Masuda method: Difference between revisions

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Jump to navigationJump to search
mNo edit summary
Line 60: Line 60:
|- align=center style="background:#9CCD83"
|- align=center style="background:#9CCD83"
| style="background:#9CCD83; {{roundybl|5px}}" | {{flag|United States|English-language game}} {{pcolor|Gyarados|000}} {{male}}
| style="background:#9CCD83; {{roundybl|5px}}" | {{flag|United States|English-language game}} {{pcolor|Gyarados|000}} {{male}}
| {{flag|Germany|German-language game}} {{pcolor|Gyarados|000|Foppa}} {{female}}
| {{flag|Germany|German-language game}} {{pcolor|In-game trade#Generation IV|000|Foppa}} {{female}}
| style="background:#9CCD83; {{roundybr|5px}}" | {{pcolor|Magikarp|000}}
| style="background:#9CCD83; {{roundybr|5px}}" | {{pcolor|Magikarp|000}}
|}
|}

Revision as of 19:32, 31 January 2020

Get it? Because the name is unknown. The subject of this article has no official name.
The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information.
050Diglett.png This article is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Does the Masuda method apply when a Pokémon is bred with another Pokémon originating from the same cartridge in a different-language playthrough?

The Masuda method (Japanese: 国際結婚 international marriage), also known as Masuda's method, is a fan-made term which describes a way to obtain Shiny Pokémon more easily from Generation IV onwards. While the standard encounter rate for a Shiny Pokémon (either in the wild or by breeding) is 1/8192 from Generation II to Generation V and 1/4096 in Generation VI onwards, the Masuda method multiplies this rate by 5 (to 5/8192 or about 1/1638) in Generation IV, by 6 (to 6/8192 or about 1/1365) in Generation V, and by 6 (to 6/4096, or 1/683) from Generation VI onwards. It occurs whenever Pokémon of differing languages are bred.

The method is named after Game Freak director Junichi Masuda, who programmed it into Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. He documented the method in his blog,[1] where he mentioned a way that a "rare colored Pokémon's Egg can be found little easier." The mechanics behind the method were discovered by Smogon.

Usage

The summary of an English Bulbasaur in an English game.
The summary of an Italian Bulbasaur in an English game. The Pokémon is differentiated by an additional "ITA" language tag.

The Masuda method involves breeding two Pokémon created in games of different languages. An Egg resulting from such a pairing will have a higher likelihood of being Shiny. The most common way to arrange such a pairing is to use one foreign Pokémon and one from the game in which the breeding occurs, although the method will work in any game provided at least one of the Pokémon in the pair is from a language different to the language the game is being played in.

If both Pokémon are foreign to the language the game is being played in but are both of the same language, then the Masuda method will not take effect. Foreign language Pokémon obtained via in-game trades, such as the Meister's Foppa and Lt. Surge's Volty, are treated as being from the same language as the game they were generated in, so they cannot be bred with another Pokémon from the same language for the Masuda method. In Generation IV, if the Masuda method is in effect, the Everstone will fail to increase the chance of passing on a Nature.

A Pokémon traded internationally while still in its Egg will retain the internal marking which recognizes it as a foreign Pokémon even though it appears to be native to the game it was hatched in.

Some examples are illustrated below; Pokémon bred in circumstances which invoke the Masuda method and have an increased chance of being Shiny are denoted by their Shiny sprite.

Parents Offspring
Two Pokémon of the same language
OT: May OT: Brendan OT: (Hatcher)
Spr 7s 475.png Spr 7s 282.png Spr 7s 280.png
English-language game Gallade English-language game Gardevoir Ralts
Two Pokémon of two languages
OT: Elio OT: ミヅキ OT: (Hatcher)
Spr 7s 663.png Spr 7s 724.png Spr 7s 722 s.png
English-language game Talonflame Japanese game ジュナイパー Shiny Rowlet Shiny
Breeding with an in-game trade
OT: Dawn OT: Meister OT: (Hatcher)
Spr 7s 130 m.png Spr 7s 130 f.png Spr 7s 129 m.png
English-language game Gyarados German-language game Foppa Magikarp


Mechanics and reasoning

An internal marker on each Pokémon (at 0x17 prior to Generation VI, 0xE3 thereafter) identifies their "original language". If the game recognizes the two Pokémon in the daycare as having different languages, then when an Egg is generated, the game will generate extra personality values in an attempt to find one that results in a Shiny Pokémon. This stacks with the Shiny Charm's effect.

In Generation IV, the game tries four extra personality values (resulting in approximately five times the probability of receiving a Shiny Pokémon, or 5/8192). In Generation V the game instead makes five extra attempts (resulting in six times the probability, or 6/8192).[2] Generation VI appears to work the same as Generation V (generating a probability of 6/4096 due to Generation VI's increased Shiny odds).

Reaction and purpose

From Generation IV onwards, trading with games from other countries became easier due to the Nintendo DS's ability to communicate through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Masuda method was likely coded as incentive for players to use the GTS's international trading services.

The Masuda method is appealing to players due to allowing them to obtain Shiny Pokémon with specific Egg Moves, Natures and IVs.

See also

References

Project Games logo.png This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.