iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

This month, I decided that I would Shiny hunt 1,000 Vulpix using Pokémon Scarlet's September 2025 event outbreaks! I have succeeded, making this the most amount of Shinies I've caught in a single month and bringing my total Shiny count well above 5k! #Vulpix #ShinyPokémon

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

1/8192 full odds Shiny female Nidoran after 3,043 encounters, 214 this #SafariWeek ! I decided that I would try and find a second Lucky Egg in the Safari Zone for when RSE ports come out. That means more potential encounters to phase on Shinies! #ShinyPokémon #Nidoran #NidoranF

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

1/1366 Shiny Spheal in 592 encounters! I started this hunt today and realized that I've gotten very patient with how much I've hunted Shinies. It felt fast! Caught her in a Dream Ball. She is so orb! #ShinyPokémon #PokemonSwordShield #Spheal

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

1/8192 full odds Shiny Nidorina after another 4,289 encounters! No Lucky Egg yet. If I cannot get the Lucky Egg, I am happy to have found the Shiny Pokémon I wanted the most from here! #ShinyPokémon #Nidorina

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Wasn't for long. Your sent luck worked!! Finally got them!!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Yes!! Nine 1 Stars away from having them all and Sandshrew is one of the ones I'm missing. I'll pull it soon!! Hopefully. :p Also trying for Sightseer 2 Star, so I might use my pack points for that? Here's everything rare I've pulled so far from Fantastical Parade, here!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I can't believe it. It happened again and I still haven't gotten my Lucky Egg. Another Shiny 1/8192 full odds Exeggcute after 752 encounters! I guess that's the line done hahah?? #ShinyPokémon #Exeggcute

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

I was looking for the Lucky Egg in Leaf Green. This is not what I meant by that. Shiny 1/8192 full odds Exeggcute in the Safari Zone! #ShinyPokémon #Exeggcute

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

I unexpectedly found a 1/1366 Shiny Sandshrew after an estimated 4,450 encounters. She is my first Shiny of the year and the 230th of the Sandshrew lines I've caught. Her name is Sangria! Caught her in a Safari Ball. Happy Shrew Year! #ShinyPokémon #PokemonSwordShield #Sandshrew

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Extra Small Shiny Pidgey with 3 "No good" IVs. Forget Shalphas. I think I just accidentally found myself a Shbeta Pokémon! #ShinyPokémon #Pidgey #PokemonLegendsZA

There is a green Shiny Pidgey on a lamppost that I found in Pokémon Legends Z-A. My player character is about to throw a Poké Ball at it.

One of my many Shiny Pokémon boxes in Pokémon Legends Z-A. There are other Shinies here but the menu is focused on the Pidgey I caught. An Alpha Pokémon is supposed to have three "Perfect" IVs. Here, via the Judge function, we see the opposite. Three "No good" IVs on this Pidgey, the worst IV stat possible.

Here, we see the same Shiny Pidgey. Here I want to focus on the "Size classification" part of the menu. An Alpha Pokémon is guaranteed to be classified as "XL", or the largest size displayed by the game. Instead, we see that this Pidgey has the size classification of "XS", the smallest size visibly displayed by the game. This size paired with its three "No good" IVs makes this the complete opposite of an Alpha Pokémon. This Pidgey is a Shbeta Pokémon!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

1/4096 Shiny Sandshrew in BDSP after 2,970 Sandshrew line encounters! My first ever Shiny on Switch 2 and my 200th Shiny Sands overall!! How fitting. Caught in a Luxury Ball and she's Quiet natured. Her name will be Mipha! #Sandshrew #PokémonBDSP #ShinyPokémon

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Happy Sandslash Day!! My favorite Pokémon brought you some flowers and a cake!! #Sandslash #サンドパンの日 #Art

"HAPPY SANDSLASH DAY!!"

Two Sandslash, one Alolan, one Kantonian, are standing side by side, facing the viewer.

The Alolan Sandslash stares at the viewer and holds out a cake. The cake has the pattern of a Poké Ball and lit candles saying 28, which is Sandslash's dex number!

The Kantonian Sandslash is smiling, with a significant portion of dirt holding two flowers. The flowers the Kantonian Sandslash is holding are the same ones from the Sandslash card 76/162 of XY BREAKThrough! She brought them over leaving the dirt and roots intact! Looks like I'll need to get myself a vase to put them in.

This day is like a second birthday to me, I love it!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Happy Sandshrew Day! I sketched four Sandshrew having lunch and they all seem to be having a good time! #Sandshrew #サンドの日 #Art

It is just a sketch for now but here's my contribution to Sandshrew Day! From left to right, we have Kantonian Sandshrew eating a Poké Bean while sitting on a stump, an Alolan Sandshrew preparing an Ultra Tower Sandwich, another Alolan Sandshrew bringing in Poké Puffs and a Kantonian Sandshrew about to eat a Gigantamax Decorative Curry, with a Groudon on top!

