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Yes—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle can be shiny in Pokémon FireRed. Save in Professor Oak’s lab immediately before selecting your starter, check the Pokémon’s summary after choosing it, and reset to try again if it is not shiny. Secondary guides report different reset button combinations for the Game Boy Advance and Switch versions, so use the instructions for the version you are playing.
How to soft reset for a shiny starter
- Save before choosing a Poké Ball. In Professor Oak’s lab, stand in front of the ball containing your preferred starter and save. Pokémon Automation’s technical guide uses this save position for its starter setup: Pokémon Automation.
- Select your starter. The choices are Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, as listed in The Pokémon Company’s FireRed and LeafGreen announcement.
- Check its summary or stats. The shiny appearance is not apparent until you inspect the Pokémon. Community guidance and secondary guides recommend checking its stats or summary after selection.
- If it is not shiny, reset and try again. Return to the save before the choice and repeat without saving over it. Use the platform-specific guidance below; the reset combinations come from secondary sources, not Nintendo’s support documentation.
Reset buttons depend on your version
| Version | Reported soft-reset combination | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Original Game Boy Advance release | A+B+Start+Select, held together (secondary/community guidance). | Originally released for Game Boy Advance. |
| Nintendo Switch digital edition | A+B+X+Y, pressed together (reported by Game8). | Nintendo lists a digital Switch release dated February 27, 2026; it is a distinct edition from the original GBA release. See Nintendo’s product page. |
Nintendo’s product information confirms the Switch edition and its digital format, but does not document the soft-reset shortcut. If the reported combination does not work in your setup, consult the controls or support information for the specific version and platform.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Pokemon FireRed Version | $149.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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POKÉMON GO: THE ULTIMATE HUNTER'S GUIDE 2016: Expert Edition: AN UNOFFICIAL PLAYER'S GUIDE | $1.99 | Buy on Amazon |
How long does a shiny starter usually take?
Community answers and secondary guides commonly report Generation III shiny odds of 1 in 8,192 for each attempt. A 2026 Pokémon community forum answer gives that figure; it is not an official Nintendo statistic. Game8 also reports the same odds and says the starters can be shiny. No source establishes a reliable average number of resets or hours for this particular hunt. Each attempt is random, so the odds do not guarantee a shiny within a set number of tries.
Quick Recap
#1 Best Overall
- Join up to 39 other wireless Trainers in the Union Room for a free-for-all, or connect with just two or three in the Direct Corner
- Prove yourself in the region's Pokémon League while single-handedly bringing down Team Rocket - then open up all-new storylines with unexpected twists
- Bring the Pokemon you capture in Fire Red to the worlds of Leaf Green, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, or Pokemon Colosseum for more challenge
What to keep in mind while hunting
- Choose the same starter each time by saving in front of its Poké Ball before selection.
- Inspect the summary or stats rather than relying only on the moment you receive the Pokémon.
- Do not overwrite the pre-choice save if you want to repeat the hunt from that point.
- Do not treat 1 in 8,192 as a promised deadline: it is the commonly reported chance on an individual attempt, not a guaranteed outcome after 8,192 attempts.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
