You never forget your first shiny, unless it’s a Pokémon you don’t want. At least, that seems to be the case for some Pokémon Legends: Z-A fans, who are discovering that the first alternate colorway the game has bestowed upon them is none other than Pidgey, the common bird-like monster.
Shiny Pidgey, for those who have never encountered it, is a slightly lighter brown hue than its normal variant. Once it evolves into Pidgeot, the color takes on more of a golden-greenish tone. It’s not a particularly well-designed combination when you compare it to variants like, say, shiny Mega Dragonite.
It’s also, plainly, not a particularly cool spawn. Traditionally, Pidgey is one of the first encounters a fan will get in a fresh save file, no matter what generation they’re playing. And if it’s not Pidgey specifically, it’ll likely be that generation’s obligatory basic bird that shows up near the start of the game. Finding a shiny Pidgey, for some, is like the living embodiment of the wilted rose emoji. Yet it seems to be happening to a lot of people, based on posts on social media.
“first shiny pokemon and its f*cking pidgey,” laments one player.
“I got a shiny Pidgey and now a shiny Pidgeotto, what is this?” asks one baffled Spanish-speaking player.
Shiny Pidgey is such an ordinary experience that players claim they’re finding more than one in a short period of time without even trying. And mind you, Legends: Z-A hasn’t been out for a full 24 hours yet.
“Was literally shiny hunting an alpha Pidgey,” one player recounts, “Got one. Strolled around town. Just to find another shiny Pidgey sitting on a lamp post. Bruh.”
“I WAS ONLY ZONE RESETING FOR LESS THAN 3 MINUTES AND I ALREADY FOUND FOUND ANOTHER SHINY,” one player who found multiple shiny Pidgey says.
Part of the frustration is that shiny hunters can sink a ton of time into looking for special Pokémon, and being rewarded with a shiny Pidgey after hours of work inevitably feels disappointing. It’s happening enough that some players are starting to wonder if perhaps shiny Pidgey are scripted into the game. The conspiracy theory may be partially fueled by the fact a shiny Pidgey can be seen in the background of promotional trailers for the game. Just as likely, though, is that in-house footage of Legends: Z-A accidentally featured a shiny Pidgey simply because it’s that pedestrian. And since Pidgey tend to spawn in specific areas like rooftops, it’s going to seem like “everyone” is finding them in the same place. Whatever the case, shiny Pidgey is bountiful enough that players are now expressing relief when they don’t encounter it.
Early reporting suggests that Pokémon Legends: Z-A is slightly more lenient when it comes to shiny spawns, in that they won’t disappear if you leave the area or time passes. This knowledge makes botching the Pidgey capture or not knowing how to get to the faraway Pidgey all the more insulting for some fans.
The game’s Pokédex is large, so Pidgey is hardly the only shiny encounter fans are experiencing. In fact, monsters like Fletchling and Scatterbug also appear to be a common sight, which makes sense when you consider that they are some of the most readily available Pokémon in the game. But arguably, it’s slightly more exciting to find, say, a fire bird over a brown bird.
Maybe this sounds harsh. Some of you undoubtedly love Pidgey. Still, you can’t blame fans for being a little disheartened when the first shiny they encounter isn’t a particularly exciting one. A shiny is a shiny, though. Even those who aren’t thrilled about shiny Pidgey are putting some respect on its name.
“Nothing like playing Z-A and hearing the shiny sound….” one player writes, “it was a damn Pidgey on a light.”
“First time ever getting a shiny during main play for me so definitely will have to use it,” they add.
