Are Pokémon Better When They Evolve? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is generally, yes, Pokémon are better when they evolve. Evolution is a core mechanic in the Pokémon franchise, designed to make your Pokémon stronger and more capable. However, the picture is more nuanced than a simple “evolve everything immediately” approach. Many factors play into determining the optimal time and even if you should evolve a particular Pokémon. This article will explore the benefits and drawbacks of evolution, covering topics such as stats, movesets, special cases like Shadow and Purified Pokémon, and how individual values (IVs) factor into the decision.
Understanding the Basics of Pokémon Evolution
Evolution is a transformative process where a Pokémon changes into a new, often more powerful, form. Typically, this involves increased base stats, leading to higher Combat Power (CP) in games like Pokémon GO and overall better performance in battles across all Pokémon media.
Stat Growth and CP Calculation
A Pokémon’s strength is fundamentally determined by its stats: Attack, Defense, and Stamina (HP). When a Pokémon evolves, its base stats increase. These base stats are a key component in the calculation of CP, a readily visible indicator of a Pokémon’s overall strength. Higher base stats translate to higher CP, making the evolved form stronger. The formula for calculating CP takes into account these base stats along with a Pokémon’s level and Individual Values (IVs).
Moveset Acquisition
While evolution typically brings stat improvements, it can also alter a Pokémon’s available moveset. This is a crucial consideration, especially in games where movesets heavily influence battle effectiveness. Some Pokémon might lose access to certain powerful moves upon evolution, while others gain access to even stronger moves.
The Nuances of Evolving Pokémon
While evolution usually leads to a stronger Pokémon, there are exceptions and strategic considerations.
Learning Specific Moves
Sometimes, a pre-evolved form can learn a move that the evolved form cannot. This is rare but can be a significant factor for competitive play. For example, in main series games, certain held items or breeding techniques allow a Pokémon to learn moves only available in their earlier stages.
Eviolite and Niche Strategies
The item Eviolite, found in the main series Pokémon games, significantly boosts the Defense and Special Defense of a Pokémon that can still evolve. This can make a pre-evolved form surprisingly bulky and effective in battle, especially for Pokémon with naturally high defenses like Shelgon, mentioned in the provided article. This strategy is less relevant in games like Pokémon GO, where items have different mechanics.
Aesthetic Preference
Let’s not forget the most important thing…aesthetics! Some players simply prefer the appearance of a pre-evolved form. While it might not be the most strategically sound decision, enjoying the game is paramount.
Shadow vs. Purified Pokémon: A Complex Choice
Shadow Pokémon possess a unique attack bonus of 20% at the expense of a 20% defense decrease. This glass-cannon approach can make Shadow Pokémon incredibly powerful in raids and certain PvP situations, where dealing maximum damage quickly is crucial. Purifying a Shadow Pokémon removes this bonus, increases their IVs, and reduces the cost to power them up.
Shadow Pokémon: Raw Power
The attack boost of Shadow Pokémon is often significant enough to outweigh the loss in defense, making them superior attackers in many scenarios. Keeping a strong Shadow Pokémon, even with lower IVs, can be more beneficial than purifying it.
Purified Pokémon: Cost-Effectiveness and Return
Purifying lowers the Stardust and Candy costs to evolve, power up, and learn new attacks. Purified Pokémon also learn the move Return, a Normal-type move that can be powerful on certain Pokémon, especially Normal-types like Snorlax paired with a fast energy-generating move. However, the lost Shadow bonus is a significant tradeoff.
IV Enhancement vs. Shadow Bonus
Purifying increases a Pokémon’s IVs, potentially bringing them closer to perfect stats. While this sounds appealing, the increase in IVs rarely compensates for the loss of the Shadow bonus in terms of overall battle effectiveness. However, purifying can be a good option for completing research tasks or for Pokémon that don’t have great IVs to begin with but will see a significant boost from purification.
Individual Values (IVs) and Their Impact
Individual Values (IVs) are hidden stats that contribute to a Pokémon’s overall potential. Each Pokémon has IVs for Attack, Defense, and Stamina, ranging from 0 to 15. A Pokémon with perfect IVs (15/15/15) is considered a 4-star Pokémon.
IVs vs. Evolution
Evolving a Pokémon doesn’t change its IVs. Therefore, it’s generally advisable to check a Pokémon’s IVs before evolving it. If you have a Pokémon with high IVs, it’s a good candidate for evolution, as it has the potential to become a very powerful Pokémon in its evolved form.
CP and IV Synergies
A Pokémon’s CP is influenced by its base stats, level, and IVs. If a low-CP Pokémon has high IVs, it might be worth investing in, as its CP will increase significantly as you level it up and eventually evolve it. Conversely, a high-CP Pokémon with low IVs might not be worth the investment.
