This list is non-exhaustive. Think of a term that should be here but it isn't? Let me know and I'll add it! Most explanations do not go in depth as they can be researched further on other sites or would require their own separate article to explain.
- Ability - Pokémon have an innate ability, which is a mechanic that affects Pokémon battles. Some abilities are desired for competitive battling, so Shiny hunters may seek them out. Other abilities are useful for the process of Shiny hunting as there are Pokémon abilities with Field Effects, meaning they have effects outside of battle.
Not all Pokémon games feature abilities.
The following abilities are most frequently used in Shiny hunting. Please note that there are other abilities used and that their effects may not exist in every game.
Flame Body or Magma Armor or Steam Engine - These abilities halve the amount of Egg Cycles it takes for an Egg to hatch.
Cute Charm - Increases the chance of the encountered Pokémon being the opposite gender. Useful for Pokémon with gender-exclusive evolutions and gender-exclusive appearances. Also used in a glitch mechanic for Shiny Hunting in Gen IV.
Sticky Hold or Suction Cups - Increases the chance of getting a bite while fishing.
- Alt. Color - A term for Shiny Pokémon used in the Easy Chat System in Gen III.
- Badge Quest - A way of playing a Pokémon game where you must find a Shiny Pokémon prior to each gym before you may challenge it. Rules may vary from person to person.
- Breeding - The in-game mechanic of two different Pokémon producing an egg, which the player can then hatch.
- Brilliant Pokémon - A feature in Pokémon Sword & Shield where Pokémon encountered in the overworld have a visible aura. These Pokémon have unique traits that make them desirable. Chaining Pokémon in Sword & Shield increase your odds of encountering a Brilliant Pokémon. Brilliant Pokémon have increased odds of being Shiny the higher a chain is.
- Chain - See Chaining; Chain refers to the "count" of Pokémon you've encountered through Chaining. What a Chain is varies depending on game, but, at its core, it is how many of a certain species you have caught or defeated in a row. The higher your chain, the higher your chances of a Shiny Pokémon.
- Chainbreeding or Chain Breeding - The process of passing down certain traits of parent Pokémon through breeding across multiple species. Typically, this refers to doing so to pass down Egg moves, but it can also be done for IVs and Natures.
- Chaining - A specific method of encountering Pokémon repeatedly to increase the chances of encountering a Shiny one. This mechanic was introduced in Methods vary depending on game.
- Chainfishing or Consecutive Fishing - A method of Shiny hunting that utilizies chaining through fishing. Chainfishing to increase Shiny odds was introduced in Gen VI.
- Color Pokémon - A term for Shiny Pokémon used in Pokémon Stadium 2. Not currently used.
- Destiny Knot - A held item. In battle, if the holder becomes infatuated (a status condition in battle), the opposing Pokémon also becomes infatuated. Outside of battle, in breeding, if one Pokémon holds the Destiny Knot, then the eggs of the parent Pokémon will inherit 5 random IV values of either parent. Some Shiny hunters may use this item when they are trying to breed a Shiny Pokémon with good IVs.
- DexNav - An in-game application on the player's PokéNav Plus in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. The DexNav can be used to hunt for Shiny Pokémon.
- Ditto - A Pokémon that was introduced in Gen 1. Ditto is capable of breeding with any Pokémon, making it useful for hatching eggs. Ditto cannot be bred to produce Ditto eggs. Many Shiny hunters have a different language Ditto to utilize the Masuda Method.
- Dream Shiny - Someone's ultimate Shiny Pokémon that they would like to obtain.
"My dream shiny is Celebi."
- Egg - Players in Pokémon games can obtain eggs after breeding two Pokémon together. All eggs have a chance of being a Shiny Pokémon.
- Egg Cycle - An internal value that determines how long it will take for an Egg to hatch.
- Egg Moves - Egg moves are a move that a Pokémon species can obtain through breeding and typically cannot obtain otherwise. How Egg Moves are passed down varies depending on generation. Egg moves are desired by some Shiny hunters in their Pokémon because they are fun, interesting, silly, or useful for competitive battling.
The mechanics of egg moves vary from game to game.
