How to Get Shiny Meltan in Pokémon GO Step by Step Guide
To catch a Shiny Meltan in Pokémon GO, you must first obtain and use the Mystery Box. Follow these steps:
- Link your accounts: Connect your Pokémon GO account to Pokémon HOME (or the Switch games). In GO, open the Poké Ball menu, go to Settings > Connected Devices, and sign in to Pokémon HOME with your Nintendo Account. Make sure the HOME app is installed and you’ve logged in on your device.
- Transfer a Pokémon: Use the GO Transporter to send any Pokémon to Pokémon HOME or Let’s Go (avoid costly Legendaries). Upon transfer, you will receive a Mystery Box in your GO inventory if you don’t already have one.
- Activate the Mystery Box: Return to Pokémon GO, tap the Mystery Box, and use it. For the next 60 minutes, Meltan will spawn regularly around you. If this is during a special event that enables Shiny Meltan, each Meltan you encounter will have a small chance of being shiny.
- Catch Meltan: Catch every Meltan that appears while the box is active. Use Pinap Berries to maximize candy. Each catch yields Meltan Candy toward evolving Melmetal (400 candy needed).
- Repeat when possible: After using a Mystery Box, there is normally a 3-day cooldown before you can earn a new one by transferring another Pokémon. (During special events, this cooldown can be reduced to 1 day.) To encounter another Shiny Meltan, just repeat the process during the next eligible event.
What is Shiny Meltan in Pokémon GO and Why it is so Rare
 and Shiny Meltan (right).) Shiny Meltan is the rare shiny variant of Meltan, a Mythical Steel-type Pokémon introduced to Pokémon GO in 2018. The normal Meltan has a silver-gray body with a brass-colored nut, while the Shiny form is noticeably golden. Meltan itself can only appear in the wild via the Mystery Box mechanic, making it uncommon. Its shiny form is even rarer: under normal gameplay Meltan is shiny-locked, meaning you cannot encounter a Shiny Meltan unless Niantic specifically enables it during a limited-time event. When it is available, the Shiny Meltan is coveted by trainers due to its rarity and unique coloring.
How to Unlock the Mystery Box in Pokémon GO for Meltan Spawns
The Mystery Box is unlocked by transferring a Pokémon from GO to another game. Specifically, send any Pokémon from your GO account to Pokémon HOME or to Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!/Eevee! on Switch. After the transfer completes, you will automatically receive a Mystery Box in your GO bag if you don’t already have one. Use caution: once you activate a Mystery Box and catch Meltan, you must wait three days before you can get a new one by transferring another Pokémon.
(During special events, the cooldown may be shortened.) Make sure you claim any transferred Pokémon in Pokémon HOME, you cannot obtain a new Mystery Box while you have unclaimed Pokémon. Once unlocked, the Mystery Box lets Meltan appear around you for a limited time when opened.
Pokémon GO Mystery Box Explained: Requirements and Setup Process
Setting up the Mystery Box requires linking your GO account with a Nintendo Account. First, create or sign in to a Nintendo Account and download Pokémon HOME on your mobile device. In Pokémon GO, tap the Poké Ball menu, go to Settings > Connected Devices and Services > Pokémon HOME, and sign in using your Nintendo Account. Now you can transfer Pokémon: open HOME and accept any incoming transfers from GO. To spawn Meltan, return to GO and use the GO Transporter to send a Pokémon to HOME.
This action grants you the Mystery Box. Once you have it, activating it will trigger Meltan spawns for 60 minutes. During this period, Meltan will appear on your map at regular intervals (roughly one per 90 seconds). Note that these spawns do not depend on movement or items like Incense or Lures, the effect is fixed for the full hour after you open the box.
How to Connect Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME to Get Meltan
Linking Pokémon GO with Pokémon HOME is straightforward. In GO’s Settings, select Connected Devices and Services and tap Pokémon HOME to sign in with the same Nintendo Account used in the HOME app. After linking, open Pokémon HOME on your phone to finalize the connection (accept any prompts).
