Breeding is a core mechanic in the Pokémon world, allowing trainers to raise new generations of Pokémon with specific stats and moves. However, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! do not feature Pokémon breeding in the traditional sense. This is a significant departure from core series titles. Let’s explore why this is the case and delve into alternative methods for acquiring strong Pokémon in these games.
Why No Breeding in Let’s Go?
The Let’s Go games are designed to be a more accessible entry point to the Pokémon franchise, particularly for players familiar with Pokémon GO. They aimed to streamline the gameplay experience. The developers likely omitted the breeding mechanic to simplify the game and reduce its complexity. Breeding involves intricate knowledge of IVs (Individual Values), Natures, and egg moves, which might have been deemed too complex for the target audience. Instead, the focus shifted towards catching Pokémon in the wild and utilizing the new Catch Combo system and Nature selection through Madame Celadon.
Another factor is the strong connection to Pokémon GO. In Pokémon GO, Pokémon are primarily obtained through catching in the wild and through special research. The Let’s Go games share this catching-centric approach. The intention was to create a unified experience across both games, incentivizing players to catch a large number of Pokémon and transfer them between the titles. Breeding would have lessened the need for extensive catching.
Finally, the absence of Held Items and Abilities, another key feature found in other main series games, also removed aspects of breeding. Breeding often is related to passing down abilities or using items to influence the breeding process.
Alternatives to Breeding: Catch Combos, Natures, and IVs
While traditional breeding isn’t available, there are still ways to influence your Pokémon’s stats and potential in Let’s Go.
Catch Combos
Catching the same Pokémon species consecutively increases the odds of finding Pokémon with higher IVs and even Shiny Pokémon. This is the primary method for obtaining powerful Pokémon in the absence of breeding. The higher your catch combo, the better your chances of finding Pokémon with optimal stats.
The catch combo mechanic dramatically boosts the odds of finding Pokémon with “Best” IVs. A high catch combo guarantees that at least a few of a Pokémon’s IVs will be perfect (statistically maxed out). This makes it easier to assemble a team of competitively viable Pokémon.
Catching combo also increases the appearance rates of rare Pokémon, like Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur early in the game.
Natures
Natures influence which stats grow faster as a Pokémon levels up. While you can’t breed to guarantee a specific Nature, Madame Celadon in Celadon City offers a service that allows you to influence the Nature of Pokémon that appear in the wild for the rest of the day.
By paying a small fee and answering a few questions, Madame Celadon will make a particular Nature more common. This makes it easier to find Pokémon with the Nature you desire for your team. It’s a valuable tool for optimizing your Pokémon’s stats.
To take advantage of Madame Celadon’s service, you’ll need to provide her with specific Pokémon as offerings, based on the Nature you want. Each Nature corresponds to a particular flower color. Once you’ve given her the correct flowers, all Pokémon you encounter for the rest of the day will have a higher chance of possessing that Nature.
Individual Values (IVs)
IVs are hidden stats that affect a Pokémon’s overall strength. Although you can’t directly control them through breeding, as mentioned before, Catch Combos increase the likelihood of finding Pokémon with high IVs. You can check your Pokémon’s IVs by talking to a specific NPC after defeating certain trainers and progressing far enough into the main game. The IV Judge will tell you how good a Pokemon’s stats are in simple terms like “Best” or “Pretty Good.”
Focus on building catch combos to maximize your chances of finding Pokémon with the highest possible IVs. This is the best way to ensure your team is as strong as possible.
Transferring from Pokémon GO
Although you can’t breed Pokémon from GO into Let’s Go, you can transfer Pokémon you already have. This can be useful to get specific Pokémon early or if you have strong Pokémon in GO. The GO Park complex allows players to transfer Pokémon they’ve caught in Pokémon GO into the Kanto region of Let’s Go. This means you can bring over your favorite Pokémon from Pokémon GO, including Shiny Pokémon and Pokémon with high IVs.
This process is one-way, so you cannot send Pokémon back to Pokémon GO once they’ve been transferred.
