Shiny Shellder is one of those rare catches that makes Pokémon Go trainers pause mid-spin. With its striking alternate colors and notably low appearance rate, this ocean-dwelling Pokémon can turn any coastal catch into a lucky find. But how likely are you to encounter one, and what methods give you the best shot?
Cloyster doesn’t see much use in raids, as there’s many ice- and water-type Pokémon that do significantly more damage than it. However, Cloyster does see some usage in Ultra League PvP at times.
Notably, Shellder is worth a ton of Stardust for some reason. Catching one Shellder will net you 1,000 Stardust, so if there’s a Spotlight Hour or event that boosts the spawns of these little guys and boosts Stardust per catch, you can really rake in the dust.
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What is the shiny rate for Shellder in Pokémon Go?
Studies of standard encounters suggest that Shellder uses the usual non-boosted shiny rate of about 1 in 500 checks, since it is not classified as a permaboosted species with higher odds. Event-specific features like Spotlight Hours or certain limited-time events can raise your chances indirectly by giving you far more Shellder encounters in a short period, but they do not change this underlying rate outside special event rules.
As per old research by the now-defunct website The Silph Road (via Wayback Machine), the shiny rate for Pokémon on a regular day is approximately one in 500. Shellder is not a confirmed Pokémon that gets a “permaboost” (meaning that it’s a rare spawn and thus gets a boosted shiny rate).
What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?
Participate in events with boosted shiny odds for Shellder, such as Community Days or Spotlight Hours. Chain catches by using lures and incense at high-traffic spots to increase encounters. Trade with friends holding shiny Shellder variants, as odds improve for known Pokémon. Max out your research tasks and raid battles targeting water-types to raise overall shiny appearance rates. Stack these methods during limited-time features for the best shot at rare colors.
Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokémon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokémon rates.
Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokémon?
You can check the complete list of available shiny Pokémon on reliable community sources such as The Silph Road or the official Pokémon Go website. These platforms maintain regularly updated databases that show which Pokémon have shiny versions currently obtainable in the game. Many fan-driven tools and trackers also allow you to filter by region, event, or release date, making it easy to see if Shellder and other species are available in their shiny forms.
What does shiny Shellder look like in Pokémon Go
Shiny Shellder in Pokémon Go replaces its normal purple shell with a vivid orange one. This makes it stand out clearly against regular Shellder during encounters.
Visual Comparison
The regular Shellder has a deep purple shell with white accents and a pink tongue. In contrast, the shiny version brightens to a striking orange shell while keeping similar body details, ensuring it’s unmistakable in the wild. Evolving it to Cloyster yields a shiny with a duller red shell, often seen as underwhelming.
Spotting Tips
Look for the orange glow on the shell in spawn lists or map view. It’s available since the 2018 Water Festival and appears at standard shiny rates outside events.
What does shiny Cloyster look like in Pokémon Go
Shiny Cloyster in Pokémon Go features a muted red or pinkish shell compared to the regular form’s deep blue one. This change is subtle, making it less striking than shiny Shellder, which disappointed some players.
Visual Comparison
Regular Cloyster has a dark blue armored shell with white spikes and accents. The shiny version shifts to a reddish-purple tone on the shell, retaining the overall spiky bivalve shape but appearing duller overall. Evolving a shiny Shellder (orange shell) produces this shiny Cloyster form.
Release History
Shiny Cloyster debuted during the Water Festival 2018 event alongside shiny Shellder. It appears in raids, wild encounters (rarely), and evolutions at standard shiny rates.
