Pokemon X And Y Shiny: The Masuda Method And Is It Still Special?

Pokemon X and Y have been released, and discussions about shiny Pokemon continues, both positive and negative.

Firstly, Pokemon X and Y continues the tradition of the Masuda method (or Masuda-ing), and it seems the tactic still works despite some initial concerns.

For those who do not know, the Masuda Method is named after Game Freak director Junichi Masuda. After being discovered by Smogon University several generations ago, the method remains unchanged to this day.

Put simply, it involves breeding two Pokemon from different geographical backgrounds (use the tags next to their names to confirm). In generations past, this would statistically raise the chances of getting a shiny Pokemon by a factor of 5 or 6.

However, with Pokemon X and Y receiving a major overhaul in ways of capturing shiny Pokemon, it was unclear whether this method remained a viable option for shiny collectors.

But worry not, as it appears that people continue to use the Masuda Method in X and Y, and it seems with some patience, it continues to raise your chances of finding shiny Pokemon. Whether the mathematical factor has been changed, however, remains unconfirmed.

Fortunately, there appears to be several methods of hunting for shiny Pokemon in X and Y, including the traditional grass hunting as well as utilizing the Friend Safari.

But all this evolution around shiny Pokemon also raises the question of whether it is even a special ordeal anymore to have one (or even a collection of) shiny Pokemon.

"The thing that made them cool was the rarity of finding one, the thrill of encountering and successfully catching it," writes Daedardus on Pokejungle. "But with X and Y the rarity is gone. People will stop caring about your feat. The whole elusive aspect went away, and that makes shinies not that exciting for me anymore as they once were."

Others, however, continue to see the value in shiny Pokemon.

"I say no. They're still hard enough to get a really cool looking, too. I have great memories attached to my shiny Diggersby," writes GoomyForever.

"Personally, I find it much more appealing to run into a shiny unexpectedly rather than through chaining," adds Jess Witt.

What do you think? Is shiny Pokemon still worth hunting for in Pokemon X and Y, or is the mystique gone?

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