Demystifying the Full Incense: A Comprehensive Guide to its Effects in Pokémon
The Full Incense is a fascinating item in the Pokémon universe, serving dual purposes depending on the game it’s used in. In battle, it acts as a strategic tool, forcing the holder to move last within its priority bracket. Furthermore, and perhaps more famously, it’s crucial for breeding a Munchlax Egg when held by a Snorlax.
Full Incense: A Deep Dive into its Effects
The Full Incense is an item that was first introduced in the Pokémon games Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Its functionality splits into two distinct categories: its effect during battles and its role in Pokémon breeding. Understanding both aspects is vital for any serious Pokémon trainer.
Battle Effect: Delaying Your Pokémon’s Turn
The primary battle effect of the Full Incense is to ensure that the Pokémon holding it moves last within its priority bracket. This is crucial because Pokémon attacks generally resolve based on their Speed stat. However, moves also have a priority, which determines which move resolves first. If two moves have the same priority, the Pokémon with the higher Speed stat attacks first. The Full Incense throws a wrench into this system.
- Priority Brackets Explained: Pokémon moves are categorized into priority brackets. For instance, most regular attacks have a priority of 0. Quick Attack has a priority of +1, meaning it will always go before any normal attack, regardless of Speed.
- How the Full Incense Works: If two Pokémon use moves with the same priority, normally, the Pokémon with the higher Speed stat will attack first. However, if one of those Pokémon is holding a Full Incense, it will always move last, even if it has significantly higher Speed.
This can be strategically beneficial in several scenarios:
- Belly Drum Strategies: If you’re using a Pokémon with Belly Drum (which sharply raises Attack but cuts HP in half), going last allows you to absorb an attack before unleashing your boosted attack.
- Trick Room Teams: In Trick Room battles, slower Pokémon move first. The Full Incense is redundant in Trick Room, so it’s often avoided in such teams.
- Reversal Strategies: If you are using a move that gains more strength as your health gets lower then the full incense can be useful in those situations.
Breeding Effect: Guaranteeing a Munchlax Egg
Outside of battles, the Full Incense has a significant effect on Pokémon breeding, specifically when dealing with Snorlax. If you want to breed a Munchlax, the baby form of Snorlax, you must have a Snorlax hold a Full Incense while breeding.
- Why the Full Incense is Necessary: Without the Full Incense, breeding a Snorlax will always produce another Snorlax. The Incense alters the breeding outcome, ensuring a Munchlax egg instead.
- How to Breed for Munchlax:
- Obtain a Snorlax (female Snorlax are preferable since the baby Pokemon will always be the same species as the mother but not necessary).
- Equip the Snorlax with a Full Incense.
- Place the Snorlax in the Day Care (or equivalent breeding location) with a compatible Pokémon. If you do not have a female Snorlax, make sure it’s paired with a Ditto.
- Wait for an Egg to be produced.
- Hatch the Egg to obtain your Munchlax.
Where to Find the Full Incense
The method of obtaining the Full Incense varies depending on the Pokémon game:
- Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum: Sold at the Veilstone City Department Store.
- HeartGold and SoulSilver: Sold at the Celadon City Department Store.
- Black and White: Found on Route 13.
- Black 2 and White 2: Sold at the Join Avenue Antique Shop.
- X and Y: Sold at the Couriway Town Herb Shop.
- Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire: Sold at the Lilycove Department Store.
- Sun and Moon: Sold at the Hano Grand Resort for 20,000 Poke Dollars
- Sword and Shield: Sold at the Hulbury Market.
- Scarlet and Violet: Sold at Delibird Presents in Mesagoza, after earning 4 badges, for 20,000 Poke Dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does the Full Incense affect priority moves?
No, the Full Incense only affects move order within the same priority bracket. A move with higher priority will still go first regardless of whether the opposing Pokémon is holding a Full Incense.
2. Is the Full Incense useful in Trick Room teams?
No, in Trick Room, slower Pokémon move first, so the Full Incense’s effect of making the holder move last is redundant and, therefore, not beneficial.
3. Can I breed Munchlax without the Full Incense?
No, you cannot. The Full Incense is mandatory for breeding a Munchlax from a Snorlax. Without it, you’ll only get more Snorlax eggs.
4. Does the Full Incense work if I’m breeding with Ditto?
Yes, the Full Incense works perfectly fine when breeding a Snorlax with Ditto to produce Munchlax eggs.
5. What other Incenses are there in Pokémon games?
Besides the Full Incense, there are other incense items, such as the Luck Incense, Pure Incense, Rose Incense, Rock Incense, Wave Incense, Odd Incense, and Sea Incense. These other incenses typically have varying effects, such as increasing the money earned after battle or influencing the moves learned by bred Pokémon.
6. Does the Full Incense stack with other speed-altering effects?
No, the Full Incense’s effect is absolute. It overrides any other speed-altering effects that might be in play (like paralysis or speed boosts) within the same priority bracket.
7. If both Pokémon have a Full Incense, who moves last?
If both Pokémon attacking with moves of the same priority are holding a Full Incense, the game likely defaults to another factor, potentially the Pokémon’s base Speed stat or a random determination.
8. Is the Full Incense useful for competitive Pokémon battling?
The Full Incense has niche uses in competitive battling, particularly in strategies involving absorbing damage before attacking, but it’s not a commonly used item due to its very specific conditions of use.
9. Can I use the Full Incense in Pokémon GO?
No, the Full Incense is not available in Pokémon GO. Pokémon GO has a different type of Incense which is used to attract wild Pokémon to your location.
10. Where can I buy the Full Incense in the latest Pokémon games?
In the Scarlet and Violet Games, the Full Incense is sold at Delibird Presents in Mesagoza, after earning 4 badges, for 20,000 Poke Dollars.
11. Does the Full Incense prevent flinching?
No, the Full Incense does not prevent flinching. The Full Incense makes the holder move last in its priority bracket regardless of speed.
12. Can a Pokémon holding Full Incense still move first in a priority move?
Yes. The effect of moving last only happens if both Pokémon attack with moves that have the same priority.
13. Is the Full Incense a held item?
Yes, the Full Incense is a held item which must be held by the Pokemon to take effect.
14. How does the Full Incense compare to the Lagging Tail?
The Lagging Tail is similar to the Full Incense in that it forces the holder to move last. However, the Lagging Tail works regardless of priority.
15. Does the Full Incense have any effect outside of battle or breeding?
No, the Full Incense only influences move order in battles and determines the outcome of breeding a Snorlax.
The Pokémon universe, while seemingly simple on the surface, provides ample strategic depth and learning opportunities. The Games Learning Society explores how games can promote education and problem-solving skills, mirroring the complex decision-making involved in effective Pokémon training. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more on this.