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Are Low CP Pokémon Worth Keeping in Pokémon GO? A Comprehensive Guide

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Absolutely! Dismissing low CP Pokémon out of hand is a mistake many newer Pokémon GO players make. While Combat Power (CP) is a quick indicator of a Pokémon’s battle readiness, it’s far from the only factor determining its value. A multitude of reasons exist for keeping those seemingly weak Pokémon, from their potential for future evolution and powering up, to their strategic use in specific game scenarios. Let’s dive into the multifaceted world of Pokémon GO and explore why you might want to think twice before transferring that seemingly insignificant critter.

Understanding the Value Beyond CP

CP is a derived value. It is based on a Pokémon’s base stats (Attack, Defense, and HP) combined with its Individual Values (IVs), which are hidden stats ranging from 0 to 15 for each category. A high CP Pokémon generally means it has good stats combined with a high current level.

However, a low CP Pokémon could have excellent IVs, meaning its potential is far greater than initially meets the eye. Investing in powering up and evolving that Pokémon could result in a powerhouse later on. Think of it like a diamond in the rough; a little bit of investment could yield incredible rewards.

Key Reasons to Keep Low CP Pokémon

Potential for Evolution: Low CP Pokémon are often those you’re yet to evolve. If the Pokémon is rare or required for completing your Pokédex, keeping it to gather enough Candies for evolution is vital. Even if its initial CP is low, the evolved form might have substantially higher CP and better moves.
High IVs: As mentioned earlier, IVs are crucial. Use an appraisal tool (in-game or third-party) to check a Pokémon’s IVs. A low CP Pokémon with near-perfect IVs is an excellent candidate for investment. These IVs will always be beneficial.
Rarity: Certain Pokémon are rare and difficult to find. Even with low CP, keeping a rare Pokémon gives you the option to use it later should its meta-relevance change, or if you want it for trade with a friend.
Shiny Hunting: Shiny Pokémon are color variants that are exceptionally rare. Their CP is irrelevant; they’re kept purely for their collectability. Never transfer a shiny unless you have duplicates!
Shadow Pokémon: Shadow Pokémon, caught from Team GO Rocket encounters, have an attack bonus, making them powerful attackers, despite often having initially low CP. While purifying them increases their CP, keeping them as Shadow Pokémon retains that valuable damage boost.
Purification: Sometimes purifying a Shadow Pokemon is valuable. It might be worth it for completing special research tasks, or if it’s not a Pokemon that greatly benefits from the Shadow boost. Purifying increases the IVs, so a low CP Shadow Pokemon might become a powerful Purified Pokemon if it has a high base IV.
Gym Defense Strategy: While often frowned upon by some players, strategically placing low CP Pokémon in gyms can make them easier to defeat, leading to a faster turnover. This can be beneficial for farming PokéCoins.
Limited Time Event Pokémon: Some Pokémon are only available during specific events. Even if they have low CP, keeping them as souvenirs can be enjoyable, especially if they have unique event-exclusive moves.
Trade Potential: Trading can reroll IVs; a low CP Pokémon with decent stats could become a more powerful one after a trade.
Living Pokédex: Many trainers aim to collect at least one of every Pokémon species and form. A low CP Pokémon is perfectly fine for completing your “Living Pokédex”.
Cost-Effective Training: Some lower CP Pokémon might be useful for certain tasks, such as battling in the lower leagues in the GO Battle League. It will be less Stardust and Candy to power them up.

Don’t Forget About Individual Values (IVs)

Before making any decisions, learn to appraise your Pokémon. Pokémon GO’s in-game appraisal system gives you a general idea of a Pokémon’s IVs. Third-party apps and websites provide more precise IV calculations.

Generally, if a Pokémon has at least one IV stat in the top tier for the appraisal, it’s worth considering keeping. If it has near-perfect IVs across the board, it’s almost always worth the investment, regardless of the initial CP.

Evolution Strategy and Move Sets

Before investing Stardust and Candies in powering up a Pokémon, consider its evolution path and potential move sets. Some Pokémon have branching evolutions, and the moves a Pokémon learns are randomly generated.

Evolve the Pokémon first to see what moves it learns. Then, if the moves are good, power it up. This will save you resources if it gets undesirable moves. You can also use Charged TMs and Fast TMs to re-roll moves, but these are valuable resources to be used carefully.

Practical Examples

Example 1: A Shiny Magikarp: You find a shiny Magikarp with 10 CP. Never transfer it! Shiny Pokémon are incredibly rare and highly sought after. The CP doesn’t matter; its rarity makes it valuable. Evolve this into a Shiny Gyarados, regardless of what moveset it gets.
Example 2: A Shadow Bagon: You catch a Shadow Bagon with low CP but good IVs. Keep it as a Shadow Pokémon and evolve it all the way to Shadow Salamence. The attack bonus will make it a formidable attacker, even if its CP is lower than a regular Salamence.
Example 3: A 98% IV Eevee: You find a 98% IV Eevee with a low CP. Eevee has multiple evolutions. Decide which evolution you want (Umbreon, Espeon, Jolteon, etc.) and evolve it accordingly. With such high IVs, the resulting evolved form will be powerful.

