How to Max Stats in Pokémon Scarlet: A Comprehensive Guide
So, you want to build the ultimate Pokémon team in Pokémon Scarlet? Maximizing your Pokémon’s stats is crucial for dominating Tera Raids, competitive battles, and even just cruising through the story. There are two primary ways to achieve this: IV training, and EV training. We’ll break down both to ensure your team reaches its full potential.
IVs (Individual Values) are like your Pokémon’s genetic potential – they’re inherent and largely unchangeable, ranging from 0 to 31 for each stat. EVs (Effort Values), on the other hand, are earned through battling and represent your Pokémon’s training regimen. Mastering both is the key to a truly powerful Pokémon.
Understanding IVs: The Foundation of Power
Checking Your Pokémon’s IVs
Before you start worrying about maximizing stats, you need to know what you’re working with. In Pokémon Scarlet, you can unlock the Judge function in your Pokémon Boxes by defeating enough Pokémon in the post-game content. This allows you to view your Pokémon’s IVs. The game will give you a descriptor for each IV, ranging from “No Good” (0) to “Best” (31). A Pokémon with “Best” in all stats is considered to have perfect IVs.
Hyper Training: The IV Workaround
What if your Pokémon doesn’t have perfect IVs? That’s where Hyper Training comes in. Hyper Training artificially boosts a stat to the equivalent of having a perfect IV (31). To access Hyper Training, head to Montenevera and find the NPC standing near the Abomasnow behind the Pokémon Center. He’ll Hyper Train Pokémon that are level 50 or higher.
Important Note: Hyper Training only simulates perfect IVs. It doesn’t actually change the underlying IV value. This means that while Hyper Trained stats will perform as if they were perfect in battle, they won’t be treated as perfect for breeding purposes. This has no effect on stat calculations during battles.
Breeding for IVs
Breeding is the traditional way to obtain Pokémon with good IVs. By using Destiny Knots (held item that passes down 5 IVs from parent to child), you can drastically increase your chances of hatching Pokémon with multiple “Best” IVs. If you want the very best chances of obtaining perfect IVs, you will want to use a 6 IV Ditto. A ditto with high IVs can increase your odds of breeding Pokémon with high IVs.
Mastering EVs: Effort and Training
EVs, or Effort Values, are the points you earn by defeating certain Pokémon. Each Pokémon you defeat grants a specific number of EVs in one or more stats. You can earn a maximum of 510 EVs per Pokémon, with a limit of 252 EVs in any single stat. Why 252? Because every 4 EVs translates to a +1 stat point at level 100. 252 is close enough to maxing out a stat without wasting EVs due to the rounding.
EV Training Methods
There are several methods to efficiently EV train in Pokémon Scarlet:
- Battling Specific Pokémon: This is the classic method. Each Pokémon species yields a specific EV upon defeat. For example, defeating a Lechonk will give you +1 HP EV. The best way to increase EV training is to find a Pokémon that only gives 1 EV in the stat you are training and defeat a large number of them.
- Power Items: These items, purchased from Delibird Presents shops after earning a few gym badges, significantly boost the EVs gained per battle. The Power Bracer boosts Attack EVs, the Power Belt boosts Defense EVs, and so on. Power items give the trainer +8 EV’s for the intended stat.
- Vitamins: Vitamins like HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, and Carbos instantly grant 10 EVs to their corresponding stats. They’re a quick but expensive way to boost EVs, especially early on.
- Feathers: Feathers like Health Feather, Muscle Feather, Resist Feather, Genius Feather, Clever Feather, and Swift Feather grant +1 EV in the stat. They’re found scattered around the world and are a more accessible option for smaller EV adjustments.
Understanding Area Zero and EV Training
Area Zero is a great place to EV train since the Pokémon located there usually give a decent amount of EV’s in the specific stat you’re trying to train. Area Zero is an area that opens in the end-game of the game.
The Importance of Resetting EVs
Sometimes, you might want to redistribute your Pokémon’s EVs. Luckily, berries exist that can reduce a Pokémon’s EVs in specific stats. These berries, which reduce EVs by 10 per use, can be found throughout the game. These include the Pomeg Berry (HP), Kelpsy Berry (Attack), Qualot Berry (Defense), Hondew Berry (Special Attack), Grepa Berry (Special Defense), and Tamato Berry (Speed).
Monitoring Your EV Progress
You can check your Pokémon’s EV distribution using the stat chart in their summary. The yellow shape inside the chart indicates the EVs. If a stat has reached its maximum (252 EVs), it will sparkle. Always monitor your Pokémon’s EVs to ensure you’re allocating them strategically and within the 510 EV limit.
