Unlocking Perfection: How to Identify a 6IV Pokémon

So, you’re on the hunt for the creme de la crème of Pokémon – a 6IV Pokémon. These powerhouses possess the maximum possible Individual Values (IVs) in every single stat, making them the pinnacle of competitive battling and breeding. But how do you actually know if you’ve snagged one? The process varies slightly depending on which generation of Pokémon games you’re playing, but the underlying principle remains the same: you need to unlock and utilize the Judge function.

Simply put, to know if your Pokemon has 6IVs, you must unlock the Judge function in the game you are playing. Once unlocked, the Judge Function will show you the IVs of each of your Pokemons. If the game displays the word “Best” in all six stats, the Pokemon has 6IV.

Here’s a breakdown of how to do it, along with some essential knowledge to guide your quest for perfection.

The Judge Function: Your IV Compass

The Judge function is your key to determining a Pokémon’s IVs. It’s an in-game tool that allows you to assess the quality of each of your Pokémon’s stats on a scale. Without it, you’re essentially flying blind. Think of it like a secret decoder ring for Pokémon genetics.

Unlocking the Judge Function: A Generational Guide

The method for unlocking the Judge function varies between Pokémon games:

• Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon: You must hatch 20 eggs and then speak to a specific NPC located at the Battle Tree. After this, the Judge function becomes available within your PC boxes.

• Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!: Progress through the game until you reach Vermilion City and then talk to one of Professor Oak’s aides inside the Pokémon Center. He will unlock the Judge function after you have caught at least 30 different species of Pokémon.

• Pokémon Sword and Shield: Defeat Leon in the Champion Cup and battle Tower Master Dande in the Battle Tower after the main story. After you beat Dande, you can access the Judge function in your boxes.

• Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl: Defeat the Elite Four and obtain the National Pokédex. Then head to the Battle Tower in the Fight Area. After beating a certain amount of trainers, you can unlock the Judge function.

• Pokémon Legends: Arceus: Complete the main story and reach Rank 10 in the Galaxy Expedition Team. After the game, you can find the Judge function NPC in Jubilife Village near the pastures after the game has been completed.

• Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Defeat the Elite Four. Once done, head to a Pokemon Center. Talking to the main receptionist will grant you the Judge feature.

Interpreting the Judge: Deciphering the Stats

Once you’ve unlocked the Judge function, accessing it is usually as simple as opening your Pokémon boxes and pressing a specific button (often the “+” button). This will display the IVs for each stat.

Here’s what you need to look for:

• “Best”: This indicates a perfect IV of 31 in that particular stat.

• Other Phrases: The exact phrasing can vary slightly between games, but the Judge will typically use terms like “Fantastic,” “Great,” or “Pretty Good” to denote lower IVs.

• The Holy Grail: Six “Bests”: If all six stats (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed) are labeled as “Best,” congratulations! You’ve got a 6IV Pokémon.

Breeding for Perfection: The Road to 6IVs

While finding a wild or randomly generated 6IV Pokémon is exceedingly rare, breeding significantly improves your odds. Here’s a brief overview of the breeding process:

1. Acquire a Destiny Knot: This item, when held by one of the breeding Pokémon, guarantees that 5 IVs from the parents will be passed down to the offspring.

2. Find High-IV Parents: Start with Pokémon that already have good IVs. The more “Best” stats they have, the better your chances.

3. Breed Strategically: Breed your parent Pokémon together while one of them holds the Destiny Knot.

4. Check the Offspring: Hatch the eggs and use the Judge function to check the IVs of each newly hatched Pokémon.

5. Repeat and Refine: Keep breeding, swapping out parents with better IVs as you hatch them. The more time you put into breeding for better stats, the better the resulting offspring will be.

6. Bottle Caps: If you are looking to avoid long breeding chains, you can use bottle caps to improve the IVs of your Pokémon.

Breeding for 6IVs is a time-consuming process, but the reward of a Pokémon with maximum potential is well worth the effort for dedicated players. Keep up the good work!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What exactly are IVs?

Individual Values (IVs) are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon’s potential in each of its six base stats (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed). Each IV can range from 0 to 31. A higher IV in a stat means that Pokémon will be stronger in that stat when it levels up.

2. Why are 6IV Pokémon so desirable?

Because a 6IV Pokémon has the maximum possible IV in every stat, it has the highest possible potential for those stats. This is crucial for competitive battling, where even slight stat differences can determine victory or defeat.

3. Is a 6IV Pokémon always necessary?

Not necessarily. In some cases, you might not need a perfect IV in Attack or Special Attack, depending on the Pokémon’s moveset and strategy.

4. What is a 5IV Pokémon?

A 5IV Pokémon has five perfect IVs (31) in its stats, while the sixth IV is typically something lower. These are much easier to breed and find than 6IV Pokémon, and can be preferred depending on team compositions.

5. How do I know which IVs to focus on when breeding?

That depends on the Pokémon’s role and moveset. For physical attackers, focus on Attack, Speed, and HP. For special attackers, focus on Special Attack, Speed, and HP. Defense and Special Defense are generally important for all Pokémon.

6. Are there any items that can help with breeding for IVs?

Yes! The most important is the Destiny Knot, which guarantees that five IVs from the parents are passed down to the offspring.

7. Can I change a Pokémon’s IVs after it’s been caught or bred?

Not directly. However, in some games (like Sword and Shield), you can use Hyper Training to maximize a stat as if it had a perfect IV, even if it doesn’t naturally. You can find Bottle Caps to help improve the IVs of your Pokémon.

8. What’s the difference between IVs and EVs?

IVs (Individual Values) are inherent and fixed at birth (or when a Pokémon is generated). EVs (Effort Values) are earned through battling and can be strategically distributed to further enhance specific stats. IVs are predetermined, EVs are trainable.

9. Can Ditto breed with other Ditto?

Unfortunately, no. Ditto cannot breed with other Ditto. The members of the Ditto Egg Group cannot breed with each other.

10. How rare are 100 IV Pokemon?

The chance to get a 100% IV (15/15/15) Pokémon in Pokémon GO is 1/4096, or in percentage, 0.0244%.

11. Is best a perfect IV?

As long as it says “best” or “hyper trained!” you have a perfect 31 IVs in that stat. Level up to 50 or 100 and everything will calculate properly.

12. What are 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). However, you cannot exceed 252 EVs in each one.

13. Should I keep 0 star Pokémon?

0 star Pokemon can clog up the Pokemon Storage fairly quickly. 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.

14. Can a 2 star Pokémon become a 3 star?

No, you can’t make a 2 star Pokemon 3 star. With the exception of the recently added shadow/purified Pokemon mechanic from Team Rocket Go battles in which you can purify a rescued Pokemon to increase it’s level and add +2 to each of its stats.

15. Is it possible to have 0 IVs?

The only way to get a 0 IV is to find a Pokemon whose IV stat is “No Good” and breed that down to its children.

Finding a 6IV Pokémon is a journey of dedication and a bit of luck. With the Judge function and a strategic breeding plan, you can significantly increase your chances of obtaining these prized creatures. Remember, even if you don’t achieve perfection, a 5IV Pokémon can still be incredibly powerful. Happy breeding! For more information on gaming and learning, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.