Unlocking the Secrets of Pokémon Breeding: A Comprehensive Guide
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The burning question on every budding Pokémon Breeder’s mind: What exactly determines the Pokémon that emerges from that coveted egg? The short answer is the female Pokémon. However, like most things in the wonderful world of Pokémon, the full picture is far more nuanced, involving intricate genetic mechanics, quirky exceptions, and even a genderless blob named Ditto that throws a delightful wrench into the works. Let’s dive in!
The Primary Determinant: The Mother’s Species
In the standard breeding scenario, where you pair two different species of Pokémon, the female Pokémon dictates the species of the offspring. Think of it like a recipe: the female Pokémon is the base, and the male provides some key ingredients (more on those later).
For example, if you breed a female Scorbunny with a male Diggersby, you will always get a Scorbunny. This is a fundamental rule of Pokémon breeding, stemming from the idea that the Pokémon Egg inherits its species from the female parent.
The Ditto Exception: Nature’s Impersonator
And then there’s Ditto, the shapeshifting Pokémon capable of breeding with almost any other species. Ditto introduces a major exception to the mother-species rule. When breeding with a Ditto, the egg will always produce the non-Ditto Pokémon’s species, regardless of gender.
So, breeding a Ditto with a male Charizard will result in a Charmander egg (the first form of Charizard). Ditto effectively becomes the missing gender required for breeding, and defers to the other Pokémon in determining the offspring’s species.
The Role of Gender (Or Lack Thereof)
Gender plays a crucial role in determining whether breeding is possible in the first place. Two Pokémon of the same gender (both male or both female) cannot breed, unless Ditto is involved to fill one of the roles. This is a fundamental biological limitation within the Pokémon world.
Male Pokémon, while not determining species, are incredibly valuable for passing down Egg Moves. These are special moves that the offspring can learn that they normally wouldn’t be able to obtain through leveling up or TMs. This is where the breeding process becomes much more strategic.
Egg Groups: Compatibility Matters
Egg Groups are categories of Pokémon that are considered compatible for breeding. Pokémon within the same egg group can breed, regardless of their species, provided that the gender requirements are met. For instance, Pokémon in the Field Egg Group are generally mammalian in nature, and can interbreed provided that one is male and the other is female (or one is a Ditto).
Beyond Species: Nature, IVs, and Egg Moves
While species is the core determinant, other factors influence the qualities of the offspring.
- Nature: The Nature of the offspring can be influenced by giving one of the parents an Everstone. The parent holding the Everstone will pass down its Nature to the offspring.
- Individual Values (IVs): IVs are hidden stats that affect a Pokémon’s base stats. Parents can pass down their IVs to their offspring. Holding a Destiny Knot ensures that five IVs are passed down from the parents to the child, chosen randomly.
- Egg Moves: As previously mentioned, Egg Moves are moves that the offspring inherits from the father. These moves can dramatically improve a Pokémon’s competitive viability.
Factors That Prevent Breeding
Several factors can prevent Pokémon from breeding entirely:
- Undiscovered Egg Group: Pokémon in the Undiscovered Egg Group, which includes most Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, cannot breed at all, even with Ditto.
- Baby Pokémon: Baby Pokémon, such as Pichu and Riolu, also cannot breed.
- Specific Pokémon Restrictions: Certain species, like Nidorina and Nidoqueen, are inexplicably unable to breed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about what determines the Pokemon when breeding:
1. Can I breed two Dittos together?
No, Ditto cannot breed with another Ditto. Members of the Ditto Egg Group cannot breed with each other.
2. Can a male Pokémon breed with Ditto?
Yes! Ditto’s unique ability allows it to breed with any Pokémon, even male ones, that are capable of breeding. The resulting egg will hatch into the non-Ditto species.
3. What happens if I leave two Dittos in the Daycare?
Absolutely nothing! Two Dittos left at the daycare will not produce any eggs.
4. Which Pokémon cannot breed at all?
Pokémon in the Undiscovered Egg Group, baby Pokémon, and certain species like Nidorina and Nidoqueen cannot breed. Most Legendary and Mythical Pokémon fall into the Undiscovered Egg Group.
5. Can you breed a Mew?
No, Mew is in the Undiscovered Egg Group and cannot breed, even with Ditto.
6. Can Ditto breed with Legendaries?
No, Legendary Pokémon generally cannot breed, even with Ditto. Manaphy is an exception; breeding it with Ditto will produce a Phione, which cannot evolve into Manaphy.
7. Which parent determines the Pokemon species?
The female parent determines the species of the offspring in most cases. When breeding with Ditto, the non-Ditto parent determines the species.
8. What Pokémon cannot breed with Ditto?
Baby Pokemon, Nidorina, Nidoqueen, and Pokemon in the undiscovered egg group such as legends cannot breed with Ditto.
9. What is the most Breedable Pokemon?
According to some… questionable interpretations, Vaporeon is the most compatible Pokemon for humans. While we don’t endorse or encourage such interpretations, it is true that Vaporeon belongs to the Field Egg Group, which contains many mammal-like species.
10. Are Pokémon egg gender predetermined?
Yes, the Gender, Nature, and IVs are all determined when the egg is found or received. Soft-resetting will not change these attributes.
11. Will Pokémon breed if they are not fond of each other?
Yes, they will breed, but it will take significantly longer. Pokémon that “prefer to play with other Pokémon” are less likely to breed frequently.
12. Can you breed Legendary Pokémon to get Shiny Legendary Pokémon?
No. Since Legendary Pokemon cannot be breeded, getting Shiny Legendary Pokémon will have to be through soft resetting after encountering them in the wild.
13. Can you tell if an egg is shiny before it hatches?
No. Whether or not an egg will hatch into a shiny Pokémon is determined when the egg is first acquired.
14. Why are all my Pokémon eggs male?
This is likely due to breeding a male-only Pokémon or simply experiencing a run of bad luck. Some species have a higher gender bias.
15. Are Shiny Pokemon more likely to breed Shinies?
No, a parent being Shiny does not influence the chances of its offspring being shiny. The only way to increase your chances of hatching a shiny is to use Pokémon from different regions (Masuda method).
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Conclusion
Breeding Pokémon is a complex yet rewarding endeavor. Understanding the interplay of species, gender, Ditto’s shapeshifting abilities, and the influence of items like the Everstone and Destiny Knot is key to creating the perfect Pokémon team. So, get out there, experiment, and become a master breeder!