Mastering Egg Moves: The Power of the Mirror Herb

The key item that teaches Egg Moves in recent Pokémon games is the Mirror Herb. This ingenious item allows a Pokémon to learn an Egg Move from a compatible Pokémon in your party without the need for traditional breeding. Let’s delve into the intricacies of how this works and explore related questions to become true Egg Move masters.

Unlocking Potential: The Mirror Herb’s Function

The Mirror Herb has revolutionized Egg Move acquisition in games like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Unlike previous generations where breeding was the only way to pass down these special moves, the Mirror Herb provides a significantly faster and more convenient method.

How to Use the Mirror Herb to Learn Egg Moves:

1. Party Setup: Place the Pokémon you want to learn the Egg Move in your party.

2. Equip the Mirror Herb: Give the Mirror Herb to the Pokémon that needs to learn the Egg Move.

3. Move Slot Availability: Ensure the learning Pokémon has at least one empty move slot by having it forget a move.

4. The Teacher: Add a Pokémon to your party that already knows the desired Egg Move. This Pokémon must be compatible to pass the move. The “teacher” can pass egg moves of the same species or within compatible egg groups.

5. Picnic Time: Start a picnic. The Egg Move transfer happens almost instantaneously when the picnic begins.

6. Confirmation: End the picnic. Your Pokémon should now have learned the Egg Move!

The Mirror Herb bypasses traditional breeding mechanics. It allows you to instantly transfer an Egg Move from one Pokémon to another compatible Pokémon in your party. This method is particularly beneficial for adding valuable Egg Moves to Shiny Pokémon or Pokémon with ideal stats that you don’t want to breed away.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Egg Moves and the Mirror Herb

1. Can you teach Egg Moves without breeding?

Yes! Since Pokémon Sword and Shield, the introduction of mechanics like the Mirror Herb allows you to teach Egg Moves without breeding. This is especially useful for adding Egg Moves to Shiny Pokémon or those with perfect stats.

2. How do you teach multiple Egg Moves at once?

The Mirror Herb transfers one Egg Move at a time. To learn multiple Egg Moves, you need the teaching Pokémon to know all the moves you wish to transfer. The receiving Pokémon needs to have enough open move slots to receive all the egg moves.

3. Can you learn Egg Moves from a Move Tutor?

No, Egg Moves are unique in that they cannot be learned from Move Tutors. Move Tutors teach moves that the Pokémon can potentially learn through leveling up or other means. Egg Moves are specific to breeding or, through the use of Mirror Herb.

4. Can you relearn forgotten Egg Moves?

Yes, any Pokémon hatched in Generation VI onward can relearn any move it knew upon hatching from the Move Reminder. This is only for moves known from hatching (before the Battle Ready symbol is added.)

5. How do Egg Groups affect the Mirror Herb method?

Oddly enough, they don’t. Egg groups are irrelevant when using the Mirror Herb method. The Pokémon still have to be the same species, but that is the only requirement!

6. What does the Mirror Herb do besides teach Egg Moves?

The primary function of the Mirror Herb is to allow a Pokémon to learn Egg Moves from a party member without breeding. The original effect of this held item is for the holder to mirror the target’s stat boosts, but that is a single use and often not worth the item slot.

7. Are Egg Moves important for competitive battling?

Absolutely! Egg Moves can provide access to crucial moves that a Pokémon wouldn’t normally learn, significantly enhancing their competitive viability. Access to moves like Knock Off, Rapid Spin, or Belly Drum, can give Pokémon unique niches and strategies in battle.

8. Can you teach Egg Moves without breeding in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Yes, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet fully support teaching Egg Moves without breeding using the Mirror Herb. The process is straightforward and efficient, as outlined earlier in this article.

9. Does the Pokémon learning the Egg Move need to be the same species as the Pokémon teaching it?

Yes. The most recent iterations of the game only allow same species Pokémon to pass egg moves with the Mirror Herb.

10. How long does it take for the Mirror Herb to work?

The transfer of Egg Moves via the Mirror Herb is almost instantaneous. Simply setting up and then immediately closing a picnic triggers the transfer, making it incredibly efficient.

11. Where can you find the Mirror Herb?

The Mirror Herb can be purchased at Delibird Presents shops in cities like Cascarrafa. Be prepared to spend, though, as useful items rarely come cheap!

12. Do Egg Moves come from the father or mother?

In traditional breeding, Egg Moves are primarily passed down from the father. However, with the Mirror Herb method, it is the donor of the egg move that passes the egg move.

13. Can a Pokémon have more than four Egg Moves?

While a Pokémon can only have four moves at a time, it can technically have more than four Egg Moves in its repertoire. You can teach it four Egg Moves, and then use a Move Reminder to switch between them as needed.

14. Can you reuse the Mirror Herb?

Unfortunately, the Mirror Herb is a single-use item. Once it facilitates the transfer of an Egg Move, it is consumed.

15. Does Ditto play a role in the Mirror Herb method?

No, Ditto is not involved in the Mirror Herb method. The Mirror Herb method involves two Pokémon, with one Pokémon simply “teaching” the other.

Understanding the Mirror Herb and its mechanics unlocks new strategies and opportunities in Pokémon training. By leveraging this item, trainers can fine-tune their teams with the perfect move sets, giving them a competitive edge in battles. For more in-depth explorations of gaming and learning, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.