How to get shiny Zacian, Zamazenta in Pokemon Sword and Shield

Shiny Zacian and Zamazenta are two of the most desirable Pokemon out there right now.

Zacian stands as one of the most powerful Pokemon in the entire franchise, and Zamazenta’s decent in its own right. The trouble is that the cover legendaries of Pokemon Sword and Shield are shiny locked in the main game. While Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl let shiny hunters get almost any legendary in the game in its alternate coloration, Sword and Shield weren’t as generous.

That said, the shiny versions of the sword doggo and shield pupper have been available to players in the past. They aren’t especially easy to get your hands on these days, however. Here’s how to get shiny Zacian and Zamazenta in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Can you get shiny Zacian and Zamazenta?

Shiny Zacian and shiny Zamazenta were both available via mystery gift for a short time in October and November 2021. 

In both North America and Europe, various gaming retail chains such as Gamestop and EB Games offered promotional codes that allowed players to obtain either a shiny Zacian or a shiny Zamazenta. In most regions, Zacian was exclusively available to Pokemon Shield players while Zamazenta was only available on Pokemon Sword. 

The exception to this came in South Korea, where the Pokemon were available to those who purchased Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The Pokemon could be obtained in either Sword or Shield but were still distributed via promo code.

Are Zacian and Zamazenta shiny-locked?

Yes, Zaciand and Zamazenta are both shiny-locked in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Zacian and Zamazenta can be caught in the post-game of Pokemon Sword and Shield, respectively. But while most Pokemon games allow determined players to reset their games in order to obtain the shiny versions of legendary Pokemon, Sword and Shield prevent players from doing so.

To this point, the only way to obtain shiny Zacian or Zamazenta has been to obtain them via promotional code. It’s unclear when, or if, they will be available again. It’s possible The Pokemon Company could run an in-game event similar to the one that allowed players to get shiny Zeraora, but much more likely is that players will have to wait until the ninth-generation games come out with some manner of post-game area that lets players catch legendaries from the past.

It’s also possible that they may be available as shinies in Pokemon GO in the near future, which would allow them to get imported into Pokemon Sword and Shield through Pokemon HOME.

Is there a shiny Eternatus?

Players have not been able to get shiny Eternatus to this point without hacking or modding their game.

Alongside Zacian and Zamazenta, Eternatus is shiny-locked in Pokemon Sword and Shield. Players are required to catch the third legendary Pokemon of the eighth generation, but there is no way to catch a shiny version of the Pokemon.

The only way this will change is through some manner of in-game distribution event or a real-life promotion like the one seen for Zacian and Zamazenta.