Does Evolving a Pokémon Later Make It Weaker? The Truth Revealed
The short answer is a resounding no. Delaying a Pokémon’s evolution does not inherently make it weaker. The strength of an evolved Pokémon is primarily determined by its level and base stats, not the specific level at which it evolves. A level 100 Raichu will always be stronger than a level 80 Raichu, regardless of whether one evolved from Pikachu at level 20 and the other at level 40.
Evolving Pokémon is a cornerstone of the Pokémon experience. It’s the moment when your trusty companion transforms, often gaining significant boosts in power, a new appearance, and access to new abilities. But the timing of that evolution is a question that has plagued trainers for decades. Let’s delve into the nuances of Pokémon evolution and dispel some common myths.
The Mechanics of Pokémon Evolution
Understanding why delayed evolution isn’t detrimental requires a grasp of how Pokémon stats work. Each Pokémon has a set of base stats that determine its potential in various areas like Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. As a Pokémon levels up, these stats increase based on its base stats and Individual Values (IVs) and Effort Values (EVs). Evolution essentially provides a boost to these base stats, leading to an immediate increase in overall power.
The crucial point is that this boost is fixed. Evolving a Pikachu into Raichu at level 20 gives the same stat increase as evolving it at level 40, assuming both Raichu reach the same final level. The level determines the magnitude of the stats after the base stat boost has been applied.
The Advantages of Delaying Evolution
While it doesn’t impact final stats, delaying evolution can offer some tactical advantages. These mainly revolve around move learning.
Learning Moves Earlier
Unevolved Pokémon often learn moves at earlier levels than their evolved forms. This can be particularly important in the early game, where having access to a powerful move can make the difference between victory and defeat. For example, a Bulbasaur might learn a crucial Grass-type move earlier than an Ivysaur would.
Learning Different Moves
In some cases, unevolved Pokémon can learn entirely different moves than their evolved forms. This can open up unique strategic possibilities. Some trainers might prefer a specific move learned by the pre-evolution that isn’t available to the evolved Pokémon, leading them to delay or even outright prevent evolution.
Stone Evolutions and Movepools
The use of evolution stones adds another layer of complexity. Pokémon that evolve via stones often cease learning new moves after evolution. Therefore, it’s critical to ensure that these Pokémon have learned all the desired moves before using the stone. Evolving them prematurely can severely limit their movepool.
Potential Drawbacks of Early Evolution
On the flip side, evolving too early also has its downsides.
Slower Move Learning
Evolved Pokémon typically learn new moves at a slower pace than their unevolved counterparts. While they might eventually learn more powerful moves, you could be stuck with a less-than-optimal moveset for a longer period.
Missed Opportunities for Specific Moves
There might be a specific move that your Pokémon can only learn in its pre-evolved form. If you evolve too soon, you’ll miss out on this opportunity.
Rare Candies and Stat Gains
It’s important to address the common misconception about Rare Candies. While Rare Candies themselves don’t directly lower stats, Pokémon leveled up solely with Rare Candies will have lower stats than those trained through battles. This is because they miss out on Effort Values (EVs), which are earned by battling specific Pokémon and contribute to stat growth. EV training is a more advanced topic, but crucial for maximizing a Pokémon’s potential.
Pokémon That Get Worse When They Evolve
While rare, there are certain Pokémon that might be considered “worse” after evolving, not in terms of raw stats, but due to changes in movepool, abilities, or strategic utility. Popplio, Graveler, and Dusclops are often cited as examples where the pre-evolved form can sometimes be more strategically advantageous in certain situations. However, this is highly subjective and depends on the trainer’s specific team and strategy.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision of when to evolve your Pokémon is a strategic one that depends on your playstyle and the specific Pokémon in question. Understanding the mechanics of evolution, the importance of move learning, and the nuances of EV training will allow you to make informed choices that maximize your Pokémon’s potential.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does evolving a Pokémon give it full HP?
Yes, evolving a Pokémon restores its HP to full. This can be a useful tactic in a pinch if you’re low on healing items.
2. Does friendship affect evolution?
Some Pokémon require a certain level of friendship to evolve. This friendship is usually increased by battling with the Pokémon, keeping it in your party, and giving it items like berries.
3. Do Pokémon lose stats when they evolve?
No, Pokémon do not lose stats when they evolve. They gain a boost to their base stats, which results in an overall increase in power.
4. Should I evolve Pokémon before level 30 in Pokémon GO?
In Pokémon GO, the Pokémon you encounter in the wild become stronger with each level you gain as a trainer until level 30. Therefore, it’s generally recommended to wait until you reach level 30 before focusing on evolving your Pokémon.
5. Does CP matter before evolving in Pokémon GO?
Yes, CP (Combat Power) matters before evolving in Pokémon GO. A Pokémon with higher CP will typically evolve into a Pokémon with even higher CP. However, IVs (Individual Values) are also important for determining a Pokémon’s overall potential.
6. Can you unevolve a Pokémon?
No, there is no way to unevolve a Pokémon in the main series games. Once a Pokémon has evolved, it cannot revert to its previous form.
7. Should I power up a Pokémon before or after evolving in Pokémon GO?
It doesn’t matter whether you power up a Pokémon before or after evolving it in Pokémon GO. The total amount of Stardust and Candy required to reach its maximum CP will be the same. It’s often recommended to evolve first to see if the evolved form has a desirable moveset.
8. What are the weakest Pokémon evolutions?
Some Pokémon evolutions are considered weaker than others due to their lower base stats. Examples include Kricketune, Dustox, Ledian, Beedrill, and Beautifly.
9. What Pokémon should you never evolve?
There aren’t necessarily Pokémon you should “never” evolve, but some Pokémon have unique advantages in their pre-evolved forms due to movepool or abilities. Examples include Popplio, Graveler, and Dusclops.
10. Does evolving a Pokémon change its ability?
Yes, evolving a Pokémon can change its ability. Some Pokémon have different abilities in their evolved forms.
11. What happens if you use a Rare Candy on a level 100 Pokémon that can evolve?
If you use a Rare Candy on a level 100 Pokémon that can evolve, it will evolve immediately.
12. Is it worth stopping a Pokémon from evolving to learn a move?
Yes, it can be worth stopping a Pokémon from evolving if it learns a particularly powerful or useful move at an earlier level in its pre-evolved form.
13. How do EVs affect stats?
EVs (Effort Values) contribute to a Pokémon’s stat growth. Each Pokémon can earn a maximum of 510 EVs, with a limit of 252 EVs in a single stat. For every 4 EVs earned in a stat, that stat will increase by 1 point at level 100.
14. What happens if you use EXP Candy to level up your Pokémon?
Using EXP Candy to level up your Pokémon is generally fine. However, Pokémon raised solely on candy will not gain any EVs, which will result in lower total stats than Pokémon that have been EV trained.
15. How to cheat for Rare Candies in Pokémon LeafGreen?
While we do not encourage cheating, if you are curious, in Pokémon LeafGreen using a Visualboy Advance emulator, you can empty the first box in your character’s PC. Click the Cheats menu and select “Cheat list.” Then, click the “Gameshark” button, enter “Rare Candy” into the description, and copy 82025840 0044 into the Code field. Use at your own risk.