What Pokémon Should I Leave at the Nursery?
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The Pokémon Nursery, or Day Care, is a staple feature in the Pokémon world, allowing trainers to breed new Pokémon and passively level up their existing team members. But which Pokémon should you entrust to the Nursery’s care? The short answer: compatible Pokémon of opposite genders within the same Egg Group, or a Pokémon and a Ditto. For optimal results, choose Pokémon you actively want to breed.
However, the “devil is in the details.” Let’s delve into the specifics to maximize your breeding success and avoid common pitfalls.
Understanding the Basics of Pokémon Breeding
The Compatibility Factor
At its core, Pokémon breeding hinges on compatibility. This involves several factors:
- Egg Groups: Every breedable Pokémon belongs to one or two Egg Groups. Pokémon can only breed with other Pokémon within the same Egg Group(s). Some Pokémon are in multiple groups, giving them wider breeding options.
- Gender: You generally need a male and a female Pokémon to breed. There are exceptions, which we’ll discuss below.
- Species (Optional): Breeding two Pokémon of the same species vastly increases the chances of producing an Egg quickly. Different species within the same Egg Group can breed, but it takes longer.
- Ditto, the Universal Breeder: Ditto is a unique Pokémon that can breed with almost any breedable Pokémon, regardless of gender. The only exceptions are Pokémon in the “No Eggs Discovered” Egg Group and other Dittos.
Optimal Combinations for Breeding
- Same Species, Opposite Gender: This is the gold standard for efficient breeding. You’ll get Eggs most frequently with this setup.
- Different Species, Same Egg Group, Opposite Gender: This works, but expect a longer wait for Eggs. This is good when breeding for a move you want passed down (egg moves).
- Ditto + Any Breedable Pokémon: A reliable method, especially if you only have one gender of a certain Pokémon. Remember, Ditto itself cannot breed with other Dittos.
- Pokémon to Avoid:
- Pokémon in the “No Eggs Discovered” group are legendary and mythical Pokémon that are typically incapable of breeding. These include most legendary Pokémon like Rayquaza, Mewtwo, but not all.
- Baby Pokémon like Pichu and Riolu cannot breed. You must evolve them into Pikachu and Lucario, respectively, before they can produce Eggs.
- Two Pokémon of the same gender cannot breed (unless one is Ditto).
- Ditto cannot breed with Ditto.
Maximizing Your Nursery Experience
Time Investment
The article excerpt mentions leaving Pokémon at the Nursery for “about a day.” In the video game context, this translates to taking a certain number of steps. The actual time it takes to produce an Egg depends on:
- Compatibility: Higher compatibility = faster Egg production.
- Game Mechanics: Each game has its own hidden mechanics for calculating Egg creation based on steps taken.
A good rule of thumb is to routinely check the Nursery attendant every few minutes of gameplay to see if an Egg has appeared.
Breeding for Specific Outcomes
- Egg Moves: Certain moves can only be learned by a Pokémon if it inherits them from its father (in most cases). Breed a Pokémon that knows the desired move with a compatible female Pokémon to pass the move down.
- Natures: You can pass down a desired Nature by having one of the parents hold an Everstone. The Pokémon holding the Everstone has a 50% chance of passing its Nature to the offspring.
- Abilities: In some games, a female Pokémon has a higher chance of passing down its Hidden Ability. Ditto can pass down its Hidden Ability if it is holding a Destiny Knot.
- IVs (Individual Values): IVs determine a Pokémon’s stats. The Destiny Knot held by one of the parents guarantees that the offspring will inherit 5 IVs from the parents.
Hatching Your Eggs
Once you have an Egg, keep it in your party and walk around. Certain Pokémon with the ability Flame Body or Magma Armor can speed up the hatching process. The excerpt provides an extensive list of Pokémon with Flame Body.
Levelling Up Pokémon Passively
The Nursery also serves as a training ground. Pokémon left at the Nursery gain experience points for every step you take. The amount of experience gained is generally low, so it’s not the most efficient way to level up Pokémon, but it can be helpful for raising low-level Pokémon without actively battling.
Important Considerations for Levelling Up
- Evolution: Pokémon will not evolve while in the Nursery. If they reach the level required to evolve, you must take them out and level them up outside the Nursery.
- Move Learning: Pokémon in the Nursery will learn new moves automatically as they level up. They will also forget old moves to make room for new ones. Be mindful of this if you want to retain specific moves.
- Cost: You have to pay a fee to retrieve Pokémon from the nursery, so take this into consideration.
FAQs: Common Questions About the Pokémon Nursery
1. Can Ditto breed with a legendary Pokémon?
No, Ditto cannot breed with Pokémon in the “No Eggs Discovered” group, which includes most legendary Pokémon.
2. What happens if I put my Starter Pokémon in the Daycare?
Starter Pokémon can breed as long as they are not in the “No Eggs Discovered” Egg Group. If they are male and female of the same species, or paired with a Ditto, they can produce Eggs.
3. Does leaving Pokémon at Day Care increase happiness/friendship?
No, the Day Care does not affect a Pokémon’s happiness or friendship level. Friendship increases through battles, walking with the Pokémon in your party, and giving them certain items.
4. Can two Dittos make an egg?
No, Ditto cannot breed with other Ditto. The Ditto Egg Group only contains Ditto, and members of the same Egg Group can not breed with each other.
5. What is the best Ditto for breeding?
A 6 IV Ditto is ideal for breeding. A 6 IV Ditto means it has perfect Individual Values (IVs) in every stat.
6. What Pokémon can’t breed?
Pokémon that cannot breed include most Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, Baby Pokémon (like Pichu and Riolu), Unown, the Galarian Fossil Pokémon, Ultra Beasts and Ditto with another Ditto.
7. What Pokémon can’t breed with Ditto?
The Pokémon that cannot breed with Ditto are mainly Baby Pokémon and Pokémon in the Undiscovered egg group.
8. Is a full Eevee team viable?
Yes, a full Eevee team is absolutely viable for casual playthroughs. Eeveelutions offer a diverse range of types and abilities.
9. Should I stop Eevee from evolving?
Whether or not to delay Eevee’s evolution depends on the specific moves you want it to learn. Some Eeveelutions learn certain moves earlier than others.
10. What is Ditto disguised as?
Ditto can disguise itself as various common Pokémon found in the wild.
11. What Legendaries can be bred?
Manaphy is the only legendary Pokémon that can breed. It produces Phione, which is often regarded as not legendary.
12. Does breeding affect shininess of the egg?
Yes, the odds of obtaining a shiny Pokémon through breeding are increased by using the Masuda method, which involves breeding two Pokémon from different language regions. The odds are increased from 1 in 4092 to 1 in 682.
13. What Pokémon has the longest hatch time?
Pokémon like Gible have relatively long hatch times, requiring around 41 egg cycles.
14. Is Pokémon nursery worth it?
The Nursery can be worthwhile for passive levelling and breeding. The experience gain is slow, but breeding can be extremely valuable for competitive or completionist players.
15. Will Pokemon evolve in the nursery?
No, Pokemon will not evolve in the Nursery. You have to take them out and level them up during battle to trigger the evolution.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right Pokémon for the Nursery is a strategic decision that can significantly impact your gameplay. Whether you’re aiming to breed the perfect competitive team, complete your Pokédex, or simply level up your Pokémon passively, understanding the mechanics and compatibility factors is key. So, gather your compatible Pokémon, head to the Nursery, and start breeding your way to success!
To continue learning about gaming and its intersection with education, check out the Games Learning Society and their work at GamesLearningSociety.org.