Shiny Pokémon

Shiny Pokemon are rarer versions of regular Pokemon that have a different color scheme and gain 50% more EXP than non-shiny Pokemon.

They are characterized by a color scheme that differs from their normal coloration, as well as a sparkle in the sprite. The change varies from drastic, e.g. Shiny Gyarados, to more moderate, e.g. Shiny Pikachu.

At the moment, every time a Pokemon spawns, there is a 1/8000 chance of it being shiny. Shiny Pokemon always have a red life bar, so you can catch them without having to lower it's lifebar, preventing accidental KO's. As of recent updates, an alert will now present itself an instant before a Shiny Pokemon appears. During this alert, the game pauses for 3 seconds or until you click. This gives you time to prepare and catch it quickly.

In multi-player mode, the chance of getting a shiny pokemon will be 0.01%.

You can also obtain Shiny Pokemon from Trading and Mystery Gift codes.

Before v2.4

 * Bulbasaur -> Ivysaur
 * Charmander -> Charmeleon
 * Squirtle -> Wartortle
 * Pikachu -> Raichu
 * Geodude -> Graveler -> Golem
 * Mew
 * Pidgey -> Pidgeotto

v2.6

 * Nidoran ♀ -> Nidorina -> Nidoqueen


 * Nidoran ♂ -> Nidorino -> Nidoking


 * Zubat -> Golbat
 * Mankey -> Primeape
 * Growlithe -> Arcanine
 * Vulpix -> Ninetales
 * Poliwag -> Poliwhirl -> Poliwrath
 * Oddish -> Gloom -> Vileplume
 * Bellsprout -> Weepinbell -> Victreebel
 * Paras -> Parasect
 * Clefairy -> Clefable
 * Jynx

v2.7

 * Venusaur
 * Blastoise
 * Charizard
 * Magikarp -> Gyarados
 * Pidgeot

v2.9

 * Meowth -> Persian

v3.0

 * Farfetch'd

v3.1

 * Onix

v3.1.5

 * Staryu -> Starmie

v3.2.1

 * Tentacool -> Tentacruel

v3.4

 * Diglett -> Dugtrio
 * Drowzee -> Hypno

v3.5

 * Voltorb -> Electrode
 * Machop -> Machoke -> Machamp

v3.9

 * Sandshrew -> Sandslash
 * All the Eevee evolutions

Role in the Game
Something of a hidden extra, Shiny Pokemon are not a necessary part of winning the game. Due to their rarity, in fact, it would be easy for a player to not encounter any. However, as they are typically the rewards for deciphering Mystery Gift clues and beating challenge mode games, it is not terribly difficult to obtain at least a few.

Shiny Pokemon are inspired by the creatures of the same name in Nintendo's original games. Both feature special aesthetic effects. In the original games, unlike the Tower Defense version, they gain no extra experience.

As with the Nintendo games, Shiny Pokemon are especially valuable to collectors and others who see a "coolness factor" in their rarity and are as such great bargaining chips in trades.