Pokemon Scarlet & Violet breeding guide: Masuda Method, Egg Power & Picnics

Gen 9 has seen the Pokemon Daycare retired and replaced with a breeding and eggs system involving the Pokemon Picnic. Here’s everything you need to know about how to get eggs and breed Pokemon Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Breeding is an essential and well-loved feature of Pokemon. It allows players to select moves, Abilities, and more by partnering Pokemon together to create an egg. In the past, this was done by leaving compatible Pokemon at the region’s Pokemon Daycare.

However, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have created a more streamlined way for players to breed eggs: having a Picnic. The new feature can be used anywhere in Paldea, and trainers can make Sandwiches, bathe their Pokemon, and grind eggs while they rest between adventures.

Below is everything Pokemon Scarlet & Violet players need to know about breeding through Picnics and how to boost chances for a Shiny.

How breeding works in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

To get started breeding eggs, players must have two compatible Pokemon in their party. For two Pokemon to be compatible, they must either be in the same Egg Group or have Ditto as one of the parents.

When not using Ditto, the egg will always hatch into the first form of the mother’s evolution line. This means you want to ensure the female is the Pokemon you are trying to breed.

Additionally, if you’re planning to breed a Pokemon for specific Egg Moves, make sure one of the parents knows the moves in question.

After selecting the desired breeding pair, players will want to start a Picnic. As the Picnic is active, eggs will begin spawning in the egg basket. This does not require any walking.

The eggs will stack in the basket and can be collected anytime. When collected, they will fill any empty slots in the player’s party, transferring extras to boxes. The basket can hold 10 eggs at a time before it needs emptying.

How to breed in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Below is a step-by-step guide on how players can breed Pokemon in Scarlet & Violet.

1. Have two breeding compatible Pokemon in your party
2. Start a Picnic from the “X” menu
3. Wait until an egg appears in the basket
4. Collect eggs
5. Walk until the egg hatches
6. Repeat this process until you’ve acquired your desired Pokemon

Eggs will fill up the player’s empty party spaces and then be sent to a box once the party is full.

How to make Egg Power sandwich in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Crafting sandwiches will offer players a list of buffs while exploring the Paldea region. One of these is ‘Egg Power’. This limited-time bonus makes it “more likely to find Pokemon Eggs,” and can be obtained through crafting sandwiches or purchasing meals that offer the boost.

The best sandwich for Egg Power is the Jam Sandwich, which can be made with x1 Jam and x1 Strawberry. Alternatively, the Compote du Fils can be purchased for $2,800 from the Gastronomie En Famille restaurant in Cascarrafa.

You can also check our full Sandwich recipe guide here for more details on increasing different effects.

Does the Masuda method work in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet?

Yes, players can use the Masuda Method in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. The Masuda Method involves placing two compatible Pokemon from games with different languages together to breed. Doing so dramatically increases the odds of getting an egg with a Shiny Pokemon.

The standard odds for a Shiny are a potential 1/4096, but with the Masuda method, those odds are increased to a potential 1/683.

Players who unlock the Shiny Charm and use it with the Masuda Method can lower those rates even further, for a potential 1/512. You can use our Shiny Sandwich guide if you want to go even further.

That’s everything you need to know about breeding in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Check out our guide on all the available trade codes in the game and everything about types to get ready for battle.