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Should You Evolve That Low CP Pokémon? A Comprehensive Guide

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The burning question for many Pokémon GO trainers: is it ever worth evolving a low CP Pokémon? The short answer is: it depends. CP, or Combat Power, is a quick indicator of a Pokémon’s strength, but it’s not the whole story. Evolving a low CP Pokémon might seem counterintuitive, but under the right circumstances, it can be a strategic move. Let’s delve into the nuances.

CP is Important but not Everything

While a high CP Pokémon often translates to immediate battling prowess, focusing solely on CP can be a mistake. Think of CP as the sticker price on a car. It gives you a general idea, but you need to look under the hood (IVs, move sets, etc.) to truly understand its value. In general, you want higher CP Pokémon to evolve over lower CP Pokémon, but just because a Pokémon has a high CP doesn’t mean it’s actually very good.

Several factors influence whether evolving a low CP Pokémon makes sense. These include:

Individual Values (IVs): These hidden stats significantly impact a Pokémon’s potential.
Move Sets: A Pokémon’s attacks are crucial. Some are far more effective than others.
Resource Availability: Candies and Stardust are finite resources.
Game Phase: Early game strategies differ greatly from end-game optimization.
Specific Needs: Are you building a raid team, a gym defender, or just filling out your Pokédex?

When a Low CP Evolution Makes Sense

Here are scenarios where evolving a low CP Pokémon might be a wise decision:

High IVs: A Pokémon with near-perfect IVs (13/13/13 or higher) is worth investing in, regardless of its initial CP. IVs represent the inherent potential of a Pokémon. Even if it starts weak, a high IV Pokémon, once evolved and powered up, will significantly outperform a low IV Pokémon with a higher starting CP.
Rare or Limited Availability Pokémon: If it’s a Pokémon that is rare, from an event, or has a limited time, you may only have the one to evolve.
Completing the Pokédex: If you’re simply trying to fill out your Pokédex, evolving the first available Pokémon of that species, regardless of CP, is a valid goal. The Pokédex completion bonus rewards you for each new entry.
Specific Move Set Requirements: Certain Pokémon are valuable specifically for one move set. This is especially true for PvP. In this case the specific move set is more valuable than high CP or IVs.

The Risks of Evolving Based Solely on CP

Blindly evolving the Pokémon with the highest CP in your inventory is a recipe for disaster. Here’s why:

Low IVs = Low Potential: A high CP Pokémon with poor IVs will hit a ceiling relatively quickly. You’ll expend valuable Stardust and Candy to power it up, only to find it underperforms compared to a high-IV counterpart.
Bad Move Set: Evolving a Pokémon grants it a new, randomly selected move set. You could end up with a moveset that is useless.
Resource Waste: Stardust and Candy are precious. Using them on a Pokémon with limited potential is a waste that could hinder your progress elsewhere.
Disappointment: Investing in a Pokémon with a high CP only to see it fail in battle is frustrating. Patience and informed decision-making are key.

How to Determine a Pokémon’s True Worth

Before evolving any Pokémon, consider these steps:

Appraisal: Use the in-game appraisal system to get a sense of a Pokémon’s IVs. Look for phrases like “best attribute” or “can really battle with the best,” indicating high stats. Tools like Poke Genie and Calcy IV give precise IV values.
Move Set Research: Use an online search to determine the best moveset for a specific species in Pokémon Go.
Resource Assessment: Calculate the Candy and Stardust cost of evolving and powering up the Pokémon. Ensure you have sufficient resources and that investing in this particular Pokémon aligns with your overall strategy.

Strategies Based on Experience Level

Beginner: Focus on filling your Pokédex and learning the game mechanics. Evolve the first Pokémon available, regardless of CP, for new entries. As you level up and understand IVs better, become more selective.
Intermediate: Start prioritizing high-IV Pokémon. Join local communities (Discord, Facebook) to learn about raid strategies and optimal move sets. Invest in powering up Pokémon that excel in specific roles.
Advanced: Optimize your teams for raids, gyms, and PvP battles. Track IVs meticulously, and be willing to invest significant resources in Pokémon with exceptional potential. Understand how to optimize your battle teams for specific situations.

Understanding Candy Mechanics

Candy is the primary currency for evolving Pokémon. You acquire Candy by:

Catching Pokémon: Each catch awards a certain amount of candy.
Transferring Pokémon: Transfer unwanted Pokémon to the Professor for a single Candy.
Hatching Eggs: Eggs typically yield a generous amount of Candy.
Rare Candy: Rare Candy can be used on any Pokémon.

The higher CP pokemon allow you to earn more XP when battling other trainers or completing raids.

It’s worth noting that during certain in-game events, candy bonuses are often active, making it an opportune time to evolve Pokémon.

The Role of Stardust

Stardust is used to power up Pokémon, increasing their CP and HP. It’s a shared resource, so careful allocation is essential. Only power up Pokémon with excellent IVs and optimal move sets that you plan to use frequently.

