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This guide is here to help anyone who wishes to learn to be able to breed top-shelf Pokémon, whether for personal use or trading.
Breeding Basics
Breeding is accomplished by leaving two compatible Pokémon at the Daycare. After walking around a certain amount of steps, the Pokémon will produce an Egg, which you can pick up from the Daycare Man outside of the facility. Then when you have an Egg, simply walk around with it in your party and eventually it will hatch into a Pokémon at Lv. 1.
Parent Compatibility and Egg Groups
The first thing you need to understand to breed Pokémon is which Pokémon are compatible with each other. There’s two things that factor into this: gender and species. Eggs can only be produced from four gender combinations: Male and Female, Genderless and Ditto, Male and Ditto, and Female and Ditto. Additionally, for two Pokémon to be compatible when breeding they need to belong to the same Egg Group. An Egg Group is a hidden classification of Pokémon that determines which Pokémon they can breed with. Pokémon are divided into the following Egg Groups (note that some Pokémon are in more than one Egg Group):
- Field Egg Group:
Rattata, Raticate, Ekans, Arbok, Pikachu, Raichu, Sandshrew, Sandslash, NidoranF, NidoranM, Nidorino, Nidoking, Vulpix, Ninetales, Diglett, Dugtrio, Meowth, Persian, Psyduck, Golduck, Mankey, Primeape, Growlithe, Arcanine, Ponyta, Rapidash, Farfetch’d, Seel, Dewgong, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Tauros, Eevee, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Cyndaquil, Quilava, Typhlosion, Sentret, Furret, Mareep, Flaafy, Ampharos, Aipom, Wooper, Quagsire, Espeon, Umbreon, Girafarig, Dunsparce, Snubbull, Granbull, Sneasel, Teddiursa, Ursaring, Swinub, Piloswine, Delibird, Houndour, Houndoom, Phanpy, Donphan, Stantler, Smeargle, Miltank, Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken, Poochyena, Mightyena, Zigzagoon, Linoone, Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry, Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking, Whismur, Loudred, Exploud, Skitty, Delcatty, Mawile, Electrike, Manectric, Wailmer, Wailord, Numel, Camerupt, Torkoal, Spinda, Spoink, Grumpig, Zangoose, Seviper, Kecleon, Absol, Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein, Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape, Piplup, Prinplup, Empoleon, Bidoof, Bibarel, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, Pachirisu, Buizel, Floatzel, Ambipom, Buneary, Lopunny, Glameow, Purugly, Stunky, Skunktank, Lucario, Hippopotas, Hippowdon, Weavile, Rhyperior, Leafeon, Glaceon, Mamoswine, Tepig, Snivy, Servine, Serperior, Pignite, Emboar, Oshawott, Dewott, Samurott, Patrat, Watchog, Lillipup, Herdier, Stoutland, Purrloin, Liepard, Pansage, Simisage, Pansear, Simisear, Panpour, Simipour, Munna, Musharna, Blitzle, Zebstrika, Woobat, Swoobat, Drillbur, Excadrill, Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile, Darumaka, Darmanitan, Scraggy, Scrafty, Zorua, Zoroark, Mincinno, Cincinno, Deerling, Sawsbuck, Emolga, Cubchoo, Beartic, Mienfoo, Mienshao, Bouffalant, Heatmor, Chespin, Quilladin, Chesnaught, Fennekin, Braixen, Delphox, Bunnelby, Diggersby, Litleo, Pyroar, Skiddo, Gogoat, Pancham, Pangoro, Furfrou, Espurr, Meowstic, Sylveon, Dedenne - Monster Egg Group:
Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, NidoranF, NidoranM, Nidorino, Nidoking, Slowpoke, Slowbro, Cubone, Marowak, Lickitung, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Kangaskhan, Lapras, Snorlax, Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr, Mareep, Flaafy, Ampharos, Slowking, Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile, Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert, Whismur, Loudred, Exploud, Aron, Lairon, Aggron, Tropius, Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra, Cranidos, Rampardos, Shieldon, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp, Snover, Abomasnow, Bastiodon, Lickilicky, Rhyperior, Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus, Druddigon, Helioptile, Heliolisk, Tyrunt, Tyrantrum, Amaura, Aurorus, Bergmite, Avalugg - Grass Egg Group:
Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Paras, Parasect, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Exeggcute, Exeggutor, Tangela, Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Bellossom, Hoppip, Skiploom, Jumpluff, Sunkern, Sunflora, Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo, Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry, Shroomish, Breloom, Roselia, Cacnea, Cacturne, Tropius, Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra, Roserade, Cherubi, Cherrim, Carnivine, Snover, Abomasnow, Tangrowth, Snivy, Servine, Serperior, Cottonee, Whimsicott, Petilil, Lilligant, Maractus, Foongus, Amoonguss, Ferroseed, Ferrothorn, Phantump, Trevenant - Water 1 Egg Group:
Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Psyduck, Golduck, Poliwag, Poliwhirl, Poliwrath, Slowpoke, Slowbro, Seel, Dewgong, Horsea, Seadra, Lapras, Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto, Kabutops, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr, Marill, Azumarill, Politoed, Slowking, Corsola, Remoraid, Octillery, Delibird, Mantine, Kingdra, Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert, Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo, Wingull, Pelipper, Surskit, Masquerain, Corphish, Crawdaunt, Feebas, Milotic, Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein, Clamperl, Huntail, Gorebyss, Relicanth, Piplup, Prinplup, Empoleon, Bidoof, Bibarel, Buizel, Floatzel, Shellos, Gastrodon, Phione, Manaphy, Tympole, Palpitoad, Seismitoad, Tirtouga, Carracosta, Ducklett, Swanna, Alomomola, Stunfisk, Froakie, Frogadier, Greninja, Inkay, Malamar, Skrelp, Dragalge, Clauncher, Clawitzer - Water 2 Egg Group:
Goldeen, Seaking, Magikarp, Gyarados, Chinchou, Lanturn, Qwilfish, Remoraid, Octillery, Carvanha, Sharpedo, Wailmer, Waillord, Barboach, Whiscash, Relicanth, Luvdisc, Finneon, Lumineon, Basculin, Alomomola, Inkay, Malamar - Water 3 Egg Group:
Tentacool, Tentacruel, Shellder, Cloyster, Krabby, Kingler, Staryu, Starmie, Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto, Kabutops, Corphish, Crawdaunt, Lileep, Cradily, Anorith, Armaldo, Skorupi, Drapion, Tirtouga, Carracosta, Archen, Archeops, Binacle, Barbaracle, Clauncher, Clawitzer - Bug Egg Group:
Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree, Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Paras, Parasect, Venonat, Venomoth, Scyther, Pinsir, Ledyba, Ledian, Spinarak, Ariados, Yanma, Pineco, Forretress, Gligar, Scizor, Shuckle, Heracross, Wurmple, Silcoon, Beautifly, Cascoon, Dustox, Surskit, Masquerain, Nincada, Ninjask, Volbeat, Illumise, Trapinch, Vibrava, Flygon, Kricketot, Kricketune, Burmy, Wormadam, Mothim, Combee, Vespiquen, Skorupi, Drapion, Yanmega, Gliscor, Sewaddle, Swadloon, Leavanny, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede, Dwebble, Crustle, Karrablast, Escavalier, Joltik, Galvantula, Shelmet, Accelgor, Durant, Larvesta, Volcarona, Scatterbug, Spewpa, Vivillon - Mineral Egg Group:
Geodude, Graveler, Golem, Magnemite, Magneton, Onix, Voltorb, Electrode, Porygon, Sudowoodo, Steelix, Porygon2, Shedinja, Nosepass, Lunatone, Solrock, Baltoy, Claydol, Snorunt, Glalie, Beldum, Metang, Metagross, Bronzor, Bronzong, Magnezone, Porygon-Z, Probopass, Roggenrola, Boldore, Gigalith, Dwebble, Crustle, Yamask, Cofagrigus, Trubbish, Garbodor, Vanillite, Vanillish, Vanilluxe, Ferroseed, Ferrothorn, Klink, Klang, Klinklang, Cryogonal, Golett, Golurk, Honedge, Doublade, Aegislash, Carbink, Klefki - Human-like Egg Group:
Abra, Kadabra, Alakazam, Machop, Machoke, Machamp, Drowzee, Hypno, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Mr. Mime, Jynx, Electabuzz, Magmar, Hitmontop, Makuhita, Hariyama, Sableye, Meditite, Medicham, Volbeat, Illumise, Spinda, Cacnea, Cacturne, Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape, Buneary, Lopunny, Lucario, Croagunk, Toxicroak, Electivire, Magmortar, Timburr, Gurdurr, Conkeldurr, Throh, Sawk, Gothita, Gothorita, Gothitelle, Elgyem, Beheeyem, Mienfoo, Mienshao, Pawniard, Bisharp, Pancham, Pangoro, Hawlucha - Amorphous Egg Group:
Grimer, Muk, Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, Koffing, Weezing, Misdreavus, Wobbuffet, Slugma, Magcargo, Ralts, Kirlia, Gardevoir, Gulpin, Swalot, Castform, Shuppet, Banette, Duskull, Dusclops, Chimecho, Shellos, Gastrodon, Drifloon, Drifblim, Mismagius, Spiritomb, Gallade, Dusclops, Rotom, Yamask, Cofagrigus, Solosis, Duosion, Reuniclus, Frillish, Jellicent, Tynamo, Eelektrik, Eelektross, Litwick, Lampent, Chandelure, Stunfisk, Phantump, Trevenant, Pumpkaboo, Gourgeist - Dragon Egg Group:
Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Ekans, Arbok, Horsea, Seadra, Magikarp, Gyarados, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Kingdra, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile, Swablu, Altaria, Seviper, Feebas, Milotic, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp, Scraggy, Scrafty, Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus, Druddigon, Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon, Skrelp, Dragalge, Helioptile, Heliolisk, Tyrunt, Tyrantrum, Goomy, Sliggoo, Goodra - Fairy Egg Group:
Pikachu, Raichu, Clefairy, Clefable, Jigglypuff, Wigglytuff, Chansey, Togetic, Marill, Azumarill, Hoppip, Skiploom, Jumpluff, Snubbull, Granbull, Blissey, Shroomish, Breloom, Skitty, Delcatty, Mawile, Plusle, Minun, Roselia, Castform, Snorunt, Glalie, Roserade, Pachirisu, Cherubi, Cherrim, Togekiss, Froslass, Phione, Manaphy, Audino, Cottonee, Whimsicott, Flabebe, Floette, Florges, Spritzee, Aromatisse, Swirlix, Slurpuff, Dedenne, Carbink - Genderless Egg Group. This group consists of all breedable Pokémon that do not have a gender. This egg group is not programmed into the game, so all of the Pokémon in this group exist in other egg groups. Genderless Pokémon can only produce eggs when bred with Ditto. Pokémon in the Genderless Egg Group are:
Magnemite, Magneton, Voltorb, Electrode, Staryu, Starmie, Porygon, Porygon2, Shedinja, Lunatone, Solrock, Baltoy, Claydol, Beldum, Metang, Metagross, Bronzor, Bronzong, Magnezone, Porygon-Z, Rotom, Phione, Manaphy, Klink, Klang, Klinklang, Cryogonal, Golett, Golurk, Carbink - No Eggs Group. These Pokémon are totally incapable of breeding. This group mainly consists of legendary Pokémon as well as baby Pokémon (although you can breed more baby Pokémon by evolving them and then breeding). Pokémon in the No Eggs Group are:
Cosplay Pikachu, Nidorina, Nidoqueen, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mewtwo, Mew, Pichu, Cleffa, Igglybuff, Togepi, Unown, Tyrogue, Smoochum, Elekid, Magby, Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Lugia, Ho-oh, Celebi, Azurill, Wynaut, Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Latias, Latios, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Budew, Chingling, Bonsly, Mime Jr., Happiny, Munchlax, Riolu, Mantyke, Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Dialga, Palkia, Heatran, Regigigas, Giratina, Cresselia, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, Tornadus, Thundurus, Reshiram, Zekrom, Landorus, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Diancie, Hoopa, and Volcanion
Itemless Breeding
By default, 3 IVs are randomly selected from either parent (varies. All 3 from one parent or split 2-1 from either) leaving the other 3 to the RNG to define. If you bred two Pokémon with 31 in every stat, the baby would be guaranteed 3 perfect IVs without the influence of any items held by the parents. Nature is similarly selected by the RNG and thus is random when no item is controlling it.
Items That Affect Breeding
There are 3 types of items that affect IV and nature inheritance during breeding when held by a parent. These are made up mostly of the EV-enhancing items, the Destiny Knot and the Everstone. These items affect breeding in the following ways:
- Power Weight - The baby inherits the HP IV of the parent who is holding this item.
- Power Bracer - The baby inherits the Attack IV of the parent who is holding this item.
- Power Belt - The baby inherits the Defense IV of the parent who is holding this item.
- Power Lens - The baby inherits the Special Attack IV of the parent who is holding this item.
- Power Band - The baby inherits the Special Defense IV of the parent who is holding this item.
- Power Anklet - The baby inherits the Speed IV of the parent who is holding this item.
- Destiny Knot - The baby inherits 5 random IVs between the parents.
- Everstone - The baby inherits the nature of the parent who is holding this item.
When breeding, it is recommended that you have one parent hold the Destiny Knot and the other hold the Everstone to maximize the chance of having matching IVs and Nature. By using an Everstone to guarantee a desired nature is passed on, you can slap a Destiny Knot on the other parent and breed until you get the desired IV spread (or at least more of them inherited from two parents for perfect IVs). When breeding it is ALWAYS recommended to use these two items (just make sure the Everstone is on the correct parent).