Back in Pokémon GO, choose a Pokémon (ideally a low-cost one) and use the GO Transporter to send it to HOME. The first transfer of the day will consume some transporter energy, but you will immediately receive a Mystery Box if you didn’t already have one. Always double-check that the transfer succeeded: the sent Pokémon must be claimed in HOME before another Mystery Box can be earned. With your GO and HOME accounts connected, you’re ready to use the Mystery Box and catch Meltan.
How to Transfer Pokémon and Earn the Mystery Box Quickly
To get Mystery Boxes faster, send Pokémon that require little GO Transporter energy. Avoid using Legendary or high-CP Pokémon, as they consume more energy per transfer. Instead, send common or weak Pokémon (such as Caterpie or Pidgey) which you can easily catch later. After making a transfer, be sure to open Pokémon HOME immediately and receive the transfer, as neglecting to claim it will block new Mystery Boxes.
If an event is active, take advantage of any cooldown reduction: during events like Steeled Resolve, the wait between boxes may drop to 24 hours. Also prepare plenty of Poké Balls and Pinap Berries: the faster you catch the spawned Meltan, the more you can catch within the 60-minute window, maximizing candy and chances at Shiny.
Shiny Meltan Spawn Method in Pokémon GO During Events
 When a Shiny Meltan event is active, simply opening your Mystery Box in Pokémon GO gives you a shot at a Shiny. Under normal conditions, the Mystery Box only spawns standard (non-shiny) Meltan. However, during special events (e.g. the Steeled Resolve event, April 28 May 4, 2026), Niantic unlocks Meltan’s shiny form.
In practice, you just need to activate the Mystery Box at any time during the event window and catch all Meltan that appear – each one has a small random chance to be shiny. Niantic’s official announcement confirmed that using the Mystery Box during this steel-type-themed event would allow encounters with Shiny Meltan. In short, to spawn a Shiny Meltan, activate your Mystery Box while a Meltan Shiny Event is live.
Best Time to Hunt Shiny Meltan in Pokémon GO Events
The ideal time to hunt for Shiny Meltan is only during the special events when it’s enabled. For example, the Steeled Resolve event ran from April 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
local time through May 4, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.. During that period, using a Mystery Box at any time gave you a chance at a Shiny Meltan. Importantly, event bonuses can help: in Steeled Resolve, the cooldown between Mystery Boxes was reduced (reportedly to 24 hours), allowing daily spawns instead of every three days.
For the best odds, open your Mystery Box whenever you’re free to play and move around, some trainers find that continually spinning PokéStops and walking yields more Meltan spawns (though Niantic states spawn frequency is fixed). In general, always pay attention to official Pokémon GO news (in-app or on social media) for announcements of Shiny Meltan events, and use your Mystery Box as frequently as allowed during those windows for maximum chances.
Shiny Meltan Odds in Pokémon GO: What Are the Chances
Niantic does not publish the exact Shiny rates in Pokémon GO, but community research provides an estimate. The Silph Road research team calculated that during Meltan events, the chance of any given Meltan being shiny is about 1 in 60 (≈1.7%). For context, an ordinary wild Pokémon in GO has a base shiny rate of roughly 1 in 450–512 (about 0.2%).
Thus, Meltan’s event rate is several times higher than a normal wild encounter. However, remember that each Meltan encounter is an independent event, catching 60 Meltan doesn’t guarantee a Shiny, but it makes it much more likely than if Meltan had the usual 1-in-450 rate. In practical terms, if you open your Mystery Box and catch dozens of Meltan in an hour, you statistically increase your overall chance of finding at least one shiny.
How Long Does the Mystery Box Last in Pokémon GO
A Mystery Box remains active for 60 minutes after you open it. This means Meltan will spawn around your avatar for up to one hour. The countdown begins the moment you tap the box, and it continues even if you close the app or if your phone sleeps. Within this hour, you’ll typically see a Meltan appear about once per minute (roughly 40–60 Meltan over the hour). After the 60 minutes are up, no more Meltan will spawn from that box until you obtain and use a new one. Since the window is limited, it’s best to plan your playtime so you can be actively catching Meltan for the entire hour whenever you use the Mystery Box.
