Are Rare Candies Good or Bad? The Definitive Guide

Rare Candies. The name itself conjures images of instant gratification, a shortcut to power in the world of Pokémon. But are they truly a blessing, or a cleverly disguised curse? The simple answer is: it depends. Rare Candies aren’t inherently good or bad; their value lies entirely in how you use them and what your goals are within the game. Used strategically, they can be incredibly efficient. Used carelessly, and you might just regret it.

This guide will delve into the nuances of Rare Candy usage, exploring the myths and realities surrounding them. We’ll break down the impact they have on your Pokémon, the ideal scenarios for employing them, and potential pitfalls to avoid. Consider this your comprehensive roadmap to mastering the art of Rare Candy optimization.

Understanding the Rare Candy Conundrum

The core debate surrounding Rare Candies centers on their impact on a Pokémon’s stats. Historically, players believed that Rare Candies resulted in weaker Pokémon compared to those leveled through traditional battles. This belief stemmed from a misunderstanding of Effort Values (EVs) and Individual Values (IVs). Let’s clarify these concepts:

• Individual Values (IVs): These are inherent, static stats that a Pokémon is born with. They are randomly assigned and cannot be changed through training or items (without cheating or, in some games, special training methods). IVs range from 0 to 31 in each stat (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed). Higher IVs mean a higher stat potential.

• Effort Values (EVs): These are “effort” points earned by battling specific Pokémon. Each Pokémon defeated grants a certain number of EVs, which are distributed across the different stats. A Pokémon can only accumulate a maximum of 510 EVs in total, with a maximum of 252 EVs in any single stat. These EVs directly influence how a Pokémon’s stats increase as it levels up.

The old argument against Rare Candies was that they bypassed the EV-gaining process, resulting in Pokémon with lower stats at a given level. However, this is a misconception. Rare Candies do not inherently lower a Pokémon’s stats. They simply provide a level-up without granting any EVs. The “weaker” stats are a result of lacking EVs, not the Rare Candy itself.

When Are Rare Candies a Good Choice?

Here are situations where Rare Candies can be a valuable asset:

• Completing your Pokédex: If your goal is to fill out your Pokédex, Rare Candies can quickly evolve Pokémon that require specific levels. This is particularly helpful for Pokémon with high level requirements, saving you countless hours of grinding.

• Evolving Rare Pokémon: For those elusive Pokémon that are hard to find and catch, Rare Candies allow you to evolve them without risking them fainting in battle or fleeing.

• Expediting Legendary Pokémon Training: Legendary Pokémon often require significant investment to level up. Rare Candies can quickly bring them up to a usable level, allowing you to incorporate them into your team sooner.

• Strategic EV Training: Believe it or not, Rare Candies can complement EV training. You can use them to level your Pokémon to just below level 100 and then focus entirely on EV training to maximize their stats before the final level up. This allows for precise control over stat distribution.

• Post-Game Content: Many Pokémon games feature challenging post-game content that demands high-level Pokémon. Rare Candies can help you quickly prepare a team to tackle these challenges.

The Pitfalls of Careless Rare Candy Use

While Rare Candies can be beneficial, here’s where things can go wrong:

• Ignoring EVs: The most common mistake is using Rare Candies indiscriminately without considering EVs. As mentioned earlier, this will result in a Pokémon with suboptimal stats.

• Leveling to 100 Before EV Training: In most games, once a Pokémon reaches level 100, it can no longer gain EVs through battling. While you can use vitamins to gain EVs, it can be more time-consuming and costly than traditional training.

• Wasting Rare Candies Early On: Rare Candies become increasingly valuable at higher levels because the experience required to level up increases exponentially. Using them early on is often a waste of their potential.

• Over-reliance on Rare Candies: Solely relying on Rare Candies can lead to a lack of understanding of your Pokémon’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as a missed opportunity to bond with your team through traditional training.

Mastering the Art of EV Training

To fully leverage Rare Candies, understanding EV training is essential. Here’s a brief overview:

1. Determine your desired EV spread: Decide which stats you want to maximize for your Pokémon based on its role in your team. Common strategies include maximizing Attack and Speed for physical attackers or Special Attack and Speed for special attackers.