- Everstone - A held item that prevents its holder from evolving. Some Shiny hunters may have their Shiny Pokémon hold this item if they prefer its pre-evolved forms. In breeding, if a Pokémon holds an everstone, it guarantees that its holder's nature will be passed onto the eggs. Some Shiny hunters may use this mechanic to ensure that their Shiny Pokémon has a nature optimal for battling.
- Event Pokémon - Pokémon that are officially distributed as a promotion. They are limited time and no longer obtainable after an event period ends. They can be distributed through the Internet, codes, and more. Some Event Pokémon have been Shiny, making them relevant. Many Legendary or Mythical Pokémon can only be Shiny through event distributions.
- EVs or Effort Values - In comparison to IVs, EVs are a way of controlling the stats your Pokémon has. When battling Pokémon, any Pokémon you defeat has one or more "EV" stats that they drop that your Pokémon then "gains". The EVs a Pokémon drops usually are its highest base stat. Some Shiny hunters care about EV training their Shiny Pokémon for competitive battling. 4 EVs in a stat lead to your Pokémon gaining one more point in that stat.
Example: Defeating Hoppip yields 1 Special Defense EV.
- Fishing Encounter or FEA Pokémon encountered via the fishing mechanic in a Pokémon game.
- Friend Safari - A mechanic/location in Pokémon X & Y that allows you to encounter Pokémon that are not found in the Kalos region. Pokémon in the Friend Safari have a higher chance of being Shiny.
- Generation or Gen - A way of dividing Pokémon games based on new regions, Pokémon, etc. Typically, a mainline pair of games will release, and any spinoff of remake games fall in that generation, as well as which games were compatible with each other. Relevant to Shiny hunting as each generation has different Shiny hunting methods.
Example: Gold & Silver are considered Gen II. Crystal and Stadium 2, which released while Gold & Silver were out, are also Gen II games. HeartGold and SoulSilver, however, are Gen IV, as they are remakes that came out during Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum's lifespan.
"My favorite Pokémon Generation is Gen I."
- Held Item - A mechanic of Pokémon games that allows a Pokémon to "hold" an item. Held items affect certain things in battle. Some held items can have effects outside of battle, like in breeding.
- Herba Mystica - A story-relevant ingredient in Scarlet and Violet. When crafting sandwiches, Herba Mystica can be used as an ingredient to increase the chances of encountering a Shiny Pokémon. It also increases the power of other effects. It is necessary to gain the Title Power effect.
- Hoarde Encounter or HE - A type of battle in Gen VI where 5 wild Pokémon are encountered instead of the usual one. Utilized in Shiny hunting.
- Inheritance - In breeding, there are various traits that an egg Pokémon will inherit from their parent Pokémon. Some of these traits can be manipulated to an extent. Shiny hunters may manipulate these traits for various reasons such as aesthetic or competitive.
Some examples of inherited traits are IVs, movepools, and Poké Balls.
- IVs or Individual Values Every Pokémon has 6 stats innate to them: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. The value of these can change and vary with several mechanics, but the innate values for these stats that a Pokémon is "born" with are their IVs. IVs are relevant as many people wish to have Pokémon that are shiny and with the best possible IVs, as perfect IVs are often necessary for competitive battling.
Example: A Pokémon that is called 5 IV is a Pokémon with 5 of its IV stats as perfect. A 4 IV Snivy would be a Snivy with 4 perfect stats.
- Key Item - An item obtained during gameplay that typically can only be obtained once and cannot be thrown away and is necessary for certain features or mechanics. Certain Key Items, such as the Shiny Charm, aid in Shiny hunting.
- Language of Origin or Language - Sometimes also referred to as the region or country a Pokémon is from. If a Pokémon traded to you comes from someone else who played in a different language, the Pokémon will be marked accordingly. This is relevant for Shiny hunting as two Pokémon of different languages have increased odds of producing Shiny eggs.
- Living Dex or Living Pokédex - A term used to refer to having every single Pokémon available in a player's game file, as opposed to marked as caught in their Pokédex, but no longer having it. This includes pre-evolutions, and, by some standards, alternate forms (like gender). This term is relevant in Shiny hunting circles as some Shiny hunters aim to create a Living Shiny Dex, meaning they have every single Pokémon available as a shiny in a specific game's file.
