Add as a preferred source on GoogleFollow on Google News
Pokemon Go streamer FleeceKing walked nearly 200 kilometers and caught more than 16,000 Pokemon in one week, but still failed to find a single Shiny starter with a Special Background.
The Sydney-based content creator is one of Pokemon Go’s most dedicated players and holds the Guinness World Record for becoming the first person to reach Level 50.
His latest grind took place during Pokemon Go’s Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition, which ran from July 21 to July 27. The event featured rotating starter Pokemon from every generation, with each encounter having a chance to display a Special Background based on the player’s team.
Pokemon Go streamer catches 16,000 Pokemon without Shiny background
Shortly after the event ended in Australia, FleeceKing revealed that he had walked just under 200 kilometers, or roughly 124 miles, while spending hours grinding and streaming Pokemon Go each day.
“I don’t want to see a starter Pokemon again for a really long time,” he said in a video posted to X. “I am exhausted.”
I caught over 16,000 Pokémon in a week during the 10 year anniversary event hunting for shiny starter Pokémon with a background…here’s what I got from the grind…
Did you get any shiny background Pokémon during this event? Let me know 😅 ⬇️ #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/5tDgQLwIm3
— FleeceKing (@ItsFleeceKing) July 29, 2026
FleeceKing compared screenshots of his account from the beginning and end of the event, showing that he had made just over 16,000 catches during the week.
He then revealed the number of Shiny starter Pokemon with Special Backgrounds he had collected.
“Look at all the Shiny background starters I got. Do you love what you see? Because I got none,” he said. “No Shiny background starters in 16,000 catches, nearly 200 kilometers of walking.”
The streamer joked that, despite viewers sometimes accusing him of benefiting from “creator luck” or “streamer luck,” the only thing the event boosted was his desire to sleep.
However, FleeceKing said the week was not a complete loss. He earned large amounts of XP and Stardust, while also collecting several non-Shiny Level 1 Pokemon with Special Backgrounds.
Pokemon Go player gets “luckiest three minutes” with insane catch streak
Pokemon Go players can’t believe other trainers have Shiny streaks
He argued that the starters’ Shiny odds should have been increased because the background encounters were only available for a limited time. Pokemon Go’s official event announcement confirmed that Shiny versions and Special Backgrounds were possible but did not advertise increased Shiny odds for the starters.
FleeceKing ended the video by asking players whether Pokemon Go is beginning to overuse Special Backgrounds, explaining that finding a Shiny can feel disappointing when it does not also have the limited background.
