With only a 1 in 8,192 chance of finding a shiny in any encounter, they’re also some of the rarest monsters out there! However, not all shinies are created equal. And there are definitely some that are much better looking than others. Since the shiny feature was introduced in the second generation of Pokémon, it only makes sense that some of the best options are found right in Johto! So here they are: the best shiny Pokémon introduced in Gold, Silver, and Crystal.
15. Steelix
Steelix has always been the first Pokémon I think of when I think of the Steel type. To me, its gigantic silver body is the gold standard for Steel-type design. And I think its shiny form agrees with me. Shiny Steelix is simply all gold, and it really works here. Not only does it make this iron snake seem a lot more valuable, but the gold coloring makes its red eyes pop out even more – making shiny Steelix look just a bit more dangerous. Shiny Steelix is the perfect example of how a full color change can help the design of a Pokémon.
14. Stantler
Stantler is a single stage Pokémon that gets forgotten by everyone until Christmas rolls around. And you can definitely see that influence in its shiny. Or at least, I think you were supposed to. Stantler turns green, but not evergreen like a Christmas tree. No, Stantler is snot green. And while this may detract even more people from Stantler, I actually like it! It might look gross and a little stinky, but the designers took a risk – and that alone makes me like it! I totally understand why some people would disagree with me on this one, but I don’t care. I’ll always love me some Stankler.
13. Marill
I’ve featured Azumarill on a lot of lists with its awesome golden shiny. But did you know that its pre-evolution also has a great shiny form? Marill, or Pikablu if you were in elementary school in 1999, has all of its blue features changed to a nice green. Surprisingly, it actually makes the aquatic mouse look even more friendly! Honestly, Marill looks adorable whether it is shiny or not. You really can’t go wrong trying to catch this Pokegod.
12. Pupitar
For being one of the most powerful Pokémon introduced in gen 2, Tyranitar has one of the worst shinies. Same with its first form, Larvitar. But for some reason, the middle stage looks really freaking awesome. While the other two Pokémon don’t change all that much, Pupitar goes from gray to a nice deep purple. This gives the rock cocoon a lot more personality than it had before. Since purple is the color of royalty, it only makes sense that it will turn into Tyranitar, a Pokémon with tyrant literally in its name. I expected Pupitar to be as lame as its other stages. But that was definitely not the case. For once, Purpletar is way more interesting than its counterparts.
11. Sudowoodo
Sudowoodo is one of those Pokémon that I always thought was much better than it was, since you interacted with it in the overworld. It’s a charming Rock-type that tries to imitate trees with its brown skin and green hands But how many trees do you know that have yellow-green bark and red leaves? Yeah, none. That’s why I love Sudowoodo’s shiny form. It completely undermines what Sudowoodo is all about! This tree is so dopey that it doesn’t even know how to pretend to be a tree properly. Even though the coloring has gotten a bit less obnoxious over the years, its shiny still gives me a chuckle today.
10. Slugma
I was surprised at how good the Slugma line’s shinies are (spoilers for later). Both Pokémon are rather forgettable since they are, you know, slugs. But shiny Slugma is worth remembering. Since Slugma is a slug made of magma, it makes sense that it’s bright red. But with its shiny form, it becomes gray. This makes it seem more like ash than magma, as if this is a Slugma that has been around a lot longer than the other Slugmas. And I absolutely love this. The fact that a shiny form tries to offer a lot more history, at least in my head, makes this Pokémon a lot more interesting.
9. Chikorita
Grass-type Pokémon are almost always green. Considering that a lot of plants are known for changing colors for a variety of reasons, I think that that’s kind of surprising. This is one of the reasons I like Chikorita’s shiny. Chikorita’s skin gets a little more yellow and its leaf becomes brown, as if this is what Chikorita would look like in the fall. I love this effect. It makes me wonder: what does Chikorita look like in every season? I personally think that every Grass-type should get something like this!
8. Yanma
Since I have always liked dragonflies, I have also always liked Yanma. While there’s nothing too crazy about the design, it works perfectly. The same thing can be said about Yanma’s shiny form. All that happens is Yanma’s red skin is changed to blue. Substituting blue for red (and vice versa) is a tried and true way to make sure a Pokémon has a good shiny. And this is just another great example of that happening again. I really don’t have anything else to say for this. It’s a simple choice, but it is really effective.
