List of unobtainable Shiny Pokémon

This is a list of unobtainable Shiny Pokémon in the Pokémon games.

Availability

In all generations since Shiny Pokémon debuted, there are a few species that cannot be legitimately obtained as Shiny. These Pokémon are commonly referred to as Shiny-locked by fans. This can happen if the Pokémon is coded not to appear as Shiny in the wild or via in-game gifts or trades and has never been distributed as Shiny via events.

All Pokémon have Shiny variants in the games' code, regardless of their availability. However, the Shiny forms of Pikachu in a cap and the partner Pikachu and Eevee are identical to their regular coloration. This was also true of Magearna's standard form in Generation VII only, and Castform's Sunny, Rainy, and Snowy Forms in the core series games prior to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (though they had the coloration in Pokémon GO and Pokémon HOME prior). It is also the case for Floette's Eternal Flower and Mega-Evolved forms in Pokémon HOME, despite them having distinct Shiny colorations in the core series and in Pokémon Champions.

Starting in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, all in-game event Pokémon encounters, such as Legendary Pokémon, are programmed to never be Shiny.

Intentionally unobtainable Shiny Pokémon

This article is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Game abbreviations and notes for version exclusive, DLC exclusive, and other conditionally available shinies species/forms

The following is a non-comprehensive list of species that have been subject to Shiny locks in a given game, or generation, with some having extremely limited conditions for being obtained as Shiny.

Shiny Pokémon denoted with a ✔ can be obtained in-game, either in a specific version, denoted by abbreviations for said game(s), or the generation as a whole.
Shiny Pokémon denoted with a ~ could not be obtained in-game directly, but could be acquired through event distributions or transfer from other games.
Shiny Pokémon denoted with a ✘ could not be obtained by any means, either in a specific version, denoted by abbreviations for said game(s), or the generation as a whole.

