How to get a free Shiny Meloetta from Pokemon HOME

The latest update for Pokemon HOME is adding a Mystery Gift reward system. You know, because we trainers needed more reasons to catch them all. This mechanic offers rare Pokemon as prizes to Pokemon players who complete specific goals, and the first one up for grabs is a Shiny Meloetta.

This, to put it plainly, is a big honking deal. Until now, the only way trainers could get themselves a Shiny variant of this elusive Mythical Pokemon was by hacking a fifth-generation or beyond Pokemon game. Thanks to the new Pokemon Home update, however, casual Pokemon players and die-hard Shiny Hunters alike can finally add this musical-themed ‘Mon to their collection without getting gobsmacked by Nintendo’s well-loved ban hammer.

How to download Pokemon HOME

If you’re one of the many Pokemon players who hasn’t created a Pokemon HOME account yet, now’s the perfect time to do it. You can download Pokemon HOME onto your smartphone or your Nintendo Switch, and the account-building process is a little different for each system. Let’s walk through how to get started on Pokemon HOME.

How to download Pokemon HOME on Nintendo Switch

• Download Pokemon HOME from the Nintendo eShop
• Launch Pokemon HOME from your Switch’s Home menu, using whichever Switch account you want to transfer your Pokemon to and from.
• Progress by hitting any button.
• Pick your Language, then hit “Start.”
• Read the Terms of Use and Privacy Notice, then agree to it by hitting “Yes.”
• When asked if you plan to use Pokémon HOME on your mobile device, select “Yes.” If you plan on using Pokemon HOME on mobile, of course.
• If asked if you have linked a Nintendo Account to the mobile version of Pokemon HOME, hit “Yes” or “No,” then go through the tutorial

How to download Pokemon Home on a smartphone

• Download Pokemon HOME from your phone’s app store.
• Start the app.
• Choose your language, then hit “YES.”
• Choose your region and country, then hit “YES.”
• Enter your date of birth, then hit “Yes.” You can’t change this once you’ve put it in, and certain features of Pokemon HOME are only available to players over the age of sixteen.
• Read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Notice, then hit “NEXT.”
• Review the info that pops up, then hit “I Agree.”
• Select “Link your account” to link the same Nintendo Account you’re using with Pokemon HOME on Nintendo Switch. The last thing you want is to lose that Shiny Gholdengo you worked so hard to get because of a network error.
• Click “Yes,” then follow the on-screen instructions to link an existing Nintendo Account or create a new one.
• Click “Yes,” again to confirm the Nintendo Account link and complete the tutorial.

How to get Shiny Melotta from Pokemon HOME

Before you get your Shiny Meloetta from Pokemon HOME, you’ll have to complete the Paldea Pokedex, the Kitakami Pokedex, and the Blueberry Pokedexes. These Pokedexes encompass all the Pokemon found in Pokemon: Scarlet & Violet and its two-part The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC. All 843 of them.

Filling in all three Pokedexes is no simple task, especially since Pokemon HOME won’t let you put a Pokemon in a Ninth-Gen Dex slot unless you caught it in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Luckily, we have some fantastic guides on where to find some of Paldea’s rarer Pokemon. Your hunt will be difficult, but it shouldn’t be impossible.

Once you’ve transferred all the Pokemon you need to fill the Pokedexes, you’ll be eligible to receive a Shiny Meloetta. Click the “Mystery Gift” option in the app’s menu, then hit “Search for Gifts.” As long as you have a solid internet connection, you’ll receive a Shiny Meloetta of your very own.