How to Maximize Meltan Encounters During the 1 Hour Spawn Window
To catch as many Meltan as possible in the one-hour Mystery Box window, follow these tips. First, stay active and mobile: while Niantic notes that spawns aren’t supposed to depend on movement, many trainers report getting more Meltan when they walk or bike continuously and spin PokéStops to refresh spawns.
Open the Catch Screen for each Meltan immediately; in practice, the spawn timer seems to reset more quickly if you catch them promptly. Carry plenty of Poké Balls and Pinap Berries, Pinaps double the Meltan Candy gained per catch. Also, activate any in-game bonuses: for instance, during the Steeled Resolve event, there was a GO Pass reward that doubled catch candy. Finally, use Meltan as your Buddy Pokémon after catching: even after the box’s hour ends, your Buddy will earn candy for walking (1 candy per kilometer), further helping you prepare to evolve to Melmetal. In short, walk or move around, catch quickly using Pinaps, and use all available candy boosts to maximize your haul during that hour.
Common Mistakes When Trying to Get Shiny Meltan in Pokémon GO
Even experienced trainers can slip up when hunting Meltan. A frequent mistake is not claiming Pokémon from HOME after a transfer if you have pending transfers, you won’t receive a new Mystery Box. Always open Pokémon HOME and accept the incoming Pokémon after each transfer. Another error is assuming Incense or Lures help; they do not affect Mystery Box spawns, so using them is wasted while the box is active. Outside of events, players sometimes mistakenly expect Shiny Meltan to appear, remember that Meltan is only shiny-able during specific events.
During events, don’t forget about cooldowns: if you use your box one day, you may need to wait 24–48 hours (instead of 3 days) before the next box, so plan accordingly. Also avoid using high-energy Pokémon for transfers, and prepare your inventory ahead of time (stock up on Ultra Balls and Pinap Berries), so that you catch every Meltan that spawns during your play session.
Can You Get Shiny Meltan Outside Events in Pokémon GO
No: Shiny Meltan is only available during official events. In normal gameplay, the Mystery Box will never spawn a shiny Meltan because it is shiny-locked. Niantic has confirmed that only during special, time-limited events can Meltan appear shiny. If you try opening a Mystery Box outside those event periods, you will only encounter regular Meltan. To hunt for a Shiny Meltan, you must wait for Niantic to announce a Meltan event (check their official news or social channels), and then open your Mystery Box during that event window.
How to Evolve Meltan into Melmetal After Catching Shiny Meltan
Evolving Meltan (shiny or not) into Melmetal requires 400 Meltan Candy. Each Meltan you catch provides candy (usually 3 candy, or 6 if you use a Pinap Berry). To reach 400, repeatedly use your Mystery Box and catch Meltan. Every time you send a Meltan to Professor Willow or transfer it to HOME (before collecting the Mystery Box), you’ll also get 1 candy. Once you have 400 candy, open Meltan’s entry in your Pokémon list and tap Evolve. It’s the only candy-based evolution in the game, so gather candy by catching or hatching Meltan until you can evolve it into Melmetal.
Tips to Farm Meltan Candy Fast for Melmetal Evolution
Maximize your Meltan candy gain with these strategies. Use Pinap Berries on every Meltan you catch from the Mystery Box, this doubles the candy from 3 to 6 per catch. Keep an eye on event bonuses: for example, during the Steeled Resolve event trainers enjoyed 2× catch candy from GO Pass rewards, effectively doubling your candy haul. Assign your newly caught Meltan as your Buddy Pokémon (which earns 1 candy per kilometer walked).
