Riding High with Shiny Tauros: The Ultimate Bling in the Pokémon

The Shiny Tauros, often referred to as the Golden Bull (though let’s be honest, it looks a bit green), has captivated and impressed Pokémon enthusiasts for quite some time. Greetings, fellow trainers! Today, I want to direct your attention to one of the most fabulous, yet confusing creatures in the Pokémon universe.

Boasting golden horns and a controversial lime-green coat, this majestic beast never fails to turn heads. But with the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, things have gotten complicated. The new Paldean Tauros shiny looks completely different.

I’ve compiled everything I know about hunting this beast across the generations, from the safari zones of Kanto to the open fields of Paldea.

The Legend of the Golden Bull (Kanto Form)

When most of us think of Shiny Tauros, we think of the classic Generation 1 variant. Its shiny variant displays a unique color scheme that leaves trainers wide-eyed. In contrast to its regular brown counterpart, the classic Shiny Tauros exhibits a striking lime-green body with darker, golden-hued horns.

I still remember my first encounter with one in Pokémon GO. I almost transferred it because I thought my screen was glitching! The green color is a relic of the old Game Boy Color palette limitations, but it has become iconic in its own right.

The New Challenger: Shiny Paldean Tauros

If you are playing Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, you might be confused. You are looking for a green bull, but you won’t find one. The new Paldean Tauros has three different forms (Combat, Blaze, and Aqua), and their shinies are NOT green.

This is a major point of frustration for shiny hunters (myself included). The Paldean Shiny is an “inverted” color scheme.

• Normal Paldean Tauros: Black head/mane, Dark Grey body.
• Shiny Paldean Tauros: Dark Grey head/mane, Black body.

It is incredibly subtle. If you are hunting in Paldea, do not look for green. Look for a Tauros that looks “swapped.” It essentially has a darker body and a lighter head than the rest of the herd.

How to Catch Shiny Paldean Tauros (Scarlet & Violet Guide)

Since the difference is so hard to see, here is my pro-tip: Use the Let’s Go feature. Your Pokémon will refuse to attack a shiny Pokémon in “Let’s Go” mode (auto-battle). If your lead Pokémon runs up to a Tauros and refuses to fight it, SAVE YOUR GAME immediately! You found one.

Shiny Tauros in Pokémon GO

Hunting this bull in the mobile game is a different beast entirely. Here is what you need to know about the shiny Tauros Pokemon Go availability.

Is it Region Locked?

Yes. The Kanto Tauros is a North American Regional Exclusive. This means if you live in Europe, Asia, or anywhere outside the US and Southern Canada, you cannot find it in the wild.

However, Niantic occasionally releases Tauros worldwide during special events (like the Kanto Tour or Ultra Bonus weeks). If you are an international player, you have to wait for these events or trade with a friend who has traveled.

Paldean Forms in Pokemon GO

As of 2024, the Paldean forms have started to appear in raids during specific “Paldea” events. Unlike the Kanto version, these are usually raid-locked or egg-locked during their debut events, making the shiny hunt much more expensive!

Tales of Battle Prowess

Not only do people admire the Shiny Tauros for its stunning appearance, but they also revere it for its fierce fighting spirit. This Normal-type Pokémon features powerful moves like Earthquake and Giga Impact.

Its signature ability, Intimidate, is a staple in competitive play (VGC). It lowers the opponent’s attack stat immediately upon entering battle. I still use a Tauros on my retro teams because its speed stat (110) allows it to outpace many threats.

Shiny Tauros Q&A: Your Burning Questions Answered!

We know you have many questions about this dazzling, golden-horned beast. So, let’s dive right in and address some of the most common questions I get asked.

1. Does Shiny Tauros have better stats?

No. A Shiny Pokémon has the exact same base stats as a regular one. The “shininess” is purely cosmetic. However, in Pokémon GO, shiny Pokémon caught in the wild often have terrible IVs (Individual Values), unless you get lucky or trade them to re-roll the stats.

2. How can I increase my chances of finding one?

In the main games (Scarlet/Violet), use the Masuda Method (breeding two Pokémon from different languages) or make a Shiny Sandwich (Sparkling Power: Normal/Fighting/Fire/Water depending on the breed). In Pokémon GO, you just have to click on every Tauros you see and pray to the RNG gods.

3. Why is the Kanto Shiny green?

This is a common question! In the early days of Pokémon (Game Boy Color era), the color palettes were limited. The developers used a simple algorithm to shift the color palettes for shiny Pokémon. For Tauros, this resulted in the light brown shifting to a lime green. While some fans hate the “sickly green” look, I think it makes it stand out much more than the subtle Paldean shiny.

4. Can I get all 3 Paldean forms in one game?

In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, you can catch the Combat Breed in both games. However, the Blaze Breed is exclusive to Scarlet, and the Aqua Breed is exclusive to Violet. To get all three shinies, you will need to trade or join a friend’s game in Union Circle to hunt in their world.

5. Can I use a Shiny Tauros in competitive play?

Absolutely! A Shiny Tauros has the same abilities (Intimidate/Anger Point) as a regular one. In fact, using a shiny is a great way to flex on your opponent before you hit them with a Double-Edge.

Live! Shiny Paldean Tauros Hunt

If you want to see just how subtle the new shiny is, check out this reaction video. You really have to squint to see the difference!