Pokémon GO and Learning

Like other video games, Pokémon GO involves many mathematical aspects and logical skills. The game is a good source to hone the players’ problem-solving skills and critical thinking. To know more information on game-based learning, visit the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Conclusion: Informed Decisions Yield the Best Results

Evolving a low CP Pokémon isn’t inherently bad. What is bad is making that decision without considering the broader context. By understanding IVs, move sets, resource management, and your own gameplay goals, you can make informed choices that lead to a stronger, more effective Pokémon team. Always be a student of the game, adapt your strategies as you level up, and remember that even a “weak” Pokémon can become a powerhouse with the right investment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does the CP of a Pokémon matter when evolving?

Yes, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Evolving a Pokémon transforms it to its next stage, which is typically accompanied by a significant increase in CP. However, a Pokémon’s underlying IVs (Individual Values) are crucial for its long-term potential. A Pokémon with high IVs will reach a higher CP than a Pokémon with low IVs, even if the latter starts with a slightly higher CP.

2. Should I level a Pokémon’s CP before evolving it?

It doesn’t matter if you power up a Pokémon before or after evolving it in terms of the CP it gets to. Evolving a Pokémon only changes the base stats, not the level or IVs. However, it’s generally recommended to evolve first to check the new move set, then power up if you’re happy with the results.

3. Should I get rid of 0-star Pokémon?

Generally, yes. 0-star Pokémon have low IVs, meaning they have less long-term potential. Transfer them for Candy, especially during events that double the Candy from Transfers. The one exception to this would be if the pokemon has a certain move set or is of a rare type.

4. Why do people put low CP Pokémon in gyms?

Sometimes, trainers put low CP Pokémon in gyms as “cannon fodder” – they’re annoying to battle, because chances are, you’ll have to battle them 3 times to get them out of the gym. A powerful pokemon will have its CP decay to a point it only takes 2 battles kick it fairly quickly, when some very weak pokemon will always need 2 or 3 even after days.

5. Should I only evolve 3-star Pokémon?

Evolving 3-star Pokémon is ideal, as they have higher IVs. However, if a 0-star Pokémon has a unique characteristic, like a legacy move or shiny status, it might still be worth evolving. Always weigh the Candy and Stardust cost against the Pokémon’s potential utility.

6. Are 1-star Shadow Pokémon worth keeping?

Yes, keep your shadow Pokemon unpurified. Shadow Pokemon works as angry Pokemon and will deal damage more faster then Normal or Purified Pokemon. The attack power of a Shadow Pokemon is boosted by 1.2x or 20%, making its fast attack hit significantly harder.

7. Is it better to evolve Pokémon with low CP or high CP?

In general, you want higher CP Pokémon to evolve over lower CP Pokémon, but just because a Pokémon has a high CP doesn’t mean it’s actually very good. Since you can’t see the underlying stats, you won’t know if the numbers are getting goosed because it has one high stat and a bunch of low ones, for instance.

8. Is it better to evolve a Pokémon or level it up?

Because we cannot predict a Pokémon’s move set before evolving it, you should evolve a Pokémon and confirm it has the moves you want before investing your hard-earned Stardust into it. If you evolve first and get a bad/unwanted move set, you’ll at least have only used Candies and no Stardust.

9. Is it better to evolve based on CP or IV?

IVs cannot be changed, so higher IVs always have priority over high CP. CP you can change by powering up the Pokemon. The most ideal situation would be both, of course. Higher IVs will naturally give you a higher CP pokemon once it’s fully evolved and powered up.

10. Should you evolve Pokémon right away?

Evolved Pokémon often learn particular moves at later levels than unevolved Pokémon, or they might learn different moves altogether. Although evolved Pokémon’s moves are generally more powerful, some Trainers may want to wait to evolve their Pokémon until it learns a certain favorite move.

11. Is CP the most important thing in Pokémon GO?

While CP is the best, and well, only method, to determine whether its worth catching a Pokemon, there is more to it than catch species over “X” CP. The combat points statistic varies between species. For example, a Magikarp with 235 CP would be far more worth catching than a Charmander at 400 CP.

12. Are 2-star Pokémon good?

2-Star Pokemon have good stats and are worth keeping. You can invest in evolving a 2-star, but you should be aiming for three stars when possible.

13. Can a 2-star Pokémon become a 3-star?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to increase or change a Pokemon’s IVs once it’s been caught. A 2-star Pokémon will always remain a 2-star Pokémon.

14. Is there a downside to not evolving Pokémon?

Unevolved Pokémon have to train twice as hard just to keep up with evolved Pokémon, as their stats gain fewer boosts when they level.

15. Are low CP Pokémon easier to catch?

The harder the catch, the lamer the IVs. That’s because the ones with bad IVs are at a higher level for the same CP, which makes them harder to catch. Likewise, the good ones with the same CP are relatively easier to catch because they are at a lower level.