Can You Speed Up Breeding Pokémon? The Ultimate Guide to Fast Egg Hatching

Absolutely! The quest to breed perfect Pokémon, especially shiny ones, can be a test of patience. Fortunately, the Pokémon universe offers several ways to significantly accelerate both the egg production and hatching processes. Let’s dive into the methods to optimize your Pokémon breeding endeavors.

Speeding Up Egg Production

The first step in efficient breeding is getting those eggs! Here’s how to make the process more efficient.

Leveraging Egg Power with Sandwiches

One of the most impactful mechanics in recent Pokémon games, like Scarlet & Violet, is the Egg Power provided by sandwiches. Egg Power increases the rate at which eggs appear in your picnic basket when you leave two compatible Pokémon together.

• Egg Power Level 2: This is the sweet spot. With Egg Power Level 2 active, you should find an egg appearing roughly every 30 seconds, on average. This dramatically reduces the time it takes to collect a batch of eggs.

• Shiny Sandwiches Don’t Help: It’s crucial to note that while sandwiches are fantastic for Egg Power, shiny-boosting sandwiches do not affect the shiny chance of the eggs produced. Focus on Egg Power for speed, and consider shiny-boosting sandwiches only after you’ve hatched the eggs you need.

• Experiment with Recipes: Different sandwich recipes yield different levels of Egg Power. Consult online guides or experiment yourself to find the most efficient recipes for maximizing your egg production.

Accelerating Egg Hatching

Once you have your eggs, the real waiting game begins. Here’s how to drastically cut down on hatching time.

The Flame Body/Magma Armor/Steam Engine Abilities

This is arguably the most crucial element in speeding up egg hatching. Certain Pokémon abilities, namely Flame Body, Magma Armor, and Steam Engine, halve the number of steps required to hatch an egg.

• How it Works: Simply having a Pokémon with one of these abilities in your party will activate the effect.

• Optimizing Your Party: The most efficient strategy is to fill your party with one Pokémon with Flame Body (or Magma Armor or Steam Engine) and five eggs. This ensures that every step you take contributes directly to hatching those eggs.

• Which Pokémon Have These Abilities?: Several Pokémon possess these helpful abilities. Some common choices include:

  • Flame Body: Talonflame, Fletchinder, Volcarona, Coalossal, Raboot, Carkol, Litwick, Lampent, Chandelure.
  • Magma Armor: Camerupt, Slugma, Magcargo.
  • Steam Engine: Coalossal, Rolycoly, Carkol.

Other Factors Affecting Hatching Speed

While Flame Body, Magma Armor, and Steam Engine are the primary ways to accelerate hatching, there are a few other things to keep in mind.

• Base Steps: Each Pokémon species has a different number of base steps required to hatch their eggs. Pokémon like Magikarp have a very low base step count, making their eggs hatch incredibly quickly.

• Movement Speed: The maximum speed at which steps count towards hatching eggs is limited. Going too fast (e.g., driving a car) will prevent your steps from registering. Walking or riding a Pokémon at a moderate pace is ideal.

FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Speeding Up Pokémon Breeding

Here are some frequently asked questions about speeding up the breeding process in Pokémon games:

1. What ability makes breeding faster?

   The abilities Flame Body, Magma Armor, and Steam Engine all reduce the number of steps needed to hatch eggs.

2. What sandwich speeds up breeding?

   Any sandwich providing Egg Power will speed up breeding by increasing the rate at which eggs appear in the picnic basket (or daycare).

3. Do shiny sandwiches work on eggs?

   No, sandwiches that increase shiny odds for wild encounters do not affect the shiny chance of eggs.

4. Do sandwiches affect egg hatching?

   No, sandwiches do not affect egg hatching speed. The Flame Body, Magma Armor, and Steam Engine abilities are the most reliable way to speed up the hatching process.

5. Can Ditto breed with Ditto?

   No, Ditto cannot breed with another Ditto.

6. What is the best Ditto for breeding?

   A Ditto with high IVs (Individual Values) is ideal for breeding Pokémon with desirable stats. A 6 IV Ditto is the best option around for building a team of powerful Pokemon.

7. How long does breeding take in Pokémon Scarlet?

   Without Egg Power, it can take over 30 minutes to produce even one egg. With Egg Power 2, you can get between 35 and 75 eggs per 30 minutes.

8. What is the most Breedable Pokémon?

   Vaporeon is a highly compatible option because it is in the field egg group, which is mostly comprised of mammals.

9. What is the hidden ability via breeding?

   To pass down a Hidden Ability, the female parent Pokémon needs to have the Hidden Ability. You can also use a Ditto without a Hidden Ability and breed it with a Pokémon with a Hidden Ability, regardless of sex.

10. What does Everstone do in breeding?

    An Everstone, when held by a parent Pokémon, guarantees that the offspring will inherit that parent’s Nature.

11. What is the fastest hatching Pokémon?

    Magikarp has the lowest base steps (1,280).

12. What’s the max speed for egg hatching?

    The maximum speed that steps are counted for hatching is approximately 6.5 mph (10.5 km/h).

13. Why breed with high IV Dittos?

    High IV Dittos simplify breeding for competitive Pokémon. They make it easier to obtain offspring with the desired IVs. They can also be used for the Masuda method for obtaining shinies.

14. Does breeding with a shiny Ditto increase shiny odds?

    No, breeding with a shiny Pokémon (including Ditto) does not increase the shiny chance of the offspring through the breeding mechanic.

15. Can Mew and Ditto make an egg?

    No, Mew belongs to the Undiscovered Egg Group and cannot breed, even with Ditto.

Mastering the Art of Pokémon Breeding

Speeding up Pokémon breeding is a combination of strategic planning and utilizing in-game mechanics effectively. By understanding and implementing these methods, you can significantly reduce the time it takes to hatch the perfect Pokémon, whether for competitive battling, completing your Pokédex, or simply acquiring a rare shiny.

Remember to stay informed about the latest updates and strategies within the Pokémon community, as the game evolves over time. Happy breeding! And if you’re interested in learning more about games and learning, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.