Shiny Ekans: How to Catch This Green Snake Pokémon?

Shiny Ekans is a green variant of the purple snake Pokémon with a yellow band pattern. It’s available in Pokémon GO and Pokémon Scarlet & Violet through various hunting methods with boosted rates during special events.

What is Shiny Ekans?

Shiny Ekans is a special color variant of the regular Ekans Pokémon. While the normal Ekans has a purple body with a yellow belly band, the shiny version features a vibrant green body with the same yellow band pattern. This color change makes it highly sought after by Pokémon collectors and shiny hunters across various Pokémon games.

Ekans, known as the Snake Pokémon, is a Poison-type creature that was originally discovered in the Kanto region. It has the Pokédex number #23 and is known for curling itself up in a spiral while resting. This position allows it to quickly respond to threats from any direction with a glare from its upraised head.

Appearance and Characteristics

The shiny version of Ekans stands out with its distinctive green coloration. Many players have mixed opinions about this color scheme, with some loving the green snake appearance while others feel the yellow band doesn’t complement the green body as well as it could. Some players have noted that the green coloration was more vibrant in earlier generations of Pokémon games, while the 3D models in newer games may make it appear less striking.

Shiny Ekans evolves into Shiny Arbok at level 22, maintaining its green coloration theme but with a more elaborate pattern on its hood. The evolution maintains the poison typing and enhances the snake Pokémon’s capabilities.

How to Get Shiny Ekans in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet offer several methods to obtain Shiny Ekans, from special events to dedicated hunting techniques. Here are the most effective approaches:

Mass Outbreak Events

One of the most reliable ways to find Shiny Ekans in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet has been through special mass outbreak events. In January 2025, there was a limited-time event in the land of Kitakami where Ekans appeared in mass outbreaks with significantly boosted shiny rates. During this event, which ran until January 12th, players could find Shiny Ekans without even using special items like sandwiches or Herba Mystica.

For these events, the recommended approach is to:

1. Locate the mass outbreak area in Kitakami
2. Defeat approximately 60 regular Ekans to increase shiny odds
3. Keep checking each new spawn for the distinctive green coloration

The Ekans found in Kitakami are typically high-level (around level 61), which means they’re already past the evolution level of 22. This makes it easy to evolve your Shiny Ekans into Shiny Arbok immediately after catching it by simply leveling it up once.

Isolated Encounter Method

For hunting Shiny Ekans outside of special events, the Isolated Encounter Method has proven effective in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. This technique involves:

1. Finding an area where Ekans spawns naturally
2. Creating a sandwich with specific ingredients to boost Poison-type encounters
3. Looking for isolated Ekans away from groups of other Pokémon
4. Engaging and checking if it’s shiny
5. Running away and repeating if it’s not shiny

For the sandwich recipe, you can use the “rice drop method” which is quick and easy:

• 1 rice
• 1 ketchup
• 1 marmalade
• 2 salties

Before starting your hunt, it’s recommended to:

• Turn off Auto-save in the options menu
• Create a hard save before beginning your hunt
• Make your sandwich and begin searching

This method allows you to encounter multiple Ekans efficiently, increasing your chances of finding a shiny variant.

Herba Mystica Shiny Sandwich Method

For more serious shiny hunters, using Herba Mystica ingredients from 5 and 6-star raids can significantly boost your shiny odds. The process involves:

1. Collecting Herba Mystica from high-level raids
2. Creating a special shiny sandwich using these rare ingredients
3. Hunting in areas with known Ekans spawns
4. Checking each Ekans for the green coloration

This method requires more preparation but offers better odds than standard hunting. The Herba Mystica ingredients can be difficult to obtain but provide a substantial boost to shiny encounter rates when used in sandwiches.

How to Get Shiny Ekans in Pokémon GO?

Pokémon GO offers different methods for obtaining Shiny Ekans compared to the mainline games. Here’s how you can find this green serpent in the mobile game:

Wild Encounters

The most common way to find Shiny Ekans in Pokémon GO is through wild encounters. The base shiny rate for Ekans in Pokémon GO is approximately 1/393 according to recent data, which means you’ll need to encounter nearly 400 Ekans on average before finding a shiny.

To maximize your chances:

1. Look for areas with multiple spawn points
2. Use incense to attract more Pokémon
3. Check every Ekans you see, as shinies only appear on the catch screen
4. Focus your hunting during events with increased Ekans spawns

Special Events with Boosted Rates

Pokémon GO frequently features special events that boost the spawn rates and shiny odds for specific Pokémon. The Lunar New Year 2025 event, for example, featured Shiny Ekans with increased spawn rates and boosted shiny odds.

During these events:

1. Prioritize playing during the event period
2. Complete any event-specific research tasks that reward Ekans encounters
3. Use lures and incense to maximize encounters
4. Join community groups to get notifications when others find shiny Ekans

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Research Tasks and Rewards

Timed Research and Special Research tasks in Pokémon GO sometimes reward Ekans encounters. These research-based encounters have the same chance to be shiny as wild encounters, but they provide a guaranteed way to encounter Ekans even when they’re not common in the wild.

During the Lunar New Year 2025 event, completing specific timed research tasks rewarded players with Ekans encounters that had the potential to be shiny.

