Is It Better to Keep 3-Star Pokémon in Pokémon GO? A Comprehensive Guide
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In short, yes, keeping 3-star Pokémon in Pokémon GO is generally a very good idea. These Pokémon possess high Individual Values (IVs), indicating significant potential for growth in battles. However, the world of Pokémon GO is nuanced, and maximizing your team’s strength requires understanding the interplay between IVs, CP, and other factors. This guide dives deep into why 3-star Pokémon are desirable, when other factors might take precedence, and answers frequently asked questions to help you optimize your Pokémon GO experience.
Understanding Pokémon Appraisal
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s clarify what “stars” mean in Pokémon GO. After appraising a Pokémon, your team leader (Candela, Blanche, or Spark) provides feedback on its potential using a star rating system. This system essentially summarizes the Pokémon’s Individual Values (IVs).
- 0 Stars: Low IVs (typically 0-50% perfect).
- 1 Star: Moderate IVs (typically 51-65% perfect).
- 2 Stars: Good IVs (typically 66-80% perfect).
- 3 Stars: Great IVs (typically 82-98% perfect). An orange stamp indicates 80-99% perfect IVs.
- 4 Stars (Red Stamp): Perfect IVs, meaning all stats are maxed out (100% perfect).
The IVs are hidden stats that determine how much a Pokémon’s stats (Attack, Defense, and HP) will increase when powered up. A Pokémon with higher IVs will ultimately have higher CP (Combat Power) at the same level as a Pokémon of the same species with lower IVs.
Why 3-Star Pokémon Are Valuable
- High Potential: 3-star Pokémon possess significantly higher IVs compared to those with lower star ratings. This translates to greater CP potential when powered up, making them stronger in battles, raids, and gym defense.
- Resource Efficiency: Investing resources like Stardust and Candy into a 3-star Pokémon is generally more efficient. Since they have a higher ceiling, your investments yield better returns in the long run.
- Future-Proofing: As Pokémon GO evolves with new features and challenges, having a team of high-IV Pokémon will always be advantageous. They’ll remain relevant and competitive regardless of meta shifts.
- Trading Value: 3-star Pokémon often have higher trading value among players, especially if they are rare or sought-after species.
When to Consider Alternatives
While 3-star Pokémon are generally desirable, certain situations might warrant prioritizing other factors:
- CP vs. IVs (Early Game): In the early stages of the game, when resources are scarce, a higher CP Pokémon (even with lower IVs) might be more useful for immediate battles. This allows you to participate in raids and gym battles more effectively.
- Shadow Pokémon: Shadow Pokémon receive a significant damage boost (20%) but also take more damage. A Shadow Pokémon with lower IVs but high Attack IVs can still be incredibly powerful in raids and battles, potentially outperforming a regular 3-star Pokémon. However, remember that shadow pokemon will lose the Shadow Bonus effect if purified.
- Shiny Pokémon: Shiny Pokémon are visually rare variants. Many players prioritize collecting them regardless of their IVs. A shiny Pokémon, even with low IVs, can be a valuable addition to your collection, and can always be traded.
- Cost of Powering Up: Powering up a Pokémon requires Candy and Stardust. If you have a 0-star Pokémon with 1000+ CP, it may be worth evolving because of the Candy and Stardust cost to Power Up a Pokemon (i.e, raise its CP).
- Specific PvP IVs: For certain Player vs. Player (PvP) leagues, specific IV distributions are optimal. These often prioritize low Attack and high Defense and HP. A 2-star or even 1-star Pokémon might be preferable for these scenarios.
The Purifying Dilemma
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon improves its appraisal and reduces the Stardust and Candy cost for powering up and evolving. It also replaces the Shadow Bonus with Return. While a 3-star purified Pokemon is useful, consider whether you would rather keep the Shadow Pokemon for the Shadow Bonus effect.
Optimizing Your Pokémon GO Team
Here are some tips for building a strong and well-rounded team:
- Prioritize Raid Attackers: Focus on obtaining high-IV Pokémon that are effective against raid bosses. These will help you participate in and win raids, earning valuable rewards and opportunities to catch even stronger Pokémon.
- Consider PvP Teams: Research optimal IV spreads for different PvP leagues (Great League, Ultra League, Master League). Build specialized teams for each league to maximize your win rate.
- Don’t Neglect Utility Pokémon: Certain Pokémon are useful for specific tasks, such as gym defense or Rocket battles. Keep a few of these on hand, even if their IVs aren’t perfect.
