In the Pokemon games, is it possible to get a shiny legendary? If so, when is it decided?

Question

A bit of a multiheaded question here, but it didn't quite justify being four different questions.

• Is it possible to get a shiny legendary pokemon in the Pokemon games?
• If so, when is it generated?
• Does the overworld sprite reflect the shiny status?
• Does this vary by generation?

Answer

Yes, it is possible to get a shiny legendary.

For an interactive legendary, the overworld sprite will not reflect the shiny status. It is generated when you initiate the battle, which is why some people save in front of the legendary, battle it, and reset until it's shiny (a process called soft resetting or SRing).

For a roaming Pokemon, the conditions occasionally vary. Typically it's set when you first encounter it and it's registered in your Pokedex.

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