Can Sandygast Be Shiny in Pokémon GO? Full Guide

Can Sandygast Be Shiny in Pokémon GO? Spotlight Hour Guide

When Pokémon GO announced that Sandygast would take center stage for the May 2025 Spotlight Hour, trainers around the world had one big question:
Can Sandygast be shiny in Pokémon GO?

The answer is yes — Shiny Sandygast is officially available in the game, and Spotlight Hour on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, offers one of the best chances to encounter it.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know — from event time and bonus, to shiny hunting strategies, weather tips, and how to evolve your Sandygast into Shiny Palossand.

Can Sandygast Be Shiny in Pokémon GO?

Yes, Shiny Sandygast is available in Pokémon GO as of May 2025.

It’s not just rumor or speculation — players have already shared screenshots confirming shiny encounters during the event. That said, Shiny rates remain low, so maximizing your odds during Spotlight Hour is essential if you want to add this spectral sandcastle to your shiny collection.

When Is Sandygast Spotlight Hour?

• 📅 Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025

• 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Local Time

• 🎁 Bonus: 2× Transfer Candy

During this one-hour window, wild Sandygast spawns increase dramatically. It’s the perfect time to shiny hunt, farm candies, and fill out your Ghost/Ground-type Pokédex if you haven’t yet.

Spotlight Hour Special Bonus Explained

This Spotlight Hour comes with a 2× Transfer Candy bonus, which means:

• Every Pokémon you transfer during the hour gives double candy.

• Great opportunity to clean out your box while stocking up for evolutions.

Pair this with a Pinap Berry during captures to really maximize your gains.

How to Catch Shiny Sandygast in Pokémon GO

Want to increase your odds of encountering a shiny? Here’s what I suggest:

1. Activate an Incense before the event starts.

2. Head to a cluster-rich area with multiple PokéStops.

3. Drop Lure Modules on every PokéStop you can.

4. Focus your attention — don’t multitask. Tap and check every Sandygast.

5. Fast shiny check using the catch screen — back out if it’s not shiny.

More encounters = better odds. The shiny rate for non-Community Day Pokémon is usually around 1 in 500, so your best strategy is volume.

Best Conditions to Find Shiny Sandygast

Weather matters! Sandygast has increased spawn chances in:

• Foggy weather (boosts Ghost-types)

• Sunny weather (boosts Ground-types)

If you’re in a region with either weather condition, you’ve hit the jackpot. You’ll get higher-level Sandygast, more consistent spawns, and better IVs.

Using Lures and Incense for Shiny Hunting

Stack your tools:

• Incense: Follows you as you walk. Works anywhere.

• Lure Modules: Fixed to PokéStops. Stackable for hotspots.

• Weather Boost: Works globally based on real-time climate.

Using all three at once during Spotlight Hour creates a supercharged environment for shiny encounters.

Shiny Sandygast Appearance Guide

Shiny Sandygast may not look radically different at first glance, but there are key indicators:

• Its sand color is slightly darker.

• The shovel in its head turns teal instead of red.

Always double-check if you’re unsure — it’s easy to miss in a rush.

Evolving Shiny Sandygast into Shiny Palossand

Yes, Shiny Sandygast evolves into Shiny Palossand!

• 🌟 Evolution Cost: 50 Sandygast Candies

• ✅ No extra evolution items needed

• 🔁 Both the shiny and regular versions share the same evolution requirements

Make sure to appraise your shiny before evolving — you may want to keep a 3-star Sandygast for PvP or collection purposes.

Sandygast Stats and CP Overview

• Max CP: 1394

• Attack: 120

• Defense: 118

• Stamina: 146

• Type: Ghost / Ground

While it’s not a top-tier battler, Palossand has niche uses in Great League PvP, especially with shield-bait moves and unique resistances.

Tips to Maximize Candy During Spotlight Hour

• Use Pinap Berries for double catch candy.

• Transfer old Pokémon for the 2× Transfer Candy bonus.

