Shiny Hunting Through Soft Resetting

Soft-resetting is one of the most common methods for hunting a Shiny Pokémon. When we refer to "soft-resetting," we mean that we are just going to close the game and then reopen it. For a good number of Pokémon across the series, resetting the game is enough to get a different encounter to try for the shiny. However, for some games and specific Pokémon, this won't always work, so make sure your target can be hunted this way!

In this guide we'll talk about some of the ways

linkWhat is Soft Resetting?

A soft reset is where you restart the game without fully closing it or having to shut down the console. In most games games before the Nintendo Switch, players could just press a few buttons and it would take them straight back to the title screen, where you can reload the same to try an encounter again. This method is far faster than shutting off a 3DS or DS to reset the game.

With the Nintendo Switch games, we will often say "soft reset" to mean "go to the home menu, close the game, and then re-open it." While it isn't quite the same process as just returning to the title screen like on the older consoles, it produces the same effect. Unfortunately, for some games like Scarlet and Violet or Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the load times are pretty bad, which is frustrating, but it's the only way to really hunt some Pokémon.

linkWhy Does Soft Resetting work?

Soft resetting gives you more control over the process of getting encounters. Unlike wild Pokémon encounters where you can just continually find more of them, you only get one shot at the rare Pokémon you're interested in. Fortunately for us, each encounter of the rare Pokémon is random. So, you save before-hand and then reset to check it repeatedly. This emulates random encounters that you could do for other Pokémon.

linkHow should I use Soft Resetting when Hunting Pokémon?

If a hunt allows you to use a soft-resetting method, these are the steps you should follow:

1. Save before the encounter. This is crucial, because ending an encounter will often cause the Pokémon to disappear so you need to save beforehand. This would be right in front of a legendary or right before you would get a starter Pokémon.
2. Start the encounter. This is easy, initiate the encounter by pressing A or walking forward, or talking to an NPC.
3. Check if the Pokémon is shiny. Once the battle starts, wait until you can see that the Pokémon is shiny or not. You can tell by the sparkle animation or the alternate colors. (Be sure to check our site Poké Dex pages to see what shinies look like!)
4. Soft reset the game if it isn't shiny. Press the button combination or close the game and reload to try again.
5. Repeat until you get the shiny. Keep trying!

linkWhat Is the Fastest Way to Soft Reset?

linkScarlet and Violet

Unfortunately, there is no button combination in Scarlet and Violet. You need to close the game and restart it.

linkLegends: Arceus; Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl; Sword and Shield; Let's Go! Pikachu and Eevee

Unfortunately, there is no button combination in any of these Nintendo Switch games. You need to close the game and restart it.

link3DS Games (Sun and Moon; Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon; Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire; X and Y)

On the 3DS you can press L + R + Start/Select (either Start or Select will work) to soft reset. This will return the game to the title screen!

linkDS Games (Black and White; Black 2 and White 2; Platinum; HeartGold and Soul Silver; Diamond and Pearl)

On the DS you can press L + R + Start/Select (either Start or Select will work) to soft reset. This will return the game to the title screen!

linkGameBoy Advance (Emerald; Ruby and Sapphire; FireRed and LeafGreen)

On the GameBoy Advance you can press A + B + Start + Select to soft reset. This will return the game to the title screen!

linkGameBoy Color (Gold, Silver, and Crystal)

On the GameBoy Color you can press A + B + Start + Select to soft reset. This will return the game to the title screen!

linkGameBoy (Red, Blue, Yellow)

On the GameBoy you can press A + B + Start + Select to soft reset. This will return the game to the title screen!