Z-A Players Have New Shiny Download to Claim

Pokemon Legends: Z-A players are now able to obtain Shiny Volcanion through Pokemon Home, but getting one will require a significant amount of effort. The latest mainline entry in the series, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, was released last fall on Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Switch. The game marked a return to the Kalos region, which first appeared in 2013’s Pokemon X and Y.

Shiny Pokemon don’t offer any advantages over their regular colored counterparts, but their rarity adds an extra layer of appeal for collectors. Some players will put in significant effort to hunt Shiny Pokemon, but there are many that have only been made available through specific events. This is often the case for Mythical Pokemon, which are already rare enough on their own.

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How to Get Shiny Volcanion in Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Complete Lumiose Pokedex, Hyperspace Pokedex, and Mega Evolution Pokedex in Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Transfer all Pokemon from Pokemon Legends: Z-A to Pokemon Home
Claim Volcanion in Pokemon Home

Pokemon Legends: Z-A players can now get Shiny Volcanion through a special distribution available in Pokemon Home. Unlike Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s recent Alpha starter giveaway, this one takes quite a few steps to complete. To qualify, players must first complete the Lumiose Pokedex, Hyperspace Pokedex, and Mega Evolution Pokedex in Pokemon Home. That means players will have to obtain every single Pokemon and Mega Evolution in Pokemon Legends: Z-A and its DLC, then transfer them over to Pokemon Home.

While this is a significant amount of work, the prize is pretty substantial. The mythical Pokemon Volcanion was introduced in 2015, but there has never been a way to obtain its Shiny version. This is the first time it’s ever been offered, so a lot of players are going to want to add it to their collection. It’s possible Niantic could offer Shiny Volcanion in Pokemon GO at some point down the line, and players could get it that way. However, every Shiny Mythical distribution in Pokemon GO so far has also taken a lot of effort, and nothing has been announced at this time.

For players who haven’t caught ’em all in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, this giveaway is a nice incentive to spend more time with the game. Pokemon Winds and Waves don’t come out until 2027, so Pokemon fans are going to need something to keep them occupied. Many players may have moved on to FireRed and LeafGreen or Pokopia, and this could draw some back. Fans have speculated that Pokemon Legends: Z-A might see more support throughout 2026 to keep everyone invested, but nothing has been announced in terms of additional DLC.

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If there’s one thing that might frustrate players about the Shiny Volcanion distribution, it’s the fact that there’s a decent paywall to get it. Players need to have purchased Pokemon Legends: Z-A as well as the Mega Dimension DLC. A Pokemon Home premium subscription isn’t technically required, but those who don’t have one should find that it’s a lot more tedious moving over all the required Pokemon, since the free version only allows players to hold 30 at a time. On the plus side, the giveaway is available to all players regardless of whether they have Pokemon Legends: Z-A on Nintendo Switch 2 or the original system.