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Can You Breed Pokémon in Sun and Moon? The Ultimate Guide

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Yes, you can absolutely breed Pokémon in Pokémon Sun and Moon and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. The core breeding mechanics remain largely the same as in previous games, allowing you to hatch eggs containing Pokémon with inherited stats, moves, and even abilities. Let’s dive into the details of how breeding works in these Alola region adventures.

Understanding Pokémon Breeding in Alola

Breeding in Pokémon Sun and Moon, like previous generations, takes place at a Pokémon Nursery. This time, the nursery is located on Akala Island, specifically on Route 4. You’ll need to progress through the story until you reach this point to unlock the breeding functionality.

The Key to Successful Breeding: Compatibility

The most important aspect of Pokémon breeding is compatibility. Not all Pokémon can breed together. Compatibility is determined by several factors:

Egg Groups: Every Pokémon belongs to one or two Egg Groups. To breed successfully, two Pokémon need to share at least one Egg Group. For example, a Pikachu (belonging to the Fairy and Field Egg Groups) can breed with an Eevee (belonging to the Field Egg Group) because they both share the Field Egg Group.
Gender: Generally, you need one male and one female Pokémon to breed. However, there are exceptions (more on that later).
Same Species: Pokémon of the same species (e.g., two Pikachus) are guaranteed to breed, regardless of their individual Egg Groups.
Ditto: The MVP of breeding! Ditto can breed with almost any Pokémon, regardless of its Egg Group or gender (excluding Legendary and Mythical Pokémon). This makes Ditto invaluable for filling gaps in your breeding teams.

How to Leave Pokémon at the Nursery

Once you’ve determined that two Pokémon are compatible, simply talk to the Nursery Lady outside the Nursery building. She will ask you which two Pokémon you want to leave with her. Select the two compatible Pokémon and they’ll be left at the Nursery.

Receiving an Egg

After leaving your Pokémon, explore the area for a while or continue your adventure. Periodically, speak to the Nursery Man standing outside the fenced area. He’ll tell you if your Pokémon have produced an egg. If they have, he’ll offer you the egg. You can only hold one egg at a time, so make sure you have an empty slot in your party before talking to him. The time it takes for an egg to appear varies depending on the Pokémon being bred and whether they are of the same species.

Hatching Your Egg

Once you have the egg, keep it in your party. Eggs hatch based on the number of steps you take. Pokémon with the ability Flame Body or Magma Armor will halve the number of steps required to hatch an egg when placed in your party. Common Pokémon with Flame Body include Magmar and Fletchinder. Run around the Alola region, and after enough steps, your egg will hatch, revealing your new Pokémon!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pokémon Breeding in Sun and Moon

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of Pokémon breeding in Sun and Moon and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon:

Can Legendary Pokémon breed? No, most Legendary and Mythical Pokémon cannot breed. This is to maintain their rarity and prevent players from easily obtaining multiples of these powerful Pokémon. The exception is Manaphy, which can breed and will produce Phione Eggs.
What is the Destiny Knot and why is it important? The Destiny Knot is a held item that ensures that the Pokémon holding it will pass down 5 of its 12 IVs (Individual Values) to its offspring. This is crucial for competitive breeding as it allows you to reliably pass down desirable stats.
How do I get a Destiny Knot? You can obtain a Destiny Knot by defeating Dexio in the Battle Tree after becoming the Alola Champion. You can also find one hidden in the game world, but the Battle Tree is the most reliable method.
What are IVs and why do they matter? IVs (Individual Values) are hidden stats that range from 0 to 31 for each of a Pokémon’s six stats (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed). Higher IVs result in higher stats at level 100, making a significant difference in competitive battles.
What are Egg Moves and how do I get them? Egg Moves are moves that a Pokémon can only learn through breeding. The baby Pokémon will inherit Egg Moves from the father (or in some cases, both parents). To pass down Egg Moves, the father needs to know the desired move, and the mother needs to be of a species that can learn that move as an Egg Move. From Sword and Shield onwards, the mother can also pass down Egg Moves, provided there is an empty move slot.
How do I get a Pokémon with a specific Nature? Use an Everstone. If a parent Pokémon holds an Everstone, the offspring has a 50% chance of inheriting that parent’s Nature. This is essential for competitive breeding, as certain Natures boost specific stats and hinder others.
Where can I buy Everstones? You can obtain an Everstone by finding one in the game world. You can also purchase multiple Everstones in Konikoni City at Olivia’s jewelry shop.
What are Abilities, and how do I get a Hidden Ability through breeding? Abilities are traits that Pokémon possess that can affect battles in various ways. Some Pokémon have a Hidden Ability, which is rarer and often more powerful. To get a Pokémon with its Hidden Ability, you need to breed with a Pokémon that already has its Hidden Ability. The mother has an 80% chance of passing down her Hidden Ability. If breeding with a Ditto, the Ditto needs to have the Hidden Ability.
Can I breed two of the same gender Pokémon with each other? No, you cannot. You need either a male and a female of compatible Egg Groups or a Pokémon and a Ditto.
What happens if I breed a Pokémon with a different language Ditto? Breeding a Pokémon with a Ditto from a game with a different language ID significantly increases your chances of hatching a Shiny Pokémon. This is known as the Masuda method.
What are Shiny Pokémon? Shiny Pokémon are Pokémon with a different color palette than their normal counterparts. They are extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors.
How do I improve my chances of hatching a Shiny Pokémon? Besides using the Masuda method, you can also obtain a Shiny Charm. The Shiny Charm significantly increases the odds of encountering or hatching Shiny Pokémon.
How do I get the Shiny Charm? You obtain the Shiny Charm by completing the Alola Pokédex (excluding Mythical Pokémon) and speaking to Professor Kukui at his lab on Route 1.
Does the Pokémon’s level affect breeding? No, the level of the Pokémon does not affect its ability to breed or the stats of the offspring. Only Egg Groups, gender, held items (like the Destiny Knot and Everstone), and Abilities are relevant factors.
What are the best locations to hatch eggs quickly? Anywhere with a long, straight path is ideal. Popular choices include the area in front of the Pokémon Nursery on Akala Island, the roads of Ula’ula Island, or circling around Heahea City. Using a Pokémon with Flame Body or Magma Armor in your party will further speed up the hatching process.

Conclusion

Breeding in Pokémon Sun and Moon and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon offers a rewarding way to obtain Pokémon with specific stats, moves, and abilities. By understanding the mechanics of Egg Groups, IV inheritance, Nature selection, and Hidden Ability acquisition, you can breed the perfect team for your Alola adventures. So get out there, start breeding, and create the Pokémon team of your dreams!