Even though Pokémon Scarlet/Violet is just around the corner (releasing on November 18th, to be precise), Nintendo and the Pokémon Company still want to make sure your Pokédex gets filled in Sword/Shield. This is why they’re promoting the newest games by giving away a special Pokémon in the older ones. But not just any Pokémon. A shiny Eternatus.
First introduced in Sword/Shield, Eternatus is one of three Legendary Pokémon from Generation 8. A dual Poison/Dragon type, players first encounter the Pokémon in its Eternamax form before getting the chance to capture it and add it to their Pokédex.
Despite all players of Sword/Shield getting the chance to catch Eternatus, it’s never been available in its shiny form. That’s because this Pokémon is shiny-locked in the game, meaning that it’s impossible to obtain.
All of that is about to change, though, through the efforts of Nintendo and Gamestop.
How To Get Your Shiny Pokemon
According to fan-site Pokébeach, the Eternatus distribution will be held from September 18 until October 1 at Gamestop stores. While no other details are available on the distribution just yet, it’s speculated that the players will need to bring their Nintendo Switch to the Gamestop store to use the Mystery Gift option within Pokémon Sword/Shield.
Gamestop has been the nexus for many Pokémon giveaways in the past but rarely do they require the hardware to be on-site. Normally, they give out cards with specific codes. They are even known to go so far as to give two, three, or even more to some customers, which helps others who aren’t able to get to Gamestop within the distro period.
However, requiring a physical visit to the store is sure to ruffle some feathers as not everyone is able to get to a Gamestop. Some may have mobility issues while others could live in an area without Gamestop stores. So even though some fans are excited about this event, others are sorely disappointed.
What Is A Shiny Eternatus?
What even is a shiny Eternatus? Most players are familiar with the concept of shiny Pokémon, or color-swapped Pokémon. Though there’s nothing inherently better about shiny Pokémon, their rareness makes them trophies for players and Pokémon trainers worldwide.
First introduced in Generation 2 (Pokémon Gold/Silver) shiny Pokémon have an appearance rate of 1 in every 8192 encounters. And even if a player encounters a shiny Pokémon, there’s no guarantee of catching it. So having a shiny Pokémon in your collection is a huge bragging right.
While that right disappears when the shiny is given to all players, having a shiny Eternatus is still a nice prize.
