Does Mirror Herb Copy Belly Drum? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, the Mirror Herb will indeed copy Belly Drum. If an opponent uses Belly Drum, which sharply raises their Attack stat at the cost of half their HP, a Pokémon holding a Mirror Herb will also receive the same +6 Attack stage boost, effectively mirroring the effect. This makes the Mirror Herb a highly valuable item for strategic battles and, surprisingly, for breeding purposes as well. The Mirror Herb is more versatile than it first appears and can drastically change the flow of battles and the way you breed Pokémon.
Understanding Mirror Herb’s Battle Mechanics
How Mirror Herb Works in Battle
The Mirror Herb functions as a one-time use item per battle. When an opponent uses a move that boosts one or more of their stats, the Pokémon holding the Mirror Herb will instantly mirror those boosts. For example, if the opponent uses Swords Dance to raise their Attack stat by two stages, the Pokémon with the Mirror Herb will also gain a two-stage boost to their Attack. This effect occurs immediately after the opponent’s boost.
However, it is crucial to understand that the Mirror Herb only activates once per battle. This means that if an opponent uses multiple stat-boosting moves, only the first instance of a stat boost will be mirrored. Therefore, timing and careful strategy are crucial to make the most of this powerful item.
Mirror Herb and Belly Drum
Belly Drum is a very special case because it grants a massive +6 Attack stage increase, or maximum Attack boost. Because of this, the Mirror Herb is extremely effective when used to copy Belly Drum’s stat change. If an opponent utilizes Belly Drum, the Pokémon holding a Mirror Herb will immediately gain that same +6 Attack boost. The power of this item is why a Belly Drum using Pikachu raised suspicion among some players, making them think the user was a hacker. This interaction has significant implications for competitive battling and is a key reason why Mirror Herb is such a sought after item.
Consumption of the Mirror Herb in Battle
One important point to note is that the Mirror Herb is consumed after its first activation in battle. This means it’s a single-use item. If you hold the Mirror Herb in battle with the expectation that it will continue to trigger, the herb will disappear after the first use, even if that boost wasn’t useful or beneficial for the holder. This forces players to be strategic about when they use the item, and to plan a second item for subsequent battles. This is a key factor of Mirror Herb’s in-battle use.
Mirror Herb’s Unexpected Breeding Uses
Egg Moves Transfer with Mirror Herb
Beyond its battle uses, the Mirror Herb has become an integral part of the breeding process, particularly for transferring Egg Moves. With this item, you can transfer Egg Moves without breeding or having compatible egg groups. This method bypasses the traditional breeding system and allows for immediate and efficient Egg Move transfers. This has dramatically changed the way players strategize with move sets.
How to Transfer Egg Moves
To transfer an Egg Move using Mirror Herb, follow these simple steps:
- Ensure the Pokémon receiving the Egg Move has at least one empty move slot. This means that it can know a maximum of three different moves before learning the new Egg Move.
- Give the Mirror Herb to the Pokémon that will learn the Egg Move.
- Start a Picnic with the Pokémon you want to learn the move and the Pokémon that has the desired Egg Move.
- Immediately end the Picnic.
- The Pokémon with the Mirror Herb will now learn the Egg Move.
This process happens instantly upon starting the picnic. The traditional need to breed for egg moves is effectively erased. This is a very powerful tool for competitive battlers and those who want their favorite Pokemon to have certain move sets.
Mirror Herb: No Egg Group Restrictions
Another benefit of the Mirror Herb method is that it ignores Egg Group restrictions. This means that two Pokémon of any Egg Group can transfer Egg Moves to one another as long as one has an open move slot, has a Mirror Herb, and the other knows the Egg Move. This drastically broadens the pool of transfer options, and allows for an easy way to get optimal movesets on your favorite Pokémon. This is another reason why Mirror Herb has dramatically altered the way that players interact with Pokemon.
The Mirror Herb Isn’t Consumed When Teaching Moves
It’s crucial to note that when transferring Egg Moves, the Mirror Herb is not consumed. It can be reused to teach multiple different Pokemon Egg Moves as long as it is outside of battle. This makes it a great resource that does not need to be continually farmed or sought out.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about Mirror Herb, covering both battle and breeding applications:
1. Does Mirror Herb work with same gender Pokémon?
Yes, Mirror Herb works regardless of gender. You can transfer Egg Moves even if both Pokémon are of the same gender.
2. Where can you find Mirror Herb?
The Mirror Herb can be purchased at Delibird Presents shops in Cascarrafa. This is the only location it can be found.
3. How many times can Mirror Herb be used in battle?
Mirror Herb can only be used once per battle. It is consumed after triggering its effect.
4. Does Mirror Herb need to be held in order to learn an egg move?
Yes, the receiving Pokémon needs to hold the Mirror Herb in order to learn an egg move via the picnic method.
5. Can you teach egg moves without breeding?
Yes, using the Mirror Herb and the picnic method, you can transfer Egg Moves without breeding.
6. Does the Mirror Herb disappear when teaching an egg move?
No, the Mirror Herb is not consumed when used to transfer Egg Moves.
7. Does Mirror Herb only copy the last stat boost?
No, it will copy the first stat boost used by the opponent per battle. It will not activate again in the same battle.
8. Why won’t Mirror Herb work?
Make sure the receiving Pokémon has at least one empty move slot for the Mirror Herb trick to work. Otherwise, it will not work.
9. Can Paradox Pokémon learn Belly Drum using Mirror Herb?
Unfortunately, Paradox Pokémon cannot learn egg moves, and therefore cannot receive Belly Drum via the Mirror Herb method. Additionally, Paradox Pokemon cannot breed.
10. How many stages is Belly Drum?
Belly Drum raises the user’s Attack stat to +6 stages, or its maximum boost, regardless of the prior boosts or debuffs.
11. What is the best berry for Belly Drum users like Iron Hands?
A Sitrus Berry is often recommended to recover the HP lost when using Belly Drum, as it restores half HP after being activated.
12. Can White Striped Basculin learn Last Respects?
No, while leaks suggested Basculegion could learn Last Respects as an Egg Move, it is not compatible as it cannot breed with Houndstone, the user of the move.
13. How do you teach Belly Drum to Azumarill?
Give Azumarill a Mirror Herb, empty one of its move slots, and start a Picnic with it and any other Pokémon that knows Belly Drum.
14. Is Happy Hour an Egg Move?
No, Happy Hour is not an Egg Move. It cannot be passed down to offspring through breeding or Mirror Herb.
15. What is the purpose of the Covert Cloak?
The Covert Cloak is an item that protects the holder from additional effects attached to moves used against them. This is an example of another powerful item that has been introduced in recent Pokemon games.
Conclusion
The Mirror Herb is a game-changing item that affects both competitive battles and breeding mechanics. Its ability to copy stat boosts like Belly Drum can completely change the flow of battle. The ease with which it transfers Egg Moves, bypassing traditional breeding restrictions, makes it an invaluable tool for Pokémon trainers. Understanding how this item works is critical for optimizing your Pokémon team and breeding for optimal move sets. Its one-time use in battle makes strategic planning a necessity. The versatility of the Mirror Herb makes it a must-have for every Pokémon trainer in the recent games.