Starter Pokémon: A Special Case
Starter Pokémon are unique because they are your initial companions in most Pokémon games.
Evolution Timing for Starters
Starter Pokémon typically evolve at specific levels (around levels 14-18 for the first evolution). These levels are designed to coincide with the early stages of the game, providing a power boost as you progress.
Strategic Considerations for Starters
While it’s generally beneficial to evolve your starter Pokémon, consider their moveset and overall role in your team. Sometimes delaying evolution slightly can allow them to learn a particular move earlier. Also, the Games Learning Society emphasizes the importance of understanding the rules and dynamics of the game to make informed decisions. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about educational games.
When Not to Evolve: Exceptions to the Rule
There are situations where holding off on evolution, or even avoiding it altogether, can be advantageous.
Movepool Limitations
As mentioned earlier, sometimes a pre-evolved form learns a move that its evolved form does not. This is less common in Pokémon GO, where movesets are more limited, but it’s a critical consideration in main series games.
Niche Strategies and Eviolite
The Eviolite item, exclusive to main series games, allows pre-evolved Pokémon to be surprisingly effective. This item boosts the Defense and Special Defense of a Pokémon that can still evolve, making them significantly bulkier.
Pokémon That Worsen Upon Evolution
While rare, some Pokémon might have a unique niche or move combination in their pre-evolved form that is lost upon evolution. This often depends on specific game mechanics and available movesets.
Conclusion: Evolve Wisely
Evolution is a fundamental part of the Pokémon experience, generally leading to stronger and more capable Pokémon. However, a blanket approach of “evolve everything immediately” is not always optimal. Factors like movesets, Shadow vs. Purified status, IVs, and strategic considerations must all be considered. By understanding these nuances, you can make informed decisions that maximize the potential of your Pokémon team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pokémon Evolution
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Pokémon evolution, designed to provide additional clarity and address common concerns.
1. Is it better to evolve Pokémon before or after powering them up?
It doesn’t matter. Powering up a Pokémon before or after evolution has the same effect on its final CP. Evolution changes the base stats, while powering up increases the Pokémon’s level. The final CP will be the same regardless of the order.
2. Should I always evolve Pokémon as soon as possible?
Not always. Consider their current moveset, potential moveset after evolution, and if they learn any unique moves in their current form.
3. What happens if I purify a 4-star Shadow Pokémon?
Purifying a 4-star Shadow Pokémon will not further improve its IVs, as they are already perfect (15/15/15). It will, however, remove the Shadow bonus and potentially be used for quests.
4. Is it worth keeping low-CP Shadow Pokémon?
Yes, if they have good IVs or if you plan to use them specifically for their Shadow bonus. Even with low CP, the 20% attack boost can make them powerful attackers.
5. What is the best move for a Purified Pokémon?
The move Return is exclusive to Purified Pokémon. Normal-type Pokémon like Snorlax, with fast energy-generating moves, can utilize Return effectively.
6. Are 2-star Pokémon any good?
A 2-star Pokémon has lower total stats than a 3-star Pokémon, but its IVs might still be decent. It depends on your resources and the availability of better Pokémon.
7. Which common Pokémon are worth evolving?
Common Pokémon like Drowzee, Zubat, and Pidgey are worth evolving for the experience points (XP) boost you get from doing so. They can also be relatively easy to obtain in large numbers and therefore, evolve easier.
8. Should I always evolve a 4-star Pokémon?
Yes, evolving a 4-star Pokémon is generally a good idea, as it has the highest possible potential. It will become a very powerful Pokémon in its evolved form.
9. How do I check a Pokémon’s IVs?
Many games, like Pokémon GO, have built-in appraisal systems that give you an idea of a Pokémon’s IVs. There are also third-party apps and websites that can calculate IVs based on a Pokémon’s CP and stats.
10. What’s the difference between base stats and IVs?
Base stats are inherent to a Pokémon species and determine its overall potential. IVs are individual values that vary from Pokémon to Pokémon within the same species, affecting their specific stats.
11. Should I evolve my starter Pokémon immediately?
While typically beneficial, consider if the starter Pokémon learns any specific moves at its current level that you want before evolving it.
12. Does evolution affect a Pokémon’s type?
Yes, evolution can change a Pokémon’s type. For example, Magikarp (Water-type) evolves into Gyarados (Water/Flying-type).
13. What are the benefits of not evolving a Pokémon?
The benefits include learning specific moves, utilizing the Eviolite item (in main series games), or aesthetic preference.
14. Are Shadow Pokémon always better than normal Pokémon?
Not always, but often. The 20% attack boost is significant, but the 20% defense decrease can make them more vulnerable. It depends on the specific Pokémon and the battle situation.
15. How does evolution affect a Pokémon’s size?
Evolution typically increases a Pokémon’s size and weight, often significantly altering its appearance.