Does IV and EV Matter in Pokémon? A Deep Dive
Absolutely! For anyone serious about competitive Pokémon battling or tackling the more challenging aspects of the game like the Battle Tree or online raids, IVs (Individual Values) and EVs (Effort Values) are crucial. While you can certainly enjoy the core gameplay without delving into these mechanics, understanding and utilizing IVs and EVs is the key to maximizing your Pokémon’s potential and achieving victory against skilled opponents. Let’s break down why, and how to master these critical components of Pokémon training.
The Importance of Individual Values (IVs)
IVs are like a Pokémon’s genetic potential. They are hidden stats determined at the moment you encounter or breed a Pokémon. Each stat—HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed—has an IV ranging from 0 to 31. A higher IV in a particular stat translates directly to a higher stat value for that Pokémon at any given level.
Think of it this way: two Pikachu of the same level and with the same EVs can have vastly different Attack stats simply because one has a higher Attack IV than the other. The difference can be significant, potentially deciding whether you can OHKO (one-hit knockout) an opponent or get OHKO’d yourself.
The maximum IV for any given stat is 31. This is often referred to as a “perfect IV.” While striving for Pokémon with perfect IVs in all relevant stats can be a daunting task (especially if you’re not breeding), it’s a worthwhile goal for competitive players. Many competitive teams will use a 0 IV stat for their trick room team.
Why IVs Matter
- Stat Optimization: IVs directly impact your Pokémon’s stats, giving you an edge in battle.
- Competitive Viability: In competitive battling, every point counts. A small IV difference can be the difference between winning and losing.
- Breeding: IVs are inherited through breeding, allowing you to create Pokémon with increasingly optimal stats.
Effort Values (EVs): Tailoring Your Pokémon
EVs, unlike IVs, are trainable stats. Your Pokémon gains EVs by battling other Pokémon. Each Pokémon defeated yields a certain number of EVs in specific stats. By strategically battling different Pokémon, you can control which stats receive EV boosts.
A Pokémon can have a maximum of 510 EVs in total, with a maximum of 252 EVs in any single stat. This means you can fully maximize two stats (252 each) and then allocate the remaining 6 EVs to another stat, or distribute them strategically.
The Power of EV Training
- Stat Customization: EVs allow you to tailor your Pokémon’s stats to fit a specific role in your team.
- Strategic Advantage: You can optimize your Pokémon’s strengths and cover its weaknesses through EV training.
- Competitive Edge: Effective EV training is essential for achieving success in competitive battling.
IVs vs. EVs: Which is More Important?
Both IVs and EVs are crucial, but they serve different purposes.
- IVs represent the Pokémon’s innate potential. You want these to be as high as possible, especially in the stats that are critical for your Pokémon’s role.
- EVs allow you to customize your Pokémon’s stats based on your team’s needs.
In essence, IVs provide the foundation, while EVs provide the finishing touches. Many players find EVs easier to manipulate, as they can be trained and optimized, whereas IVs are often determined by luck (or extensive breeding). However, ignoring IVs entirely would be a mistake.
Natures: The Third Piece of the Puzzle
While we’re discussing stat optimization, it’s important to mention natures. Natures provide a 5% boost to one stat and a 5% reduction to another. Choosing the right nature is vital for maximizing a Pokémon’s effectiveness. The correct Nature of a Pokemon is important for a Pokemon to be successful in a battle.
Practical Implications for Different Playstyles
Casual Play
If you’re just enjoying the main story and casually collecting Pokémon, IVs and EVs are less critical. You can still beat the game and have fun without worrying about them. However, even a basic understanding of these mechanics can help you create a more powerful team. As long as the EVs don’t detract from the most important stat, you will be fine!
Competitive Play
For competitive battling, IVs and EVs are non-negotiable. You need to optimize your Pokémon’s stats to stand a chance against other skilled players. This involves breeding for high IVs, strategically EV training, and selecting the correct nature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are perfect EVs?
Perfect EVs are 252 EVs in each of two stats, with the remaining 6 EVs allocated to a third stat. The total EVs cannot exceed 510.
2. Are EVs more powerful than IVs?
They are different. IVs provide a base stat increase that EVs build upon. Both are important for maximizing a Pokémon’s potential. IVs can add 31 points to a stat, whereas 252 EVs will add 63 to a stat.
3. Is a higher IV always better?
Generally, yes. Higher IVs translate to higher stats. However, in specific cases, like using Foul Play against your Pokémon, having a 0 Attack IV might be beneficial. Additionally, a 0 speed stat can be beneficial to a Trick Room team.
4. What is the best IV spread for all Pokémon?
The most optimal spread is often five perfect IVs (31) and one IV that doesn’t matter. This is typically the Attack stat for Special Attackers or Speed for Trick Room teams.
5. What is the maximum EV for a Pokémon?
A Pokémon can have a maximum of 510 EVs in total, with a maximum of 252 EVs in any single stat.
6. Should I get rid of low IV Pokémon?
It depends on your goals. For casual play, low IV Pokémon are fine. For competitive play, you’ll want to breed for higher IVs.
7. Why would you want a 0 IV Pokémon?
A 0 Attack IV is useful for minimizing damage from moves like Foul Play and confusion. A 0 speed stat is useful for Trick Room teams.
8. Why are EVs so important in Pokémon?
EVs allow you to customize your Pokémon’s stats to fit a specific role in your team. They provide a significant advantage in competitive battling.
9. What are perfect IVs and EVs in Pokemon?
Max IV is 31. Max EV in a single stat is 252. Total EVs must be less than 510. The ideal is to have 31 in the stats you want to maximize and 252 EVs in two different stats to maximize them.
10. Do EVs really matter in Pokemon?
In the main game, EVs are unimportant. They start mattering when you want to do Battle Tree or online battling.
11. What are the perfect EVs?
The max points we can get in total for a single Pokémon is 510 EVs to share among the 6 stats (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed). Always, without exceeding 252 EVs in each one.
12. Is higher IV better Pokemon?
Yes, absolutely, without question. If you have two of the same Pokémon with identical movesets and the same or nearly the same CP, but one has perfect IVs, while the other has next to nothing IVs, the one with better IVs will last longer and do more damage in PVP and Raids.
13. Should I keep 0 star Pokemon?
Because it will take most players a long time before they can max out Pokemon Storage, it’s best to just release the 0-stars and keep the 1/2/3/4-stars. Storage Expansions can be bought for 200 Coins at the Shop. This will add 50 Slots to the Storage if purchased. Players can have up to 6250 Pokemon at max storage.
14. Should I evolve my 100 IV Pokemon?
If you have a Pokemon that is in the highest or second highest IV tier, it really is not that far away from perfect Max CP. So evolving a Pokemon with IV’s in the first or second tier is a good idea, you don’t need to wait for the perfect IV’s.
15. How do you know if a Pokemon has good stats?
Any Pokémon with a Base Stat of 130 or higher is generally an excellent choice, at least for that stat. Although the upper limit is 255, the reality is very, very few Pokémon will ever have a Base Stat higher than 150, and thus anything at or above 130 is usually indicative of the top tier.
Conclusion
IVs and EVs are essential for maximizing your Pokémon’s potential in competitive battling. Understanding these mechanics and implementing them effectively can significantly improve your chances of success. While mastering IV breeding and EV training takes time and effort, the rewards are well worth it for serious Pokémon trainers. Remember to always consider the resources provided by organizations dedicated to understanding how games impact the learning process, such as the Games Learning Society, which can be accessed via GamesLearningSociety.org. Good luck, and happy battling!