- Manage Your Storage: Regularly appraise your Pokémon and transfer those with low IVs (especially 0-star Pokémon) to free up storage space.
- Take Advantage of Events: Pokémon GO events often feature increased spawn rates for certain Pokémon, making it easier to find high-IV specimens.
- Join the Community: Connect with other Pokémon GO players online or in person. Share tips, trade Pokémon, and learn from each other’s experiences. Consider learning more about the Games Learning Society and how gaming communities impact learning and development.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What’s the difference between CP and IVs?
CP (Combat Power) is a single number that represents a Pokémon’s overall strength. It is determined by the Pokémon’s base stats, IVs, and level. IVs (Individual Values) are hidden stats that affect how much a Pokémon’s stats increase when powered up. High IVs mean the Pokémon has a greater potential for reaching a high CP.
2. Is a 4-star Pokémon always better than a 3-star?
Yes, a 4-star Pokémon, with its perfect IVs, will always be superior compared to a 3-star of the same species eventually (at max level). However, the difference may be minimal and not worth the extra investment.
3. How rare are 3-star Pokémon?
In the wild, the chance of encountering a 3-star Pokémon is relatively low (around 4%). Weather-boosted Pokémon have a higher chance (around 9.5%). Raids, eggs, and research encounters generally have much higher IV floors, making 3-star Pokémon more common.
4. Should I evolve a Pokémon before or after powering it up?
It doesn’t matter. Evolving a Pokémon only changes its base stats, not its level or IVs. The CP it reaches will be the same regardless of when you power it up.
5. What does purifying a Shadow Pokémon do?
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon improves its appraisal (adding +2 to each IV stat), reduces the Stardust and Candy cost for powering up and evolving, and replaces the Shadow Bonus with Return.
6. Should I always purify Shadow Pokémon?
Not necessarily. Shadow Pokémon deal significantly more damage than their regular counterparts. A Shadow Pokémon with high Attack IVs can be extremely powerful, even with lower overall IVs.
7. What are the best ways to find high-IV Pokémon?
- Raids: Raid Pokémon have high IV floors.
- Eggs: Pokémon hatched from eggs also have high IV floors.
- Research Tasks: Certain research tasks reward encounters with Pokémon that have guaranteed high IVs.
- Trading: Lucky trades guarantee a minimum IV floor and increase the chances of finding a perfect IV Pokémon.
8. How do I use filters to search for Pokémon by IVs?
In your Pokémon storage, you can use search filters like “4“, “3“, “2“, “1“, and “0*” to find Pokémon with specific star ratings.
9. Is it worth keeping 0-star Shadow Pokémon?
Yes, particularly if the 0-star Pokemon has decent attack stats, because shadow pokemon deal significantly more damage than their regular counterparts.
10. Should I get rid of no-star Pokemon GO?
Yes, because 0-star Pokémon often take up a large amount of storage. This is the most common type of Pokémon in the game, and the least useful.
11. Are stars or CP more important?
Stars (IVs) represent the potential of a Pokémon, while CP represents its current state. A Pokémon with high stars will eventually have a higher CP when powered up to the same level as a low-star Pokémon.
12. What is a 4 star Pokemon?
A 4-star Pokémon is one that has 100% perfect IVs, meaning all its stats (Attack, Defense, and HP) are maximized. The orange bar in the appraisal process becomes red when all IVs are maxed.
13. How rare is a shiny Pokemon?
On average, the chance of a wild Pokémon being shiny is around 1 in 500 (0.2%). Some events and specific Pokémon have increased shiny rates.
14. What Pokemon gains the most CP when evolving?
- Feebas to Milotic: +2,731.
- Vigoroth to Slaking: +2,463.
- Kirlia to Gardevoir/Gallade: +2,127.
- Eevee to Espeon: +2101.
- Gabite to Garchomp: +2,088.
- Metang to Metagross: +2,070.
15. Can a 2-star Pokémon become a 3-star?
No, you can’t change a Pokemon’s star rating after you’ve caught it. The only exception is Shadow Pokémon who can get +2 to each IV stat when purified.
Conclusion
Ultimately, deciding whether to keep a 3-star Pokémon depends on your individual goals and resources. In most cases, they are excellent investments, offering significant long-term benefits. By understanding the nuances of IVs, CP, and other factors, you can make informed decisions and build a powerful team that will help you conquer any challenge in the ever-evolving world of Pokémon GO. Remember to continually learn and adapt, and perhaps even explore the educational aspects of gaming through resources like the Games Learning Society.