Breeding Example

Learn how to breed Pokemon in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, focusing on passing down Abilities, Natures, and IVs using the Pokemon Nursery and key items like Destiny Knot and Everstone.

This guide explains how to breed Pokemon in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, covering the process of passing down Abilities, Natures, and Individual Values (IVs) through the Pokemon Nursery.

Step 1: Passing Down Ability

Decide if you want your Pokemon to have its Hidden Ability. If so, you'll need to catch a parent with the Hidden Ability using the Poké Radar or trade for one. There's no in-game indicator for Hidden Abilities. If you're happy with a regular Ability, any parent will do, but if the species has two regular Abilities, choose a parent with the desired one to increase the chance of the offspring inheriting it (otherwise, there's an 80% chance of an unwanted Ability).

Step 2: Passing Down Nature

Passing down Nature is easier than IVs. Aim for a specific Nature; for physical attackers, Adamant (prioritizes Attack) or Jolly (prioritizes Speed) are common choices. To get a specific Nature:

1. Use a Pokemon with the Synchronize Ability and the desired Nature at the front of your party to influence wild Pokemon.
2. Catch many Ditto until you find one with the desired Nature. Ditto can breed with any Pokemon.
3. If Ditto isn't available, catch a parent (male or female) with the desired Nature.
4. As a last resort, keep breeding until you hatch a Pokemon with the correct Nature.

For example, to breed a Timid Eevee for Espeon, if your current Eevee is Calm, use a Timid Ditto. The Ditto should hold an Everstone to pass down its Nature, while the Eevee can hold a Destiny Knot to pass down an IV.

Step 3: Passing Down IVs

This is the most time-consuming step. It's beneficial to have parents with some max IVs. Aim for high chains with the Poké Radar (chain of 20+ yields at least 1 max IV, chain of 30+ yields at least 2 max IVs). Alternatively, wait for Pokemon HOME support to transfer high IV Dittos from Pokemon Sword and Shield, or trade for a hacked Ditto with perfect IVs (ensure offspring don't have hacked traits).

To pass down IVs:

1. Select the parent of the desired species with the desired Ability (usually the mother, unless breeding with Ditto).
2. Select the other parent for mating.
3. Give the Everstone to the parent with the preferred Nature to ensure it's passed down.
4. Have the other parent hold the Destiny Knot, which allows the offspring to inherit 5 IVs from the parents.
5. Place the pair in the Pokemon Nursery.
6. Hatch multiple eggs (e.g., 5 for a full party). The first Pokemon in your party should have an ability like Flame Body, Magma Armor, or Steam Engine to speed up hatching. Consider giving this Pokemon a Smoke Ball for easy escape from wild encounters.
7. After hatching, check the offspring's Ability, especially if aiming for a Hidden Ability. Discard any offspring that do not meet your requirements.