The Pokémon fanbase has been left stunned — and more than a little angry — after a player shared a video of an incredibly rare Shiny Rayquaza encounter in Pokémon Emerald that ended in the most frustrating way possible.
Why This Shiny Encounter Is So Rare
In the world of Pokémon, few encounters rival the excitement of meeting a Legendary. Rayquaza, the Sky High Pokémon and mascot of Pokémon Emerald, is already one of the most sought-after creatures. Encountering its Shiny form — a black-scaled version instead of the traditional green — is an astronomically rare event.
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Unlike wild Pokémon that players can hunt repeatedly, Emerald scripts Rayquaza as a Legendary encounter. That design gives players only one shot at finding it Shiny. Shiny odds in Generation III are extremely low, making this a near once-in-a-lifetime encounter if obtained legitimately.
Catching a Legendary in Pokémon feels like a rite of passage. Shinies hold a special place in the series, and many players spend hundreds of hours hunting them. Entire sub-communities focus on strategies to track down these rare Pokémon. The idea of throwing away a Shiny encounter — especially one as iconic as Rayquaza — feels like a personal attack to many fans. Even if cheats created this Shiny, the video still reached its likely goal: sparking outrage and debate across the community.
What Happened During the Encounter
On Reddit, user CyZnRg posted a video showing their flawless navigation through the infamous Sky Pillar. For many players, even reaching Rayquaza is a challenge. If you hesitate, cracked tiles in Sky Pillar collapse, dropping you to lower floors and forcing a restart unless your bike control is sharp.
When CyZnRg reached the top, they initiated the battle — and the Legendary appeared as a Shiny Rayquaza. Instead of battling to catch it, the player sent out Mewtwo and ordered Self-Destruct. The move knocked out Rayquaza in one hit, and the player walked out of the tower.
The community’s response came quickly and with emotion. Many players expressed heartbreak, saying they would have considered themselves “blessed” to encounter a Shiny Rayquaza even once. Others felt outright betrayed, calling it a deliberate act meant to provoke the fanbase.
Shiny hunters in particular voiced frustration, with some describing the video as a “nightmare scenario.” Others admitted they admired how easily the player cleared the Sky Pillar but couldn’t believe they would waste such a rare moment. Some fans argued the encounter wasn’t authentic, speculating that cheats or a tool-assisted run explained the flawless climb and improbable Shiny.
Sky Pillar Gameplay Tips
Beyond the outrage, the thread also highlighted useful gameplay mechanics for Emerald players who get trapped after waking Rayquaza.
- From the rooftop, you can use Fly to leave the tower instantly.
- On upper floors, falling through the left-side cracked tiles drops you near stairs that allow you to backtrack out.
- If you find yourself looping endlessly, start with the left hole path and then climb the middle staircase to return safely.
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Whether the Shiny Rayquaza was real or the result of manipulation, one thing is clear: the player behind the video knew exactly what they wanted. By choosing Self-Destruct, they created maximum chaos — and it worked.
For most players, a Shiny Rayquaza is the crown jewel of a Pokémon collection. For this fan, it was simply a way to troll the community.