Transferred Pokémon do not get reset. They retain their IVs, level, and moves from Pokémon GO. This can allow you to add to your Let’s Go team quickly if you were a dedicated GO player.
Tips for Building a Strong Team in Let’s Go
Here are some tips for building a strong team in Let’s Go, given the absence of traditional breeding:
- Maximize Catch Combos: Always aim for high Catch Combos when hunting for specific Pokémon. This increases the chances of finding Pokémon with good Natures and high IVs.
- Utilize Madame Celadon: Use Madame Celadon to influence Natures. This is particularly important for Pokémon that rely on specific stats, such as Attack or Speed.
- Check IVs with the Judge: Regularly check your Pokémon’s IVs using the IV Judge. This allows you to identify Pokémon with high potential and focus on training them.
- Shiny Hunting: If you’re interested in collecting Shiny Pokémon, Catch Combos are essential. They significantly increase the odds of finding these rare Pokémon.
- Transfer Strategically: Transfer Pokémon from Pokémon GO strategically. Focus on transferring Pokémon with good stats or those that are difficult to find in Let’s Go.
- Variety in Move Sets: Experiment with different move sets to cover a wide range of type matchups. TMs (Technical Machines) are readily available and can be used multiple times, making it easy to customize your Pokémon’s moves.
Example: Catch Combo for a Competitive Pikachu
Let’s say you want a strong Pikachu for your team. Here’s how you can approach it:
- Head to Viridian Forest, where Pikachu commonly spawns.
- Start a Catch Combo by catching every Pikachu you see.
- Continue catching Pikachu until you reach a high Catch Combo (31+ is ideal).
- At this point, Pikachu with good IVs will start appearing more frequently. You can also use Madame Celadon to increase the chance of getting a desirable Nature.
- Keep catching Pikachu until you find one with a good Nature (like Timid or Hasty) and at least a few “Best” IVs.
- Once you have your ideal Pikachu, you can train it and use TMs to teach it powerful moves.
Nature Chart
Here is a basic chart to aid in selecting natures and understanding their effect:
| Nature | Increased Stat | Decreased Stat |
|————–|—————-|—————-|
| Adamant | Attack | Special Attack |
| Brave | Attack | Speed |
| Lonely | Attack | Defense |
| Naughty | Attack | Special Defense |
| Bold | Defense | Attack |
| Impish | Defense | Special Attack |
| Lax | Defense | Special Defense |
| Relaxed | Defense | Speed |
| Modest | Special Attack | Attack |
| Mild | Special Attack | Defense |
| Quiet | Special Attack | Speed |
| Rash | Special Attack | Special Defense |
| Calm | Special Defense | Attack |
| Careful | Special Defense | Special Attack |
| Gentle | Special Defense | Defense |
| Sassy | Special Defense | Speed |
| Timid | Speed | Attack |
| Hasty | Speed | Defense |
| Jolly | Speed | Special Attack |
| Naive | Speed | Special Defense |
| Hardy | None | None |
| Docile | None | None |
| Bashful | None | None |
| Quirky | None | None |
| Serious | None | None |
This chart will assist in choosing a suitable nature for each member of your team.
Conclusion: Embracing the Catching Experience
While the absence of breeding in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! may disappoint some fans, the game provides alternative methods for obtaining strong Pokémon. The Catch Combo system, combined with Nature manipulation and IV checking, offers a unique and engaging way to build a powerful team. By embracing the catching experience and utilizing these features, you can create a formidable roster of Pokémon to conquer the challenges that await. The ease of TMs allows for team customization not seen in prior entries, while the ease of finding shiny Pokemon also adds a layer to the game. Embrace this approach to discover the charm of Pokémon: Let’s Go and enjoy a simplified but still compelling Pokémon adventure.
How do I breed Pokémon in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!?
Breeding is not a feature in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!. Unlike previous core series Pokémon games, these titles focus on a simplified catching and training experience, heavily emphasizing the catching mechanic introduced in Pokémon GO. As such, the traditional Pokémon Day Care where breeding usually takes place is absent in these games.
