Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle, is considered a cultural touchstone and an OG Pokémon that takes us all the way back to the '90s.
Because of this, most trainers focus on getting Squirtle as soon as possible. However, some players are not satisfied with the basic model. They want to get the shiny variant instead.
Although this Shiny Squirtle doesn’t provide any statistical advantage, it still stands out from the usual version, serving as both a collectible and a source of bragging rights.
In this guide, we’ll share a few tricks that will help you acquire this creature and explain its evolution into Blastoise.
Why the Shiny Squirtle Hunt Is Worth It
Before we get into the mechanics, let’s appreciate the prize. A standard Squirtle is a familiar, cheerful, blue Pokémon.
A Shiny Squirtle, however, is different. The blue is softer, and a lighter shade of cerulean with a hint of green is used, giving it an aquatic, almost ethereal glow. Its shell also takes on a slightly brighter green, a subtle but definitive tell for those who know.
The fundamental transformation happens upon evolution, though.
Shiny Wartortle deepens this unique palette, but it’s the Shiny Blastoise that truly commands attention. It sheds its classic blue for a deep, regal purple body, while its shell becomes a striking olive green.
And for the ultimate collector? The legendary Sunglasses Squirtle. Taken from the infamous Squirtle Squad, this costumed variant can also be shiny, making it one of the most stylish and sought-after Pokémon in the entire game.
Prime Time for Catching a Shiny Squirtle in Pokémon GO
Securing a shiny of any kind is a numbers game. Outside of special events, your chance of tapping on a wild Squirtle and finding it shiny is roughly 1 in 500.
While this is not impossible, it’s a marathon that requires serious patience, and the real key to a successful shiny hunt is knowing when to strike.
The undisputed best method is during a Squirtle-focused Community Day or Community Day Classic. These events are a gift from Niantic, turning the rarity dial way down.
For a glorious three-hour window, the world is flooded with Squirtles, and the shiny rate skyrockets to approximately 1 in 25. Suddenly, the impossible becomes probable.
Historically, these events have been the gold standard:
July 2018 Community Day: The original event that first introduced Shiny Squirtle to the world.
July 2023 Community Day Classic: A second chance for trainers who missed the first wave or were new to the game.
If you weren’t playing then, don’t lose hope. These events cycle back, and Squirtle often features in other celebrations, such as the Water Festival or Kanto-themed tours, sometimes with a modestly increased shiny chance. The lesson is clear: when an event announces Squirtle spawns, clear your schedule.
Modern Strategies for a Flawless Hunt
When a Squirtle event goes live, you need a plan of action. Here’s how to maximize your time and dramatically increase your odds of finding that teal turtle.
Maximize Your Encounters: Create a Spawn Storm
Volume is the name of the game. Your goal is to tap on as many Squirtles as humanly possible.Incense: Pop an Incense the moment the event starts. It will draw Pokémon directly to you, ensuring a steady stream of encounters even if you’re stationary.
Deploy Lure Modules: Find a cluster of PokéStops (a local park or downtown area is ideal) and light them up with Lure Modules. Standard Lures will do, but event-specific Lures can be even better. This creates a hotspot of activity.
Walk a Smart Route: Plan a walking path that takes you past numerous spawn points and PokéStops. The more ground you cover, the more Squirtles you’ll encounter.
The Research Route: Guaranteed Encounters
You shouldn’t solely rely on wild spawns. During Community Days, Field Research tasks from spinning PokéStops often reward a Squirtle encounter. These are critical for two reasons:Each research reward is another chance for a shiny.
There is no other way of getting the costumed Sunglasses Squirtle.
The Quick Catch Method: Efficiency is Everything
For hardcore hunters, the catch animation is lost time. Master the “quick catch” technique to skip it. By holding the berry or ball menu with one finger while you throw with the other, you can immediately flee the encounter after the ball hits, checking your Pokédex or storage later to see if it was caught. This can nearly double the number of Pokémon you check per minute.
Comparing Your Shiny Hunting Methods
Understanding the odds associated with each method is key to a successful strategy. Here’s a breakdown of where to focus your efforts.
Hunting Method | Typical Shiny Odds | Effort Level | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
Community Day Event | ~1 in 25 | High (for 3 hours) | Playing during the specific event window. |
Standard Wild Encounter | ~1 in 500 | Exremely High (Long-term) | Extreme patience and consistent play. |
Event Field Research | ~1 in 25 (during CD) | Medium | Spinning PokéStops and completing tasks. |
Tier 1 Raids | ~1 in 64 (Permaboosted) | Low (per raid) | Raid Passes and Finding an Active Raid. |
Egg Hatching | ~1 in 64 | Low | Incubators and walking distance. |
As the table shows, nothing comes close to the efficiency of a Community Day. So, mark your calendar and prepare for an intense, but rewarding, three hours.
Evolving Your Shiny Squirtle to a Legendary Blastoise
While catching a Shiny Squirtle sounds excellent, you should still evolve it to harness as much of its latent power as possible. This process requires Candy, so use Pinap Berries liberally during your hunt to double the candy you receive from each catch.
Shiny Squirtle to Shiny Wartortle: Requires 25 Squirtle Candy.
Shiny Wartortle to Shiny Blastoise: Requires an additional 100 Squirtle Candy.
Timing your evolution is vital for this to work. If you evolve your Shiny Wartortle into a Blastoise during its Community Day window (or up to a few hours after), it will learn the exclusive Charged Attack, Hydro Cannon. This move is an absolute monster in both Raids and PvP battles, turning your stylish shiny into a top-tier Water-type attacker.
Trading and Building Your Collection
The good news is that there’s still a chance (although a minor one) to catch the Pokémon in the wild. Whatever the case, keep track of water-themed events as they increase spawn rates for all water-based creatures, including our beloved Shiny Squirtle.
You might also acquire the Pokémon via trade. For example, if a friend was lucky enough to catch multiple Shiny Squirtles, they might be willing to give you one. Just remember, a shiny trade is considered a Special Trade, and you can only perform one per day!
All in all, acquiring Shiny Squirtle, although exhausting, is extremely rewarding. You receive an upgraded version of the original Pokémon, which you can show off to your friends!
