Yes, the starters in Pokémon Legends: Z‑A are shiny‑locked at the point of selection. If you’re hoping to soft‑reset for a different‑colored Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile at the very beginning, that method won’t work here. The game uses permanent auto‑save and doesn’t support breeding, so the classic reset or breed loops aren’t options.

What’s shiny‑locked in Pokémon Legends: Z‑A

Category Pokémon Shiny status Notes
Starter selection (opening choice) Chikorita, Tepig, Totodile Locked at selection These three cannot be shiny when chosen as your starter, but their species can appear shiny in the wild later.
Gift Pokémon (side quests/events) Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie Locked as gifts Gifted Kalos starters are not shiny. Wild encounters of these species can be shiny.
Legendaries Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Mewtwo Locked Not obtainable as shiny through normal play at this time.
Mythicals Diancie, Volcanion, Hoopa Locked Not obtainable as shiny through normal play at this time.
Note: Shiny locks apply to specific encounter methods. When a species is listed as “locked as a gift” or “locked at starter selection,” the lock does not carry over to wild spawns of that species.

Can you still get shiny versions of the starters?

Yes—just not from the opening choice. Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile can be found in the wild, and those encounters can roll shiny. The same goes for the Kalos trio: while Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie are shiny‑locked when awarded as gifts, their wild counterparts can appear shiny.

If your goal is a shiny starter line, the practical path is to progress the story, reach areas where those species spawn, and hunt them in the wild there. Spending time testing the opening selection won’t pay off.

Why early shiny hunting resets won’t work

  • Permanent auto‑save: You can’t disable auto‑save to preserve a pre‑choice state, so soft‑resetting the starter selection is off the table.
  • No breeding: Without breeding, there’s no Masuda‑style alternative for starter lines. Wild encounters are the route.
  • No HOME connectivity (for now): Importing shiny legendaries or mythicals isn’t currently an option, which means some shiny forms simply aren’t available in‑game yet.

Series context: how we got here

Modern entries have largely locked the opening starter choice to keep players moving into the game instead of camping at the first decision for days or weeks. Remakes like Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl were notable for allowing shiny resets, but that’s the exception, not the pattern. Legends: Z‑A follows the more recent approach: play first, hunt shinies later in the wild.

Quick answers

  • Are the three opening starters shiny‑locked? Yes, at the moment of selection.
  • Can those starter lines be shiny at all? Yes, in wild encounters later in the game.
  • Are legendaries and mythicals shiny‑locked? Yes; they can’t be obtained shiny through standard gameplay right now.
  • Are gifted Kalos starters shiny‑locked? Yes as gifts, but their wild forms can be shiny.
  • Does soft‑resetting help? No; auto‑save prevents that method at the start.

The bottom line: pick the starter you want for the journey, then plan any shiny chase for when those species show up in the wild. With auto‑save and no breeding, shiny hunting in Legends: Z‑A is about targeted exploration, not menu resets.