chance of finding one.

In D/P, again the Shiny pokemon lives. However, it is rumored that the chances are even MORE decreased, so basicly, D/P, NO CHANCE. Or atleast, close to none ~.^

Shiny pokemon are also known to have 'Stars' flying out of them when sent out, as observed in the Johto anime, whenever Ash released his shiny Noctowl, it would emit sparks, fairy dust, those little white things as it took the skies.

Shiny pokemon appearances in anime include- Magikarp and Gyarados, Donphan, Swellow (Winona's), Butterfree (when Ash releases his own), and Shuckle (When trying to make the 'secret potion' to help spores).

MY ADVICE ON CATCHING A SHINY? before you start 'Shiny Hunting', Make sure you have the time for mess ups, dissapointment, failure, and just a heck of alot of time. Dont forget you have a one in 8192 chance of finding one in EVERY BATTLE.

So heres the low down on what you should do and bring.

~Set up your party like this- Strong pokemon in front (perferred your strongest), somewhere have a sweet scent pokemon.
~Bring along Ultra balls.
~Begin 'Shiny Hunting' by sweet-scenting desired area.
~If not shiny, run, attack, w/e
~If shiny, only lob balls, no attacking, unless the shiny is close to your first pokemon's level.

Even though that is the best thing to do while shiny hunting, it does NOT increase your chances of getting your shiny IN ANY WAY. You may never get it. You might find it on your 10th try.

*PLEASE REMEMBER THIS-- THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS DEPENDANT ON LUCK.*

~~SIDE NOTE~~ I have three, yes three shinies. I got lucky, thats all. I found all three unintentionally, while just doing everyday stuff. When I went shiny hunting I never found one. =D

--Writen by Ali