The Breeding Process

Learn the step-by-step process for breeding Pokemon in Sword and Shield, focusing on passing down Abilities, Natures, IVs, and Moves for optimal offspring.

Magikarp is recommended for beginners due to its fast egg hatching time. When breeding, prioritize traits that are difficult or impossible to change later.

Order of Operations

Consider these traits when breeding:

1. Nature: Can be influenced by an Everstone during breeding and later altered with Mints.
2. IVs (Individual Values): Can be influenced by a Destiny Knot during breeding and later maxed with Hyper Training.
3. Ability: Offspring inherits the mother's Ability 60% of the time. Regular Abilities can be swapped with an Ability Capsule, but Hidden Abilities cannot be changed to or from.
4. Moves: Egg Moves can be inherited from both parents. Pokémon can also share Egg Moves by being left in the Nursery together.

Nature and IVs can be fixed post-hatching using BP or Bottle Caps. Abilities can be swapped between regular ones using BP, but not to or from Hidden Abilities. Moves are the most flexible.

Step 1: Passing Down Ability

The first trait to secure is the Pokémon’s Ability, especially if you want its Hidden Ability. You cannot change a Pokémon from a normal Ability to a Hidden Ability, or vice versa. If you want a Hidden Ability, you must obtain a parent with it, often from raids or trading, as there's no in-game indicator for Hidden Abilities. For regular Abilities, any parent will do, but aim for one with the desired Ability if the species has multiple regular options, to avoid a high chance of inheriting an unwanted one.

Step 2: Passing Down Nature

Passing down Nature is easier than IVs and should be done first. If you achieve perfect IVs but want a different Nature, re-acquiring perfect IVs isn't guaranteed. Aim for a specific Nature; for physical attackers, Adamant (prioritizing Attack) or Jolly (prioritizing Speed) are common choices.

To obtain a specific Nature:

• Synchronize Ability: Having a Pokémon with Synchronize at the front of your party makes wild Pokémon (not from raids) share its Nature.
• Ditto with Desired Nature: Ditto can breed with any Pokémon. Catching one with the correct Nature provides a 1/25 chance (improved with Synchronize).
• Parent with Desired Nature: If Ditto isn't available, catch a parent of the desired species with the correct Nature (1/25 chance, improved with Synchronize).
• Continuous Breeding: If other methods fail, keep breeding until you hatch a Pokémon with the desired Nature.

Step 3: Passing Down IVs

This step can be time-consuming. Catching high IV Pokémon from raids can speed up the process. A high IV Ditto, especially a foreign one, is extremely helpful. If you have a parent with the desired Nature holding an Everstone and another parent holding a Destiny Knot, place them in the Pokémon Nursery. Hatch eggs until you achieve the desired IVs. A full party of 5 Pokémon, with the first having Flame Body, can speed up hatching.