Breeding has been a major part of the Pokemon series since generation two with Gold and Silver, and that’s more true than ever with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
Breeding in Scarlet and Violet works a bit differently from previous generations, with it taking place over picnics. In this guide, we’ll go over how to breed Pokemon, how the egg system works, and how to increase Egg Power in the latest Pokemon releases.
How to Breed Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet
Pokemon breeding is now done entirely through picnics, not daycares like in previous games. The only thing you need to breed is two Pokemon, one male and one female, that belong in the same Egg Group.
If you’re unfamiliar with Egg Groups they essentially correspond to the look of a Pokemon. There are fourteen main Egg Groups, and just like with type Pokemon can belong to multiple groups.
Here’s a list of Egg Groups, and sites like Bulbapedia have more detailed information on which Pokemon belong to which groups.
- Monster
- Human 1
- Water 1
- Water 2
- Water 3
- Bug
- Mineral
- Flying
- Amorphous
- Field
- Fairy
- Undiscovered
- Grass
- Dragon
As long as you have Pokemon that can breed together, eggs will slowly start appearing in your picnic basket. You can check how many eggs are in the basket by walking up and interacting with it. Your basket can hold roughly ten eggs at a time, and any Pokemon that are able to breed will do so. Because of that, you might be better off only having two Pokemon in your party.
There are a couple extra things you’ll want to keep in mind with breeding. If two Pokemon are different species, the Pokemon that hatches from the egg will be the species of the mother. The same applies to inheriting moves, as moves from the mother are more likely to be inherited than moves from the father. Additionally, Ditto can breed with any Pokemon of any gender or species.
Finally, some Pokemon have Egg Moves that can only be learned through breeding with a Pokemon that has the move. While breeding is usually involved, you can actually teach Pokemon Egg Moves by having them hold a Mirror Herb and having an empty move slot. Mirror Herbs can be purchased from Delibird Presents for 3,000 money.
There is actually a way to increase the frequency of eggs during picnics, which is by increasing your Egg Power.
How Egg Power Works in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Egg Power is a new mechanic in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, which is gained by having picnics and eating food. To get Egg Power you’ll need to make a sandwich with ingredients that grant you the status, which typically includes apples, bananas, pineapples, strawberries, kiwi, marmalade, olive, oil, cream cheese, whipped cream, and more.
Of course, if you’d rather not make your own sandwiches you can head to any city and find a plethora of restaurants.
Much like other meal benefits, Egg Power has different levels, and the higher the level the more likely you’ll be to get eggs while picnicking. Just keep in mind that benefits from sandwiches only last for 30 minutes.
How to Hatch Eggs in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Hatching an egg is just as simple as it’s always been, as all you need to do is keep it in your party for a requisite amount of time. The egg will take up your party slots, but simply walk around with it and eventually, you’ll have a brand new Pokemon.
Luckily, there are certain Pokemon that have moves that can speed up the process of egg-hatching. These moves are:
- Flame Body
- Magma Armor
- Steam Engine
Now you should have a better idea of how to breed Pokemon and hatch eggs. For even more tips and help, make sure to take a look at our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet guides hub.
