Useful Items & Abilities for Breeding

Learn about useful items like Everstone and Destiny Knot for breeding in pokemon brilliant diamond and shining pearl, and how to get the Oval Charm.

Everstone

Everstones can be found while digging underground in the Grand Underground, though they are rare. A guaranteed Everstone can be obtained in Snowpoint City by trading a Medicham for a girl's Haunter holding an Everstone. This hold item prevents Pokémon from evolving, but if a Pokémon holds an Everstone, it will always pass down its Nature to its offspring. Without an Everstone, the offspring will have a completely random Nature.

Destiny Knot

The Destiny Knot can be found on Route 224 after obtaining the National Pokédex. Pokémon with the Pick Up ability have a 1% chance of finding a Destiny Knot when they are Level 21 or higher. So long as one of the parents is holding a Destiny Knot, the offspring will inherit a total of 5 IVs from its parents, instead of the usual 3.

A Ditto (or Multiple)

Ditto can breed with any Pokémon that can normally breed, substituting for either the male or female Pokémon. Ditto can be found in Dazzling Cave and Stargleam Cavern hideaways after obtaining the National Pokédex. They are also found on Route 218 using the Poké Radar (your minimap with nearby blips and threats marked). Chaining Ditto with the Poké Radar can yield one with max IVs in one or more random stats. Having multiple Ditto with various Natures is convenient for passing down Natures, and multiple Ditto are useful for covering different stats if you don't have one with max IVs in every desired stat.

Oval Charm

The Oval Charm is a key item that speeds up the rate of receiving eggs from the Pokémon Nursery. You can get the Oval Charm as a reward from beating Morimoto on Route 213, inside the swimming pool, after you have become the Champion.

Shiny Charm

The Shiny Charm is a Key Item that provides two additional chances for a Pokémon to be shiny. To obtain it, you must catch all 493 Pokémon in the National Pokédex. After achieving this, speak to the director at the westernmost hotel building in Valor Lakefront. Pokémon HOME support is expected in 2022, allowing transfers from other games.

Pokémon with a Different Language Tag

Breeding a Pokémon with another Pokémon that has a different language tag compared to it gives five additional chances for a Pokémon to be shiny. This bonus can stack with the Shiny Charm. A Hiker on Route 226 will trade a German Magikarp for a Finneon.

Pokémon that Speed up Egg Hatching

After receiving an egg, you can double the rate of egg hatching if you have a party Pokémon with the Flame Body or Magma Armor Ability. These Abilities do not stack. Common Pokémon with these abilities include the Magby line, Slugma line, and Camerupt, which can be found in the Grand Underground.

Judge Function

The Judge function allows you to check a Pokémon's IVs. To unlock it, beat the game and take the ferry from Snowpoint City to the Fight Area. Speak to the Scientist in the bottom-right corner inside the Battle Tower. Once unlocked, you can press the + or - button when inspecting your Pokémon boxes to cycle to the Judge display.