How to Get Shiny Salamence in Pokemon Go

He's so.... lime green.

Today marks the start of the Twinkling Fantasy Pokemon GO event, which is set to continue until 10 PM local time on January 16. During this time, Pokemon with a distinctly fantastical slant will be more commonly available. These Pokemon are typically either Fairy or Dragon Types, and many of them can even be shiny. If you’re curious about all the Wild Encounters you can see during this event, check out our related link below.

Recommended Videos

But there’s one Pokemon that you’re likely very interested in: Shiny Salamence. Can you catch Shiny Salamence in Pokemon GO during this event? If so, how?

I’m here to help out.

How to Get Shiny Salamence in Pokemon Go

As you likely know, the Flying-Dragon Type Mega Salamence has premiered today and is now showing up in Mega Raids. But if you prefer your Salamence to be a little smaller and more traditional, you can also get your hands on that Pokemon too.

But… not immediately.

Salamence is not available in any of the raids, nor will you find him stomping around in the overworld. The only way to get one is to catch Bagon: one of the potential wild encounters that will be more common during this week.

Related: All Possible Wild Encounters in Pokemon GO’s Twinkling Fantasy Event

And the only way to get a Shiny Bagon (and, thus, a Shiny Salamence) is to encounter as many of them as possible and hope for the best. The theorized Shiny Encounter rate in Pokemon GO is 1 in 500 or a .2% chance. That means you’ll likely have to meet as many Bagon as possible during the Twinkling Fantasy event if you hope to encounter a Shiny Bagon.

It’s not ideal, but isn’t that classically draconian green Salamence worth it?

Good luck finding that special Pokemon, Trainer!


Prima Games is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

About the Author

Daphne Fama

A Staff Writer at Prima Games since 2022, Daphne Fama spends an inordinate amount playing games of all stripes but has a soft spot for horror, FPS, and RPGs. When she’s not gaming, she’s an author and member of the Horror Writers Association with a debut novel coming out in 2025. In a previous life, she was an attorney but found she preferred fiction to contracts and forms