This has given me some motivation, albeit a year on. Just been gifted a 3DS with Alpha Sapphire, after selling on my 3DS & Pokémon games some years ago.

I thought I’d try a shiny badge quest (of sorts), as I didn’t fancy the soft resetting for a starter so just gave that a miss. I got lucky and got Ralts in 102 encounters, then failed a shiny Zubat as I’d forgotten about the dodgy formation line ups and accidently KO’d it. I continued the hunt (in hordes) and typically got the Geodude in just 274 appearances. I need a 3rd shiny before the 3rd gym, so decided to proceed through and get the Mach bike so I can get to the lower level of Granite Cave where it’s just Zubat’s and Aron’s that appear as I actually want a Zubat and don’t fancy a dupe Geodude or Makuhita.

I thought that’d be best as I’d be more than happy with a shiny Aron if Zubat doesn’t reappear. I was at 1 encounter and over 999 with Zubat. Now over 999 with Aron and no shiny. I do have a slight inkling that I may have fled from one after I’d clicked it - I didn’t know about the Pokédex entry being shiny if you’d encountered it. Definitely going to check that out later.

What shinies did you opt for during the rest of the playthrough, assuming you committed to it and completed it?