Scarlet and Purple: Gen 9's Ugliest Shiny Pokémon

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have some Shiny designs that come off as lazy recolors, making them incredibly disappointing.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have some shiny Pokémon that are poorly designed. Shiny Pokémon are often sought after for their rarity and colorful appeal, but recent games have made them more accessible, reducing their rarity slightly. Shiny hunting is also a viral post-match event for most of the community, emphasizing the importance of its design. This makes Scarlet and Violet a bit of a disappointment for those who prioritize Shiny hunting with their designs.

Generation 9 added the largest number of new Pokémon since Generation 5, bringing with it many new Shiny Pokémon. In addition to the usual Shiny Charm players can get by completing Pokèdex, sandwiches can also be made to increase the chance of appearing. The addition of multiplayer features has also added trading, helping players acquire Shiny Pokémon through regular trades and egg raising. Massive outbreaks of Pokémon Crimson and Violet further increase the likelihood of Shiny Pokémon spawning, making Gen 9 one of the easiest games in the Shiny Hunt series.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet - Two Shiny Starters Have Poor Color Schemes

The Gen 9 launcher faced a lot of criticism due to its design, while the Shiny form did not much better. Meowscarada and Quaquaval have changed so little that their Shiny forms are barely different. The Meowscarada's collar has changed to purple, which is its most notable change, while some colors are also lighter than the original color. Quaquaval has some more obvious changes, but just turned into a lighter version of its original form. Starters should be the best-designed Shiny Pokémon of the generation, but both, and arguably all three, failed to achieve that in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Shiny Armarouge & Ceruledge Disappoint

Scarlet and Violet's two armored Pokémon, Armarouge and Ceruledge, are first shown in an early trailer and become popular choices for the team. Unfortunately, their Shiny form can only be described as lazy, as the only change is the color of their eyes. There are many ways these two can be paired with the Shiny form, from completely different colors to a mismatch resembling video game armor trim. Another idea, though many more, could make these two the first editable Shiny Pokémon. Players can decorate them however they want, making each one unique.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Shiny Maushold Is Another Boring Recolor

Masuhold is a funny Pokémon Evolution and its unusual powers. However, its Shiny form is similar to the banalities of Armarouge and Ceruledge, as the usual blue shirt and trousers are turned tan. This is another shiny form that is almost indistinguishable from the normal form, taking away most of the point of having a shiny form. Masuhold's designs in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet don't give developers much room to work when it comes to Shiny form. However, even changing the fur color completely would be an upgrade over the colors offered.

Shiny Tinkaton's Cool Lore Isn't Reflected In Its Scarlet & Violet Design

Tinkaton is an interesting Pokémon because its hammer is made of Corviknight, but this variation alone is not enough. Unlike some of the other dull shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Crimson and Violet, it did get some credit for the meaning behind the changes and not just a simple recolor. In terms of design changes, Tinkaton doesn't have the most features to experiment with, but some simple ideas came to mind.

Tinkaton's hair may have some darker highlights, or the main body color of the Pokémon's shiny form may be changed to another warm color for a different design. Another idea that could be implemented is is to change the color of the body to simulate armor. In fact, Dinkaton is another Shiny Pokémon from Generation 9 that's too simple to be considered attractive.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Shiny Gholdengo Disappoints

For all the work players have to do to get Gholdengo, it should be much better in Shiny form. The only difference is that the eyes and lines throughout the body have changed from gold to silver. It's another Shiny that does almost nothing to differentiate a Shiny Pokémon from its original form. Gholdengo's shiny form in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet wouldn't even be that hard, since turning the whole thing silver would be a nice start. From there, there may be some small nuggets left that will pop more, and the belt around the waist may be a different color.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Shiny Baxcalibur Misses A Huge Opportunity

Baxcalibur is a perfect addition to the Pseudo-Legendary group in Pokémon, but its Shiny form leaves a lot to be desired. This Shiny form is another that has only received some color brightening, barely noticeable when the two forms are placed side by side. Inspired by the fantasy sword Excalibur and the Japanese Kaiju, Baxcalibur has a great chance of some shiny form Godzilla. A predominantly black design with some muted blue or gray might be just what this Pokémon needs. Even if Game Freak wanted to avoid making Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's Baxcalibur too close to Godzilla, other color combinations would do a better job of making this shiny form more memorable.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Shiny Iron Treads Isn't Even A Shiny

Many Paradox Pokémon have very creative designs, but Iron Treads is pretty hit or miss. The Iron Treads Shiny form isn't much better, removing the black on the treads, tusks, and ears and replacing it with silver covering the rest of the body. All future Paradox Pokémon feature this silver coating, but for Iron Treads, it feels less like shiny and more like concept art. Even though Paradox Pokémon's silver theme in Pokémon Violet is the goal, Shiny Iron Treads' best bet is to add more red to the body, preferably on the fangs and ears.

To their credit, Scarlet and Violet do have more shiny Pokémon that do their job as creative alternatives to their regular forms. All the Pokémon on this list have the advantage of being Workable in some form, making their disappointingly shiny form feel slightly less banal. Unfortunately, though, that doesn't change the way Pokémon Scarlet and Violet waste their shiny forms.

More: The Best Shiny Hunting Features of Pokémon Crimson and Violet: Forgotten Saga