Shiny hunting in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has never been easier with the addition of sandwiches to boost a player’s odds, and we’ve gathered together the best sandwiches for players to use.
Debuting back in 2023, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has plenty left for new and old players alike to take advantage of. From completing the main game and all of its DLC to the game’s brand-new Tera raids, there’s always something to do here. Shiny hunters especially have a lot to look forward to with the game’s mass outbreaks. Those players set on shiny hunting in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet should be sure to take advantage of sandwiches, a new mechanic that makes the hunt that much easier.
Sandwiches are an extra boost to players trying to catch specific Pokemon, whether they’re shiny hunting or aiming to encounter one particular type, and they’re made by mixing the right ingredients at a picnic.
All sandwiches grant the player a combination of three powers based on the recipe or ingredients chosen for creation. The boosts range from levels 1-3 based on the number of ingredients used used as well as the specific combination. Importantly, sandwiches only provide their boosts for 30 minutes of game time, so players should quickly take advantage of any new powers they get as a result.
Here’s a list of the sandwiches and their effects:
Image credit: Nintendo
Players can make sandwiches to eat by first setting up a picnic anywhere in Paldea. Each sandwich needs at least one filling and at least one condiment, most of which can be bought from the different shops spread across the region. There are a vast number of premade recipes players can get throughout the game. Some recipes can be purchased directly from the sandwich shop in Mesagoza.
The best way for players to raise their chances of finding a shiny Pokemon when hunting is to make a Sparkling Power sandwich.
Sandwiches for shiny hunting are a little different that regular sandwiches: they need to have both sparkling power level 3 and encounter power level 3. Sparkling power sandwiches need herba mystica, a special ingredient only found as a potential reward for tera raids. Specifically, players who want to go shiny hunting need at least two herba mystica on hand of the correct type.
Image credit: Nintendo
There are two kinds of recipes for sparkling power sandwiches. The first is a simpler recipe that requires two mystica herba and a special ingredient, all relating to the type of Pokemon. The second way is to use any two herba mystica and a larger combination of ingredients. This also changes the third power by the sandwich. For those just using whatever herbs they have on hand, it’s crucial to know that sour and sweet never mix.
Because there are a varied number of recipes involving many ingredients, this guide simplifies it down to only the essentials. These are the sandwich recipes guaranteed to improve a player’s chances of encountering a shiny Pokemon of the type they want.
| Type | Specific Herba Mystica |
|---|---|
| Bug | Cherry tomatoes, salty herba mystica x2 |
| Dark | Smoked filet, salty herba mystica, sweet herba mystica |
| Dragon | Avocado, salty herba mystica x2 |
| Electric | Yellow bell pepper, salty herba mystica, spicy herba mystica |
| Fairy | Tomato, salty herba mystica x2 |
| Fighting | Pickle, salty herba mystica x2 |
| Fire | Red bell pepper, salty herba mystica, spicy herba mystica |
| Flying | Prosciutto, salty herba mystica x2 |
| Ghost | Red onion, salty herba mystica x2 |
| Grass | Lettuce, salty herba mystica, sour herba mystica |
| Ground | Ham, salty herba mystica x2 |
| Ice | Klawf stick, salty herba mystica x2 |
| Normal | Tofu, salty herba mystica, sour herba mystica |
| Poison | Green bell pepper, salty herba mystica, spicy herba mystica |
| Psychic | Onion, salty herba mystica x2 |
| Rock | Bacon, salty herba mystica, sour herba mystica |
| Steel | Hamburger, salty herba mystica, sweet herba mystica |
| Water | Cucumber, salty herba mystica x2 |
One consumed, players have 30 minutes to use the boosts from their sandwich to go shiny hunting in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. The best areas to check are areas experiencing mass outbreaks. Players can also continue respawning in an area with the desired Pokemon to try and get a shiny version. Either way, they should make sure to stock up on any herba mystica before they set off on their shiny-hunting adventure, as trainers need every advantage they can get when trying to track down and catch shiny Pokemon.
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