The Basics of Breeding Pokemon in X and Y
Breeding in Pokemon X and Y has been incredibly simplified compared to the previous generations. If you are new to breeding, this is most of the basic information that you should know before trying to breed your perfect Pokemon. This will save you time and help prevent you from getting frustrated with your breeding project.
What is considered a “perfect” Pokemon?
Competitively speaking, a “perfect” Pokemon is one that has been completely optimized to perform in competitive battle. A perfect Pokemon will generally have maximized stats in order to effectively stand a chance in a Pokemon match against other players. More details will be covered in later sections of this guide.
How do you breed Pokemon?
To breed Pokemon in X and Y is simply leaving two compatible Pokemon in the Pokemon Daycare Center on Route 7 in Kalos. Compatible Pokemon simply means a male(♂) and female(♀) Pokemon that share the same egg group.
Egg Groups
Egg groups are “categories” that determine which Pokemon can interbreed. To breed, the two parent Pokemon’s species do not have to be the same, but they must fall into the same egg group category.
There are 14 different egg groups - 15 if you include the Pokemon that cannot breed, which are usually Legendary Pokemon. Some Pokemon can fall under two separate egg groups. Here are the different egg groups:
Monster
Field
Fairy
Flying
Human-like
Water 1
Water 2
Water 3
Bug
Grass
Dragon
Amorphous
Mineral
Ditto
For more information on which Pokemon fall under a specific egg group you can visit several online Pokemon database resources such as Serebii or Bulbapedia.
Get busy and mate...
When you leave your Pokemon at the Pokemon Day Care, there is a chance that an egg will be produced for every 256 steps you take in game. If your Pokemon couple make an egg, the breeder outside of the day care center will face outwards. Talk to him to receive your egg!
What determines that chance, though?
It is based on a random number generator based on several factors. To find out the chance in game, talk to the man outside of the Pokemon Day Care Center. He will say something that will give you an idea of when your Pokemon will produce an egg!
"The two seem to get along very well!"
Same species with different OT numbers
Chance of getting an egg: 70%
"The two seem to get along"
Same species with same OT numbers or
Different species with different OT numbers
Chance of getting an egg: 50%
"The two don't seem to like each other"
Different species with same OT numbers
Chance of getting an egg: 20%
"The two prefer to play with other Pokémon more than with each other."
Different Egg Groups
Chance of getting an egg: 0%
To increase the chance of getting an egg, you can obtain an Oval Charm(link to how to obtain). It increases the likelihood of an egg by 50%.
Egg cycles and hatching
Egg cycles are a number value that determine how many steps in game you need to take in order for your egg to hatch. The value of the amount of egg cycles remaining until the egg hatches is stored in the same manner that the friendship value is for normal Pokémon, but instead of counting up after 255 steps have been taken, it counts down toward hatching until it reaches 0. Then a new egg cycle will begin. Many species of Pokemon take several egg cycles to hatch.
- Whenever a player receives or hatches an Egg, the current Egg cycle of all other Eggs in their party is decreased by one.
How do I know what species of Pokemon will be in the egg?
The Pokemon that will be in the egg is always dependant on what species of Pokemon the mother is. The baby Pokemon in the egg will also always be the lowest evolved form. For example, if the mother Pokemon is a Blastoise the baby will be a Squirtle.
Genderless Pokemon
Genderless Pokemon cannot breed with any other Pokemon except for ditto and they cannot pass any egg moves. They can, however pass their hidden ability to offspring. There are a total of 75 genderless Pokemon in the National Pokedex.