Trading

If you’re having trouble finding Shiny Ekans yourself, trading with other players is always an option. Keep in mind that:

1. Special trades (including shinies) are limited to one per day
2. Trading requires Stardust, with the amount varying based on friendship level
3. You need to be physically near the other player to trade
4. The Pokémon’s stats will change when traded

Tips for Shiny Hunting Ekans

Whether you’re hunting in Pokémon GO or the mainline games like Scarlet & Violet, these general tips will help increase your chances of finding a Shiny Ekans:

Patience and Persistence

Shiny hunting is fundamentally a numbers game. The more Ekans you encounter, the higher your chances of finding a shiny. Set aside dedicated time for hunting and be prepared for potentially long sessions before finding success.

Some players report spending 30 minutes or more during boosted events before finding their Shiny Ekans. Outside of events, this time can extend to hours or even days of cumulative hunting.

Optimize Your Hunting Environment

In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet:

• Choose areas with high Ekans spawn density
• Clear out other Pokémon to encourage new Ekans spawns
• Use sandwiches with appropriate ingredients to boost Poison-type spawns
• Obtain the Shiny Charm by completing the Pokédex to further increase odds

In Pokémon GO:

• Hunt in areas with multiple spawn points like parks and shopping centers
• Use weather boost during cloudy weather to increase Poison-type spawns
• Coordinate with other players to cover more ground and share information
• Keep your app updated to avoid missing any shiny-eligible Pokémon

Know What You’re Looking For

Shiny Ekans can sometimes be difficult to spot, especially in games with 3D models where the color difference might not be as pronounced as in 2D sprites. Familiarize yourself with both the regular and shiny forms so you can quickly identify when you’ve encountered a shiny.

In Pokémon GO, the shiny indicator (a sparkle effect) and a different background on the catch screen make identification easier, but in mainline games, you’ll need to watch carefully for the color difference and the brief sparkle animation when the battle begins.

Evolving Shiny Ekans into Shiny Arbok

Once you’ve successfully caught a Shiny Ekans, you might want to evolve it into Shiny Arbok to complete your collection.

Evolution Requirements

In mainline Pokémon games like Scarlet & Violet, Ekans evolves into Arbok at level 22. If your Shiny Ekans is already above this level (as is common with Ekans caught in Kitakami), simply level it up once and it will evolve.

In Pokémon GO, evolving Ekans into Arbok requires 50 Ekans candy. You can obtain candy by:

1. Catching more Ekans (3-6 candy per catch)
2. Transferring unwanted Ekans to the professor (1 candy each)
3. Walking with Ekans as your buddy (1 candy per 3km)
4. Using Rare Candy

Shiny Arbok Appearance

Shiny Arbok maintains the green coloration theme from Ekans but with the more elaborate pattern on its hood that characterizes Arbok. The contrast between the regular purple Arbok and the shiny green version is quite striking, making it a prized addition to any shiny collection.

Shiny Ekans in Other Pokémon Games

While we’ve focused primarily on Pokémon GO and Scarlet & Violet, Shiny Ekans is available in most Pokémon games that feature the shiny mechanic.

Pokémon Trading Card Game

There have been shiny Ekans cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, though they’re quite rare. These cards typically feature the green coloration and may have special holographic patterns. Be cautious of fake cards, which might have unusual characteristics like being smaller than standard cards or having an all-over shiny effect rather than the standard holographic pattern.

Earlier Generation Games

In earlier generation games, the methods for finding Shiny Ekans varied:

• In Generation 2 (Gold, Silver, Crystal), shinies were determined by specific stat combinations
• In Generation 3-5, the standard 1/8192 odds applied without special methods
• In Generation 6 and beyond, the base odds improved to 1/4096, with various methods to improve these odds

Frequently Asked Questions About Shiny Ekans

When was Shiny Ekans first released in Pokémon GO?

Shiny Ekans was first released in Pokémon GO on July 24, 2019. Since then, it has been available continuously, though its spawn rate varies depending on events and seasonal rotations.

What are the current shiny odds for Ekans in Pokémon GO?

According to recent data, the shiny rate for Ekans in Pokémon GO is approximately 1/393. This rate may be temporarily boosted during special events like the Lunar New Year celebration.

Can Shiny Ekans be found in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet without special events?

Yes, Shiny Ekans can be found in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet through regular shiny hunting methods even outside of special events. However, the odds are significantly better during mass outbreak events or when using special items like shiny charm and Herba Mystica sandwiches.

Where does Ekans typically spawn in Pokémon games?

Ekans is usually found in grassy or rocky areas, particularly in warmer regions of the game world. In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, they can be found in various locations including the land of Kitakami during special events. In the real world of Pokémon GO, they’re typically more common in parks and urban areas, especially during cloudy weather.

Is Shiny Ekans considered a good or valuable shiny?

Opinions on Shiny Ekans’s appearance vary among players. Some appreciate the green coloration as fitting for a snake Pokémon, while others feel the contrast between the green body and yellow band isn’t as striking as other shinies. In terms of trading value, it’s considered a mid-tier shiny – not the rarest but still desirable for collectors.

Samantha Yates

Samantha Yates is a creative writer and journalist with expertise in content creation and editing. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and brings professional experience from Lionbridge, where she developed engaging content for leading technology companies