Does Everstone Pass Down Minted Nature in Pokémon Breeding? The Definitive Guide
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The short answer is no, an Everstone will not pass down a minted nature. While a Nature Mint can effectively change the stat boosts associated with a Pokémon’s Nature, it does not actually alter the underlying Nature itself. The Everstone passes down the original Nature that the Pokémon possessed before the Mint was used.
Understanding Natures, Mints, and Breeding Mechanics
To fully grasp this concept, we need to delve into the mechanics of Natures, Mints, and breeding in the Pokémon world. Natures have been a staple since Generation III, each influencing two of a Pokémon’s stats: one stat receives a 10% boost, while another receives a 10% decrease. A few Natures, like Hardy, Docile, and Quirky, are neutral and don’t affect any stats.
Nature Mints, introduced in later generations, provide a convenient way to tweak a Pokémon’s stat growth to better suit a particular competitive strategy. They allow you to essentially “re-nature” your Pokémon without physically changing its hidden Nature value. Think of it as cosmetic surgery – the outside looks different, but the inside remains the same.
Breeding, on the other hand, is where things get interesting. When a Pokémon holds an Everstone during breeding, the offspring has a 50% or 100% chance, depending on the game, of inheriting the parent’s Nature. The key word here is Nature, not the stat modifications caused by a Mint. The game checks the actual Nature, not the effective Nature displayed after Mint usage. The Everstone is a very useful item to help pass down Natures.
So, if you have an Adamant Pokémon (boosting Attack, hindering Special Attack) and use a Timid Mint (boosting Speed, hindering Attack), the Pokémon will effectively behave as a Timid Pokémon in battle. However, if you breed that Pokémon while it’s holding an Everstone, its offspring will still have a chance of inheriting the original Adamant Nature.
Why This Matters: Competitive Breeding
This distinction is critical for competitive breeders. If you’re aiming for a specific Nature for your competitive team, you need to either find Pokémon with that Nature in the wild, or you need to breed for it using the Everstone and a Pokémon with the desired original Nature.
Mints are useful for tweaking existing Pokémon, but they’re a shortcut, not a permanent solution for passing down traits. The Everstone is the tool to make your perfect competitive monster!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you navigate the intricacies of Natures, Mints, and breeding:
1. How does the Everstone actually work in breeding?
The Everstone, when held by a parent Pokémon during breeding, guarantees or greatly increases the chances that the offspring will inherit that parent’s Nature. Without an Everstone, the Nature is randomly determined.
2. Can Ditto pass down its Nature with an Everstone?
Yes! Ditto can hold an Everstone and pass down its Nature. It will always act as the parent carrying the Nature.
3. What happens if both parents hold an Everstone?
In some games, if both parents hold an Everstone, the game randomly selects which parent’s Nature will be passed down.
4. Does the Everstone pass down other traits, like IVs or Abilities?
No, the Everstone only affects the inheritance of Nature. For passing down IVs, you’ll need a Destiny Knot. Abilities are determined separately.
5. Can I see a Pokémon’s original Nature after using a Mint?
Yes, the Pokémon’s original Nature is always visible on its summary screen, even after applying a Mint. This is the Nature that will be passed down through breeding with an Everstone.
6. Where can I buy Nature Mints?
Nature Mints are typically available for purchase at Chansey Supply shops in various locations within the game.
7. How much do Nature Mints cost?
The price of Nature Mints can vary depending on the game. You can expect to pay around $20,000 in Scarlet and Violet.
8. Is there a way to guarantee a specific Nature without breeding?
No, unless you catch a Pokémon with your desired nature, breeding with an Everstone is the most reliable method to obtain a specific Nature for your Pokémon.
9. What are the best Natures for competitive battling?
The “best” Natures depend on the specific Pokémon and its role in your team. However, some commonly used Natures include Adamant (Attack+, Special Attack-), Modest (Special Attack+, Attack-), Jolly (Speed+, Special Attack-), and Timid (Speed+, Attack-).
10. Are there any Natures that don’t affect stats?
Yes, five Natures don’t affect stats: Hardy, Docile, Serious, Bashful, and Quirky.
11. Does the Everstone affect Shiny Pokémon breeding?
No, the Everstone does not influence whether an egg will hatch into a Shiny Pokémon. Shiny status is determined separately.
12. Can I breed a Pokémon that cannot normally breed?
Some Pokémon belong to the “Undiscovered” egg group, which means they cannot breed, even with Ditto. Legendary Pokémon often fall into this category. You should also take a look into the resources and community found in the Games Learning Society to learn more. GamesLearningSociety.org is a great resource.
13. How do I quickly hatch eggs?
To speed up egg hatching, keep a Pokémon with the Flame Body or Magma Armor Ability in your party. These Abilities halve the number of steps required for an egg to hatch.
14. What is the Destiny Knot?
The Destiny Knot is an item that, when held by a parent Pokémon, ensures that five IVs are passed down to the offspring from either parent. This is essential for breeding Pokémon with high IVs.
15. Is it worth it to breed for specific Natures and IVs?
For competitive battling, absolutely! Having the right Nature and high IVs can significantly improve a Pokémon’s performance.