Pokemon Legends Arceus: Are Starters Shiny Locked? Answered

If you plowed through Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl last year and still haven’t gotten your fill of Pokemon just yet, you’re in luck. Pokemon Legends Arceus has just been released for the Nintendo Switch. The game takes place in the Hisui region, where players will get the chance to see what humankind’s early interactions with the Pokemon were like. If you’re wondering whether the starters in Pokemon Legends Arceus are shiny locked, here’s what you need to know.

Are Starters Shiny Locked in Pokemon Legends Arceus?

The short answer is, yes. Unfortunately, unlike in most other games in the series, the starters in Pokemon Legends Arceus are shiny locked.

At the very start of the game, you’ll encounter Laventon and three Pokemon in a cutscene: Cyndaquil, Rowlet, and Oshawott. From our own experience so far with soft rebooting the game, and from what we’ve heard via the game’s early leaks, it looks like all three starters are shiny locked, which means that it’s impossible to get shiny versions of those Pokemon, at least in the very beginning.

You’ll still be able to encounter shiny versions of those three Pokemon when you see them out in the wild, but if you were hoping to start your journey in the Hisui region with a shiny companion, you’re out of luck.

In addition to that, early leaks have also suggested that the legendary Pokemon like Giratina, Arceus, Palkia, and Dialga are also shiny locked, though we haven’t been able to confirm this first-hand.

That’s all you need to know about whether the starters are shiny locked in Pokemon Legends Arceus. Be sure to search for Twinfinite or check our guide wiki for more tips and information on the game.