If you’ve ever tried Shiny hunting, then you know how time-consuming this undertaking can be.
One Shiny Pokemon can take you days or even weeks to find, depending on your luck. That’s why I really admire the dedication and patience of Shiny hunters that stream their gameplay—I swear they have the longest fuse.
But what if you don’t want to spend that much time looking for a different colored Pokemon? What if you can take any Pokemon and instantly make it Shiny?
In this guide, I’ll teach you how to do just that using a tool called PKHeX, step by step, even if you’re a complete beginner.
Key Highlights:
- Open your save file in PKHeX and look for the Pokemon you want to become a Shiny.
- Check the star icon to make a Pokemon Shiny.
- Legalize your changes using the Auto Legality Mod.
What Is a Shiny Pokemon?
A Shiny Pokemon is a Pokemon that has different colors than the typical ones you see of the same kind. For example, a normal Gyarados is blue, while its Shiny form is red.
In most games, the chance of encountering a Shiny Pokemon is extremely low, especially in older games. Because of this, many players use tools like PKHeX to obtain Shiny Pokemon without spending hours hunting.
How Rare Are Shiny Pokemon?
Shiny Pokemon are extremely rare in the mainline games, which is exactly why so many players value them so highly.
Here are the standard Shiny odds by generation:
- Generation II to Generation V: 1 in 8,192.
- Generation VI onward: 1 in 4,096.
That means that even in newer games, you could still go through thousands of encounters before finding a single Shiny.
Older games are twice as brutal, which is why full odds Shiny hunting can take a very long time. Veteran players use tricks like the Shiny Charm and Masuda Method, but even those would take hours or even days to succeed.
How to Make Shiny Pokemon Using PKHeX
Thanks to PKHeX, you don’t have to spend days looking for a Shiny. Here’s how to make Shiny Pokemon using PKHeX.
Things You’ll Need:
- PKHeX installed on your PC
- A Pokemon game save file
- Auto Legality Mode for PKHex
Step 1: Locate Your Save File
This works for any version of any mainstream Pokemon game, from Gen 2 all the way to the latest titles.
Before you can make any Pokemon Shiny, you’ll need access to your game’s save file. PKHeX doesn’t connect directly to your emulator or console and can only edit your save file.
Note that you need save files, not save states. For emulator users, your save files are usually saved in the following formats:
| Emulator Platform | File Location | File Format |
|---|---|---|
| GBA Emulators (FireRed, Emerald, etc.) | Same folder as your ROM or inside a “saves” folder | .sav |
| Nintendo DS Emulators | DeSmuME folder > Battery or same folder as ROM | .dsv (rename .dsv to .sav or export backup memory using the emulator’s built-in feature) |
| Nintendo 3DS and Switch Emulators | Launch Emulator > Right-click game > Open Save Data Location | .main |
For GBA and DS games, the supported format is .sav. For 3DS and Switch, .main save files work as is.
Step 2: Open Your Save File in PKHeX
Open PKHeX, then go to your save file folder, and drag your save file into the PKHeX interface. On the right side, you’ll see the Pokemon in your box or party.
Right-click on the one you want to make Shiny and click View. This will load the Pokemon on the left side of the interface, where you can edit it.
Click on Main, then hit the small star icon right beside PID to make it Shiny. Congratulations, you just got a Shiny Pokemon in less than 1 minute.
Step 3: Legalize Your Shiny Pokemon
Making a Pokemon Shiny is almost instant. However, you need to legalize it if you don’t want it to be detected as invalid/illegal or Pokemon obtained through hacks.
You’ll know it’s an illegal Pokemon by the red warning icon that appears on the Pokemon’s image.
You can fix this through PKHeX’s Auto Legality mod. (You can refer to the guide below if you don’t know how to install this.)
Go to Tools and click on Auto Legality Mod and choose Legalize Active Pokemon. A check mark will replace the warning icon, indicating that your Pokemon is now valid/legal.
How to Install Auto Legality Mod on PKHeX
The Auto Legality Mod is used to remove any traces that your save file has been edited and ensure that all Pokemon are valid, but it doesn’t come built into PKHeX; you need to download it.
Start by checking your PKHeX version. You need the Auto Legality Mod to be the exact same version as your PKHeX.
After downloading it, go to your PKHeX folder and create a new folder named “Plugins” and paste the content of the zip file you downloaded.
Now open PKHeX and click on Tools and check if the new mod is there.
Keep reading:
- How to Use PKHex for Nuzlocke Challenge
- How to Transfer Save Files in Citra
- Where Does DeSmuME Store Save Files?
Conclusion
Making Shiny Pokemon using PKHeX is one of the fastest and easiest ways to acquire an extremely rare Pokemon without spending countless hours Shiny hunting.
With just a few clicks, you can make any Pokemon Shiny and customize it any way you want to, without any signs that it’s illegal.
However, it’s important to do things properly to avoid breaking anything. If you stick to this guide and follow everything so far, you’ll be all good.
If used responsibly, PKHeX can enhance your single-player experience and save you a lot of time.
For more guides like this, check out Pokecoders and don’t hesitate to ask away if you have any concerns.
