How rare is shiny Charmander?
At base rates, shiny Charmander has roughly a 1 in 500 chance of spawning in the wild. But exactly how difficult is it to hunt down this highly coveted black Charizard? Let‘s evaluate the rarity.
Base Shiny Rates
The base shiny rate for most Pokémon is estimated to be 1 in 500. This means on average, trainers must check 500 Charmander before encountering a single shiny. Of course, luck impacts individual experiences. Some may check over 1000 before finding one, while others get lucky on their first check. But overall, the cumulative data suggests 1 in 500 odds.
Event Shiny Rates
During certain events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours, featured Pokémon receive a boosted shiny rate of approximately 1 in 25. In other words, each Charmander checked would have a 4% chance of being shiny. This makes events ideal for shiny hunting!
So while non-event shiny Charmander takes luck and perseverance, events give all trainers a great shot at finding one.
Visual Differences
Beyond rarity value, what makes shiny Charmander worth hunting? Visually, shiny Charmander sports a darker orange hue versus the normal reddish-orange. Once evolved, Charmeleon takes on a bluish-green tint while Charizard reveals an awesome black coloration replacing the usual orange.
Many collectors agree shiny Charizard‘s unique color scheme is among the best in Pokémon GO.
Evolved Form Rarity
As evolutions of Charmander, shiny Charmeleon and Charizard share the same rarity. The estimated 1 in 500 base rate remains unchanged as this family of Pokémon evolves. However, finding evolved forms in the wild instead of basic Charmander is considerably rarer.
| Form | Base Shiny Rate |
|---|---|
| Charmander | 1 in 500 |
| Charmeleon | 1 in 500 |
| Charizard | 1 in 500 |
So while shiny Charmeleon and Charizard have no rarity boost, locating them fully evolved in the wild provides an added challenge for collectors!
Collector Value and Demand
As one of the original starter trio from Pokémon Red/Blue, charmander carries nostalgia which further fuels demand for its shiny variant. Surveys suggest trainers rank Charmander among their top 5 favorite shinies.
Additionally, the shiny Charizard color scheme in particular garners attention. Some estimate its value at over $50 per account on selling platforms.
Rarity combined with appeal produces a high desirability shiny collectors actively seek even today.
What Impacts Availability?
Beyond standard rarity odds, what other factors impact shiny Charmander availability?
Migration patterns that shuffle habitat spawns play a role. Certain seasons have produced anecdotal evidence of increased wild charmander sightings during fire or mountain-themed rotations.
Nest changes also impact biome dependent species. Charmander nests, while uncommon, produce concentrated spawn points optimal for shiny checking.
Meanwhile, events dramatically improve availability for their 3-6 hour duration windows. From 2018‘s Repeat Community Day to 2022‘s Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto, event-tied boosts gave trainers their best odds yet at this elusive black charizard.
How Rare Compared to Other Shinies?
Among shinies, Charmander sits somewhat average on the rarity scale. It‘s far more obtainable than trophy shinies like Unown, regional exclusives, or costume variants. For example, shiny Unown may as well be called invisible with its suspected 1 in 10,000 base shiny rate.
But it‘s not exactly common either compared to species like Magikarp, Gastly or Sunkern. Those have permanent boosted shiny rates believed to be around 1 in 65.
So while not leagues above standard, shiny Charmander remains difficult enough to feel rewarding when finally encountered.
IVs and Shiny Odds
Can trainers encounter a perfect IV shiny Charmander?
IV distributions appear independent of shininess. So all combinations remain possible, including 0% garbage shiny Charmanders to 100% 4-star perfection. Of course with 1/216 odds for perfect IVs multiplied by 1/500 for shininess, they‘ll be exponentially rarer.
Hatching eggs during events with IV floor boosts may offer best odds. Otherwise, the chances are astronomically low. But miraculously, a handful of perfect shiny Charmanders do exist!
Hunting & Catch Strategies
For those still seeking their shiny black charizard, what methods provide optimal chances?
Frequently checking the radar for nearby spawns and roaming during known nests remains a reliable approach.
Stacking research encounters before Community Days and using daily free raid passes on Fire or Dragon-themed Raid Hours improves efficiency.
Trading duplicate Charmanders also rerolls your odds. And with over 400 candies to evolve, transferring extras makes room for extended play sessions during events.
Persistence through dry spells while maximizing every event and spawn cluster gives trainers their best statistical chance at this fiery grail.
Future Feature Predictions
When will trainers see Charmander featured again?
Niantic patterns suggest starter spotlight every few months with a repeat Community Day roughly every 2 years.
So Charmander should make appearances during:
- September 2023 Fire-Type Raid Hour
- October 2023 Halloween Event Spawns
- December 2023 Community Day Classic
- February 2024 Valentine‘s Event
- August 2024 Summer Event Spawn Spotlight
Of course as a fan favorite, surprise cameos may pop up anytime!
So stay on guard fellow collectors, and best of luck hunting this 1 in 500 fiery grail. Just 122 more research encounters and your perfect shiny black Charizard could be a claim away!