Egg Moves
The baby can also inherit moves from its parents. For one, any TM or HM that the baby can learn can be passed down from its parent. There are also special moves that can only be learned by breeding known as Egg Moves. Egg Moves can be passed down by either the mother or the father. Most Egg Moves can be found on the level up movesets of another species in its Egg Group, but some are a little trickier. A few moves must be bred from a parent that has two Egg Groups, who itself inherited the move from a parent in the other Egg Group, a process known as chain breeding. For example, Tentacool can only get Rapid Spin via a Kabuto that originally got it from Squirtle, since Squirtle can't directly breed with Tentacool. Additionally, if a Pokémon is in the Field Egg Group they can obtain any Egg Move from a male Smeargle that sketched the move.
One last handy trick when breeding is making sure both parents know a move the baby could learn via level up, but not necessarily as an egg move. For example, if two Blastoise were bred when both knowing Hydro Pump, the baby Squirtle would also know the move since it can learn it at level 40 without evolving (similarly Ice Beam could be passed on since Squirtle learns it via TM). In contrast, Flash Cannon would not be able to be passed on despite Blastoise being able to be 're-taught' it upon evolving (counts as a level-up move) or via TM since Squirtle doesn't learn it by either means.
Breeding for Abilities
Breeding for abilities is fairly straightforward in Gen 6. A female (NOT including Ditto acting as female) has a good chance (40-50%) of passing on her ability while a male has a rather small chance to pass on his ability, but only in the case of Hidden Abilities.
Breeding Without a 5 or 6 IV Parent
When starting completely from scratch, it's good to check if the species you want is available in any of your current Friend Safaris. If it isn't, try finding someone with that safari. If not, you can usually find a compatible Pokémon (one in the same egg group) in a safari and use a male one of those (a female Cute Charm lead make it easy to find the opposite gender) or just catch a ton of Ditto in a Normal type safari. By combining this with a Destiny Knot and patiently mass breeding, you can eventually get 3 or 4 perfect IVs on a Pokémon. Once this is done, switch your new Pokémon (the one with better IVs) in as a parent and find another Pokémon that has perfect IVs that the new parent is missing. The average is about 20-30 eggs (with rather bad luck) for each generation to get a better parent when breeding from 2 Pokémon with only 2-3 perfect IVs each. It gets easier when you have two parents with four or more perfect IVs each, since some IVs will match and thus be guaranteed to be perfect on the child (unless of course that stat is neglected by the Destiny Knot and becomes random). Keep in mind that breeding with two parents with identical sets of perfect IVs won't really get you anywhere unless they have 5-6 perfect IVs each and any imperfect ones aren't needed for the desired role (like 5 IV Scizor/Scyther only missing Special Attack, since Scizor is always best used with physical attacks).
In OR/AS: With the lack of Friend Safaris, the easy method of getting Pokémon with 3+ perfect IVs goes out the window too. The DexNav kind of helps (there's a chance of encountering Pokémon with 1-3 perfect stats the longer your 'chain' is) but it's incredibly hard to sustain a proper 'chain' for long and Pokémon quickly become skittish. Your safest bet for OR/AS breeding is to get a parent that fits the criteria in the below section, either through trading or transferring from X/Y or earlier games.
Breeding With a 6 IV Parent
After you've been breeding for a while (or if you trade for the right things) You'll find yourself with a Pokémon with perfect IVs or the exact IVs you need, yet the wrong species, nature, and/or Egg Moves. This is where breeding gets even faster and easier. In the case of a perfect/near-perfect Ditto, all you need is a Pokémon of the species and nature you want to pair with it. Slap on a Destiny Knot and Everstone as needed and breed until you get a better IV'd Pokémon than the current non-Ditto parent and switch it in. When breeding with perfect/near perfect non-Ditto parents, it's preferable to have it as a male. This way you can breed it with any female of the same egg group (in the same way you would with Ditto) and not be forced into just that one species.
Calculating the IVs of an Unborn Pokémon
It's possible to calculate how many perfect IVs to expect when breeding based on how many perfect IVs match on the parents in use (for instance, if both parents have a 31 in Atk, that counts as a matching stat). To calculate this, first count the matching IVs (31/31/31/31/31/x and 31/31/31/31/x/31 would have 4 matching perfect IV, for instance [x being any non-perfect IV value]) and subtract 1 (accounts for if a matching IV becomes the random stat). This is the worst-case scenario, but not always the most common. It's usually common to get exactly the same number of perfect IVs as the parents' matching IVs. You can also calculate the [almost] best case scenario by counting all the stats that have a perfect stat on either parent (Maximum is technically 5 since 1 stat is always random, though a 31 there is still possible. 31/31/x/x/x/x bred with 31/x/x/31/x/31, for example could potentially yield a baby with the IVs 31/31/x/31/x/31, thus best-case would be a 4 IV child).
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