RARE AND SHINY POKEMON
SOS battles also make finding rarer specimens of species (such as Pokemon with hidden abilities or maxed IVs), as well as the super rare shiny Pokemon, easier. Simply put, the longer you get a chain of SOS battles going (by killing the help a Pokemon calls, then letting it call for more help, and so on), the higher your chances become of finding Pokemon with max IVs, hidden abilities, or shiny ones. Not only that, but Pokemon can also call upon otherwise rarer Pokemon to help during SOS battles- so for instance, at the very beginning of the game, a Bagon can call upon a Level 10 Salamence to help, which is the only way for you to get a Salamence without evolving a Bagon, and certainly the only way to get one at Level 10. A lot of Pokemon, such as Pikachu, are only found as SOS partners in the wild, in fact- it’s either that, or leveling their pre-evolutions all the way up.
