How to get Shiny Smeargle in Pokemon GO

Smeargle, the unique Painter Pokemon, has been quite an elusive find for Pokemon GO players, only being catchable through a very peculiar method. What's more, its Shiny version can only appear in certain events. So let's not only get into how you can right now get Shiny Smeargle in Pokemon GO, but the Shiny Smeargle odds in the game as well. 

• Here is how to get Mothim in Pokemon GO. 

How to get Shiny Smeargle in Pokemon GO

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As of right now, you can get increased odds of encountering Shiny Smeargle in Pokemon GO right now during the Festival of Colors event, which is currently running until Tuesday, 14 March 2023 at 8PM local time. 

To encounter Smeargle, and potentially a Shiny Smeargle in Pokemon GO, you'll need to utilise the following method using the game's VR camera feature. 

1. Select any Pokemon and go into its summary page. 
2. As pictured above on the left, select the camera on the top right of the page to go into AR mode. 
3. Take several pictures of your Pokemon. 
4. Look through your taken shots, and you'll might see a Smeargle photombombing one of them. 
5. If so, leave AR mode and Smeargle will appear as a wild Pokemon to encounter on your map. 
6. If Shiny, it will present itself as a Shiny Smeargle with namesake sparkles at the start of the encounter.  

Alternatively, you can enter AR mode by selecting the Camera key item in your Items section and select a Pokemon from there. 

Smeargle is always available in Pokemon GO via this method. The different in Festival of Colors, however, is that this can happen 5 times a day instead of just once. 

• Check out how to get Shiny Wobbuffet.

Shiny Smeargle odds in Pokemon GO

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Whilst we haven't got an exact number from Niantic or the Pokemon Company, the increased Shiny Smeargle odds in Pokemon GO during the Festival of Colors event are currently 1 in 64 - which is likely accurate since this was the Shiny Smeargle encounter rate during the 2021 Snap Event. This is much higher than the standard Pokemon GO Shiny encounter rate of 1 in 500. 

What should also be kept in mind, is that along with Smeargle only being able to appear in snapshots a limited number of times, Shiny Smeargle will no longer appear after Festival of Colors ends on 14 March. Nevertheless, Shiny Smeargle will appear again in future events. 

• Look at how to defeat Team Rocket Leader Cliff. 

That's all you need to know on how to get Smeargle in Pokemon GO, along with the Shiny Smeargle odds in Pokemon GO. For what else is new in the game, check out how to get Ditto since the March 2023 update. 

For even more Pokemon GO guides, you can be sure to find them right here at GGRecon.