Can You Make a 2-Star Pokémon a 3-Star in Pokémon GO?
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The short answer is yes, you can make a 2-star Pokémon a 3-star, but it’s limited to Shadow Pokémon through the purification process. Let’s dive into the details, exploring the intricacies of IVs, appraisal, and how to maximize your Pokémon’s potential in Pokémon GO.
Understanding Pokémon Stars and IVs
Before we proceed, it’s crucial to understand what those stars actually mean. The appraisal system in Pokémon GO, conducted by Team Leaders, gives you a quick and easy way to assess a Pokémon’s potential based on its Individual Values (IVs). These IVs are hidden stats that affect a Pokémon’s Combat Power (CP) and performance in battles. There are three IV categories:
- Attack: Influences the damage a Pokémon deals.
- Defense: Affects how much damage a Pokémon can withstand.
- Stamina (HP): Determines how much damage a Pokémon can take before fainting.
Each IV can range from 0 to 15. A Pokémon with perfect IVs (15/15/15) is considered a “hundo” and is highly sought after.
How Stars Relate to IVs
The appraisal system translates these IVs into a star rating:
- 0 Stars: 0-49% IV (Total IV sum of 0-22)
- 1 Star: 51-64% IV (Total IV sum of 23-28)
- 2 Stars: 66-80% IV (Total IV sum of 29-36)
- 3 Stars: 82-98% IV (Total IV sum of 37-44)
- 4 Stars (Red): 100% IV (Total IV sum of 45)
Essentially, the more stars a Pokémon has, the closer it is to having perfect IVs. A higher IV Pokémon will generally have a higher CP cap and perform better in raids, Gym battles, and Trainer Battles.
The Shadow Pokémon Purification Process
Shadow Pokémon, obtained by defeating Team GO Rocket grunts and leaders, are powerful but have some drawbacks. They have a 20% attack bonus but also take 20% more damage.
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon changes this. It removes the shadow bonus and reduces the Stardust and Candy cost for powering up. More importantly, it grants each IV a +2 boost. This is where the 2-star to 3-star conversion comes in.
Can Purification Upgrade Stars?
Let’s say you have a Shadow Pokémon with IVs of 10/12/11, giving it a total of 33 IVs, which would place it in the 2-star category. When purified, its IVs increase to 12/14/13, totaling 39 IVs. This puts it firmly in the 3-star range (82-98% IV).
Important note: A 2-star Shadow Pokémon can only become a 3-star if its initial IVs are close enough to the 3-star threshold. For example, a very low 2-star might not make the jump even with the +2 boost.
Is Purifying Always the Best Option?
While turning a 2-star into a 3-star sounds appealing, it’s not always the optimal choice. The 20% attack bonus of Shadow Pokémon is incredibly valuable for DPS (damage per second) in raids and battles. Many veteran players prefer to keep their best attackers as Shadows, even with lower IVs, because the damage output is significantly higher. Purifying reduces the damage output of a Shadow Pokemon. It may be better to keep your Shadow Pokemon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions that clarify the intricacies of IVs, stars, and purification in Pokémon GO:
1. Is it possible to increase a Pokémon’s rating (stars) through any other means besides purification?
No, outside of purifying Shadow Pokémon, you cannot directly increase a Pokémon’s star rating. Evolving, powering up, or trading does not improve the original IVs of a Pokémon. Trading Pokémon rerolls the IVs and can result in lower stats.
2. Are Lucky Pokémon always 3 stars?
Not necessarily, but they have a higher chance. Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12. A Pokémon with a total IV sum of 36 may be a two star.
3. Should I always purify Shadow Pokémon with low IVs?
Not necessarily. The decision depends on the Pokémon species and your battling goals. Some Shadow Pokémon are exceptionally powerful attackers due to their 20% damage bonus, even with lower IVs. Research to find out if it is valuable to keep your Shadow Pokémon.
4. What happens if I purify a 4-star Shadow Pokémon?
Purifying a 4-star Shadow Pokémon (a “Shundo”) will give it a perfect 4-star purified status. The cost of powering up is reduced.
5. Can Pokémon from raids or eggs be 2 stars?
Yes, while Pokémon obtained from raids, eggs, and research have a higher IV floor (minimum of 10/10/10), they can still fall within the 2-star range.
6. Is it worth keeping 0-star Pokémon?
It depends. A 0-star Shiny Pokémon is usually worth keeping for its rarity, even if it’s not ideal for battling. Also, 0-star Pokémon with high CP can be useful for holding Gyms early on.
7. How rare is a 0 IV Pokémon?
A 0 IV Pokémon is rare and can be obtained through trading. There is a 1/4096 chance of rolling it with another trainer.
8. Does evolving a Pokémon change its IVs or star rating?
No, evolving a Pokémon does not affect its underlying IVs or star rating. The appraisal remains the same before and after evolution.
9. What is more important, CP or stars?
Both are important, but in different ways. Stars represent the potential (IVs), while CP represents the current strength. A 3-star Pokémon will generally have a higher CP potential than a 0-star Pokémon of the same species, when leveled up to the same level.
10. Can you get a 3-star Shadow Pokémon?
Yes, you can catch a Shadow Pokémon with a 3-star appraisal naturally. It’s completely based on the randomly assigned IVs.
11. Should I max out a Pokémon’s CP before evolving it?
It doesn’t matter whether you power up a Pokémon before or after evolving. The final CP will be the same, as evolution only changes the base stats and not the level or IVs.
12. Are Shiny Pokémon stronger than regular Pokémon?
No, Shiny Pokémon are purely cosmetic variants. They have the same stats and potential as their non-shiny counterparts.
13. How do I maximize my chances of finding a 3-star or 4-star Pokémon?
Focus on Pokémon from raids, eggs, and research tasks, as they have a higher IV floor. Also, consider trading with high-friendship level trainers for increased Lucky Pokémon chances.
14. What should I consider when deciding whether to purify a Shadow Pokémon?
Consider the Pokémon species, its current IVs, your battling needs, and whether the 20% attack bonus is more valuable than the increased IVs from purification.
15. Where can I learn more about Pokémon GO strategies and mechanics?
Stay updated with resources like the Pokémon GO community forums, reputable Pokémon GO websites, and academic research on game-based learning through organizations like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
IVs are an integral part of Pokémon GO, as they show a Pokémon’s true potential. While some Pokémon have a higher chance of being rated higher than others, all is based on the Pokemon’s individual value.