Conclusion

Don’t be hasty to transfer low CP Pokémon. They often hold hidden potential. Assess their IVs, consider their evolution possibilities, and weigh their strategic value within the game. A little bit of thought can turn a seemingly weak Pokémon into a valuable asset in your Pokémon GO journey. Remember the strategies and advice listed here. Good luck, and happy hunting!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why do people leave low CP Pokemon in gyms?

There are a few strategic reasons for leaving low CP Pokémon in gyms. Firstly, weak Pokémon require fewer potions to restore to full health after they are knocked out. This can save on resources. Secondly, low CP Pokémon are easier to defeat, which can lead to a faster turnover, potentially earning the player more coins if they’re aiming for quick returns. Some people also put low-level pokemon in gyms because they don’t care about gyms.

2. Does low CP matter in Pokémon GO?

Yes, CP matters. It gives you a rough idea of how a Pokémon will perform in battle. Higher CP generally translates to higher damage output. However, CP isn’t everything. IVs, move sets, and type matchups also play significant roles in determining battle effectiveness.

3. Should I purify low CP Shadow Pokémon?

It depends. Purifying a Shadow Pokémon increases its CP and IVs, making it stronger in some ways. However, Shadow Pokémon have a significant attack bonus. If the Pokémon is primarily used for offense, it might be better to keep it as a Shadow, even with the low CP. If you need a good purified Pokemon for research, then purifying is recommended.

4. Should I keep lower level Pokémon?

Generally, it’s recommended to transfer lower level Pokémon, unless they have high IVs, are rare, shiny, Shadow, or you need them for evolution. Keeping one of each Pokémon for a “Living Pokédex” is also a valid reason.

5. Why are low CP Pokémon better in gyms?

They aren’t inherently better, but as mentioned before, strategically placing low CP Pokémon in gyms can encourage faster turnover for gym control and coin farming. Also, they are cheaper to heal.

6. Should I get rid of 0-star Pokémon?

0-star Pokémon can be useful for transfer candy, especially during events that double candy from transfers. However, if you have better versions of the same Pokémon, transferring the 0-star version is usually the best course of action. Shiny or rare 0-star Pokemon are still valuable.

7. Is it better to evolve a low CP Pokémon?

It’s generally better to evolve a Pokémon with higher CP or better appraisal, assuming IVs are good. However, if a low CP Pokémon has exceptional IVs, it might be worth evolving and powering up.

8. Should I keep all my Shadow Pokémon?

It’s not necessary to keep all Shadow Pokémon. Evaluate each one based on its IVs, potential, and whether you prefer the Shadow attack bonus over the benefits of purification.

9. Is it better to purify Pokémon or not?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon will improve their appraisal and reduce the amount of Stardust and Candy required for them to Power Up, Evolve, or learn a new attack. When Purified, a Shadow Pokémon will forget Frustration and learn Return, a Charged Attack that’s exclusive to Purified Pokémon. However, it sacrifices the Shadow attack bonus.

10. Are low CP Shadow Pokémon worth keeping?

Yes, especially if they have decent IVs. The Shadow bonus can make them powerful attackers, even with lower CP. Don’t immediately dismiss them!

11. Should I keep a Pokémon with higher CP or IV?

IVs generally take priority over CP. CP can be increased by powering up a Pokémon, but IVs are fixed. High IVs represent a Pokémon’s long-term potential.

12. Should I raise CP or evolve?

Evolve first to see what moves the Pokémon learns. If the moves are good, then invest in raising CP.

13. Should you keep 0-star shiny Pokémon?

Yes! A Shiny is not worth transferring even if it has a poor Appraisal. If players don’t have another Pokemon of the same species, it may be worth holding onto the 0-star until it can be replaced by one with a better Appraisal.

14. What Pokémon are worth keeping in Pokémon GO?

Strong Pokémon like Mewtwo, Slaking, Machamp, Blissey, Metagross, Lucario, Dragonite, and Kyogre are always worth keeping, as well as Pokémon with high IVs, rare Pokémon, and shiny Pokémon. Pokemon that are useful in the Great, Ultra and Master League are also worth it.

15. Are low CP Pokémon easier to catch?

The relationship is somewhat nuanced. In general, a low CP Pokémon is often easier to catch because it is at a lower level. However, a Pokémon with bad IVs will be at a higher level for the same CP compared to a Pokémon with good IVs, making it harder to catch at that CP. If you’re interested in learning more about the broader implications of games and learning, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org!