• Walk with Sandygast as your Buddy (3 KM per candy).

• Trade with friends for chance at bonus candy.

If you go all-in during the event, you could easily walk away with hundreds of Sandygast candies in just 60 minutes.

Spotlight Hour and Shiny Rates

Let’s keep it real: Spotlight Hour is NOT a guaranteed shiny hunt.

Unlike Community Days, Spotlight Hours don’t have boosted shiny rates. Most players still aim for around 1 in 450 to 500 odds. But with dozens — sometimes over 100 — encounters in one hour, the odds are still in your favor if you stay focused.

Can You Get Shiny Palossand from Evolution?

Yes. If you evolve a Shiny Sandygast, you will get a Shiny Palossand. Evolution doesn’t break shiny status.

Make sure you evolve your best shiny, though — preferably one with high CP or strong PvP stats.

Tricks for Efficient Shiny Checking

• Use the fast catch trick to speed up encounters.

• Avoid distractions — minimize screen clutter and focus.

• Use the “recent” filter to track Sandygast caught during the hour.

You can also use a Go Plus or Poké Ball Plus, but for shiny hunting, manual checking is still better.

Can Spotlight Hour Guarantee a Shiny?

Nope — nothing is guaranteed.

However, players who maximize encounters can expect a reasonable shot at success. If you’ve ever caught a shiny during Spotlight Hour, you know the rush of excitement it brings.

Why Shiny Sandygast Is Worth Catching

Aside from just being rare:

• It’s part of a unique dual-typed evolutionary line

• Shiny Palossand is visually striking

• You’ll be ahead of future PvP or collection challenges

How to Prepare for Sandygast Spotlight Hour

✅ Stock up on:

• Poké Balls

• Pinap Berries

• Lures

• Incense

✅ Clear storage:

• Transfer unwanted Pokémon beforehand

• Sort by CP or Age to make mass transfers easier

✅ Charge your phone & have a backup battery

Post-Event Strategy: What to Do Next

• Appraise and sort your Sandygast

• Keep high IV and shiny variants

• Transfer duplicates during the bonus window (if still active)

• Evolve a strong shiny to Palossand

• Use extra candies to power up or trade

Is Sandygast Useful in PvP or Raids?

Palossand has niche utility in Great League PvP, especially as a counter to common types like Normal, Poison, and Electric.

However, it’s not a raid meta staple. Catch it more for fun, completion, and style than battle dominance.

How Many Candies Are Needed to Evolve Sandygast?

➡️ 50 Candies
Use Pinap Berries, catch frequently, and don’t forget the Transfer Candy bonus during Spotlight Hour.

Spotlight Hour vs. Community Day

Community Day:

• Higher shiny rates

• Exclusive moves

• Longer events

Spotlight Hour:

• Shorter

• Less predictable shinies

• More frequent

Still, Spotlight Hour is a great chance to target Pokémon like Sandygast without waiting months.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Hunting Shiny Sandygast?

If you’re a collector, a shiny enthusiast, or just love ghost-type Pokémon with quirky designs — yes, it’s 100% worth it.

Sandygast is fun, unique, and has a shiny evolution that stands out in your Pokédex.

FAQs About Shiny Sandygast in Pokémon GO

Is Shiny Sandygast available in Pokémon GO?
Yes, as of May 2025, you can find and catch a Shiny Sandygast.

What is the shiny rate for Sandygast?
The rate is estimated around 1 in 450, typical for Spotlight Hour events.

How can I increase my chances of getting Shiny Sandygast?
Use Lure Modules, Incense, hunt in boosted weather, and check as many spawns as possible.

Can I evolve a Shiny Sandygast into a Shiny Palossand?
Yes! You need 50 Sandygast Candies, and the evolution preserves the shiny status.

What weather boosts Sandygast spawn rate?
Foggy and Sunny weather both increase Sandygast spawns.

Does the Spotlight Hour guarantee a shiny?
No, but it increases your chances by raising the spawn frequency.