Does Leveling Up Before Evolving Matter? A Pokémon GO Deep Dive
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The short answer? No, it generally doesn’t matter whether you power up a Pokémon before or after evolving it in Pokémon GO, with one critical exception: Shadow Pokémon. The final Combat Power (CP) of your evolved Pokémon depends on its base stats, Individual Values (IVs), and its current level. Evolving only changes the base stats and its moveset; it doesn’t inherently impact the level or IVs. So, a Pokémon evolved at a lower level will reach the same CP as one evolved at a higher level, provided they have the same IVs and are powered up to the same level afterward.
However, the cost in Stardust and Candy to reach a specific CP will be the same, regardless of when you evolve. The power-up steps remain consistent. The best strategy often involves evolving first, checking the evolved form’s moveset, and then deciding whether to invest Stardust and Candy to power it up. This is because movesets are random upon evolution, and a bad moveset can render an otherwise strong Pokémon less useful. The exception to this rule are Shadow Pokemon, which are more expensive to power up and evolve. Therefore, purifying before evolving can save candies.
Understanding the Mechanics
To fully grasp why leveling before evolving doesn’t matter (usually), let’s break down the core components:
- Base Stats: These are inherent to each Pokémon species and determine its potential strength. Evolution dramatically changes these base stats, making the evolved form significantly stronger.
- Individual Values (IVs): These are hidden stats that range from 0 to 15 for Attack, Defense, and HP. IVs are permanent and do not change upon evolution. A Pokémon with high IVs will always be stronger than one with low IVs, all other factors being equal.
- Level: A Pokémon’s level dictates how high its CP can be. You increase a Pokémon’s level by powering it up with Stardust and Candy. Your own trainer level restricts the maximum level to which you can power up your Pokémon. Level does not change upon evolution.
Since evolution only affects the base stats and movesets, the level and IVs remain constant. A level 20 Eevee with 15/15/15 IVs will evolve into a Vaporeon with a higher CP due to the base stat change, but it will still be a level 20 Vaporeon with 15/15/15 IVs. Powering up before or after evolution to, say, level 30, will result in the same final CP.
The Importance of Movesets
The real reason to hold off on powering up until after evolution is the randomly assigned moveset. Each evolved Pokémon receives a Fast Attack and a Charged Attack from a pool of possible moves. Some movesets are significantly better than others for offense (attacking gyms and raids) or defense (defending gyms).
Investing precious Stardust and Candy into a Pokémon with an undesirable moveset is a waste. Evolving first allows you to assess the moveset and decide whether the Pokémon is worth powering up. You can use TMs (Technical Machines) to re-roll the moves, but these are valuable resources themselves.
A Note on Special Evolutions
Some evolutions have special requirements beyond just Candy. For example, certain Pokémon might require specific items (like a Sinnoh Stone) or conditions (like walking a certain distance as your buddy). These special evolution requirements are independent of leveling and do not affect the outcome of leveling before or after.
FAQs: Leveling and Evolution in Pokémon GO
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of leveling and evolution in Pokémon GO:
1. Is it better to evolve a high CP or low CP Pokémon?
Generally, a higher CP Pokémon is preferred. CP correlates with level, so a higher CP Pokémon is already at a higher level, saving you some Stardust and Candy to reach its maximum potential. However, IVs are more important than initial CP. A high CP Pokémon with poor IVs might be weaker than a lower CP Pokémon with perfect IVs once both are powered up to the same level.
2. Does Pokémon level affect evolution?
No. Your trainer level limits how high you can power up a Pokemon, however, it does not affect evolving a Pokémon. A Pokémon at any level (above the minimum level requirement for certain Pokémon in the main series games, which doesn’t apply to GO) can evolve.
3. Should I power up Magikarp before evolving it into Gyarados?
No, there is no advantage to powering up Magikarp before evolving it. Power-up costs are the same before and after evolution. Evolve first to see if Gyarados has a good moveset. Given that Magikarp requires 400 Candies to evolve, you’ll want to ensure that you are using the moveset. Magikarp needs 400 candies due to the massive boost from a weak Pokémon to a powerhouse.
4. Is it worth evolving a 3-star Pokémon?
Yes! A 3-star Pokémon with a red stamp indicates perfect IVs (15/15/15). These are the most desirable Pokémon to evolve and power up, as they have the highest potential CP.
5. Should I purify Shadow Pokémon before evolving?
Usually, yes. Shadow Pokémon gain an attack boost but suffer from a defense reduction. Purifying increases their IVs by 2 in each stat and reduces the Stardust and Candy cost for powering up and evolving. So you will use less candies. The benefits of purifying depends on your needs, so it depends on your specific use-case.
6. What happens if my Pokémon level is too high to evolve?
This isn’t possible in Pokémon GO. Pokémon can evolve at any level. The level requirements for evolution from the main series games do not apply. You can even use a Rare Candy to evolve a Pokémon that’s already at the maximum level.
7. Is there a downside to not evolving Pokémon?
Yes. Unevolved Pokémon have lower base stats than their evolved forms, meaning they are weaker in battle. While some trainers might choose to keep Pokémon unevolved for aesthetic reasons or to take advantage of specific movesets only available in the unevolved form, they will generally be at a disadvantage in combat.
8. Does evolving Pokémon later make it weaker?
No. The timing of evolution does not affect the final stats of the Pokémon. A Pokémon evolved at a later level will simply catch up in CP when powered up. Level affects base stats. Base stats are the same when powered up.
9. How important is leveling in Pokémon GO?
Leveling up as a trainer is crucial. Higher trainer levels unlock access to more items, stronger Pokémon encounters in the wild, and the ability to power up your Pokémon to higher levels.
10. What is the hardest Pokémon to evolve in Pokémon GO?
The “hardest” Pokémon to evolve is subjective. Some Pokémon require rare items, specific conditions, or a large number of Candies. Magikarp (400 Candies) is often cited due to the sheer amount of Candy required.
11. Are Shiny Pokémon stronger?
No. Shiny Pokémon are purely cosmetic variants. They have the same stats and potential as their non-shiny counterparts. Shiny Pokemon are all cosmetic and have no affect on their stats.
12. What happens if I purify a perfect Pokémon?
Nothing changes. A perfect (15/15/15) Pokémon will remain perfect after purification. The only change is that the Shadow bonus disappears and it receives the move Return.
13. Is it worth keeping 0-star Pokémon?
This depends on your goals. 0-star Pokemon are very unlikely to be useful in raids or PVP. However, it is worth keeping for collection purposes, especially shiny or rare Pokémon.
14. What happens if you purify a 4 star Pokemon?
There is no such thing as a 4 star Pokemon in Pokemon GO. A 3-star Pokemon that has a red stamp means the Pokemon has 100% perfect IVs. Therefore purifying a 100% IV shadow Pokemon will not change anything.
15. What if I want to learn more about learning through games?
Consider researching the Games Learning Society to find out more. The GamesLearningSociety.org offers research on the benefits of learning through gaming.
In Conclusion
While it might seem intuitive to power up before evolving, in Pokémon GO, the timing is mostly irrelevant, with the exception of Shadow Pokemon. Focus on securing Pokémon with high IVs, evolving first to check movesets, and then strategically investing your Stardust and Candy. Prioritizing the movepool over all else will ensure that your strong pokemon are also useful. With this strategy, you’ll maximize your resources and build a powerful team to conquer gyms, raids, and battles!