How to catch Shiny Pokémon without Salty Herba Mystica in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Catching all of the Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will prove quite a daunting task without proper planning due to their one-in-4,096 spawn rate. Fortunately, the games provide players with ways to substantially improve the Shiny spawn rate, mainly through the sandwich system. Perhaps the most effective method involves using Salty Herba Mystica as one of the sandwich ingredients since many of the most potent Shiny-enhancing recipes require it. However, considering how rare these drops are, players may want to rely on other methods. This guide will go over how to catch Shiny Pokémon without Salty Herba Mystica in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Note: For more information about the game, check out our Pokémon Scarlet and Violet guides and features hub.

How to catch Shiny Pokémon without Salty Herba Mystica in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

One such method simply involves finding other kinds of Herba Mystica. Found exclusively as random drops at the end of 5- and 6-star Tera Raid battles, Herba Mystica can also come in Spicy, Bitter, Sweet, and Sour varieties. As long as you follow the correct sandwich recipe, most combinations of any two Herba Mystica should result in Sparkling Meal Power Level 3, leading to a considerable increase in the frequency of Shiny encounters. To learn more about how to obtain this Meal Power, take a look at our guide on the subject.

What about other methods?

Obtaining any Herba Mystica will likely take a fair bit of grinding, however. So what else can you do? Fortunately, both games include an obtainable Shiny Charm item that lets you increase Shiny spawn rates without using the sandwich system at all. Unfortunately, you can only collect this item by completing the entire Pokédex, one of the most challenging and time-consuming tasks in any Pokémon game. The Paldea Pokédex features 400 Pokémon to catch, with some of them being obtainable only through trading.

With or without Salty Herba Mystica, no matter how you approach your Shiny hunt in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, you will have to invest quite a bit of time and energy into the games.

Image via Nintendo