"My dream is to have a Living Dex of every Shiny Pokémon in Sword."
- Masuda Method - A method of Shiny hunting that refers to breeding Pokémon of two different language of origins, as doing so increases the odds of an egg being Shiny. Named after Junichi Masuda, a game director and composer of the Pokémon series.
- Mass Outbreaks - Also known as swarms, or other types of "outbreaks" featured in Gen II to Gen V, and then in Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Mass outbreaks have increased Shiny odds in both Legends Arceus and Scarlet & Violet, although the mechanics differ between each game.
- Mark - An innate feature of a Pokémon introduced in Sword and Shield that can be viewed in a Pokémon's summary. If a Pokémon has a Mark and it is toggled on, that Pokémon will be introduced with a unique phrase when sent out to battle. Some Marks can be gained whereas others a Pokémon can only be "born" with. Some Shiny hunters seek Marks as they add extra uniqueness and rarity to a Shiny Pokémon.
- Move - A core mechanic of Pokémon battles. Some moves are useful for Shiny hunting. Other moves are useful for competitive battling, which Shiny hunters may seek out for their Shiny Pokémon.
- Movepool - All the moves that a specific Pokémon species is capable of learning or knowing. Some Shiny hunters may desire Pokémon with specific movepools.
- Moveset - All the moves that a specific Pokémon currently knows. Some movesets can only be obtained through specific methods, even if a move is technically in a Pokémon's movepool. Shiny hunters may hunt for Pokémon that can have a specific moveset for various reasons, such as competitive battling.
- Nature - Every Pokémon has a trait that is innate to them. These natures affect the growth of specific stats, therefore making some natures optimal or suboptimal for the usage of certain Pokémon competitively. Some Shiny hunters look for Pokémon that are Shiny and have an ideal nature.
- Normal (ノーマル) - A term found in the game data of Generation II games. It refers to Pokémon that aren't shiny. This term is rarely used.
- Oval Charm - A Key Item featured in certain games that increases the chances of eggs being produced. Useful for Shiny hunting via eggs.
- Phase - A phase refers to a Shiny Pokémon that you encountered while looking for a separate Shiny Pokémon. Phases are counted. This means that, if you've encountered 4 random Shiny Pokémon prior to the one you are looking for, you are on Phase 4 or your Fourth Phase of your Shiny hunt.
- Poké Radar - A Key Item featured in certain games that can be utilized in Shiny hunting, specifically through chaining.
- Power Items - A series of held items that, depending on the one used, guarantee the specific IV associated with that item is passed on through breeding. Shiny hunters may use these in order to obtain ideal IVs in a Shiny Pokémon. In battle, Power items grant specific EVs.
The Power Items are: Power Weight (HP), Power Bracer (Attack), Power Belt (Defense), Power Lens (Special Attack), Power Band (Special Defense), and Power Anklet (Speed).
- Reclaiming or Reclaimed Shiny A term used to describe a Shiny Pokémon that was failed to be caught and then rehunted and successfully caught. Reclaiming is the process and Reclaimed Shiny is the Shiny Pokémon that has been caught. Reclaimed Shiny is sometimes shortened to Reclaim.
"I encountered a random Shiny Lapras, but it fainted itself using Perish Song. I'm currently in the process of reclaiming it!"
"After I successfully hunted for a Shiny Lapras, Lapras became my first reclaimed shiny."
"What's your favorite reclaim?
- Rare (レア) - An original term for Shiny Pokémon found in Gold & Silver's debug menu. Not currently used.
- Sandwiches - A mechanic that is part of the picnic mechanic in Scarlet and Violet. Sandwiches have special affects that affect Pokémon spawns. Different ingredients cause different effects. Sparkling Power is an effect that increases the encounter chance of Shiny Pokémon.
- Shiny - A term used to describe a Pokémon with a different color than its usual design that "sparkles" with visual and sound effects when encountered.
"I love Shiny Pokémon!"
"I caught a Shiny Pikipek today."
"I have 10 shinies!"
