Shiny Sandshrew & Sandslash WITHOUT Herba Mystica✨

Okay, so you want shiny Sandshrew and Sandslash but you're all out of Herba Mystica, or maybe you just don't want to grind for it? I totally get it! I've been there, and I'm here to tell you it's absolutely possible to get these awesome shinies without those rare sandwich ingredients. It just takes a slightly different approach, and I’m going to share my personal strategy that worked wonders for me in Scarlet and Violet. First things first, the key to shiny hunting without Herba Mystica often revolves around Mass Outbreaks. These events significantly increase the spawn rate of a specific Pokémon, making it much easier to encounter a large number in a short amount of time. Keep an eye on your map for Sandshrew or Sandslash outbreaks! If you don't see one, you can try resetting your in-game date or waiting for the next day's outbreaks. Once you find one, head straight there. My next crucial step is to knock out at least 60 of the target Pokémon during the outbreak. This dramatically boosts the shiny odds for that specific outbreak (from 1/4096 to about 1/1365 with just the shiny charm, and even better odds with sandwich powers). While you're doing this, you'll naturally be encountering a ton of Sandshrew and Sandslash, giving you more chances to spot a shiny even before hitting the 60 mark. Now, about sandwiches! You won't be making a Sparkling Power sandwich without Herba Mystica, but you can make an Encounter Power sandwich for Ground-type Pokémon (since Sandshrew and Sandslash are Ground-types). This is super easy and uses common ingredients. Just making an Encounter Power: Ground Lv. 2 or 3 sandwich will help more Sandshrew and Sandslash spawn in the area, making your hunt smoother. Focus on ingredients like ham, cheese, or even some herbs that provide Ground-type encounter boosts. Every little bit helps! Where to hunt? For Paldean Sandshrew, I found great success in the Asado Desert and various caves across Paldea, especially around Area Zero if you've unlocked it. Sandslash can also be found in these areas, often evolving from Sandshrew. When you're in the outbreak area, once you've knocked out 60, set up a picnic. This despawns all current Pokémon and respawns new ones when you close the picnic. Run around, despawn/respawn, and keep your eyes peeled. The shiny forms of Sandshrew and Sandslash are pretty distinct: shiny Sandshrew is a greenish-blue instead of its usual yellow-blue, and shiny Sandslash follows a similar greenish tint for its blue parts. They really pop once you know what to look for! This method might take a bit more time than a full Sparkling Power sandwich hunt, but it's incredibly rewarding when you finally see that green glint. You're saving your precious Herba Mystica for other hunts, and proving you can still be a shiny master without it. Happy hunting, trainers – you got this!