Are Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Mass Outbreaks worth participating in?

Mass Outbreaks are one of the many events players can encounter in their playthrough of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. These somewhat common occurrences can appear anywhere in the Paldea region and in areas added by the expansion pass. However, some players may wonder if these events are worth the effort of seeking out.

Mass Outbreaks can be worth it for post-game trainers seeking shiny variants of specific creatures. The value of these events increases based on the time invested in the game and the content players have access to.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer's opinions

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What are Mass Outbreaks in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?

Mass Outbreaks are events where a single species of creature starts appearing in large quantities (Image via Game Freak)

Mass Outbreaks are randomly generated events that take place on any of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's three maps. During these outbreaks, one specific species of Pokemon will begin spawning. The creature can be seen on the map, and players receive an on-screen notification when they approach the outbreak location.

An outbreak typically hosts around 100 to 120 of the specified species. Notifications appear when every large group is defeated, indicating that the outbreak has thinned out.

Mass Outbreaks are excellent for shiny hunting, as each spawn has an additional chance of being in its shiny form.

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How to make the most of Mass Outbreaks in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

The list of creatures players can encounter through Mass Outbreaks is surprisingly deep (Image via Game Freak)

To access all creatures available in Mass Outbreaks, it’s advisable for trainers to purchase the expansion pass. Both the Teal Mask and Indigo Disk feature high-value creatures in the metagame, such as Poltchageist, Litten, and Duraludon.

Players can also start finding Starter Pokemon Mass Outbreaks after unlocking biodiversity upgrades for each of the terrarium’s biomes.

Making a sandwich with Herba Mystica and another ingredient based on the elemental typing of the creature encountered in a Mass Outbreak can further increase the odds of finding Shiny Pokemon.

Herba Mystica are rare ingredients found in Five- and Six-Star Tera Raids. With the max shiny spawn rate, the right sandwich, and the Shiny Charm for completing the Paldea Pokedex, players can boost their chances of finding a shiny creature to around 1 in 512 per spawn out of the over 100 that can appear during an outbreak.

Ultimately, Mass Outbreaks are very much worth the effort for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players in the post-game.