Pokémon		Generation
Pokémon		I & II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
	Cosplay Pikachu					✘
	Pikachu in a cap (excluding Partner Cap)						✘	✘	✘
	Pikachu^{[note 1]} Partner Cap						✔ USUM	~	~
	Partner Pikachu						✘
	Partner Eevee						✘
	Articuno	✔ RG B Y	✔ FRLG	✔ Pt HGSS	~	~	✔ USUM PE	✔ CT SP	~
	Articuno Galarian Form							~	~
	Zapdos	✔ RG B Y	✔ FRLG	✔ Pt HGSS	~	~	✔ USUM PE	✔ CT SP	~
	Zapdos Galarian Form							~	~
	Moltres	✔ RG B Y	✔ FRLG	✔ Pt HGSS	~	~	✔ USUM PE	✔ CT SP	~
	Moltres Galarian Form							~	~
	Mewtwo	✔ RG B Y	✔ FRLG	✔ HGSS	~	~	✔ USUM PE	✔ CT BDSP	~
	Mew^{[note 2]}	~	~ JPN E	~	~	~	~ SM USUM	~	~
	Spiky-eared Pichu			✘
	Raikou	✔ GS C	✔ Colo FRLG	✔ HGSS	~	✔ ORAS	✔ US	✔ CT BD	~
	Entei	✔ GS C	✔ Colo FRLG	✔ HGSS	~	✔ ORAS	✔ UM	✔ CT BD	~
	Suicune	✔ GS C	✔ Colo FRLG	✔ HGSS	~	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT BD	~
	Lugia^{[note 3]}	✔ GS C	✔ FRLGE	✔ HGSS	~	✔ AS	✔ UM	✔ CT SP	~
	Ho-Oh^{[note 4]}	✔ GS C	✔ FRLGE	✔ HGSS	~	✔ OR	✔ US	✔ CT BD	~
	Celebi^{[note 5]}	✔ VC C	✘	✘	✘	✘	~	~
	Latias		✔ RS E	✔ HGSS	✔ W2	✔ ORAS	✔ UM	✔ CT BDSP	✔ MD
	Latios		✔ RS E	✔ HGSS	✔ B2	✔ ORAS	✔ US	✔ CT BDSP	✔ MD
	Kyogre		✔ SE	✔ HG	~	~	✔ UM	✔ CT BDSP	~
	Groudon		✔ RE	✔ SS	~	~	✔ US	✔ CT BDSP	~
	Rayquaza^{[note 6]}		✔ RS E	✔ HGSS	~	~	✔ USUM	✔ CT BDSP	✔ SV
	Jirachi^{[note 7]}		✔ Colo Bonus Disc Channel	~	~	~	~	~	~
	Deoxys^{[note 8]}		✔ FRLG Non-JPN E	~	~	~	~	~	~
	Uxie			✔ DP Pt	✔ B2W2	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT BDSP	~
	Mesprit			✔ DP Pt	✔ B2W2	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT BDSP	~
	Azelf			✔ DP Pt	✔ B2W2	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT BDSP	~
	Dialga^{[note 9]}			✔ DPt HGSS	~	✔ AS	✔ US	✔ CT BD	~
	Palkia^{[note 10]}			✔ PPt HGSS	~	✔ OR	✔ UM	✔ CT SP	~
	Heatran			✔ DP Pt	✔ B2W2	✔ ORAS	✔ US	✔ CT BDSP	~
	Regigigas			✔ DP Pt	✔ B2W2	✔ ORAS	✔ UM	✔ CT BDSP	~
	Giratina^{[note 11]}			✔	~	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT BDSP	~
	Cresselia			✔ DP Pt	✔ B2W2	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT BDSP	~
	Manaphy^{[note 12]}			✔ Ra SoAGS	~	~	~	~ HOME	~ HOME
	Darkrai^{[note 13]}			~ Pt	~	~	~	~ BDSP	~
	Shaymin^{[note 14]}			~ Pt	~	~	~	~ BDSP	~
	Arceus^{[note 15]}			✘	✘	~	~	✔ BDSP	~
	Victini				✘	✘	✘	✘
	Cobalion				✔	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT	✔ MD