Strategic Stat Allocation: Beyond the Basics
Simply maxing out Attack and Speed isn’t always the best strategy. Consider your Pokémon’s role and its strengths. A bulky Pokémon might benefit more from HP and Defense investment, while a special attacker thrives with Special Attack and Speed. Pay attention to your team composition and your Pokémon’s moveset.
Conclusion
Maximizing stats in Pokémon Scarlet requires a combination of understanding IVs and mastering EV training. With Hyper Training, strategic breeding, and careful EV allocation, you can create a team of powerhouses ready to tackle any challenge. Good luck, trainer! Don’t forget to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for more insights into game-based learning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do you increase attack stats in Pokémon Scarlet?
Players can farm Attack EVs by defeating select Pokémon while equipping their party with the Power Bracer item. The Power Bracer gives a +8 Attack EV bonus for each knockout the team scores. You can also give them protein, which boosts the attack EVs by 10 per item. This allows Pokémon to quickly max out their attack stat.
2. How do you make your Pokémon stronger in Scarlet?
You raise EVs by using items like vitamins and feathers, which each boost specific stats. Vitamins are the most immediately effective, as each will raise an individual stat by 10 EVs. The most consistent method is to EV train by defeating specific Pokémon.
3. What is the best stat in Pokémon Scarlet?
That depends on the Pokémon. For fast offensive Pokémon, Speed and Attack/Special Attack are crucial. For tankier Pokémon, HP, Defense, and Special Defense are essential. There isn’t a single “best” stat, it depends on the Pokémon in question.
4. How do you tell if a Pokémon is 100% IV before catching it?
You can’t. You can only check a Pokémon’s IVs after you’ve caught it and unlocked the Judge function. Pokémon caught in six-star raids are guaranteed to have five perfect IVs with their sixth stat being a random IV between 0 and 31.
5. What is the max EV in Pokémon Scarlet?
Pokémon can gain 510 EVs total, with a max of 252 per stat; 4 EVs rounds out to a one-point increase for a specific stat.
6. Does Pokémon Scarlet have cheats?
While there are no official cheats for Scarlet and Violet, there are however several rather useful glitches and workarounds that can get Poképlayers a lot of extra items and money.
7. Can you make Pokémon Scarlet run better?
Some players report that playing in handheld mode can improve performance slightly. Closing unnecessary background applications on your Nintendo Switch may also help. It has been suggested that the game runs better undocked.
8. When to Hyper Train Pokémon in Scarlet?
A Pokémon can be Hyper Trained by visiting an NPC in Montenevera, home of the gym leader Ryme. Travel to the Pokémon Center in the city and go behind it to find a small yard that has a man standing near an Abomasnow. This person can offer Hyper Training to Pokémon who are level 50 or above.
9. Do IVs matter in Scarlet?
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, your Pokémon’s stats are more important than ever. To defeat 5-star and 6-star Tera Raid battles, you’ll need to be maximizing the efficiency of your Pokémon’s stats, which means breeding perfect IV Pokémon and training their EVs correctly.
10. Do 7-star raids give perfect IVs?
The Pokémon from 7-star raids has complete perfect IVs. You can also get other drops, like Exp. Candy, Tera Shards, Bottle Caps, and treasure items to sell for money.
11. How do you get 6 IVs in Pokémon Scarlet?
The best opportunity to get a six-IV Ditto comes from six-star Tera Raid battles, which can be unlocked in the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet post-game. Pokemon caught in six-star raids are guaranteed to have five perfect IVs with their sixth stat being a random IV between 0 and 31.
12. How do you get 252 EVs in Scarlet?
It takes 28 battles (with a 1 EV Pokémon) while holding a Power Item to reach 252 EVs in a stat! Assuming you’re starting at 0 EVs, it takes exactly 28 battles to max out a particular stat. You’ll gain 9 EVs per fight that way.
13. How do I know if my EV is maxed in Scarlet?
The yellow interior shape in the stat chart represents their EV, and if it touches the corner and that stat name has sparkles near it, that means it has reached the maximum 252 EVs.
14. Should I purify Shadow Pokémon?
Purified Pokemon will have better Appraisal and receive 2 points towards all their IVs. This can potentially bring a 2-star Shadow Pokemon to a 3-star if it’s purified. However, Shadow Pokémon do more damage than normal Pokémon.
15. Will Pokémon disobey you in Scarlet?
In Scarlet and Violet, pokemon can disobey even if not traded. It takes 6 gym badges for level 50 pokemon to always obey in these games. Up to you if you want to transfer a mon to use and risk disobedience or not.