Overview of Shiny Pokémon Mechanics in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
In the recently released game Pokémon Legends: Z-A, players have discovered that shiny Pokémon do not despawn when they move away from them, a significant change from previous titles like Scarlet and Violet. In those earlier games, shiny Pokémon would vanish if the player moved too far away or triggered a loading screen.
This new mechanic is particularly relevant for shiny collectors, who often missed opportunities for capturing shiny Pokémon due to despawning. The game allows players to encounter shiny Pokémon without the immediate pressure of losing the opportunity if they need to move away temporarily.
Players have begun sharing their experiences of this mechanic. One player noted hearing the distinctive sound signaling a shiny Pokémon and spotting a shiny Swirlix on a rooftop but faced obstacles in reaching it due to environmental limitations. Despite concerns that a transition from night to day would cause the shiny to despawn, the player later found that the shiny Swirlix remained in place.
After further testing by players and community members, it was confirmed that this persistent shiny spawn applies to all shiny Pokémon. However, there are exceptions; certain skittish Pokémon, like Patrat, may flee when approached, which results in their despawning. Additionally, shiny Pokémon defeated in battle but not caught will also despawn, raising concerns regarding Pokémon with lower catch rates.
Players are advised to rely on the game’s autosave feature, as it cannot be manually disabled, which might complicate attempts to catch shiny Pokémon. Although the autosave activates infrequently under certain conditions, players can save before engaging a shiny Pokémon and reload if the encounter does not go as planned.
In conclusion, the new shiny spawning mechanics have been generally well-received, as they accommodate the exploration-heavy nature of Z-A. Most shiny Pokémon will remain available for capture, allowing players to strategize their approach without the immediate threat of despawning.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/games/802089/pokemon-legends-z-a-shiny-hunting