Should I Delete 0-Star Pokémon? A Comprehensive Guide

The age-old question plagues every Pokémon GO trainer at some point: Should I delete my 0-star Pokémon? The short answer, as with many things in Pokémon GO, is: it depends. However, understanding the nuances behind this decision can significantly impact your gameplay and enjoyment. The real answer depends on your play style, goals within the game, and how much you value rarity versus practicality.

Understanding 0-Star Pokémon

First, let’s clarify what a 0-star Pokémon actually is. In Pokémon GO, a Pokémon’s strength is determined by its Individual Values (IVs) – Attack, Defense, and HP. Each IV is a number between 0 and 15. The stars you see during an appraisal provide a quick visual representation of the total of these IVs. A 0-star Pokémon means all three IVs are low, resulting in a combined percentage below a certain threshold. It is important to note that Pokémon with a 0-star rating are often perceived to be “weak” or “useless”. But the truth is more complex than that.

The Argument for Deleting

• Lower Combat Performance: The most obvious downside is the lower CP potential. A 0-star Pokémon, when powered up to the same level as a higher IV counterpart, will invariably have lower CP. This translates to less effectiveness in raids, gym battles, and PvP, particularly in Master League.
• Resource Investment: Investing stardust and candy into a 0-star Pokémon is generally inefficient, as you’ll be spending resources on a Pokémon that will never reach its full potential.
• Inventory Management: Pokémon storage is a precious resource, and holding onto numerous 0-star Pokémon can quickly fill up your storage, limiting your ability to catch and keep more useful Pokémon.

The Argument for Keeping

• Rarity: A fully 0% IV Pokémon is significantly rarer than a perfect 4-star (100% IV) Pokémon. This is especially true for legendaries, as they cannot be obtained with 0% IVs from Raids, Research Tasks, or Eggs. The only way to obtain a 0% legendary is through trading with a low friendship level, where the IV floor is not raised.
• Trick Room Teams (Main Series Games): In the main series Pokémon games, a 0 IV in Speed is highly desirable for Pokémon used in “Trick Room” teams, where slower Pokémon move first. While Pokémon GO has a simplified battle system, holding onto Pokémon with 0 IV Attack may have some advantage. For example, when an opponent uses Foul Play.
• Niche Use Cases: Some players enjoy using underpowered Pokémon for unique challenges or just for the novelty of it. A 0-star Pokémon can provide a greater sense of accomplishment when used successfully.
• Shadow Pokémon Enhancement: Shadow Pokémon, regardless of their initial IVs, have a 20% attack boost. This makes even a 0-star Shadow Pokémon potentially viable in certain situations. The attack boost can significantly outweigh the lower IVs.
• Trading Potential: While you can’t guarantee a 0-star in a trade, keeping certain rare Pokémon species (especially shadow or shiny ones) with low IVs might be valuable to collectors who specialize in rare, low-IV Pokémon.
• Sentimental Value: Maybe the Pokémon has a name, or the circumstances of catching the Pokémon hold value to you. Never discount this as a reason to keep a Pokémon!

Zero Star Shadow Pokemon

Shadow Pokémon are those caught after defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders. They possess a distinctive dark aura and a substantial attack boost, which makes them strong attackers in Raid Battles. You can catch them at the end of the fight and can be Purified to increase their stats.

Given this information, here are some reasons why you should keep your Shadow Pokémon unpurified:

• Increased Attack: Shadow Pokémon benefit from a 20% increase in Attack. This damage bonus can be a game-changer, particularly in Raids and battles against Team GO Rocket.

• Lower Defense: There is a trade-off: Shadow Pokémon also have lower defense, making them glass cannons. However, the increased damage output often outweighs this downside.

• Uniqueness: Shadow Pokémon are a unique feature of Pokémon GO, adding depth and strategy to battles. They offer a different approach compared to standard Pokémon.