If you are looking to obtain specific Pokémon with certain natures or IVs, your focus should be on catching multiple specimens of the desired Pokémon in the wild. You can then transfer suitable Pokémon from Pokémon GO or utilize Bottle Caps to maximize their IVs after reaching a high enough level. This mechanic replaces breeding in these versions.
Can I breed Pokémon from Pokémon GO into Pokémon: Let’s Go?
While you cannot directly breed Pokémon in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, you can transfer Pokémon from Pokémon GO to these games. This process involves using the GO Park complex in Fuchsia City, allowing you to bring Pokémon you’ve caught in Pokémon GO into the Let’s Go games. This is the closest alternative to breeding, providing a means of obtaining different Pokémon without directly breeding them within the game.
However, once a Pokémon is transferred from Pokémon GO to Let’s Go, it cannot be sent back to Pokémon GO. Think of it as a one-way ticket. Therefore, carefully consider which Pokémon you wish to transfer, considering their stats and usage potential within the Let’s Go games before initiating the transfer.
What happens if I try to put two Pokémon in a Day Care in Let’s Go?
There is no Day Care in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!. The game mechanics have been simplified, and breeding is not an available feature. You will not find a building or NPC that offers Day Care services in these games. The focus is on catching and training Pokémon you find in the wild.
The removal of the Day Care simplifies the gameplay, shifting the emphasis from breeding for perfect IVs and Natures to more direct methods of obtaining desired Pokémon, such as chaining for specific natures or using bottle caps to boost IVs. This alteration is part of the design philosophy that makes Let’s Go more accessible and reminiscent of Pokémon GO’s playstyle.
Are there any items or methods to influence a Pokémon’s nature in Let’s Go?
Yes, there is a specific method to influence the nature of Pokémon that appear in the wild in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!. This involves speaking to Madame Celadon at the Celadon City Pokémon Center. She can tell your fortune by asking you to choose two flowers.
The combination of flowers you choose determines the nature of all wild Pokémon you encounter until midnight in-game. Each flower corresponds to a different stat, and the chosen combination influences the nature that boosts and hinders those specific stats, thus effectively controlling the nature of the Pokémon you encounter.
Can I get baby Pokémon in Let’s Go through any other method?
No, you cannot obtain baby Pokémon through any other method besides transferring them from Pokémon GO (if you have them there) or trading with other players who might have transferred them. The games lack the breeding mechanic, meaning baby Pokémon such as Pichu, Cleffa, or Igglybuff cannot be hatched from eggs.
The only way to obtain these specific Pokémon in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! is to leverage Pokémon GO or trading. Keep in mind that not all baby Pokémon are available in Pokémon GO, further limiting availability within Let’s Go.
How do I get Pokémon with good IVs in Pokémon: Let’s Go if I can’t breed them?
Since breeding isn’t possible, obtaining Pokémon with good IVs in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! primarily relies on catching multiple of the same species and carefully comparing their stats. Catching Pokémon in succession (catch combos) will increase the chances of Pokémon with higher IVs appearing. The higher your catch combo, the more guaranteed “Best” IVs the Pokémon will have.
Furthermore, you can utilize Bottle Caps to maximize the IVs of your Pokémon. A Bottle Cap will increase one IV to its maximum value, while a Gold Bottle Cap will maximize all IVs. This method allows you to improve the stats of your favorite Pokémon even if they weren’t initially born with optimal IVs.
What happens if I want a specific Egg Move on a Pokémon in Let’s Go?
Since breeding doesn’t exist in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, there is no way to inherit Egg Moves. Egg Moves, which are moves that a Pokémon can only learn through breeding, are not part of the game’s mechanics. The moves a Pokémon learns are solely determined by its level and TMs.
If you desire a specific move on a Pokémon, you will need to rely on TM compatibility or the Pokémon’s natural level-up moveset. Unfortunately, if a move is typically learned as an Egg Move and is not available through TMs or level-up, then that move will not be accessible for that Pokémon in Let’s Go.