I sadly did not think to draw before, or have enough time today but I will absolutely come back to color this another day. Happy Sandshrew Day!!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

1/4096 Full odds Shiny Registeel in Sword after 906 encounters! I was listing down the sparkle types of the Shinies I've found in a spreadsheet as seen in SWSH, then found a Shiny while doing that! I wasn't prepared but I caught it in a Dusk Ball! #Registeel #PokémonSWSH #ShinyPokémon

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

I gave this Scyther a box of Pecha juice. He seems to like it!! #Scyther #Art

An emote sketch of the Pokémon Scyther drinking a box of Pecha juice!! He deserves it and he loves it!!

I love these mildly tough looking Pokémon a lot. I always see them as ferocious creatures more than capable of fighting. This includes Pokémon like Sandslash, Scyther, Flygon, ect.

They're not helpless to where they rely on you, nor are they so powerful that you seem like a burden to them. They are a friend to you as much as you are a friend to them, through and through.

Despite that, I only see art of these Pokémon always being ferocious, or stylized in such a way where they could only be cute. While he could drop the juice box to protect his peers in an instant, the fully grown formidable and ferocious Scyther deserves a break every now and then, not just the small cute ones!!

Soon, this one should be turned into an emote for my Discord server.

Shoutouts to Team Razor Wind!! I shall sketch Zangoose soon as well.

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Here's another reinterpretation of a Sandshrew line sprite! In Pokémon Crystal, there's an animation for Sandshrew scratching their head. If you take one of the sprites out of context, it looks like a Sandshrew facepalming. Decided to redraw that with an Alolan Sandshrew! #Sandshrew #Art

A sketch of the Pokémon Alolan Sandshrew facepalming, inspired by the mid-animation sprite of Kantonian Sandshrew scratching their face.

I took a picture of this exact sprite when I hatched 1/128 Shiny eggs and captured the stat summary. One of a Sandshrew named Slate (24 eggs) and a Sandslash named Sanguine (14 eggs).

In hindsight, it wasn't a scratch. It was an actual facepalm! Slate palmed because she had better DVs than her older sister who'd evolve into a Sandslash.
"Why don't you want the better DVs, Leo?!"

Regardless, I love the sprite!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

There's this one sprite of Sandslash in Pokémon Emerald that flickers between its battle stance and a pose of the Sandslash standing up. I know it's just standing now but with how briefly the sprite pops up, I saw it differently initially and sketched it. The Sandslash got all shy!! #Sandslash #Art

An emote sketch of the Pokémon Sandslash, who's holding his claws together, blushing about something. Perhaps you offered him a gift, in which he is flattered and thinks: "For me?? 👉👈". I changed the spike positions and body-shape to be a little more accurate to the current 3D model in Scarlet and Violet. The blush is not accurate to the games. I added that for artistic vision.

There is also a small sprite of a Shiny Sandslash from Pokémon Emerald in the top left corner, which this sketch was inspired by. When I first saw the animated sprite, I saw what this sketch shows. The game flashes this sprite very quickly between Sandslash's battle stance sprite, not giving it much time to be seen. It's a funny thing to see when you actually get to look at the sprite for more than half a second!!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Been a while!! Here are a few emote sketches I've made that I haven't posted yet. Drew a couple just now! #Art #Sandshrew

A sketch I drew of the Substitute Doll from the Pokémon series! The doll stares blankly at you. Despite not being a sentient being, you know that the doll is judging you. Pet the doll to appease it.

A sketch of the Pokémon Alolan Sandshrew smirking and putting his little claws on his cheeks while a Weavile points at the Sandshrew with her claws. You can't touch this Sandshrew, Weavile!

This sketch was directly inspired by the image with the smug cat and knife. It's pretty hard to draw a smug Sandshrew!

As for my thoughts on Weavile, Sneasel and their regional forms: I know that they eat Alolan Sandshrew and Alolan Vulpix. I do not like them for doing that but I think their designs are pretty neat and I would actually like them a lot if they didn't harm Sandshrew.

Sneasel lines are a necessary evil because if they didn't exist, there would be way too many Sandshrew coming from just me alone. That doesn't mean I'll just let them touch my precious Sandshrew though!!

I'm sure if another Pokémon was harming some of your favorites, you would do your best to protect them. No offense to Sneasel fans at all!!

A sketch of the Pokémon Alolan Sandshrew laying down gently in his igloo, poking his head and body out. He feels safe but he is also observing.

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

I would like to give a shoutout to all my Shiny hunting friends! Somehow, there are several of you who hunt hundreds of Shiny Shinx in particular. I approve. You're all amazing and deserve a hug! Keep Shiny hunting!! 💛 #Shinx #Sandshrew #Art

An emote sketch of the Pokémon Shinx and Sandshrew giving each other a hug. They love each other!! I have many Shinx adoring friends and I adore them just as much.

