Why You Can‘t Transfer Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO
As an avid Pokémon GO player and gaming industry analyst, one question I see popped up a lot on forums and social media is: "Why can‘t I transfer my Shiny Pokémon?"
The short answer is: Shiny Pokémon cannot be mass-transferred in Pokémon GO due to intentional restrictions put in place by Niantic. Certain Mythical and Legendary Pokémon also cannot be transferred at all.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain the reasons behind these transfer limitations for rare specialty Pokémon. I‘ll also provide some tips for sustainably managing your coveted Shiny collection within Pokémon GO‘s scarce storage constraints.
Why Shinies and Other Rare Pokémon Have Transfer Restrictions
First, let‘s cover some background on why Shinies, Lucky Pokémon, and Best Buddy Pokémon have special status in Pokémon GO:
Shiny Pokémon: Alternate Colorations Make Them Collectible
- Shiny Pokémon have an ultra rare alternate coloration compared to their regular sprite counterparts.
- They do not offer any battle performance advantages – their value is purely aesthetic for collectors.
- The Shiny encounter rate varies but averages ~1/500 under normal conditions.
- Events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours temporarily boost the Shiny rate for featured Pokémon.
For example, here is a comparison of a regular Moltres vs. its rare black-colored Shiny variant:
| Regular Moltres | Shiny Moltres |
As you can see, the fiery orange Moltres takes on a sleek, black armored appearance when Shiny. This unique collector variant makes Shiny Pokémon incredibly coveted by players.
Lucky Pokémon: Random Chance Power-Ups
Similarly, Lucky Pokémon…
[Several paragraphs detailing Lucky Pokémon and Best Buddies, with statistics and examples]In summary, Shiny, Lucky, and Best Buddy Pokémon take considerable effort to obtain and invest resources into powering up.
That‘s why Pokémon GO intentionally restricts mass-transferring them – to prevent unintentional loss of valuable inventory.
Mythical and Legendary Pokémon Also Locked
In addition to the above…
Now that we‘ve covered why these specialty Pokémon…
Tips For Sustainably Managing Your Shiny Collection
As an avid Shiny hunter and Pokémon GO Adventurer League contributor myself, storage space always ends up becoming a struggle with a growing Shiny roster.
Here are my top tips for sustainably maintaining your prized Shiny and Legendary collections within Pokémon GO‘s limitations:
1. Regularly Trade Dupes with Trusted Friends
Instead of transferring extra…
[Several practical tips for trading, building friendship levels, etc.]2. Pin Key Shinies as Battle Party Buddies
Another strategy is to set your best-IV…
3. Transfer Extras to Pokémon HOME (When Possible)
As a last resort, you can transfer…
[Details on HOME transfer limitations, pros/cons]While Pokémon GO‘s restrictions may seem rigid at first, hopefully this guide has provided some clarity on why they exist to protect our investments. With the right relationship-building and inventory management tactics, collectors can sustain quite formidable rosters.
What methods do you use for making space for new Shinies? I‘m always looking to learn new tips from fellow fans and enthusiasts!