	Terrakion				✔	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT	✔ MD
	Virizion				✔	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT	✔ MD
	Tornadus				✔ B	✔ OR	✔ US	✔ CT	~
	Thundurus				✔ W	✔ AS	✔ UM	✔ CT	~
	Reshiram				✘	✔ OR	✔ US	✔ CT	~
	Zekrom				✘	✔ AS	✔ UM	✔ CT	~
	Landorus				✔ BW	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT	~
	Kyurem				✔	✔ ORAS	✔ USUM	✔ CT	~
	Keldeo^{[note 16]}				✘	✘	✘	~ HOME	~ HOME
	Meloetta^{[note 17]}				✘	✘	✘		~ HOME
	Genesect^{[note 18]}				~	~	~	~	~
	Greninja Battle Bond						✘		✘
	Vivillon Marine Pattern					✔	✔ SM USUM		✔ SV
	Vivillon Fancy Pattern					✘	✘		✔ SV
	Vivillon Poké Ball Pattern					✘	✘		✘
	Floette Eternal Flower								✘
	Xerneas					~	✔ US	✔ CT	~
	Yveltal					~	✔ UM	✔ CT	~
	Zygarde					✘	~	✔ CT	~
	Diancie^{[note 19]}					~	~	~	~
	Hoopa					✘	✘		✘
	Volcanion^{[note 20]}					✘	✘	✘	~ HOME
	Type: Null						✔ SM USUM	~
	Silvally						✔ SM USUM	~
	Tapu Koko						~	✔ CT
	Tapu Lele						~	✔ CT
	Tapu Bulu						~	✔ CT
	Tapu Fini						~	✔ CT
	Cosmog						✘	✘	✘
	Cosmoem						✘	✘	✘
	Solgaleo						~	✔ CT	~
	Lunala						~	✔ CT	~
	Nihilego						✔ USUM	✔ CT
	Buzzwole						✔ US	✔ CT
	Pheromosa						✔ UM	✔ CT
	Xurkitree						✔ USUM	✔ CT
	Celesteela						✔ UM	✔ CT
	Kartana						✔ US	✔ CT
	Guzzlord						✔ USUM	✔ CT
	Necrozma						~	✔ CT	~
	Magearna						✘	✘	✘
	Marshadow						✘	✘	✘
	Poipole						✔ USUM	~
	Naganadel						✔ USUM	~
	Zeraora						✘	~ HOME	~ HOME
	Meltan^{[note 21]}						~ GOHOME	~ GOHOME	~ GOHOME
	Melmetal^{[note 22]}						~ GO	~ GO	~ GO
	Melmetal^{[note 23]} Gigantamax							✘
	Zacian							~	~
	Zamazenta							~	~
	Eternatus^{[note 24]}							~	~
	Kubfu							✘	✘
	Urshifu^{[note 25]}							✘	✘
	Zarude							✘	✘
	Glastrier							✘	✘
	Spectrier							✘	✘
	Calyrex							✘	✘
	Ursaluna Bloodmoon								✘
	Enamorus^{[note 26]}							~ HOME	~ HOME
	Gimmighoul^{[note 27]} Chest Form								✔ MD
	Gimmighoul^{[note 28]} Roaming Form								~ GO
	Gholdengo								✔ MD
	Wo-Chien								~
	Chien-Pao								~
	Ting-Lu								~
	Chi-Yu								~
	Koraidon								~
	Miraidon								~
	Walking Wake								✘
	Iron Leaves								✘
	Okidogi								✘
	Munkidori								✘
	Fezandipiti								✘
	Ogerpon								✘
	Gouging Fire								✘
	Raging Bolt								✘
	Iron Boulder								✘
	Iron Crown								✘
	Terapagos								✘
	Pecharunt								✘