Just a little fun fact about me. Did you know that I have 1,400 Shinies of the Shinx line? More than my 177 Shinies of the Sandshrew line?!?! I would like to thank Kalyt and Deadi9 in particular for this strange addiction.

Additionally, I l've caught 358 in a single day, which as far as I'm aware, is the largest solo world record for most Shinies caught in a day.

Paired with Deadi9, who I raced on that day catching 339 Shinies, we collectively hold the unofficial community world record of most Shiny Pokémon in a day at 697 Shinies caught!!

I've recently heard that 76 different content creator Shiny hunters will be trying to break the official Guinness world record of 588. I really hope that they crush mine and Deadi9's unofficial record as well. I really don't want to be petty about this and it will be fun possibly beating a new record the next 24 hour session we do!! Good luck to them all!!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 07/11/2024

1/8192 Shiny Sandshrew from Silver's Goldenrod Game Corner after exactly 800 resets or 3,997 Sandshrew seen! I've learnt how much easier this hunt is in HGSS but I still enjoyed it regardless. Her name will be Cherries! She is my 177th of the line! #Sandshrew #PokémonGSC #ShinyPokémon

Shiny Sandshrew!! This screen shows the stats of the Sandshrew and shows my OT, to show that this Sandshrew is mine! :)

Entered a fight with an Abra to show the back sprite of the Shiny Sandshrew, including the sparkles!!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 07/11/2024

I've run out of Sands emote WIPs to post contrary to what I said 9 days ago. I'm in a sketching mood, I'll sketch more Sandshrew or Sandslash tonight. I think finger guns are a bit corny but they can sometimes work. It's hard to fit the Sandslash claws in without them seeming short. #Sandslash #Art

A sketch of the Pokémon Alolan Sandslash. She is doing finger guns and smiling at someone, while a star pops out from her left eye winking.

This is an older sketch, so the head spike is slightly off. Forgive me but it will be fixed. I think that a lot of the appeal of Sandslash comes from them not having a mouth. I think if I made an alt with sandglasses- my bad, genuine typo mistake. An alt with sunglasses and removing the mouth, it would look a lot cooler. Like the Cooler Daniel.

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 31/10/2024

Usually, I list down ideas for I want to sketch and expect for future me to figure out what past me wrote. For this one, I wrote down "Sandslash Cute" and I don't think I knew what exactly I meant. I think I succeeded though!! #Sandslash #Art

A Sandslash is laying belly down, arms holding her head and claws underneath her cheeks. She stares adoringly into the viewer, blushing as she wags her massive tail like a dog. She is ADORABLE. Enjoy your day!!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 29/10/2024

Alolan Sandshrew is thinking very hard. I've been so busy recently that now that I'm more free, I have no idea what to do either. Perhaps draw more sketches? #Sandshrew #Art

Sketch of an Alolan Sandshrew thinking. He has a big question mark above his tilted head, as he puts his left hand claws on his chin. What's for dinner anyways?

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 28/10/2024

I got the Stampede Hats from Mesagoza, directly where my icon is! You need the Indigo Style Card from the DLC to get them though.

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 28/10/2024

Yesterday, I caught Destiny Mark Shiny Sandshrew in Pokémon Scarlet. The Destiny Mark appeared at 10 and 15 from 24 1/512 Shinies! I didn't catch any Kantonian Destiny Marks but there's always next year! Now I'm at 175 of the Shiny Sands lines caught! #ShinyPokémon #Sandshrew #PokémonScarletViolet

Screenshot of Pokémon Scarlet showcasing my two Shiny Sandshrew, both with the Destiny Mark and both titled as the Chosen Ones! There's two of them, so shouldn't they be called the Chosen Two?

The second Shiny appears to not be visible but you can tell by the shade of the shell. It is slightly more silver than white.

Box showing the Shiny Sandshrew I caught on 10/27/2024. (The box sprites may not appear as non-Shiny but trust me, they are.)

First Destiny Mark Shiny Sandshrew, relaxing in the grass next to the beach at the Coastal Plaza.

This is using the non-boosted event outbreaks of Sandshrew held in October 2024.

Second Destiny Mark Shiny Alolan Sandshrew, sparkling next to the crazy girl who thinks the Sandshrew are Slowpoke.

This is using the non-boosted event outbreaks of Sandshrew held in October 2024.

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 27/10/2024

1/4096 Shiny Sandshrew in only 11 hordes!! (55 seen) and she's my 151st Shiny of the line!! I didn't think I'd get my 151st before my birthday started but I got lucky!! It's now my birthday. I have as many Shiny Sands as there are in the Kanto Pokédex. Yay!! #ShinyPokémon #Sandshrew #AlphaSapphire

Both of my Shiny Sandshrew in a horde battle in Alpha Sapphire!!

