Yes, Miraidon and Koraidon are unfortunately shiny locked in Scarlet and Violet
As a long-time Pokémon player and content creator, one of the most common questions I‘ve been asked about the new Gen 9 games is: "are Miraidon and Koraidon shiny locked?"
The short answer is yes, both legendary Pokémon are shiny locked in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
This means it‘s currently impossible to reset for or encounter a shiny Miraidon or Koraidon within normal gameplay, official distributions, or events.
I know this is disappointing news for collectors hoping to add these rare shinies to their party! But based on patterns and precedents from previous games, there‘s a chance their shiny versions could be officially released in the future.
In this guide, join me in taking a deep dive on the shiny locking situation around Scarlet and Violet‘s cover legendaries. I‘ll share some history on locks, speculate on what the future may hold, and provide tips for fellow games in the meantime!
A Brief History of Shiny Locks
For context, Miraidon and Koraidon are far from the first unattainable shinies in Pokémon history. Let‘s look back on some key events:
Generation 5 (Black and White) kicked off the practice of "shiny locking" certain legendary Pokémon. This prevented players from soft resetting for the likes of Reshiram, Zekrom, or Kyurem.
In Gen 6 (X and Y) this expanded to cover even box legendaries like Xerneas and Yveltal, which have remained shiny locked to this day.
We‘ve seen a mix of locked and unlockable legends in each generation since. Solgaleo, Lunala, Zacian and Zamazenta are other recent examples.
So while unfortunate, the shiny lock on our Gen 9 bike dragons does follow precedents set by Game Freak. As a gamer I‘m torn on this approach – the rarity creates desire, but also frustration!
Will Miraidon and Koraidon‘s Shinies Release in Future?
The big question becomes – could these shiny versions get officially released down the line? We can look to past games for clues:
Certain previously locked legends like the Gen 5 trio eventually became available as shiny years later through distributions.
Contrasting examples like Xerneas and Yveltal meanwhile remain unattainable as shinies to this day.
So while we can‘t say for certain, there is a strong chance Miraidon and Koraidon‘s shinies could be released officially in distributions or events in 2023 or beyond.
As a gamer and content creator, I‘ll be keeping a close eye out for any official announcements from Game Freak, the Pokémon Company, or dataminers suggesting these coveted shinies may finally become obtainable!
Tips For Hunting Scarlet and Violet Legends in the Meantime!
While we eagerly await a chance at shiny Miraidon and Koraidon, legendaries like Iron Treads, Great Tusk, and Roaring Moon are still up for grabs!
Based on guides and my own experience battling them, here are some quick tips:
Stock up on Ultra Balls or Dusk Balls – These tend to offer the best catch rates against strong opponents. Repeat Balls work well too if you already caught one!
Bring a Pokémon with False Swipe – This classic move prevents KOs while whittling down HP for higher catch chances.
Have a status inflicting move ready – Paralysis, poison, freeze etc stack catch rate bonuses! Thunder Wave or Toxic are great options.
Use Tera Raids for practice – Participating in 5 and 6 star raids will prep you for handling these immensely powerful legendaries!
And remember – save right before encounters, and have patience during resets! With perseverance and the right team, you‘ll have those rare legendary shinies in no time.
Well, I hope this guide brought some clarity around the elusive question of Miraidon and Koraidon‘s shiny status! What are your thoughts – should unavailable shinies be released later on principle? Which of Scarlet and Violet‘s legends are you currently shiny hunting for? Let me know!
