How to Breed Pokemon to Get Eggs in Scarlet & Violet

Don’t go looking for a Daycare Center if you want to breed Pokemon to get eggs in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (but still make sure you have a Ditto handy). Now they show up during picnics. This is the new mechanic that involves going into the field, setting up a picnic by opting to do so via the main menu, and taking the time to clean Pokemon or make sandwiches. This means before you take a minute to relax, you better double check who’s coming to dinner.

How to Breed Pokemon for Eggs in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

First, you want to look at who is in your party. If you really want to force eggs from specific characters, only start a picnic with those two there. Make sure they’re from compatible egg groups, then set up camp. If they’re not, make sure the character you want and a Ditto are both coming with you.

Once you start the picnic, it is a good time to make a Jam Sandwich. This is one of the earliest recipes you can get via visiting sandwich shops and talking to specific picnickers on the road. It only needs one jam and one strawberry. However, its notable feature is it briefly bestows level one Egg Power. This makes it more likely eggs will show up more quickly.

Finally, hang around a bit. Every few minutes, check the picnic basket lying on the ground at the foot of your table. If characters are compatible, you should start getting eggs.

Bonus: How to Catch a Ditto in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Ditto is absolutely, as always, your buddy when it comes time to breed Pokemon for eggs. It is compatible with every Pokemon capable of doing so in-game. However, doing so is difficult. That’s because in the wild, I’ve only seen a Ditto disguised as other Pokemon. Specifically, I caught mine outside of Porto Marinada.

However, there is another much easier way to find it without randomly entering a battle and hoping the opponent turns out to be a Ditto in disguise. That’s Tera Raids. If you check regularly, you’ll see the familiar blob. However, I also noticed that the Tera Raid dens around the Porto Marinada region also occasionally housed three-star Ditto raids.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available for the Nintendo Switch.