The Sticky Truth About Honey Trees: Can You Time Skip Your Way to Rare Pokémon?
The burning question on every aspiring Pokémon master’s mind: Can you time skip honey trees? The short and definitive answer is a resounding NO. Honey Trees in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (and its predecessors like Platinum) are notorious for their stubborn adherence to real-world time. Attempting to manipulate your Nintendo Switch’s internal clock to speed up the process of attracting Pokémon to a honey-slathered tree will prove futile. Prepare to embrace the virtue of patience, because these sweet spots operate on a strict six-hour wait time.
The Agony and the Ecstasy of Honey Trees
Honey Trees represent a unique and somewhat frustrating mechanic in the Pokémon world. They offer access to Pokémon that are otherwise difficult or impossible to obtain early in the game. Imagine the thrill of snagging a Heracross or a Munchlax before even tackling the Elite Four! However, this potential comes at a price: the agonizing wait.
The system is deceptively simple:
- Slather a Honey Tree: Select a Honey Tree on the map and apply Honey.
- Wait: Endure the six-hour wait in real-time. This is crucial and the part that can’t be skipped.
- Check the Tree: Return to the tree after six hours and see if it’s shaking. A shaking tree indicates a Pokémon has arrived.
- Engage: Interact with the tree to trigger an encounter with the wild Pokémon.
That six-hour wait is the sticking point. Many players, eager to fill their Pokédex, have tried to bypass this delay by altering their system clock. Sadly, the game developers anticipated this tactic and implemented measures to prevent it. Tampering with the clock will likely result in a 24-hour penalty, effectively extending the waiting time. Your best bet is to slather the trees and then simply play other parts of the game or come back to it after doing other things in your real life.
Why the Time Lock?
Why would the developers implement such a seemingly inconvenient mechanic? Several potential reasons exist:
- Discouraging Exploitation: Preventing clock manipulation prevents players from easily farming rare Pokémon, preserving the intended rarity and challenge.
- Encouraging Exploration: The delay encourages players to explore other aspects of the game while waiting, rather than solely focusing on Honey Tree encounters.
- A Touch of Realism: The timed aspect adds a touch of realism to the game, mirroring the idea that attracting wildlife requires patience and time in the real world.
Ultimately, the time lock on Honey Trees serves as a unique gameplay element that forces players to engage with the game in a deliberate and patient manner. You are encouraged to explore other features and content while waiting for the desired outcomes.
Honey Tree FAQs: Your Sweetest Questions Answered
To further clarify the intricacies of Honey Trees, let’s delve into some frequently asked questions:
1. How long does honey last on a tree?
Honey and any Pokemon that appear will disappear after 24 hours if you don’t check the tree. So be sure to come back and catch them before they’re gone!
2. Does changing the time on my Switch affect Honey Trees?
Yes, and not in a good way! Changing the time will likely result in a 24-hour penalty, preventing any Pokémon from appearing on the Honey Tree during that period.
3. Can I soft reset for a Shiny Pokémon on a Honey Tree?
While you cannot soft reset to change the species of Pokémon appearing, you can soft reset once the tree is shaking. This will allow you to reroll the Pokémon’s gender, IVs (Individual Values), Nature, and shininess. This is a popular method for attempting to obtain a Shiny Heracross or other rare Honey Tree Pokémon.
4. Are Honey Trees the only way to get Munchlax?
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, yes, Honey Trees are the only way to obtain Munchlax. This makes finding the Munchlax-specific trees a valuable endeavor. Note that there are four special Honey Trees that can spawn Munchlax that are specific to you based on your Trainer ID and Secret ID.
5. What happens if I re-slather a Honey Tree before the six hours are up?
Re-slathering a tree essentially resets the timer and the Pokémon selection. This is a waste of Honey and time, so avoid doing it unless you want to change the Pokémon appearing on the tree for some reason.
6. Can I get a female Combee from a Honey Tree?
Yes! Combee is a particularly desirable find on Honey Trees, as only female Combee can evolve into Vespiquen. You can soft reset once a Combee appears to get one with the desired gender and stats.
7. How many Honey Trees are there in the game?
There are a total of 21 Honey Trees scattered across the Sinnoh region.
8. Do all Honey Trees have the same Pokémon?
No. Different Honey Trees have different encounter tables, meaning certain Pokémon are more likely to appear on specific trees. Some trees are also Munchlax-specific, meaning that only those trees can spawn Munchlax.
9. Can I tell which trees are Munchlax trees?
Unfortunately, there is no way to determine which trees are Munchlax trees without trial and error (or external resources). These trees are determined when you start the game, based on your Trainer ID and Secret ID.
10. What Pokémon can I find on Honey Trees?
Common encounters include Aipom, Burmy, Combee, and Cherubi. Rarer encounters include Heracross, Munchlax, and more, depending on the specific Honey Tree.
11. Is it worth the wait to use Honey Trees?
For dedicated players aiming to complete their Pokédex or obtain specific rare Pokémon, Honey Trees are absolutely worth the wait. The chance to obtain a Munchlax or Heracross early in the game is a significant advantage.
12. Can I catch Burmy without using Honey Trees?
Generally, no. Honey Trees are the primary method for obtaining Burmy.
13. Does weather affect Honey Tree encounters?
No, weather does not affect Honey Tree encounters. The species of Pokemon has already been set as soon as you put the honey on the tree. Weather is then accounted for.
14. What do IVs do?
IVs, or Individual Values, are genetic stats in Pokemon games. They are set at the time of the Pokemon’s creation.
15. Can you get Burmy without Honey Trees?
There is no way to find Burmy without using Honey Trees. Burmy is a unique and valuable Pokemon that can be acquired through patience and dedication.
Patience is a Virtue (and a Shiny Heracross)
Honey Trees demand patience, but the rewards can be significant. While you cannot circumvent the real-time waiting periods, you can optimize your strategy by focusing on specific trees, utilizing soft resetting for desired traits, and exploring other aspects of the game while you wait. Remember, the journey of a thousand Pokémon begins with a single slather of Honey! Learn more about the art of game design and the mechanics that make games engaging at the Games Learning Society website: GamesLearningSociety.org.
The wait may be long, but the satisfaction of finally encountering that elusive Shiny Heracross makes it all worthwhile. Happy hunting!