Eevee and Ditto: A Breeding Bonanza?
The short answer is a resounding yes! Eevee can absolutely be bred with Ditto. In fact, Ditto is often the most reliable way to breed Eevee, especially if you’re working with a male Eevee. Let’s delve into the wonderful world of Pokémon breeding and explore why this pairing is so effective.
The Magic of Pokémon Breeding
Pokémon breeding is a core mechanic in the Pokémon games, allowing players to create new Pokémon and pass down desirable traits. While some pairings are straightforward (think Pikachu and Raichu, though they are in different evolution states), others require a bit more understanding of Egg Groups and gender roles. This is where Ditto shines.
Ditto, the Transform Pokémon, has a unique ability: it can breed with nearly any Pokémon. This is because Ditto essentially takes on the role of the missing gender in a pairing. If you have a male Eevee, you can’t breed it with another male Eevee. But pair it with a Ditto, and suddenly, you’re in business! Ditto effectively becomes a “placeholder” female, enabling the production of Eevee eggs.
Why Breed Eevee?
Eevee is a highly sought-after Pokémon due to its unique ability to evolve into eight different forms, known as Eeveelutions. These include Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, and Sylveon. Each Eeveelution has a distinct type and set of abilities, making Eevee incredibly versatile.
Breeding allows you to:
- Obtain multiple Eevees: Instead of searching endlessly in the wild, breeding offers a reliable source of Eevees.
- Breed for Natures and IVs: With careful planning and items like Everstones and Destiny Knots, you can influence the Nature and Individual Values (IVs) of your offspring, creating more competitive Eevees.
- Pass Down Egg Moves: Certain moves can only be learned by Pokémon through breeding.
How to Breed Eevee and Ditto
The process is relatively simple across most Pokémon games:
- Catch a Ditto: Find a Ditto. Its location varies from game to game, but it’s often found in caves or areas with high Pokémon density.
- Party Placement: Place both Eevee and Ditto in your active party.
- Visit the Nursery/Day-Care: Deposit both Pokémon at the Nursery or Day-Care. This location varies depending on the game. In recent games like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, you’ll have to initiate a picnic.
- Wait for an Egg: Give the game some time. Eggs don’t appear instantly. Usually, the Day-Care attendant will indicate when an egg is available. In the case of a picnic, a basket beside your table fills up.
- Collect the Egg: Retrieve the egg from the attendant or the picnic basket.
- Hatch the Egg: Carry the egg in your party and walk around. Each egg has a specific number of steps required to hatch. The best way to hatch eggs is by riding around on Koraidon/Miraidon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
The Importance of Egg Groups
Pokémon are classified into different Egg Groups, which determine which Pokémon can breed together. Ditto belongs to the Ditto Egg Group, which is unique. Ditto can breed with virtually any Pokémon that isn’t in the Undiscovered Egg Group. This group primarily consists of legendary and mythical Pokémon, as well as baby Pokémon that cannot produce eggs. Eevee belongs to the Field Egg Group, making it fully compatible with Ditto.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Eevee and Ditto Breeding
Here are some common questions and answers to help you master the art of Eevee and Ditto breeding:
-
Can you get a female Eevee from a male Eevee and a Ditto? Yes, you can. However, remember that Eevee has a skewed gender ratio, with only a 12.5% chance of being female. This means you might have to hatch several eggs before getting a female.
-
Can Eevee breed with Ditto in Pokémon HeartGold? Absolutely! The core mechanics remain the same across different games in the series. Place them in the Day-Care, and an egg will appear. The provided tip about running up to Goldenrod City can help speed up the egg-generation process.
-
Can you breed a Vaporeon with Ditto to get an Eevee? Yes, breeding any of Eevee’s evolutions (Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, Sylveon) with Ditto will result in an Eevee egg.
-
What can I breed Eevee with besides Ditto? If you have a female Eevee, you can breed it with any male Pokémon in the Field Egg Group. This gives you a wide range of options.
-
Can Umbreon breed with Ditto? Yes, Umbreon can breed with Ditto. As long as a Pokémon isn’t in the Undiscovered Egg Group, Ditto can breed with it.
-
Can Eevee breed with each other? Yes, but only if you have one male and one female Eevee.
-
Are male Eevees rarer than female Eevees? No, male Eevees are actually much more common than female Eevees. The gender ratio is heavily skewed towards males. Eevee has an 87.5% chance of being male and a 12.5% chance of being female.
-
What happens if you put two Dittos in the Day-Care? Nothing. Two Dittos cannot breed with each other. They only breed with other Pokémon.
-
Can you influence the Nature of the Eevee hatched from an egg? Yes! By giving one of the parents an Everstone to hold, the hatched Eevee has a 50% chance of inheriting that parent’s Nature.
-
What is the “Masuda method”, and how does it apply to Eevee breeding? The Masuda method involves breeding two Pokémon from different regions (e.g., one caught in an English game and one caught in a Japanese game). This significantly increases the chances of hatching a Shiny Pokémon. This method works perfectly with Eevee and Ditto.
-
Can you breed a Shiny Ditto with Eevee to guarantee a Shiny Eevee? No, having a Shiny Ditto does not guarantee that the offspring will be Shiny. However, it does increase the chances if you also employ the Masuda method.
-
Can you breed Legendary Pokémon with Ditto to get more Legendaries? No, Legendary Pokémon (with the exception of Manaphy) belong to the Undiscovered Egg Group and cannot breed, even with Ditto.
-
Can you breed an Eevee with a Pokémon from a different Egg Group by using Ditto as an intermediary? No. The Egg Group of the other Pokémon does not matter when breeding with Ditto. As long as the Pokémon can breed, Ditto can partner with it. The egg will still be for the species that isn’t Ditto, even if the other species wouldn’t normally be able to breed together.
-
Can Eevee learn special moves through breeding, and how does Ditto factor into that? Yes, Eevee can learn Egg Moves, which are moves it cannot learn through leveling up or TMs. The male parent must know the desired move for the Eevee to inherit it. Ditto can pass down these moves if it is bred with a female Pokémon that knows the move.
-
Does the Ability of Ditto affect the offspring Eevee in any way? No. Ditto’s ability does not directly impact the ability of the offspring Eevee. The offspring will have a chance to inherit one of the possible abilities for Eevee itself.
Conclusion: Embrace the Eevee-Ditto Power Couple
Breeding Eevee with Ditto is a cornerstone of Pokémon breeding, offering a reliable path to obtaining multiple Eevees, influencing their stats, and passing down valuable moves. Embrace the transformative power of Ditto and unlock the full potential of your Eevee team. This is especially helpful when trying to catch them all!
For more information on game-based learning, consider exploring the resources available at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.