Both of my Shiny Sandshrew in the puzzle mode in Pokémon Amie, specifically night in the city backdrop. My Shiny Delcatty "Luna" is there too!!

Stats and Moves screen! Other than being a Shiny Sandshrew, nothing too crazy here!

This Sandshrew is Calm natured and came from Route 111!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 26/10/2024

1/191 Shiny Sandshrew after 405 Sandshrew DexNav encounters!! I found her boosted, first encounter after a break. Her name is Zinnia!! She's my fourth member of my Alpha Sapphire DTQ and the 150th of the Shiny Sandshrew lines I've caught! #Sandshrew #ShinyPokémon #AlphaSapphire

Screenshot of a Shiny Sandshrew in a wild battle in Pokémon: Alpha Sapphire! This is my newly acquired Shiny Sandshrew, Zinnia.

While I can't fit this in my post, her name was inspired by my 100th Shiny Sands: "Amaryllis", who I caught in Pokémon X. I chose this name because of the flower, unknowing that Amaryllis is the same name as the Pokémon character Zinnia, from the French version of Pokémon ORAS. It would make sense that the soon-to-be Sandslash would be named something that compliments my XY Sandslash, so Zinnia it is!!

The Sandshrew I caught is staring at me, unaware that she found the best Sandshrew caretaker and that I will love her SO MUCH.

Stats and Move screen! Zinnia has the Chip Away egg move and her hidden ability: Sand Rush!

Nature and location screen! Bashful nature, from Route 113!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 26/10/2024

I may have been too focused on my Shiny hunts and have neglected to post some sketches. Here's some Sands sketches! They're all going to be redrawn for my server emotes in the future, which is why these aren't the happiest ones, haha. I'll try to be more frequent! #Sandslash #Sandshrew #Drilbur #Art

A sketch of the Pokémon Sandshrew, with a blank stare. She is holding a pistol and is ready to fire it. You have said something too awful and not even this Sandshrew can forgive you. Apologize immediately or face the consequences.

A sketch of the Pokémon Sandslash, lifting his arms up, flames in his eyes. He is standing within a background of flames and seems to be in quite the intense situation. Whether he was put here from others or his own choice, we do not know. Wish him luck.

A sketch of the Pokémon Alolan Sandslash, looking down and crying like the popular crying cat meme. The Sandslash is thinking about something so sad, that she can't help but cry. Please cheer up soon, Sandslash!!

A completely normal sketch of a Sandshrew— wait... That's a sketch of the Pokémon Drilbur!

This Drilbur is holding up a stick with a mask disguise. The disguise has a fake mustache, glasses and a set of fake Sandshrew ears. The Drilbur behind is shivering in fear, yet still trying to give his best smile. Besides the sketch, I have left a note about the drawing: "Despite looking like a Sandshrew, this is a Drilbur!!".

Even with the efforts that this Drilbur is making to not be known, I don't quite see the point. Drilbur is still a cute Pokémon.

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 21/10/2024

I've been doing raids in Pokémon Scarlet for the recent event outbreaks, which included Alolan Sandshrew. The distribution for the outbreaks ended but if I don't go online, I can keep them! Starting from 0 at event start, I got 1,707 Herba Mystica! I'll Shiny hunt some Sandshrew on my birthday!

A screenshot of Pokémon Scarlet, showcasing the Herba Mystica I was getting in the game. I have 338 Sweet, Sour, Bitter and Spicy Herba Mystica, with 345 Salty for a whole 1,707 Herba Mystica. That is over 426 hours of Sparkling Power Lv3.

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 19/10/2024

Sandslash are really cute. I could imagine them pointing their claws together and making a little heart with them. #Sandslash #Art

The Pokémon Alolan Sandslash looks at the viewer and uses her claws to form a heart shape. It's a really cute way of forming a heart.

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

Sleepy Alolan Sandshrew sketch! Rest well Sandshrew! #Sandshrew #Art

The Pokémon Alolan Sandshrew sleeping, with big ZZZs coming from him. He is very cute!! Rest well!!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 17/10/2024

Hi!! I also drew this Sandshrew as well. I love drawing these cute little guys!

The Pokémon Sandshrew digging out of the sand, waving her right arm and saying "Hi!!" to the viewer. She seems happy to see you!

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Leo @arceusofthetacos.bsky.social · 17/10/2024

Hello everyone from Bluesky!! Whether I post my Shiny Pokémon finds or traditional Pokémon drawings, I will attempt to be active here. Have a happy Sandslash I drew this month and have yourself a wonderful day!!

The Pokémon Sandslash pointing his claws together and smiling. He is happy to see you here!!

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