Pokémon Breeding

Breeding produces Eggs from two compatible Pokémon left at the Day Care or Nursery. In most pairings, the Egg hatches into the first stage of the mother's evolution line, letting you raise a fresh Pokémon from scratch. When one parent is Ditto, it follows the other parent's line instead. The exact species can vary by game, and some baby Pokémon only hatch when a parent holds the right incense.

Last updated

Where
Day Care / Nursery
Parents needed
Two compatible
Result
An Egg
Baby is
Mother’s line, first stage
Key concept
Egg Groups
Wildcard parent
Ditto

How breeding works

You leave two Pokémon at the Day Care or Nursery, and if they are compatible they may produce an Egg over time. Compatibility comes down to a few rules: the two Pokémon must share an Egg Group, be opposite genders, and be able to breed in the first place.

Ditto is the great exception. It can breed with almost any Pokémon that is able to breed, regardless of that Pokémon's gender, which makes it the go-to partner for hatching a specific species. Once an Egg appears, you carry it until it hatches.

What are Egg Groups?

Egg Groups are hidden categories that decide which Pokémon can breed together. Two Pokémon can produce an Egg only if they share at least one Egg Group, so the groups act as a compatibility system running quietly behind the scenes.

The names are flavorful rather than technical. Well-known groups include Monster and Field, and many Pokémon belong to two groups at once, which widens the range of partners they can breed with. Ditto sits outside this system and can pair with nearly anything.

What passes down?

A baby Pokémon inherits more than just its species. In general it can pick up:

  • Egg moves: certain moves a parent knows can carry over to the baby, giving it attacks it could not learn by leveling up alone.
  • The Poké Ball: the baby usually hatches in the same kind of Poké Ball as its mother.
  • Some IVs: a portion of the parents' hidden stat values, called IVs, passes to the baby, which is why breeders chase strong parents.
  • Nature: a parent holding an Everstone passes its nature straight down to the baby.

The finer details shift a little between games, but this is the general shape of inheritance. To learn what IVs are, see the IVs and EVs guide.

The Masuda Method

The Masuda Method is a breeding trick for hunting shinies. When the two parents come from games set to different languages, the Eggs they produce have a better chance of hatching shiny than normal. Many players combine it with the Shiny Charm for the best odds. Read more on the shiny Pokémon page.

Which Pokémon cannot breed?

Not every Pokémon can produce Eggs. Most Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are unable to breed, along with a handful of others sorted into a special no-breeding group. Baby Pokémon are too young to breed until they grow up, and two Dittos cannot breed with each other. When a Pokémon has no valid partner, no Egg will ever appear.

Frequently asked questions

How does Pokémon breeding work?

You leave two compatible Pokémon together at the Day Care or Nursery, and over time they may produce an Egg. The Egg hatches into the first stage of the mother’s evolution line, though the exact species can vary by game. In some games, baby Pokémon like Azurill or Munchlax only hatch when a parent holds the right incense. When one parent is Ditto, the baby follows the other parent’s line instead.

What are Egg Groups?

Egg Groups are hidden categories that decide which Pokémon can breed together. Two Pokémon are compatible when they share at least one Egg Group, are opposite genders, and can breed at all. Ditto is the exception, since it can breed with almost any Pokémon that is able to breed.

What does a baby Pokémon inherit?

A baby can inherit egg moves, the mother’s Poké Ball, and some of its parents’ IVs, which are hidden stat values. A parent holding an Everstone passes down its nature. The exact inheritance rules vary a little from game to game.

Which Pokémon cannot breed?

Most Legendary and Mythical Pokémon cannot breed, and neither can a handful of others placed in a special no-breeding group. Baby Pokémon are too young to breed until they evolve, and two Dittos cannot breed with each other.

Sources

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