Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen's Best Shiny Hunting Strategy is Unfotunately Version Exclusive

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen can be an exciting and frustrating experience alike for those who are newcomers to these games with their recent Switch and Switch 2 ports, and in some cases, even for those who played them all the way back when their GBA versions came out. This is particularly true for shiny hunting, as each shiny can feel much more exciting and “earned” than in modern games, where you can use multiple tools to increase the odds dramatically. In fact, there is no Masuda Method in the games, and there is no Shiny Charm either. Many hunters end up spending hours or even days in Professor Oak’s lab looking for a shiny starter in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen for this exact reason.

As it stands, the odds of getting a shiny critter in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are 1 in 8,192, which is double what modern games offer at base, 1 in 4,096. Not only that, but with tricks like Sparkling Power Sandwiches and Donuts combined with the Shiny Charm and Mass Outbreaks, the odds can be as low as 1 in 512. Since you can’t improve the odds in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, no matter what, the best strategy relies on a Pokemon that can only be found in LeafGreen.

Say Goodbye to These 46 Pokemon in FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch and Switch 2 will force you to say goodbye to 46 Pokemon that you won’t be able to get.

PSA: You Should Play Pokemon LeafGreen if You Like Shiny Hunting

How to Get Staryu in Pokemon LeafGreen

Among the version exclusives in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen is Staryu, a critter that only appears in the latter version. You can get Staryu very early, too, as you can get one by fishing in the following locations:

Pallet Town: Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25
Vermilion City: Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25
Cinnabar Island: Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25
One Island: Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25
Five Island: Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25
Icefall Cave (Back Cave only): Super Rod, 40% chance, level 15-25

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

Why Staryu and Starmie Increase Your Shiny Odds in FireRed and LeafGreen

The reason Staryu (as well as its evolution, Starmie) is a game-changer for shiny hunting is that it comes with the Illuminate ability. What this does is essentially double the frequency at which you encounter wild Pokemon, as it increases your encounter rate by 100%. It’s worth noting that this works only if the Illuminate Pokemon is first in your party, but it works even if that Pokemon is fainted, so you could technically use some of the best Pokemon to catch early in FireRed and LeafGreen, like Pikachu for paralysis, Jigglypuff for sleep, or even Bulbasaur with Sleep Powder.

This makes the shiny hunting experience much faster, as sometimes you can run into periods when it takes over 10 seconds to find just one Pokemon in the grass or while surfing. With Illuminate, you can halve the time it takes for each encounter to start, effectively “doubling” your shiny odds by seeing more wild Pokemon per hour. Given that some of the best Pokemon to use in FireRed and LeafGreen end up having high Speed and Attack or Special Attack, a Starmie could even fit your team seamlessly.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen’s Best Shiny Hunting Strategy Explained

A Staryu or Starmie with Illuminate can make your shiny hunting in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen even easier by having one at the cutoff level for the encounter you’re looking for and using a Max Repel. For example, if you want a shiny Raticate from Route 16, which appears at level 23 to 25, you could lead with a Staryu or Starmie at level 23 to skip all other encounters that are lower level if using a Max Repel, making Raticate the only Pokemon that appears.

As much as this strategy can make shiny hunting smoother, it is unavailable to you if you play solo and you have a copy of FireRed only. If you happen to have two Switch consoles with FireRed and LeafGreen installed, then you can catch a Staryu in the latter and trade it to the former, and the same goes if you have local friends or family who can help with this. However, if you don’t, then the only option would be to use glitches to generate an NPC who can trade with you so that you can get all trade evolutions in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen solo. Otherwise, Staryu is unfortunately unobtainable in FireRed.

Alternatives to Staryu and How to Get Them in Pokemon FireRed

The other option is to use Volbeat, Chinchou, or Lanturn, all of which have Illuminate as an ability. The problem is that 166 Pokemon are unobtainable in FireRed and LeafGreen natively, including these three, and they can only be traded from Gen 3 games. If (most likely when) Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire are released on Switch, this may be easier with Pokemon Home support. Until then, though, Staryu is your only option.