In Generations I and II

In Generation II, shininess is determined by a Pokémon's DVs. This causes several quirks with the availability of certain species and forms in these games.

Generation I availability

Due to correlations between pseudorandom numbers in the Generation I games, Pokémon encountered in those games in tall grass, on cave tiles, or by Surfing on water cannot have a set of DVs that would allow them to be Shiny in Generation II. Fishing encounters, gift Pokémon (including from Pokémon Stadium), stationary Pokémon (such as Snorlax and Mewtwo), and in-game trades can have any set of DVs, so they always have the same 1/8192 chance of having a Shiny DV combination.^[1]

The following table lists all Pokémon with restricted Shiny availability in a Generation I game which are not covered in the table above due to their availability also being limited in future generations. All Pokémon which cannot be obtained Shiny in Generation I can be found in Generation II with a normal Shiny rate.

Pokémon		Game
Pokémon		R	B	B_(JP)	Y
	Caterpie	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Metapod	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Butterfree	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Weedle	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Kakuna	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Beedrill	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Pidgey	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Pidgeotto	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Pidgeot	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Rattata	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Raticate	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Spearow	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Fearow	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Ekans	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Arbok	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Pikachu	✘	✘	✔	✔
	Raichu	✘	✘	✔	✔
	Sandshrew	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Sandslash	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Nidoran♀	✔	✔	✘	✘
	Nidorina	✔	✔	✘	✘
	Nidoqueen	✔	✔	✘	✘
	Nidoran♂	✔	✘	✘	✘
	Nidorino	✘	✔	✘	✘
	Nidoking	✘	✔	✘	✘
	Clefairy	✔	✔	✘	✘
	Clefable	✔	✔	✔	✘
	Vulpix	✘	✘	✘	✔
	Ninetales	✘	✘	✘	✔
	Jigglypuff	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Wigglytuff	✘	✘	✘	✔
	Zubat	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Golbat	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Oddish	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Gloom	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Vileplume	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Paras	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Parasect	✘	✘	✘	✔
	Venonat	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Venomoth	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Diglett	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Dugtrio	✘	✘	✘	✔
	Meowth	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Persian	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Psyduck	✔	✔	✔	✘
	Golduck	✔	✔	✔	✘
	Mankey	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Primeape	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Growlithe	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Arcanine	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Machop	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Machoke	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Machamp	✘	✘	✘	✔
	Bellsprout	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Weepinbell	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Victreebel	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Geodude	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Graveler	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Golem	✘	✘	✔	✘
	Ponyta	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Rapidash	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Slowpoke	✔	✔	✔	✘
	Slowbro	✔	✔	✔	✘
	Magnemite	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Magneton	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Farfetch'd	✔	✔	✔	✘
	Doduo	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Dodrio	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Seel	✔	✔	✘	✘
	Dewgong	✔	✔	✘	✔
	Grimer	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Muk	✘	✘	✘	✔
	Gastly	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Haunter	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Gengar	✘	✘	✔	✘
	Onix	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Drowzee	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Hypno	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Exeggcute	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Exeggutor	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Cubone	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Marowak	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Lickitung	✔	✔	✘	✘
	Koffing	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Weezing	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Rhyhorn	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Rhydon	✘	✘	✘	✔
	Chansey	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Tangela	✔	✔	✘	✘
	Kangaskhan	✘	✘	✔	✘
	Scyther	✔	✘	✘	✔
	Jynx	✔	✔	✘	✘
	Electabuzz	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Magmar	✘	✘	✘	✘
	Pinsir	✘	✔	✘	✔
	Tauros	✘	✘	✔	✘
	Ditto	✘	✘	✘	✘

