Players Discover Shiny Lock on Mareep in Pokémon Legends Z-A

Players of Pokémon Legends Z-A have uncovered a surprising twist related to the availability of shiny Pokémon in the game. Specifically, all Mareep located in Wild Zone 1 are shiny-locked until players complete the early side mission titled “A Shiny Mareep?.” This revelation came from Pokémon researcher Anubis, who discovered that the game designations prevent Mareep from appearing as shiny prior to the mission’s completion.

The side quest requires players to find a guaranteed shiny Mareep for a non-player character (NPC). Only after this task is successfully completed can players encounter Mareep with standard shiny odds. Anubis highlighted the issue, noting that players might waste significant time attempting to find shiny Mareep, unaware that the creatures are locked from appearing as shiny until the quest is finished.

Impact on Shiny Hunting Experience

This mechanic places Pokémon Legends Z-A among a select few mainline Pokémon games that restrict shiny encounters for an entire species in a designated area. While regional evolutions like Flaaffy and Ampharos remain available for shiny hunting elsewhere, the shiny lock in Wild Zone 1 means that players could easily invest hours in searching for Mareep without realizing their efforts are futile until they complete the mission.

Anubis elaborated on the potential confusion this could create for players. For instance, if someone starts the quest but encounters a shiny Mareep randomly, they may catch it without understanding why the NPC does not accept the Pokémon. Similar shiny locks exist for early-game encounters, including the first Fletchling and Bunnelby players meet in the storyline, which are also shiny-locked until later encounters replace them. An Electrike connected to a scripted NPC event is similarly restricted from appearing shiny.

The Intent Behind the Design Choice

While Game Freak has not publicly commented on this feature, it appears that the shiny lock exists to encourage players to complete the “A Shiny Mareep?” side quest before they can catch a shiny Mareep independently. This design decision guarantees that the first shiny Mareep players encounter is a result of the quest, but it raises questions about player experience.

For dedicated shiny hunters, this restriction presents a unique challenge. While the first shiny Mareep is guaranteed, the lack of opportunity to earn it through traditional means may feel frustrating. As the game continues to evolve, players will likely adapt their strategies to navigate these unexpected mechanics, potentially reshaping the shiny hunting landscape in Pokémon Legends Z-A.