The Worst Shiny Pokémon Designs: Examining Notably Disappointing Shiny Forms in Scarlet and Violet

The Pokémon franchise, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, has long celebrated the phenomenon of Shiny Pokémon—rare alternate colorations that offer dedicated trainers a special thrill when discovered in-game.

Since their introduction in Pokémon Gold and Silver, Shiny Pokémon have seen a range of creative palette swaps, with some standing out as fan-favorites and others drawing criticism for their underwhelming or nearly indistinguishable designs.

With the launch of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet on Nintendo Switch in November 2022, the conversation around these elusive creatures has resurfaced, prompting renewed scrutiny of some of the least remarkable Shiny forms currently available. Many Shiny Pokémon are criticized for coloring changes that are difficult to identify during regular gameplay.

For instance, Shiny Poliwag has seen slight alterations in its shade across generations, but in Scarlet and Violet, its Shiny variant is only marginally lighter than the regular version.

While Pokémon HOME’s render offers a more noticeable difference, the in-game model makes the change almost imperceptible, challenging even the most observant players. Similarly, Shiny Slowpoke in Scarlet and Violet offers only a subtle shift from its standard pink coloring.

Players frequently report difficulty distinguishing between the two forms unless they encounter the Shiny up close, and the game’s dynamic lighting can complicate visual cues, sometimes causing even seasoned Shiny hunters to momentarily mistake regular Slowpokes for their rare counterparts. When a Shiny is more noticeable, it isn’t always for positive reasons.

Dodrio, for example, takes on a notably unnatural green hue, a design trend shared among several Kanto-region Shiny Pokémon.

Unfortunately, this bright coloration is jarring and often described as unfitting for the character.

Similarly, Kantonian Tauros exhibits a distinctive yellow-green coat in its Shiny form, diverging from its earlier brown palette, which has drawn criticism for lacking thematic sense. The Hoenn region also showcases a pattern in Shiny design, particularly among Water-types.

Multiple Pokémon like Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert, Sharpedo, Wailmer, Wailord, and others all become purple when Shiny, resulting in a perceived lack of variety.

While some outliers like Carvanha employ green and teal, the overall abundance of purple Shinies in this group has been a frequent complaint among fans. Some Pokémon’s Shiny forms remain nearly indistinguishable from their originals.

For example, Plusle’s variant is a deeper red, and Burmy and Wormadam retain almost identical cloaks, only slightly modifying face colorations.

Gholdengo, a fortuitous evolution that requires collecting a staggering 999 Gimmighoul Coins in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, changes only the color of its bands from gold to silver—leaving some fans wanting a more dramatic visual reward. Beyond palette swaps, lack of design cohesion within evolutionary lines has also drawn scrutiny.

Shiny Dusknoir, for example, sports a dark-blue hue that does not match the deep red of its pre-evolutions, Duskull and Dusclops.

Tranquill becomes green, deviating from the consistent thematic coloring of its family tree. Notably, legendary Pokémon such as Mega Latias and Latios suffer from similar issues.

Both Megas shift to a near-identical purple form, compromising their distinctiveness, and their Shiny variants turn an odd shade of green unlike their base forms—a move seen as a missed opportunity for creative expression. Despite these criticisms, the Shiny Pokémon feature remains an integral part of the overall Pokémon experience, encouraging exploration and continued engagement with franchise releases on Nintendo Switch and beyond.

Game Freak, the developer behind these designs, may yet iterate on these forms in future updates or releases.

For now, the array of subtle—or, in some cases, disappointing—Shiny Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet continues to inspire debate among the most dedicated trainers. For an extensive comparison of Shiny and regular Pokémon colorations, fans can refer to resources like PokémonDB and Pokémon HOME.

As the franchise evolves, players await future titles and updates that may address these recurring fan concerns, ensuring that the thrill of discovering a Shiny Pokémon remains as rewarding as ever.

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