Can Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan be shiny in Pokémon Go?

Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, the kicking and punching Pokémon from Kanto, can be found in the wild in Pokémon Go. Yes, both Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan can be shiny in Pokémon Go!

Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic

The whole Hitmon-family can actually be shiny! You can only obtain Tyrogue from eggs, since it’s technically a “baby” Pokémon, whereas the others can be found just hanging out in the wild, though we don’t see them around in the wild too often.

What is the shiny rate for Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan in Pokémon Go?

As per old research by the now-defunct website The Silph Road (via Wayback Machine), the shiny rate for Pokémon on a regular day is approximately one in 500. Neither Hitmonchan nor Hitmonlee is a confirmed Pokémon that gets a “permaboost” (meaning that it’s a rare spawn and thus gets a boosted shiny rate).

What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?

Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokémon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokémon rates.

Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokémon?

LeekDuck keeps a list of currently available shiny Pokémon. It’s a helpful visual guide that illustrates what all of the existing shiny Pokémon look like.

For more tips, check out Polygon’s Pokémon Go guides.