Unlocking Potential: When Can You Max Out EVs in Pokémon?

The short answer? The level of your Pokémon doesn’t matter when it comes to maxing out Effort Values (EVs). You can begin EV training at level 1 and continue all the way to level 100. The important aspect is understanding the EV limits, which are independent of level. Let’s dive deeper into this crucial aspect of competitive Pokémon training.

Understanding Effort Values (EVs)

Effort Values, or EVs, are essentially bonus stats that your Pokémon earns by battling and training. They’re hidden values that significantly impact a Pokémon’s stats, adding a layer of depth to team building and battle strategy. Every Pokémon starts with 0 EVs in each stat.

EV Limits: The Key to Success

There are two crucial limits to remember:

• Individual Stat Cap: Each stat (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed) can have a maximum of 252 EVs.
• Total EV Cap: A Pokémon can have a maximum of 510 EVs across all six stats.

This means you can’t max out every stat. A common strategy involves maximizing two stats (252 EVs each) and putting the remaining 4 EVs into a third stat, creating a specialized and powerful Pokémon build.

Why Level Doesn’t Matter (Directly)

EVs are accumulated regardless of the Pokémon’s level. The effect of EVs on your stats is most noticeable as you level up, and is fully realized at level 100. Think of EVs as seeds planted early on; the higher the level of your Pokemon, the more these seeds will grow.

The Level 100 Myth Debunked

Many believe that EV training is only relevant at level 100. This is a misconception. While the full impact of EVs is seen at level 100, you can train EVs at any level. This is a major thing for competitive battlers in the community like those at the Games Learning Society and other similar organisations. Go to GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.

Methods for EV Training

Whether your Pokémon is level 1 or 100, the EV training methods are the same:

• Battling specific Pokémon: Each Pokémon yields a certain number of EVs in a specific stat when defeated.
• Using Vitamins: Items like HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, and Carbos each give 10 EVs to their respective stat. However, vitamins cannot raise a stat above 100 EVs.
• Using Feathers/Wings: Items such as feathers grant one EV each.
• Using Held Items: Items like Power Anklet, Power Bracer, Power Belt, Power Lens, Power Band, and Power Weight each increase the EVs gained in specific stats during battles, usually at the cost of the holder’s speed during the battle.

The “Box Trick” and Why It’s Obsolete

In older generations of Pokémon games, there was a trick involving depositing and withdrawing Pokémon from the PC Box to force the game to recalculate stats based on EVs. This trick is no longer necessary in modern games. Stats are automatically updated as EVs are gained.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about EVs and their application at different levels:

1. Can you EV train a level 100 Pokémon?

Yes, absolutely! As emphasized, the level doesn’t restrict EV training. You can EV train a Pokémon at any level, including level 100. Whether through battling, vitamins, or other methods, a level 100 Pokémon can still accumulate EVs up to the maximum limit.

2. Is it better to EV train from Level 1?

Not necessarily. The level at which you start EV training is a matter of preference. Some players prefer to EV train early to avoid accidentally gaining unwanted EVs. Others wait until later, especially if they plan to use vitamins or specific training locations.

3. Does using Rare Candy make Pokémon weaker in terms of EVs?

Rare Candies provide no EVs themselves. A Pokémon raised solely on Rare Candies might have lower stats compared to one trained through battles, as the latter would have accumulated EVs. However, you can EV train after using Rare Candies, so it doesn’t permanently make a Pokémon weaker.

4. Can you over train EVs?

No. Once a stat reaches 252 EVs, or the total EVs reach 510, you cannot gain any more EVs. The game prevents you from exceeding these limits.

5. How many Vitamins do I need to max out a stat?

Since each Vitamin grants 10 EVs, you would theoretically need 26 Vitamins to max out a stat. However, vitamins can’t increase a stat past 100 EVs, so you can only use 10 to start off.

6. Do EVs only matter at level 100?

While the full effect of EVs is most apparent at level 100, EVs matter at all levels. They contribute to stat growth as you level up, just to a lesser degree than at level 100.

7. Can a Pokémon have 6 max EVs (all stats at 252)?

No. A Pokémon can only have a total of 510 EVs across all stats. You cannot max out all six stats to 252 EVs each.

8. How do you know if a Pokémon is fully EV trained?

Modern Pokémon games have features to check EVs. In games like Sword and Shield, pressing the X button on the stat screen reveals a graph showing EV distribution. A shimmering effect or blue color often indicates a stat is maxed out.

9. Does EXP Share affect EV training?

Yes, EXP Share distributes EVs to all Pokémon gaining experience from a battle. This can be helpful for training multiple Pokémon at once, but it requires careful planning to ensure each Pokémon receives the desired EVs.

10. Is Max EV 252 or 255?

The maximum EV for a single stat is 252 in Generation VI and later games. Prior to that, it was 255, but the optimization from 255 to 252 is not as significant as some might think.

11. How do you clean EVs in Pokémon?

You can reset EVs using EV-reducing berries. These berries, such as Pomeg Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Qualot Berry, Hondew Berry, Grepa Berry, and Tamato Berry, each reduce the EVs in a specific stat by 10.

12. Can you hyper train after EV training?

Yes! Hyper Training boosts a Pokémon’s Individual Values (IVs), while EV training boosts Effort Values. These are completely independent mechanics.

13. How many HP Ups for Max HP EVs?

Each stat has 252 EV points to be maxed. Since the Vitamin HP Up gives 10 EVs, you can use it up to 100 EVs and use battling to gain the rest.

14. What does a 252 EV spread mean?

A “252/252/4” EV spread refers to maximizing two stats with 252 EVs each and placing the remaining 4 EVs in a third stat. This is a common and effective strategy.

15. What level should you hyper train a Pokémon at?

Pokémon generally need to be level 50 or 100 before they can use Hyper Training, depending on the game. Check your specific game to know what the minimum level required is.

Conclusion

Understanding and manipulating EVs is a cornerstone of competitive Pokémon battling and a vital step towards crafting a powerful and effective team. The fact that level is irrelevant to the EV gain makes it a mechanic you can start exploiting early on in your journey. Whether you’re strategizing at level 5 or perfecting your team at level 100, mastering EV training is essential.