- Shiny Charm - A Key Item introduced in Black 2 and White 2. It is obtained after collecting all Pokémon in the National Pokédex. It increases the chances of finding a Shiny Pokémon.
- Shiny Hunt - Used as a verb or noun to describe the act of looking for a Shiny Pokémon. Often shortened to just "hunt."
"I'm currently shiny hunting for Ponyta.
"What was your most recent shiny hunt?"
"Are you still hunting for Fennekin?"
- Shiny Hunter - A person who "hunts" (or looks for) Shiny Pokémon.
"I've been a shiny hunter for 5 years."
- Shiny Locks or Shinylocked - A term to refer to a Pokémon that is coded to be unable to be Shiny. Many Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are Shinylocked.
"I think shiny locks are silly."
"I didn't know that starters were shinylocked now!
- Shiny resetting - Soft resetting to hunt for a Shiny Pokémon.
"I'm currently shiny resetting for Shiny Uxie.
- Soft resetting or SRing or SR - A method of returning the game to the title screen. Soft resetting allows for players to Shiny hunt static encounters by saving prior to the encounter, then soft resetting if the encounter isn't Shiny. Most games have a combination of buttons you can press on the console to soft reset without closing the game entirely. Hard resetting refers to resetting the entire game and restarting from the beginning.
"I've soft reset for a Shiny Lugia 12,000 times now.
"I'm on my 298th SR.
- SOS Battles - A type of wild Pokémon battle in the mainline Gen VII games. SOS Battles have mechanics that can be used to increase the odds of a Shiny Pokémon through chaining.
- Sparkling Power - An effect that sandwiches can have in Scarlet and Violet that increases the odds of finding a Shiny of a specific type. Requires Herba Mystica.
- Stats - Stats are a value innate to every Pokémon that determines their functionality in battle. Stats are determined and affected by a Pokémon's IVs, EVs, Nature, and Level. Some Pokémon have a higher value across all their stats, making them mechanically better in Pokémon battles in comparison to other Pokémon. Some Shiny hunters may seek out Shiny Pokémon with good stats for use in competitive battling.
The stats a Pokémon can have are: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
Example: Attacking moves in Pokémon are either Attack or Special Attack. This means that a Pokémon with a higher Attack Stat will do more damage with Attack moves, but their Attack Stat doesn't affect Special Attack moves.
The terms used for stats can vary in certain games.
- Static encounter - An encounter with a Pokémon that is pre-determined/interactable. Typically, these are encounters with Legendary Pokémon. After a static encounter has been engaged with, you typically cannot ever encounter that Pokémon again. Many static encounters are shinylocked, whereas others aren't, making them a method many people hunt for Shinies. If it's the only one of a Pokémon in a game and it isn't shinylocked, then it is the only way you can get that Shiny outside of events or trading.
- Random Encounter or RE - Any random encounter with a Pokémon, which is what happens throughout playing a Pokémon game. In Shiny hunting, it is used to refer to encountering a Shiny Pokémon in a random encounter without intended to.
"I got a random encounter Shiny Zigzagoon!
- Ribbon - A feature that a Pokémon can have that is awarded to a given Pokémon for various reasons. They are viewable in a Pokémon's summary. Depending on the Ribbon a Pokémon has on, the Title a Pokémon is displayed with will change.
- Run Away or RA - A method of Shiny hunting by encountering random Pokémon and then running away. This has no increased odds on its own.
- Target - The Shiny Pokémon you are currently looking for.
"My target right now is Alomomola!
- Titles - A title is a phrase that appears alongside your Pokémon's name when they are introduced into battle. In order for a Pokémon to have a title, it must have a Mark or Ribbon. Different Marks or Ribbons give different Titles. Some Shiny hunters seek Pokémon with Titles to add extra uniqueness or rarity to their Shiny Pokémon.
- Ultra WormholesA mechanic in Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. The further a player travels to reach an Ultra Wormhole, the higher the odds are for a Shiny Pokémon.
- Vitamins - An item that you can use on your Pokémon to affect its stats (specifically its EV stats). Some Shiny hunters may use these on their Shiny Pokémon to obtain ideal stats for competitive battling.