Shiny Hunting Guide

In Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, the base Shiny odds are 1 in 4,096 (0.024%) for both wild encounters and eggs. But with the right methods you can dramatically improve these odds.

This guide breaks down the fastest and most efficient ways to hunt Shinies in these games.

It’s important to note that while ORAS offers multiple Shiny hunting methods, there’s no single “best” approach. The optimal choice depends entirely on which Pokémon you want to obtain. That said, the following three methods offer the highest possible odds without requiring the Shiny Charm:

All Shiny Hunting Methods

Below is a complete overview of all available shiny hunting methods in the game. The table also shows how the Shiny Charm affects the odds for each method, both with and without it:

The following sections will detail specific step-by-step tutorials on how to execute each of the better shiny hunting methods to put them into action.

1. Random Encounters + Horde Encounter

In Random Encounters, you hunt Shiny Pokémon purely by chance while walking in tall grass, caves, or other wild areas. This is essentially what you’ve been doing naturally during your playthrough.

While not efficient, some hunters intentionally use this method for the thrill of finding a Shiny at full odds.

While standard random encounters are inefficient, Horde Encounters dramatically improve your odds. By using Sweet Scent to force Horde Encounters, you essentially encounter five Pokémon at the same time.

However, in this method, you can only shiny hunt Pokémon that appear in horde encounters.

Preparation

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Locate a Horde Spot – Find an area where your target Pokémon appears in hordes

Step 2: Trigger a Horde Encounter – Use Sweet Scent (or Honey) outside of battle to force an encounter.

Step 3: Check for Shinies – Quickly check all 5 Pokémon – if none are Shiny, run or defeat them.

Step 4: Repeat until a Shiny appears – Keep triggering hordes until a Shiny appears

Step 5: Defeat all other Non-Shiny Pokémon – Using single-target moves, defeat the other 4 Pokémon

Step 6: Catch It! – Use False Swipe and/or a non-damaging status move to safely capture your Shiny.

2. Breeding: Masuda Method

The Masuda Method is the most reliable way to breed Shiny Pokémon in ORAS.

This method involves breeding two Pokémon from different language games (ex. a Japanese Ditto with your starter). It’s the only way to simultaneously hunt Shinies while controlling IVs, nature, and egg moves.

Preparation

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Obtain a Foreign Ditto / Parent – Trade for a non-English Ditto / Parent. It should have the mark in the top-left corner for it to be considered a Foreign Pokemon.

Step 2: Head to Battle Resort’s Day Care – Deposit the Foreign Parent and the Pokemon you want a shiny of.

Step 3: Collect & Hatch Eggs – Collect 5 Eggs from the Day Care, then ride continuous loops around Battle Resort’s circular path (hold the up direction in the spot below to automate movement) while waiting for them to hatch.

Step 4: Check for Shinies – Repeat until you get your Shiny you want.

3. DexNav Chaining

DexNav Chaining is a shiny hunting method that combines:

1. Search Levels (tracked per Pokémon species)
2. Encounter Chains (consecutive catches/KOs of the same species)

The following table shows how DexNav Chaining boosts Shiny odds through two scaling factors: your Pokémon’s Search Level and current chain length. Both higher Search Levels and longer chains progressively increase your chances, with bonus odds every 5 encounters and significant boosts at chains of 50 and 100:

Preparation

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Boost Search Level – Repeatedly encounter your target Pokemon up to Search Lv. 999. You can also do this passively by starting the chain.

Step 2: Use Repel – To prevent finding any other Pokemon, use Repels and re-apply it every time it expires to prevent unwanted encounters.

Step 3: Start the Chain – Find your target and sneak (gently move the Circle Pad) toward shaking grass. Catch/Defeat the Pokémon to continue the chain. Be sure not to leave the area, battle other species, or run from any battle to prevent the chain from breaking.

Step 4: Repeat until a Shiny appears – Keep chaining until a Shiny appears.

Step 5: Catch It! – Use False Swipe and/or a non-damaging status move to safely capture your Shiny.

4. Chain Fishing

Chain Fishing boosts shiny odds by consecutively hooking Pokémon without moving or missing a reel-in.

Each successful encounter extends the chain, maxing out at a 1/100 shiny chance after 20+ chains. Catching, fainting, or running away from the encounter won’t break the chain.

Preparation

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Find a Fishing Spot – Look for where your fishing target has the highest encounter rate and head there.

Step 2: Start Fishing – Use your rod and wait for a bite. Be sure not to move from the spot you started from to not break the chain.

Step 3: Continue the Chain – After successfully reeling in the Pokemon, immediately run away from it if it’s not a Shiny. Odds peak at chain length 20+. Be careful not to miss a bite/reel-in to prevent the chain from breaking.

Step 4: Repeat until a Shiny appears – Keep chaining until a Shiny appears.

Step 5: Catch It! – Use False Swipe and/or a non-damaging status move to safely capture your Shiny.

5. Soft Resetting (SR)

Soft resetting (SR) is a shiny hunting method where you save before an encounter with a static Pokémon—like starters, legendaries, or gift Pokémon—then you repeatedly reset the game (L+R+Start/Select) to check for Shinies.

Each reset generates new stats, allowing you to “reroll” for a Shiny without battles or breeding.

Preparation

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Save in front of the Pokémon or before receiving the gift.

Step 2: Interact to trigger the encounter.

Step 3: Check for a Shiny – If it’s not Shiny, soft reset (L + R + Start/Select).

Step 4: Repeat until a Shiny appears – Keep resetting until a Shiny appears.

Possible Soft Reset Shiny Targets

Pokemon	Location	Screenshot
Starter Pokémon
Hoenn (Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip)	Route 101
Johto (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile)	Route 101
Sinnoh (Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup)	Route 101
Unova (Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott)	Route 101
Gift Pokémon
Wynaut (Egg)	Lavaridge Town
Togepi (Egg)	Lavaridge Town
Castform	Weather Institute
Beldum	Mossdeep City
Sharpedo & Camerupt	Battle Resort
Fossils	Rustboro City
Interactable Pokémon
Voltorb	New Mauville
Kecleon	Route 119, Route 120, Lavaridge Town, Mossdeep City
Electrode	Magma Hideout, Aqua Hideout
Spiritomb	Sea Mauville
Legendary Pokémon
Latias / Latios	Southern Island (during story and via Eon Ticket)
Regirock	Desert Ruins
Regice	Island Cave
Registeel	Ancient Tomb
Regigigas	Island Cave
Heatran	Scorched Slab
Lugia (AS)	Sea Mauville (AS)
Ho-Oh (OR)	Sea Mauville (OR)
Mirage Spot Pokémon
Raikou / Entei / Suicune	Trackless Forest
Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf	Nameless Cavern
Palkia (OR) / Dialga (AS)	Soaring in the Sky
Giratina	Soaring in the Sky
Cresselia	Crescent Isle
Cobalion / Terrakion / Virizion	Pathless Plain
Tornadus (OR) / Thundurus (AS)	Soaring in the Sky
Landorus	Soaring in the Sky
Reshiram (OR) / Zekrom (AS)	Fabled Cave
Kyurem	Gnarled Den