Celebrate Pokémon GO’s special moments with a twist: the adorable Cake Hat Pikachu is not only event-exclusive but can also sparkle as a shiny! This festive Pikachu variant, donning its cute cake hat, offers trainers a rare chance to catch a shiny version during limited-time events-though it can’t evolve, its charm is undeniable. Whether through timed research, raids, or wild encounters, shiny Cake Hat Pikachu adds a delightful challenge for collectors and fans alike.
<
What is the shiny rate for Pikachu in Pokémon Go?
The shiny rate for Pikachu in Pokémon Go is approximately 1 in 500, which is the standard shiny rate for most Pokémon encountered in the wild on regular days. Pikachu does not have a permanent shiny rate boost, so its shiny odds remain the same unless there is a special event that temporarily increases shiny rates. This means that finding a shiny Pikachu, including special variants like the Cake Hat Pikachu, is mostly a matter of chance and requires patience and persistence.
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. Pikachu 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?
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?
Can I increase my chances of finding a shiny cake hat Pikachu in Pokémon Go
You can increase your chances of finding a shiny Cake Hat Pikachu in Pokémon GO by taking advantage of events like the Spotlight Hour, where the wild spawn rate of Cake Hat Pikachu is significantly boosted for a limited time, such as the one-hour event on July 2, 2024, from 6 PM to 7 PM local time. During these events, using items like Lure Modules and Incense, especially in areas with rainy weather to benefit from Weather Boost, can stack effects and further increase the spawn rate of Cake Hat Pikachu, indirectly improving your odds of encountering a shiny variant. Participating in 1-Star Raids featuring Cake Hat Pikachu also offers a chance to catch a shiny, although the shiny rate remains the same as wild encounters, approximately 1 in 500 to 1 in 512. While no items directly boost shiny rates, increasing the number of encounters through these methods is the best strategy to improve your chances.
How much do Lure Modules and Incense actually boost shiny Pikachu chances
Lure Modules and Incense in Pokémon GO do not directly increase the shiny rate of Pokémon, including shiny Pikachu. Instead, they increase the number of Pokémon spawns around you, which means more encounters and thus more chances to find a shiny by sheer volume. Each individual Pokémon encounter still has the same base shiny odds, but by increasing spawn frequency, Incense and Lures indirectly improve your overall chances of encountering a shiny.
Specifically, Incense spawns Pokémon roughly every 30 seconds when moving (about 180 spawns per 90-minute incense), while Lure Modules spawn Pokémon approximately every 3 minutes for 30 minutes (about 10 spawns per lure). Incense is generally more cost-effective for increasing spawn volume than Lures, but neither alters the shiny probability per individual spawn.
In summary, Incense and Lures boost shiny Pikachu chances only by increasing the number of encounters, not by improving the shiny rate itself.