Other unobtainable Shiny Pokémon

Pokémon	Explanation
♀	Gender is also derived from the Pokémon's DVs. Due to this, Pokémon that have a "1 ♀ : 7 ♂" gender ratio cannot simultaneously be both female and Shiny in Generation II. In v1.2 of Poké Transporter, when transferring Pokémon from Generation I, gender was determined randomly instead of being determined by the Attack DV. As a result, prior to v1.3, it was possible for Transporter to generate 1 ♀ : 7 ♂ gender ratio Pokémon as both female and Shiny.
Female Pokémon with a gender ratio of 1 Female to 7 Males
	An Unown's form is also derived from its DVs in Generation II. Due to this, all forms except the letters I and V cannot be Shiny.
Unown (Excluding forms I & V)

Notes

↑ Partner Cap Pikachu is available in its Shiny form due to a programming error (as long as the player's TSV is not equal to 1009) and can be transferred to later games, but it does not have a visually distinct Shiny model or sprite in any game.
↑ Shiny Mew can be obtained legitimately as part of the Gotta catch 'em all! Station, in the Japanese version of Pokémon Emerald via the Old Sea Map event item, or via Pokémon GO's Mew Masterwork Research quest. However, it cannot be obtained legitimately in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, nor transferred into those games via GO Park.
↑ Shiny Lugia can only be obtained from Navel Rock in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Pokémon Emerald, which requires the MysticTicket event item to access, which is obtainable without limited-time events in the Nintendo Switch releases of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
↑ Shiny Ho-Oh can only be obtained from Navel Rock in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Pokémon Emerald, which requires the MysticTicket event item to access, which is obtainable without limited-time events in the Nintendo Switch releases of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
↑ Shiny Celebi can be obtained legitimately in the original Japanese version of Pokémon Crystal, through Generation II event distributions, and via in-game encounter in the Virtual Console releases of Pokémon Crystal. Virtual Console Pokémon can only be moved forward into Generation VII or above (via Pokémon Bank), while those obtained in physical cartridge versions of the game cannot move forward to Generation III or later.
↑ Shiny Rayquaza is not natively available in Generation IX unless the player connected online and obtained the Poké Portal News/2024 → List of Tera Raid Battle events → December 19, 2024 to January 5, 2025 event that caused it to appear in 7 star Black Tera Raid Crystals.
↑ Due to an oversight in the generation methods, Shiny Jirachi can be obtained legitimately in both Pokémon Channel and the North American version of the Pokémon Colosseum Bonus Disc, but they were largely blocked from online play until after the 2014 Tanabata Shiny Jirachi event was released in Generation VI. It can also be obtained legitimately via Pokémon GO's Jirachi Masterwork Research quest.
↑ Shiny Deoxys can be obtained legitimately in both Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen and Pokémon Emerald via the Aurora Ticket event item (excluding the Japanese version of Emerald), which is obtainable without limited-time events in the Nintendo Switch release of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, or via Raid Battles in Pokémon GO.
↑ Dialga in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver could only be obtained in the Sinjoh Ruins, an event only location that could only be visited legitimately with an Arceus that was obtained from July 11, 2009 to April 11, 2010.
↑ Palkia in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver could only be obtained in the Sinjoh Ruins, an event only location that could only be visited legitimately with an Arceus that was obtained from July 11, 2009 to April 11, 2010.
↑ Giratina in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver could only be obtained in the Sinjoh Ruins, an event only location that could only be visited legitimately with an Arceus that was obtained from July 11, 2009 to April 11, 2010.
↑ While the Ranger Manaphy Egg cannot hatch as Shiny for the save file that receives it, it can be Shiny if traded and hatched by another player with a different Trainer ID and Secret ID from the original recipient. Shiny Manaphy can only be obtained this way in Generation IV, as TSV abuse was fixed in Pokémon Sword and Shield onward. Additionally, as of 06:00 UTC, January 28, 2025, Shiny Manaphy can be obtained as a gift for completing the Sinnoh Pokédex from Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl in Pokémon HOME.
↑ Requires the Member Card event item. Shiny Darkrai can also be obtained legitimately via Raid Battles in Pokémon GO.
↑ Requires the Oak's Letter event item. Shiny Shaymin can also be obtained legitimately via Pokémon GO's Shaymin Masterwork Research quest.
↑ The Hall of Origin Arceus in Generation IV can be shiny, however as the Azure Flute to access the event was never distributed, this leaves Shiny Arceus unobtainable until Generation VI, where it was later distributed via an event.
↑ Shiny Keldeo can be obtained from Pokémon HOME by completing the regional Pokédexes from Pokémon Sword and Shield (the Galar Pokédex, Isle of Armor Pokédex, and Crown Tundra Pokédex). Shiny Keldeo was also available during the Pokémon GO "Final Justice" event via purchasing a ticket for the Pony Tales Masterwork Research.
↑ Shiny Meloetta can be obtained from Pokémon HOME by completing the regional Pokédexes from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (the Paldea Pokédex, Kitakami Pokédex, and Blueberry Pokédex). Shiny Meloetta was also available in Pokémon GO during the Pokémon GO Tour: Unova event via purchasing a ticket for Masterwork Research.
↑ Shiny Genesect can also be obtained legitimately via Raid Battles in Pokémon GO.
↑ Shiny Diancie was available in Pokémon GO during the Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos event via purchasing a ticket for Masterwork Research.
↑ As of 06:00 UTC, April 27, 2026, Shiny Volcanion can be obtained from Pokémon HOME by completing the regional Pokédexes from Pokémon Legends: Z-A (the Lumiose Pokédex, Hyperspace Pokédex, and Mega Evolution Pokédex). Due to it being generated with Legends: Z-A as the origin, Shiny Volcanion cannot be transferred to Sword and Shield nor Scarlet and Violet, (as is the case for all Pokémon originating or transferred to Legends: Z-A).
↑ Shiny Meltan can be obtained from Pokémon HOME by completing the Kanto Pokédex from Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. Shiny Meltan can also be obtained legitimately via the Mystery Box in Pokémon GO during certain in-game events.
↑ Shiny Melmetal can be obtained legitimately by evolving Shiny Meltan obtained via the Mystery Box in Pokémon GO during certain in-game events.
↑ The Pokémon HOME Melmetal (gifted to the player the first time they transfer a Pokémon via GO Transporter) cannot be Shiny, and other Melmetal cannot be given Max Soup to gain the Gigantamax Factor. As such, it is impossible to obtain a Shiny Melmetal with the Gigantamax Factor.
↑ Eternatus's Eternamax form is not obtainable by the player.
↑ Due to an oversight, from June 17, 2022, to approximately 2:00-11:00 UTC on June 18, 2022, the Gigantamax Urshifu that appeared during the June 17 to 19, 2022 Wild Area News event could appear as Shiny, allowing Urshifu's Shiny to be registered registered in the Pokédex. However, these Urshifu were impossible to catch.
↑ As of 06:00 UTC, January 28, 2025, Shiny Enamorus can be obtained as a gift for completing the Hisui Pokédex from Pokémon Legends: Arceus in Pokémon HOME.
↑ Shiny Chest Form Gimmighoul in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is only available via 5★ Tera raids (without an increased chance to appear as Shiny) during the June 21 to July 2, 2023 Poké Portal News event, the August 9 to August 22, 2024 Poké Portal News event, and the April 30 to May 8, 2025 Poké Portal News event. All Chest Form Gimmighoul encountered as static encounters in Scarlet and Violet cannot be Shiny.
↑ Shiny Roaming Form Gimmighoul can be obtained legitimately via the Coin Bag in Pokémon GO during certain in-game events.

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