You can also feed Meltan Rare Candy if you have it. Don’t forget to spin PokéStops and open Gifts during your Meltan-catching session to claim any Meltan or Steel-type candy rewards. With these tips, you can quickly accumulate the 400 Meltan Candy needed to evolve your caught Meltan into Melmetal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How do I get a Mystery Box in Pokémon GO?
By sending a Pokémon from GO to Pokémon HOME or to Let’s Go, Pikachu!/Eevee!. After the transfer is complete, you will receive a Mystery Box in GO. - How often can I open the Mystery Box?
Normally you must wait three days after activating a Mystery Box before you can get a new one. During special events, the cooldown may be reduced (for example, to 1 day during Steeled Resolve). - When can I catch Shiny Meltan?
Only during limited-time events announced by Niantic. Shiny Meltan is not obtainable outside those events. - What are the odds of finding a Shiny Meltan?
Community research suggests about a 1 in 60 chance per encounter during events. There is no public official rate, but this is much higher than a normal wild shiny rate. - How long does the Mystery Box last?
One hour (60 minutes) from the time you activate it. After that, no more Meltan will spawn until you use another box. - Does Incense or a Lure Module work with the Mystery Box?
No. Meltan spawns from the Mystery Box are unaffected by Incense or Lures. Only the Mystery Box itself triggers Meltan. - How many candies to evolve Meltan?
You need 400 Meltan Candy to evolve Meltan into Melmetal. - Can I evolve a Shiny Meltan differently?
No. Shiny Meltan evolves exactly like regular Meltan, requiring the same 400 candy. The result, Melmetal, will be shiny if the Meltan was shiny. - Why didn’t I get a Mystery Box after transferring a Pokémon?
Make sure you don’t have any unclaimed transfers in Pokémon HOME, and that it’s been at least the cooldown period since your last box. If you’ve recently opened a box, wait the required time before doing another transfer. - Does movement affect how many Meltan spawn?
Niantic states movement does not change the spawn rate. In practice, some trainers move around to encounter more stops, but the Mystery Box generally spawns Meltan at fixed intervals whether you are moving or not.
Conclusion
In summary, catching a Shiny Meltan in Pokémon GO requires using the Mystery Box mechanism during special events. You must first link your GO account to Pokémon HOME (or Let’s Go on Switch) and transfer a Pokémon to obtain the Mystery Box. Activate the box to spawn Meltan for one hour, and if Niantic has enabled Shiny Meltan for an event, each Meltan encounter will carry a small chance to be shiny. Shiny Meltan is very rare (community estimates ~1/60), so maximize your encounters by catching Meltan quickly and using Pinap Berries. Once you catch Meltan (shiny or not), collect 400 Meltan Candy to evolve it into Melmetal.
Always watch official announcements for Shiny Meltan events and plan your Mystery Box uses accordingly. With these steps and tips, trainers can efficiently hunt for that coveted golden Meltan.
Sources and Citations
- Niantic Pokémon GO Help Center – What is the Mystery Box?
https://niantic.helpshift.com/hc/en/6-pokemon-go/faq/2789-what-is-the-mystery-box/ - Niantic Pokémon GO Help Center – Sending Pokémon to Pokémon HOME
https://niantic.helpshift.com/hc/en/6-pokemon-go/faq/2787-sending-pokemon-to-pokemon-home/ - Pokémon GO Live – Steeled Resolve Event Announcement
https://pokemongolive.com/news/steeled-resolve-2026 - Pokémon GO Hub – How to get a Mystery Box & Meltan
https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/how-to-get-mystery-box/ - Pokémon GO Hub – Steeled Resolve Event: Orthworm Debut, Shiny Meltan & More
https://pokemongohub.net/post/event/steeled-resolve-event-2026/ - Nintendo Wire – Steeled Resolve Event Guide
https://nintendowire.com/guides/pokemon-go/season-of-memories-in-motion/steeled-resolve/ - The Silph Road Shiny Study via p337 – Shiny Meltan odds
https://p337.info/pokemongo/pages/shiny-chance-calculator/
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