How to Get the Shiny Charm in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

The Shiny Charm is a Key Item that, once obtained, permanently increases your chances of encountering a Shiny Pokémon in the wild. It does not need to be activated or held by a Pokémon; its effect is passive and always active as long as it’s in your possession.

In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the base odds of finding a Shiny Pokémon are 1 in 4096. While this makes finding one a thrilling surprise, it can also lead to hours of fruitless searching. The Shiny Charm dramatically cuts down these odds, making the hunt for your favorite Shiny Pokémon significantly more efficient.

For anyone serious about building a collection of these rare creatures, getting the Shiny Charm is not just recommended—it’s essential. It turns a near-impossible task into a manageable and rewarding long-term goal.

How to Get the Shiny Charm

In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the Shiny Charm is tied directly to your progress as a Pokémon researcher. You will receive it as a milestone reward from Mable, the head of the research institute in Lumiose City.

To get the Shiny Charm, you must reach Research Level 50 in Mable’s Research.

Early in the game, you will be introduced to Mable and recruited to help with her research tasks. These tasks are designed to be completed naturally as you play the game, rewarding you for exploration, catching Pokémon, and battling.

How to Increase Your Research Level with Mable

Mable’s research tasks are varied and reward you for nearly every action you take in Lumiose City. You don’t need to report back to her to claim rewards; points are tallied and levels are gained automatically as you complete objectives.

To reach Research Level 50 efficiently, focus on the following categories of tasks:

• Catching Pokémon: This is the core of Mable’s research. You’ll have tasks for catching specific species, catching a certain number of Pokémon from each Wild Zone, and catching Pokémon of every type.
• Evolving Pokémon: Every time you evolve a Pokémon, you contribute to a research task.
• Battling: Simply winning Pokémon battles, whether against wild Pokémon or other trainers, will earn you research points.
• Exploration: The world of Legends: Z-A is filled with objectives. Smashing the Mega Crystal formations found throughout the city is one of the key exploration tasks that will raise your Research Level.

By actively engaging with these systems—catching every new Pokémon you see, battling frequently, and evolving your team—you will steadily climb the research ranks.

Notable Research Rewards on the Way to the Shiny Charm

The journey to Research Level 50 is long, but it’s filled with valuable rewards that will help you along the way. Some of the most important milestones you’ll hit before getting the Shiny Charm include:

• Level 10: Exp. Candy S
• Level 25: Exp. Candy M
• Level 36: 10x Bottle Caps
• Level 39-42: Powerful TMs (Solar Beam, Hydro Pump, Fire Blast, Blizzard)
• Level 48: 3x Gold Bottle Caps
• Level 49: A Master Ball

And finally, upon reaching Level 50, Mable will reward you with the coveted Shiny Charm.

How to Tell if a Pokémon is Shiny

Pokémon Legends: Z-A makes it easier than ever to spot a Shiny Pokémon in the overworld. When a Shiny Pokémon spawns nearby, you will hear a distinct, sparkling chime. Additionally, the Pokémon will have a visible sparkling effect around it, making it easy to identify even from a distance or if you’re unfamiliar with its Shiny coloration.

With the Shiny Charm in hand, your hunts will become much more fruitful. Happy hunting, trainer!