7. Piloswine
Shiny Piloswine is a personal favorite of mine from when I wrote about golden shiny Pokémon. This is because of its gorgeous golden locks. Before, Piloswine looked ancient with its brown hair. It was shaggy and wise, but unkempt. Now? Piloswine has untamed blonde hair filled with youth and energy! You know what? I’m just gonna say it. Piloswine looks like it could be a member of Hanson. And that’s plenty enough of a reason to have it on this list.
6. Kingdra
Purple is my favorite color. Not only was it the color for my Boy Scout troop, but it is also a symbol of magic and royalty. It’s because of the latter that it’s perfect for Kingdra’s shiny. Changing its blue skin to purple gives Kingdra a lot more maturity. It looks like it has life experience and dignity, just like a King should! Plus, it looks great with its yellow stomach. And that’s about it. Kingdra is a king, and it absolutely deserves to look like one.
5. Corsola
In my research for other articles, I learned that Mareanie’s favorite food is Corsola. This is why all of the Corsola in the Galar region are Ghost-types. This made me unbelievably sad, because Corsola is so darn cute! Corsola is living pink coral, but it’s probably that pink coloring in the ocean that makes it so easy to hunt. What if it had some camouflage? Enter Corsola’s shiny! All of that pink is changed to blue. Not only would this help hide Corsola in the Galarian waters, but this still allows it to be really cute! It’s a win-win for everyone. Except for Mareanie, that is.
4. Entei
Design-wise, Entei is my favorite legendary Pokémon from the Johto region. It’s tall, stoic, and exudes strength. And its shiny form just highlights these features even more. Entei is the volcano Pokémon, and its regular design shows that. Its red-orange fur and red star on its face definitely give the effect of an active volcano. Shiny Entei gives a similar effect, but in a different way. The fur is all brown, and that yellow star is now gray. This color scheme goes great with the smoke that seems to be coming off of Entei’s back. And this makes Entei so much scarier to me! Regular Entei may be active, but Shiny Entei is about to erupt. And when this Pokémon does erupt, you’re gonna want to get out of the way.
3. Magcargo
Magcargo is probably the most surprising shiny for me on this whole list. As I mentioned with Slugma, I felt that both of these Pokémon were forgettable. However, their shinies made them much more interesting. While Slugma’s shiny gave it a story, Magcargo’s shiny makes it stand out. Originally, Magcargo was really just a Slugma with a shell made of rock. This works, but is pretty basic. On the other side of the spectrum, we have the shiny form. Magcargo’s magma body is changed from red to bright purple, and its gray shell is changed to orange. This is a big choice for a snail. But it really works for me. Instead of being a lava/rock combo players have seen for years, we have something that is instantly memorable and won’t soon be forgotten. I’ve seen a lot of people talk about how the designers got this one wrong and Magcargo should have gone in a similar direction as Slugma. I disagree. This is one of those great shinies that you can immediately recognize as something unique and interesting. And Magcargo really needs that.
2. Umbreon
Umbreon is an awesome Pokémon. It was most players’ introduction to the Dark-type, and it remains one of the most popular Eeveelutions of all time. Not only all of that, but it’s one of the most popular shinies as well! Umbreon already looks great with its black fur and yellow highlights, but changing those highlights to blue gives Umbreon a completely different feeling. Black and yellow Umbreon may look mischievous. Black and blue Umbreon looks downright magical. This perfectly encapsulates Umbreon as the moonlight Pokémon. So I can totally understand why it may be considered the best shiny of all time, even if it’s not my personal favorite.
1. Sneasel
Umbreon’s shiny was all about changing the details to create a completely different feeling in the design. But on the other end of the spectrum, we have Sneasel. Sneasel is also a Dark-type. And its design encapsulates that. It’s all black with a singular red ear and tail and two yellow gems on its chest and forehead. It’s dark, mysterious, and kind of punk rock with that smirk. Shiny Sneasel changes all of that. The black skin becomes pink, the red details all become yellow, and the yellow gems become sky blue. These colors are bright, they clash, and they also perfectly work for Sneasel. And this isn’t a sneaky Sneasel. This is a Sneasel that wants you to know it’s attacking you, or stealing from your nest. That’s also incredibly punk rock! Sneasel’s shiny is garish and is a ton of fun – which is why I think it’s the best shiny we got from the Johto region.
