Pokemon’s Latest Shiny Giveaway is a Tale of Two Sinnoh Regions

Shiny Enamorus and Manaphy are up for grabs, but completing their respective Pokédexes is a tale of two very different experiences.

Pokémon fans are in for a treat with the latest shiny giveaway in Pokémon Home, offering two highly coveted shinies: Shiny Enamorus and Shiny Manaphy. However, claiming these Pokémon requires completing two different regional Pokédexes, each tied to a different Sinnoh-based adventure. While the shiny rewards are enticing, the process of obtaining them through Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl showcases two very different sides of a beloved region, offering stark contrasts in gameplay and overall enjoyment.

Despite being separated by time within the Pokémon universe, the Hisui and Sinnoh regions are one and the same. Pokémon Legends: Arceus introduced players to the past version of Sinnoh, while Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl brought the modern-day Sinnoh to life. However, the gameplay in these two titles couldn’t be more different, making the experience of completing their respective Pokédexes and earning the shiny rewards a tale of two very distinct journeys.

Pokémon's Shiny Enamorus and Manaphy Giveaway: A Blessing and a Curse

Completing the Hisui Pokédex in Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a Worthy Challenge

For many fans, Pokémon Legends: Arceus was a breath of fresh air in the franchise, offering a revolutionary shift to real-time creature capturing and action RPG mechanics. The open-world design, combined with an emphasis on exploration and strategy, made completing the Hisui Pokédex an engaging and rewarding experience. Searching for Pokémon in the wild and utilizing the new Ride Pokémon, such as Wyrdeer and Braviary, allowed for faster traversal across the expansive map, making the process of catching them all far less tedious.

While there were some bumps along the way—such as the hunt for wisps to unlock Spiritomb—overall, Legends: Arceus provided one of the more enjoyable Pokédex completion experiences in the series. The cherry on top? Earning Shiny Enamorus as a reward for completing the Hisui Dex. For players who didn’t dive deep into the game when it was first released, this shiny reward provides the perfect motivation to revisit the game and wrap up any loose ends.

Completing the Sinnoh Pokédex in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Can Be Tedious

In contrast, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl—the Gen 4 remakes released on the Nintendo Switch—have left many fans feeling disappointed. While the remakes were highly anticipated, they fell short for many players, primarily due to the decision to adapt the original Diamond and Pearl games rather than the enhanced Platinum. The remakes retained much of the original’s slow pace, which, when combined with the technical limitations of the games, made completing the Sinnoh Pokédex a more frustrating endeavor.

The Pokédex in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is smaller than many expected, partly because some Pokémon are locked behind post-game content or only available through the Grand Underground. Furthermore, players are once again tasked with using HMs to navigate the Sinnoh region, which can feel restrictive and time-consuming compared to the streamlined traversal in Legends: Arceus. While the shiny Manaphy reward is certainly tempting, it’s clear that completing the Sinnoh Dex in BDSP can feel like a chore, especially when compared to the far more enjoyable experience in Legends: Arceus.

A Tale of Two Regions

Ultimately, while the shiny rewards are worth the effort, Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl offer very different experiences when it comes to completing their respective Pokédexes. The dynamic, open-world gameplay of Legends: Arceus makes it the more enjoyable choice for players looking to complete the Hisui Dex, while the more traditional and often tedious design of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl makes the Sinnoh Dex feel like a slog.

For those considering taking on these challenges, the shiny Enamorus in Legends: Arceus will likely be the more rewarding journey, both in terms of gameplay and satisfaction. Meanwhile, completing the Sinnoh Dex for shiny Manaphy in BDSP may require more patience, but the reward is still a worthy prize for dedicated fans.