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Are There Egg Moves in Pokémon Violet? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, Egg Moves are absolutely present and thriving in Pokémon Violet! In fact, not only can you obtain them through traditional breeding and egg hatching, but Pokémon Violet also introduces a fantastic new mechanic that makes acquiring these powerful moves easier than ever before: the Mirror Herb. This guide dives deep into the world of Egg Moves in Pokémon Violet, explaining how to obtain them, how the Mirror Herb works, and answering your most frequently asked questions about this crucial aspect of Pokémon training.

Understanding Egg Moves: A Primer

Egg Moves are special moves that a Pokémon can learn only through breeding. Typically, these are moves that the Pokémon wouldn’t normally learn through leveling up or TMs. They add a layer of depth and customization to your team, allowing you to create Pokémon with unique and powerful move sets. Think of them as inheritable skills, passed down from parent to offspring.

The Two Methods for Obtaining Egg Moves in Pokémon Violet

Pokémon Violet offers two primary methods for teaching your Pokémon Egg Moves: traditional breeding and the innovative Mirror Herb method.

1. Traditional Breeding

The classic Pokémon breeding process remains a viable, albeit sometimes more time-consuming, way to get Egg Moves. Here’s how it works:

Find Compatible Parents: The first step is to find a male Pokémon that knows the desired Egg Move and a female Pokémon (or a Ditto) that is compatible with the male Pokémon’s Egg Group. Egg Groups are categories that determine which Pokémon can breed with each other.
The Picnic: Head out and set up a Picnic. The Pokémon you wish to breed must be in your active party to proceed.
Wait for an Egg: During the picnic, your Pokémon will interact. With some patience, you’ll find an egg in your picnic basket. Food buffs can influence the likelihood of an egg appearing (more on this later).
Hatch the Egg: Once you have an egg, carry it with you in your party until it hatches. The hatched Pokémon will inherit the Egg Move from its father. Pokémon hatch after a certain number of steps. The easiest way to accrue steps fast is by riding on Koraidon or Miraidon (and there are tricks to speed up the process, like rubber-banding your controller to run in circles!).

2. The Mirror Herb Method: A Revolutionary Approach

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduce the Mirror Herb, a game-changer for obtaining Egg Moves. This method streamlines the process significantly.

Obtain a Mirror Herb: Mirror Herbs can be purchased at Delibird Presents shops across the Paldea region.
Prepare Your Pokémon:
- Add the Pokémon that needs to learn the Egg Move to your party.
- Equip that Pokémon with the Mirror Herb to hold.
- Ensure this Pokémon has at least one empty move slot (forget a move if necessary at the Move Reminder with “Check Summary”).
The Move Donor:
- Add a Pokémon that already knows the desired Egg Move to your party.
Picnic Time! Start a Picnic. While the Pokémon are in your party during the Picnic, the Pokémon holding the Mirror Herb will learn the Egg Move from its party member. This typically occurs very quickly, often immediately after starting the Picnic.
Enjoy Your New Move: When the Pokémon learn the Egg move, close out the Picnic, and you’ll be able to use the new move in battle.

Tips and Tricks for Efficient Egg Move Acquisition

Food Buffs: Certain food items consumed during a Picnic can increase the rate at which eggs appear. Look for recipes with Egg Power.
Ditto is Your Friend: Ditto can breed with almost any Pokémon, making it invaluable for Egg Move breeding.
Patience is Key: Even with the Mirror Herb, sometimes things might not work on the first try. Double-check that you’ve followed all the steps correctly.
Location, Location, Location: While it may be superstitious, some players swear by the location where the Picnic is set up. Experiment to find a spot that works for you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Egg Moves in Pokémon Violet

Here are 15 common questions, answered to further clarify the mechanics and nuances of the process.

1. Can any Pokémon learn any Egg Move?

No, Egg Moves are specific to each Pokémon. A Pokémon can only learn Egg Moves that are part of its designated move pool. Serebii.net and Bulbapedia are excellent resources for determining which Egg Moves each Pokémon can learn.

2. Does the level of the parent Pokémon matter for Egg Moves?

No, the level of the parent Pokémon does not affect whether the offspring learns an Egg Move. The important factor is that the male parent knows the desired Egg Move.

3. Does the Ditto need to know the move, or just the other parent?

When breeding with Ditto, the Pokémon that isn’t Ditto needs to know the desired Egg Move. Ditto acts as the surrogate parent, and the move is inherited from the other parent.

4. Is the Mirror Herb a one-time use item?

No, the Mirror Herb is reusable. You can use it multiple times to teach different Egg Moves to different Pokémon.

5. What if the Pokémon already has four moves and I use a Mirror Herb?

When using the Mirror Herb, the Pokémon receiving the move must have an open move slot. If the Pokémon has four moves, it will need to forget one before the Egg Move can be learned. You can forget moves by checking summary on your Pokémon and selecting “Remember moves”. Then, you can elect to have the Pokémon forget a previously learned move for the new move.

6. Can I breed two Pokémon of the same species together to get Egg Moves?

Yes, you can breed two Pokémon of the same species together. This is often the easiest way to pass down Egg Moves, as they are automatically compatible.

7. Do I need to breed to get Egg Moves?

Not anymore! With the introduction of the Mirror Herb in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, breeding is no longer the only way to obtain Egg Moves. The Mirror Herb offers a direct transfer method.

8. How long does it take to hatch an egg in Pokémon Violet?

The time it takes to hatch an egg varies depending on the Pokémon. Some Pokémon hatch quickly, while others require significantly more steps. Having a Pokémon with the ability Flame Body or Magma Armor in your party can halve the number of steps required to hatch an egg.

9. Can Pokémon in the Ditto Egg Group breed with each other?

Unfortunately, no. Pokémon in the Ditto Egg Group cannot breed with each other. This means you cannot breed Ditto with another Ditto.

10. What are the best Egg Moves to look for?

The “best” Egg Moves depend on the specific Pokémon and your team strategy. Some popular and powerful Egg Moves include Dragon Dance for Tyranitar, High Jump Kick for Cinderace, and Volt Tackle for Pikachu. Experiment to find the moves that best suit your needs.

11. Do Shiny Pokémon pass down their shiny status when breeding?

No, shiny status is not directly inherited. While the odds of hatching a Shiny Pokémon can be slightly increased through the Masuda method (breeding Pokémon from different language regions), it’s still primarily based on chance.

12. Does the Everstone affect Egg Moves?

No, the Everstone only affects the Nature of the hatched Pokémon, not the Egg Moves they inherit.

13. How do I know which Egg Group a Pokémon belongs to?

You can easily find a Pokémon’s Egg Group by searching online on sites like Serebii.net or Bulbapedia. These resources provide comprehensive information about every Pokémon, including their Egg Groups.

14. What are the advantages of using the Mirror Herb over traditional breeding?

The Mirror Herb method offers several advantages:

Speed: It’s significantly faster than breeding, as you don’t have to wait for an egg to hatch.
Convenience: It eliminates the need to find compatible parents for breeding.
Flexibility: It allows you to transfer Egg Moves to Pokémon that may be difficult to breed traditionally.

15. Where can I learn more about the strategy behind using Pokémon?

There are many resources online that can teach the ins and outs of Pokémon strategy. To help foster understanding, learning, and engagement with video games, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org or https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for more information!

Final Thoughts

Egg Moves are a vital part of competitive Pokémon battling and a fun way to customize your team. Pokémon Violet, with its introduction of the Mirror Herb, makes acquiring these powerful moves more accessible than ever. So, get out there, experiment with different Egg Moves, and create a team that’s truly your own!

Are there egg moves in Pokemon Violet?