Pikachu, the mouse Pokémon from Kanto, can be found in the wild in Pokemon Go. Yes, Pikachu (cake hat) can be shiny in Pokemon Go!
Graphics: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
This event-exclusive costume doesn’t have much use, but Pikachu’s hat is at least somewhat cute! Notably, this event Pikachu cannot evolve.
What is the shiny rate for Pikachu in Pokémon Go?
According to old research from the now defunct website The Silph Road (via Wayback Machine), the shiny rate for Pokémon on a normal day is about 1 in 500. Pikachu is not a confirmed Pokémon to receive a “permaboost” (meaning it is a rare spawn and thus receives an increased shiny rate).
What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?
Unfortunately, not much. It seems to be random. Catch rates for Shiny Pokémon are set by developer Niantic and are usually only increased during special events such as Community Days or Safari Zones or during legendary raids. There are no consumable items that increase catch rates for Shiny Pokémon.
Where can I find a list of available Shiny Pokémon?
LeekDuck holds a list of currently available Shiny Pokémon. It’s a helpful visual guide that shows what all existing Shiny Pokémon look like.
For more tips, see Polygons Pokemon Go Leader.