Pokémon Go Spotlight Hour: Can Alolan Sandshrew be shiny?

For Jan. 3, 2023, Alolan Sandshrew will be in the spotlight, and you’ll get double XP for evolving Pokémon. And yes, Alolan Sandshrew can be shiny in Pokémon Go!

Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Niantic

The icy Sandshrew you see in the above graphic is Alolan Sandshrew, an ice- and steel-type variant from the Alola region. (Same goes for its evolution, Sandslash.) If you have a shiny already and you don’t remember grabbing it, that’s likely from its past Community Day event or from the recent December Community Day weekend event.

Pokémon is about catching ’em all, and in Pokémon Go, that means catching every variant, including rare shiny versions of Pokémon. Every Tuesday in Pokémon Go, players will see a specific Pokémon spawning more frequently during Spotlight Hour, which runs from 6 p.m. to 6:59 p.m. local time. Spotlight Hour is your chance to load up on candy, a chance for high CP Pokémon, and, if you’re lucky, a shiny Pokémon.

Are shiny rates boosted during Spotlight Hour?

Shiny rates do not appear to be boosted during Spotlight Hours, based on data gathered by Pokémon community The Silph Road. However, the sheer number of Pokémon that spawn during the hourlong weekly event will give you an improved chance of clicking on a random shiny. The more Pokémon you click on, the more opportunity you have to catch a shiny Pokémon.

What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?

Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokémon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokémon rates.

Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokémon?

LeekDuck keeps a list of currently available shiny Pokémon. It’s a helpful visual guide that illustrates what all of the existing shiny Pokémon look like.

For more tips, check out Polygon’s Pokémon Go guides.