2. Identify EV training locations: Research which Pokémon yield the EVs you need. Each Pokémon grants a specific number of EVs in a particular stat.

3. Utilize EV-boosting items: Items like Power Bracers, Power Anklets, and Vitamins can significantly speed up the EV training process.

4. Track your progress: Keep track of the EVs you’ve gained to ensure you reach your desired spread.

5. Level up Strategically: After you have gained the EVs, level up the last few levels using the Rare Candy.

Vitamins as an Alternative to EV Training

Vitamins like Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, and HP Up can directly increase a Pokémon’s EVs in a specific stat. Each vitamin grants 10 EVs, but they can only be used until a stat reaches 100 EVs. After that, you must rely on battling to gain the remaining EVs.

Vitamins offer a convenient way to quickly boost EVs, especially when combined with Rare Candies. You can use vitamins to partially train a Pokémon’s EVs and then finish the process through battles.

Conclusion: Rare Candies – A Tool, Not a Crutch

Rare Candies are a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your Pokémon training experience. However, they are not a substitute for understanding the fundamentals of Pokémon battling and stat training. By combining Rare Candies with strategic EV training, you can create formidable teams ready to tackle any challenge. Just remember, knowledge is power, and informed use of Rare Candies is the key to unlocking their full potential.

You can also deepen your understanding of the educational aspects of gaming by exploring resources like the Games Learning Society, which researches the intersection of games and learning at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Rare Candies to further clarify their use and impact:

1. Do Rare Candies make Pokémon weaker?

No, Rare Candies themselves do not make Pokémon weaker. The perception of weakness arises from neglecting EV training. If you level a Pokémon solely with Rare Candies, it will have lower stats than a Pokémon that has been properly EV trained.

2. What are EVs and IVs?

IVs (Individual Values) are inherent, unchangeable stats assigned to a Pokémon at birth. EVs (Effort Values) are points earned by battling Pokémon, contributing to stat growth as a Pokémon levels up.

3. How do I EV train?

EV training involves battling specific Pokémon that yield the desired EVs, using items like Power Bracers and Vitamins to accelerate the process.

4. Can I EV train a level 100 Pokémon?

In most Pokémon games, you cannot gain EVs through battling once a Pokémon reaches level 100. You can, however, use vitamins to increase their EVs.

5. What are vitamins in Pokémon?

Vitamins like Protein, Iron, and Calcium are items that directly increase a Pokémon’s EVs in a specific stat. Each Vitamin grants 10 EVs in the appropriate stat.

6. Are vitamins better than EV training through battles?

Vitamins are more convenient for quickly boosting EVs, but they are limited. You can only use vitamins to raise a stat to 100 EVs. After that, you must rely on battling.

7. When is the best time to use Rare Candies?

The best time to use Rare Candies is when you want to quickly evolve a Pokémon for your Pokédex, expedite legendary Pokémon training, or strategically level a Pokémon to just below level 100 for precise EV training.

8. Should I save my Rare Candies for later levels?

Yes, saving Rare Candies for later levels is generally advisable because the experience required to level up increases exponentially, making Rare Candies more valuable at higher levels.

9. Do Rare Candies affect evolution?

Rare Candies do not negatively affect evolution. Pokémon will evolve normally if they reach the required level through Rare Candy usage.

10. How many EVs can a Pokémon have?

A Pokémon can have a maximum of 510 EVs in total, with a maximum of 252 EVs in any single stat.

11. What are XL Candies?

XL Candies are a resource introduced in Pokémon GO that allows you to level up Pokémon past level 40, up to level 50.

12. How do I get XL Candies?

XL Candies are primarily obtained through catching Pokémon, hatching eggs, and participating in raids. They are rarer than regular candies.

13. What is XL Rare Candy?

XL Rare Candy is a rare type of candy in Pokémon GO that can be converted into a Pokémon’s specific XL Candy, allowing you to power up that Pokémon past level 40.

14. Can I use Rare Candies on any Pokémon?

Yes, Rare Candies can be used on any Pokémon to increase its level.

15. Does evolving a Pokémon late make it weaker?

No, delaying evolution does not cause a stat loss. Evolved Pokémon’s stats are based on level and base stats, so a level 100 evolved Pokémon will always be stronger than a lower-level one.