Complete guide to Destiny Knot in Pokemon Sword and Shield

Steven Rondina Published 29/01/2021

Destiny Knot is basically worthless when it comes to battling in Pokemon Sword & Shield. It doesn’t yield much when it comes to selling it to stores, either. But when it comes to breeding the perfect Pokemon team, Destiny Knot is by far the most valuable item in the game.

What does it do, then? And how can players get them? Here is everything you need to know about Destiny Knots in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

What does Destiny Knot do in Pokemon Sword and Shield?

Pokemon Sword breeding

Destiny Knots are a held item to be used by Pokemon for one of two purposes. In battle, Destiny Knot serves as a counter to the infatuation status effect by reflecting it back at opponents when the holder is afflicted. The far more important use for Destiny Knot is for breeding.

In Pokemon Sword and Shield, Destiny Knot is used to control the individual values of Pokemon while breeding. If a Pokemon is placed into the nursery while holding a Destiny Knot, any eggs that are produced will have five of its IVs determined by its parents instead of three. This allows trainers to breed statistically perfect Pokemon much more easily than they could otherwise.

The five IVs that are determined by parents, and which parent the IV is drawn from, is random and cannot be influenced through items. Players can still progressively breed better Pokemon by hatching eggs, checking the IVs, and putting them in the nursery if they have better IVs then their parents.

Do you need two Destiny Knots when breeding in Pokemon?

No. Only one parent Pokemon needs to be holding a Destiny Knot in order to influence the inherited IVs of the eggs that are produced. This allows the other parent to hold an Everstone to guarantee the egg Pokemon’s nature, or different incenses to hatch specific baby Pokemon such as Munchlax or Mime Jr.

Where to find a Destiny Knot in Pokemon Sword and Shield

Destiny Knots can be obtained in one of three ways in Pokemon Sword and Shield:

Purchased from the BP shop in Hammerlocke
Very rare find for Pickup ability for level 21-100 Pokemon
Cram-o-matic prize

While Destiny Knot can be found in a few ways, there’s no reason to bother with anything other than purchasing it with BP in Hammerlocke. The item only costs 10 BP, which is a pittance for anyone that plays in the Battle Tower or Battle Stadium.

Where is Destiny Knot in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl?

A Destiny Knot can be found on the ground on Route 224 in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Players can reach Route 224 by exiting east out of Victory Road. This requires players to escort Marley through a series of narrow pathways. Once they do so, they have access to a new exit out of Victory Road that leads to a different area other than the Pokemon League.

The Destiny Knot can be found by heading north through the tall grass, then east along the beach, then north through more tall grass.It’s found on the ground as a regular item.

Steven Rondina

About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

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