Pokemon Go Shedinja Field Research Guide: How to Catch, Shiny Caterpie

Once the calendar turns to November, Pokemon Go Trainers will no longer be able to catch Suicune when cashing in their Field Research stamps, but will instead be able to catch Shedinja! Shedinja is a Ghost & Bug-type Pokemon which is only obtainable in the main series games through a strange evolutionary quirk. It can only be obtained by evolving a Nincada into a Ninjask while having an empty team slot and at least one Pokeball in their inventory. However, Pokemon Go players just have to be active in order to get their hands on this bizarre Pokemon. 

How to Catch Shedinja

Shedinja can be caught by handing in your weekly Field Research stamps starting November 1, 2018 at 4PM EST (1PM PST.) Cashing out before that 4PM deadline will result in you encountering a Suicune, October's Field Research reward. If you want one more Suicune, then great! We're happy you can get your hands on one last Suicune (at least for the time being.) If not, you done goofed, and you'll have to wait until next week to get your hands on a Shedinja. 

Shedinja Moves and Stats

Shedinja has a Max CP of 421, mostly due to its low HP in the main series of games. More specifically, Shedinja has 1 HP in the main series of games, due to its ability Wonder Guard. Wonder Guard, like we briefly covered in our Spiritomb guide, only allows super-effective moves to deal damage to it, and is immune to all other moves. Pokemon Go lacks abilities and other complexities within the main series Pokemon battle system, so it must be adjusted for the less intuitive format. Here are Shedinja's moves:

Fast Moves	Charge Moves
Struggle Bug (Bug)	Dig (Ground)
Bite (Dark)	Aerial Ace (Flying)
	Shadow Sneak (Ghost)

The "best" moves for Shedinja would be Struggle Bug & Aerial Ace, but let's face facts - Shedinja hits like a wet noodle no matter what moves it has (though its awful moveset does it no favors.) Simply put, Shedinja is nothing more than a trophy and a Pokedex entry until the moment Abilities are introduced. Even then, it's not much more than a gimmick. 

Shiny Caterpie

While you won't see a shiny Shedinja this month, you will see shiny Caterpies start to spawn. Unlike most shinies we've had the opportunity to catch, you can definitely tell shiny Caterpies apart from their normal counterparts, with that bright golden yellow taking the place of the familiar green hue. We wonder if Misty from the Pokemon anime would've liked a yellow Caterpie better!

If you haven't had enough of Ghost-type Pokemon and are still looking to complete "A Spooky Message" and get your hands on Spiritomb, we've got each step laid out for you here!