Can Hoopa be Shiny in Pokemon GO?
As an avid Pokemon GO player myself, I get asked this question a lot by members of the community. As of February 2023, the Mythical ring-bearing Djinn, Hoopa, cannot be encountered in its glittering golden Shiny form…yet! But there‘s still hope it may appear in the future.
A History of Hoopa in Pokemon GO
Let‘s start from the beginning. Hoopa first became available encounter in Pokemon GO on October 15th, 2021 as part of the Misunderstood Mischief Special Research. Only Hoopa‘s Confined Forme was obtainable at that time.
Over a year later, The Mischief Pokemon returned in 5-star raids from November 5-13 2022. This time, trainers could battle and catch both the Confined and Mythical Unbound Formes. Check out the version availability timeline:
| Date | Forme Available | Shiny Possible? |
|---|---|---|
| October 15, 2021 | Confined | No |
| November 5-13, 2022 | Confined, Unbound | No |
So far, neither version of this playful djinn has had its sparkling variant introduced in the game. Believe me, as someone who has sunk countless hours into Pokemon GO raids, I would have loved stumbling into a golden Hoopa!
How Rare are Shiny Mythicals Really?
As a Mythical Pokemon, Hoopa is already tough to obtain. These elusive creatures are typically only available for brief events. However, some similarly rare Mythicals DO have Shiny versions roaming the maps!
Out of the total 24 Mythical Pokemon discovered so far, here is the breakdown on availably Shiny variants:
| Total Mythical Pokemon | Number with Shiny Versions | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 7 | 29% |
So about 29% of Mythicals have unlocked their special golden forms. These lucky few include Celebi, Mew, Jirachi, Victini, Meloetta, Diancie, and mythical beasts Zarude. Don‘t lose hope yet, fellow trainers!
Will Shiny Hoopa Grace Us in Future?
Given the data above, it seems very plausible that Shiny Hoopa could arrive one day. Releasing a new rare variant is the perfect way for Niantic to stir up hype and excitement for featured events. I wouldn‘t be surprised to see special Hoopa raid days announced that unlock its Shiny!
Additionally, patterns in the past show Mythical Shiny releases often coincide with movie launches or major anniversaries. For example, Shiny Celebi arrived to celebrate Pokemon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle in late 2021. The 25th Pokemon anniversary brought us both Shiny Mew and Diancie!
Who knows what exciting developments 2024 may hold for the Pokemon franchise? But as an eager Hoopa fan myself, I‘ll be keeping my fingers crossed for glimmering golden rings in GO‘s future!
So stay tuned, trainers! And be sure to stock up on plenty of Ultra and Beast Balls so you‘ll be prepared when this playful djinn returns. Shiny or not, Hoopa remains one of most interesting Mythicals out there!
