How Much is 1 Egg Cycle in Pokémon?
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In the world of Pokémon breeding, the term “egg cycle” refers to the number of steps you need to take in the game for an egg to be ready to hatch. This mechanic is fundamental to understanding how to efficiently hatch Pokémon eggs and add new members to your team. So, how much is one egg cycle? The answer depends on which generation of the Pokémon game you’re playing. Across the main series games, an egg cycle is not a fixed number but varies by generation:
- Generations II and III: One egg cycle is 256 steps.
- Generation IV (including Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl): One egg cycle is 255 steps. Note, that in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl this number can be shorter during special dates.
- Generation V and onward: One egg cycle is 257 steps.
This slight difference across generations can impact how long it takes to hatch your prized Pokémon eggs. Understanding these differences allows trainers to plan their breeding adventures more effectively.
Understanding Egg Cycles
The egg cycle is a countdown, starting with the egg’s initial step count and diminishing as you walk around the game world. Once the step count reaches zero, your egg is ready to hatch. Each Pokémon species is assigned a base step count, indicating the number of steps required for hatching, which is then divided by the length of one egg cycle to figure out how many cycles it will take to hatch. So, the number of egg cycles a Pokemon needs to hatch will vary per species, and this amount can be impacted by certain in-game abilities.
How Base Steps and Egg Cycles Relate
Each Pokémon egg has a certain number of base steps required for it to hatch. These base steps are fixed per Pokémon species. For example, Eevee has a base step count of 8,960, and Riolu has a base step count of 6,400.
The number of egg cycles a Pokémon needs to hatch is determined by dividing the base steps by the length of the egg cycle for that game generation. This calculation gives you the number of egg cycles which translates into the number of times you need to move within the game to hatch the Pokemon. This is why different species of Pokémon hatch at different rates because the initial base step count is different for each species.
How Abilities Affect Hatching Speed
Certain Pokémon abilities can significantly speed up the egg hatching process. The abilities Flame Body and Magma Armor halve the number of egg cycles it takes to hatch an egg. This means that you walk half the usual distance to hatch your eggs. When you have a Pokémon with one of these abilities in your party, the step count of any egg you are carrying decreases at twice the normal rate.
Pokémon with Flame Body include: Ponyta line, Magmar line, Moltres, Heatran, Litwick line, Larvesta line, Fletchinder line, Carkoal line, and Sizzlipede line. This is a great ability to utilise when breeding for particular Pokemon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the shortest egg cycle?
Technically, there is no “shortest” egg cycle as the length of an egg cycle is predetermined by the generation of the game. However, using a Pokémon with the Flame Body or Magma Armor ability halves the time it takes to complete each egg cycle. These abilities shorten the number of steps needed before an egg hatches, making the process much faster.
2. Which Pokémon has the lowest base step count?
Magikarp has the lowest base step count at 1,280 steps. This makes it one of the fastest hatching Pokémon in the game.
3. What Pokémon take longer to hatch?
Certain Pokémon take much longer to hatch because they have a higher base step count. This includes pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Pokémon you might encounter in the overworld once, like Snorlax and Volcarona, “Pokémon Center” Pokémon like Chansey and Indeedee. Also included are Pokémon in the Chansey, Lapras, Snorlax, Dratini, Larvitar, Wailmer, Relicanth, Bagon, Beldum, Gible, Phione, Basculin, Alomomola, Axew, Deino, and Larvesta lines.
4. How many egg cycles does Eevee have?
Eevee has a base step count of 8,960. Considering that in most generations, an egg cycle is about 256 to 257 steps, Eevee needs about 35 cycles to hatch, provided that you do not have a Pokémon with a hatching-speed ability.
5. Does the game tell me how many egg cycles a Pokémon needs?
The game does not explicitly tell you how many egg cycles a Pokémon needs. You’ll usually receive a message saying that the egg is close to hatching, or that it is about to hatch. However, you can calculate the cycles by dividing a species’ base step count by the generation’s egg cycle number. For example, in Generation V and later, you’d divide the Pokémon’s base steps by 257.
6. Can you speed up egg hatching?
Yes, using a Pokémon with the Flame Body or Magma Armor ability in your party will halve the amount of egg cycles needed. As mentioned before this makes it a lot faster to hatch any eggs you are carrying.
7. Can I hatch multiple eggs at once?
Yes, you can carry multiple eggs in your party and all of them will progress through their egg cycles simultaneously, although only one egg will hatch at a time once ready. This is an effective strategy when breeding to try to acquire rarer Pokemon.
8. Can I breed any Pokémon with Ditto?
Ditto can breed with almost any Pokémon except those in the “No Eggs Discovered” group. This group primarily includes baby Pokémon, certain special form Pokémon, and nearly all Mythical and Legendary Pokémon.
9. Can I hatch eggs in a picnic?
Yes, you can hatch eggs while having a picnic. However, you will need to move around in order to make the egg hatch as simply staying stationary will not do anything.
10. Can legendaries breed?
Legendary Pokémon generally cannot breed, which is why many are classified under the “No Eggs Discovered” group mentioned earlier. This is done to preserve their uniqueness in the game.
11. Can I breed different types of Eevee together?
You can breed any Eevee with a Ditto, or another Eevee of a different evolution type to obtain an Eevee egg. It doesn’t matter what the evolved form is because the offspring will always be Eevee.
12. Can I breed a Vaporeon with a Ditto?
Yes, breeding Vaporeon with a Ditto will produce an Eevee egg. All Eeveelutions will always make an Eevee egg when breeding.
13. What is the rarest Pokémon to hatch from an egg?
Tier five Pokémon are the rarest when it comes to hatching from the game’s eggs, with roughly a two percent chance of appearing when it hatches. An example of this type of Pokemon is Larvesta.
14. How many eggs can I carry at once?
You can carry a maximum of 9 eggs at a time in your party. Once you reach that limit, you’ll need to hatch some eggs before you can acquire more.
15. Can the game detect a circular running pattern to prevent hatching eggs quicker?
While the game doesn’t explicitly detect circular patterns, simply walking back and forth or in a circle in a confined space won’t be as effective for hatching as exploring the game world. The step count for hatching usually requires consistent movement over a decent distance rather than just simple loops.
Conclusion
Understanding the concept of egg cycles and base step counts is crucial for any aspiring Pokémon breeder. Knowing the nuances of how different generations impact hatching rates, as well as the effects of special abilities, can greatly improve your breeding efficiency. Whether you’re trying to hatch a rare Pokémon, breed for specific traits, or simply fill out your Pokédex, knowing how egg cycles work can give you the edge you need to become a true Pokémon master. Happy hatching!