Making the Decision

Ultimately, the decision of whether to delete a 0-star Pokémon comes down to your personal priorities and the specific Pokémon in question. Here’s a helpful decision-making process:

1. Is it a Shadow Pokémon? If yes, strongly consider keeping it, especially if it’s a Pokémon with high base attack stats, like Machop (evolves into Machamp) or Beldum (evolves into Metagross).
2. Is it a Shiny Pokémon? Always keep shiny Pokémon, regardless of their IVs. They are extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors.
3. Is it a Legendary Pokémon? 0% IV Legendary Pokémon are rare to trade for and you may want to keep it to have access to a unique Pokémon, regardless of their IVs.
4. Is it a Pokémon needed for Pokedex completion? Keep it until you evolve it and register all forms in your Pokédex.
5. Do you have a better version? If you have a higher IV version of the same species, the 0-star version becomes less valuable (unless it’s shiny or shadow).
6. Is it a Pokémon with future Community Day potential? It may be worth keeping one for the eventual community day, and its exclusive move.
7. What’s your storage situation? Be realistic. If your Pokémon storage is constantly full, prioritizing higher IV Pokémon is a necessity.
8. Do you enjoy using underpowered Pokémon? If you find joy in the challenge, by all means, keep your 0-star Pokémon!

In conclusion, while a 0-star Pokémon may not be the strongest in terms of raw power, it can still hold value due to its rarity, potential for niche strategies, or simply for sentimental reasons. The decision is yours, trainer! Also, learning and understanding how games can be used for education and exploration of societal issues is important. Organizations like the Games Learning Society are helping researchers understand the power of video games in society. To learn more, you can visit GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does “IV” stand for, and why are they important?

IV stands for Individual Values. These are hidden stats assigned to each Pokémon that influence their Attack, Defense, and HP. Higher IVs mean a Pokémon can reach a higher CP and perform better in battles.

2. How do I check a Pokémon’s IVs in Pokémon GO?

You can use the in-game appraisal feature by tapping the menu button on the Pokemon’s screen. This only provides an overview of the IVs. For a detailed assessment, use third-party apps like PokeGenie (iOS and Android) or Calcy IV (Android), which overlay information onto your screen.

3. Can I increase a Pokémon’s IVs after catching it?

No, you cannot directly increase a Pokémon’s IVs after catching it, except by purifying Shadow Pokémon, which adds +2 to each IV category. Evolving and powering up Pokémon do not change their IVs.

4. What’s the difference between CP and IVs?

CP (Combat Power) is a measure of a Pokémon’s overall strength, calculated using its base stats, IVs, and level. IVs are the underlying genetic potential, while CP is the current state of that potential.

5. Is it better to have a high CP or high IVs?

Ideally, you want both! However, high IVs are more important for long-term investment. A high-CP Pokémon with low IVs might be strong now, but it won’t reach its full potential.

6. What does “appraisal” mean in Pokémon GO?

Appraisal is the in-game feature where your team leader (Candela, Blanche, or Spark) gives you an overview of a Pokémon’s IVs.

7. How rare is a perfect (100% IV) Pokémon?

The base odds of finding a perfect IV Pokémon in the wild are 1 in 4,096. These odds improve in research encounters or raids. Weather boost can also increase the chance of encountering higher IV Pokémon.

8. Are Shadow Pokémon always better than regular Pokémon?

Not always, but they often are in terms of attack power. The 20% attack boost can make a significant difference in raids and battles. However, Shadow Pokémon also take more damage, making them glass cannons.

9. Should I purify Shadow Pokémon?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon increases its IVs and reduces the stardust and candy cost to power it up. However, it removes the attack boost. Generally, it is not advised to purify strong attackers, unless you are looking to trade that purified Pokémon with others.

10. What are the benefits of purifying a Shadow Pokémon?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon gives +2 to each IV category, lowers stardust and candy costs for powering up, and changes its charged move to Return.

11. Can you trade Shadow Pokémon?

No, Shadow Pokémon cannot be traded.

12. What is a “Lucky” Pokémon?

Lucky Pokémon require less Stardust to power up. They are obtained randomly through trading with friends. The longer the Pokémon has been stored by trainers, the better the chances of becoming Lucky Pokémon.

13. How do I increase my chances of getting a Lucky Pokémon?

Trade with friends! The longer you and your friend have had the Pokémon in your storage, the higher the chance of a Lucky trade.

14. What are the best Pokémon to keep for PvP battles in Pokémon GO?

This depends on the league (Great, Ultra, Master) and the current meta. Generally, you want Pokémon with a good balance of attack, defense, and HP, with movesets that provide coverage against different types. Look to resources such as PvPoke for recommendations.

15. Should I keep duplicate Pokémon?

It depends. If you have multiple strong versions of the same Pokémon (high IVs, good moveset), it can be beneficial for different roles in raids, gym battles, and PvP. However, manage your storage wisely.