Should You Use Rare Candy? A Pokémon Trainer’s Guide

The age-old question: should you use Rare Candy in your Pokémon games? The short answer is: it depends. Rare Candy can be a valuable tool, but its effectiveness hinges on your playstyle and goals. If you’re after optimal stats for competitive battling, careful EV training is crucial, and Rare Candies alone aren’t the answer. However, for casual players, completing the Pokédex, or quickly leveling up Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Go, they can be incredibly convenient. Let’s dive deeper into the nuances of Rare Candy usage to help you make the best decision for your Pokémon journey.

Understanding Rare Candy Mechanics

Rare Candy provides an immediate level up to your Pokémon. This means your Pokémon instantly gains the experience points needed to reach the next level. IVs (Individual Values) remain untouched, and while EVs (Effort Values) aren’t directly affected, this is where the controversy arises. Traditional training involves battling wild Pokémon that grant specific EVs, contributing to stat growth. Rare Candies bypass this process.

The key difference is that battling and defeating wild Pokémon contributes to your Pokémon’s stat growth. However, at the end of the day, Rare Candies do not weaken your pokemon in any way.

The EV Training Factor

In the past, failing to EV train during leveling meant permanently missing out on those stats. Thankfully, modern Pokémon games have introduced methods to EV train at level 100. You can use items like vitamins (Protein, Iron, Calcium, etc.) or engage in specific training regimens to max out your Pokémon’s EVs regardless of how they leveled up. Because of these changes, it’s a very common practice to use Rare Candies to quickly level up pokemon.

Rare Candy in Pokémon Go

In Pokémon Go, Rare Candy serves a different, yet valuable, purpose. It converts into Candy of a specific Pokémon type, vital for powering up and evolving Pokémon, especially Legendary and Mythical Pokémon that are difficult to catch repeatedly.

Benefits of Using Rare Candy

• Speed Leveling: Quickly bring Pokémon up to par for specific challenges or areas of the game.
• Convenience: Skip tedious grinding, especially in games where battles can be repetitive.
• Legendary Power-Ups: In Pokémon Go, Rare Candy is essential for powering up Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.
• Friendship Boost: Rare Candy can increase friendship levels with a Pokemon.
• Revival: A Rare Candy can revive a fainted pokemon.

Drawbacks of Using Rare Candy

• Missed EV Opportunities: Traditional leveling provides the chance to actively EV train. While this can be made up for with other training regimens, it is an extra step.
• Potential for Over-Reliance: Using too many Rare Candies may cause you to miss key movesets.
• Perception of “Weaker” Pokémon: The perception that Rare Candy-leveled Pokémon are weaker stems from the lack of natural EV training during leveling. This is mostly an older thought pattern.

When to Use Rare Candy

• Completing the Pokédex: Speed up the process of evolving Pokémon, especially those requiring high levels or specific conditions.
• Post-Game Content: Quickly level up Pokémon for challenging post-game areas or battles.
• Pokémon Go Legendaries: Prioritize using Rare Candy on Legendary and Mythical Pokémon in Pokémon Go.
• When EV Training Later: If you intend to EV train your Pokémon through other methods after leveling, using Rare Candy is perfectly acceptable.
• Casual Playthroughs: If you’re not concerned with competitive battling and want to enjoy the game’s story, feel free to use Rare Candy liberally.

When to Avoid Rare Candy (Initially)

• Early Game (Learning the Ropes): Resist the urge to excessively use Rare Candy early on. Experiencing normal battles can help you learn about effective move types and team compositions.
• Competitive Training (Without a Plan): Don’t solely rely on Rare Candy for competitive Pokémon unless you have a well-defined EV training plan using vitamins or other training methods.
• Move-Learning Sensitivity: Be mindful of whether leveling up naturally is important for specific movesets or not.

The Modern Trainer’s Perspective

The Pokémon landscape has evolved. The ability to EV train at any level significantly diminishes the traditional downside of Rare Candy usage. If you have a strategy for EVs, Rare Candy becomes a time-saving tool, not a detriment.

Remember, the most important aspect of Pokémon is enjoying the game. Use Rare Candy in a way that enhances your experience.

Rare Candy and Evolution

Rare Candy can trigger evolutions based on level requirements. If a Pokémon reaches the required level for evolution through Rare Candy, it will evolve. However, you cannot evolve a Pokémon solely with Rare Candy if it is already level 100. Level 100 Pokémon that require evolutionary stones can still evolve using the appropriate stone.

Special Cases

Keep in mind that some Pokémon have unique evolution requirements beyond leveling, like friendship levels or specific items. Rare Candy can help reach the necessary level, but you’ll still need to fulfill the other conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do Rare Candies affect IVs?

No, Rare Candies have absolutely no impact on a Pokémon’s IVs (Individual Values). IVs are predetermined and unchangeable.

2. Do Rare Candies affect EVs?

Rare Candies do not directly affect EVs (Effort Values). Using Rare Candy will not grant EVs. However, in the modern games, EVs can be easily manipulated with other methods.

3. Are Pokémon weaker if leveled up with Rare Candies?

Not necessarily. Pokémon leveled with Rare Candy can be just as strong as those leveled traditionally, provided you properly EV train them after leveling.

4. Can I evolve a Pokémon using only Rare Candy?

If a Pokémon evolves by leveling up and reaches the required level via Rare Candy, it will evolve.

5. What happens if I use a Rare Candy on a level 100 Pokémon?

A level 100 Pokémon cannot gain another level using a Rare Candy. However, if a level 100 pokemon requires an evolutionary stone to evolve, using that stone will work.

6. Should I use Rare Candy on Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Go?

Yes, this is generally the most efficient use of Rare Candy in Pokémon Go, as Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are difficult to obtain candies for through normal gameplay.

7. How much Candy does a Rare Candy turn into in Pokémon Go?

A Rare Candy converts into one Candy of the specific Pokémon type it’s used on.

8. Does Rare Candy affect Pokémon happiness or friendship?

Yes, Rare Candy can increase a Pokémon’s friendship.

9. Can I use Rare Candy to complete my Pokédex?

Absolutely. Rare Candy can significantly speed up the process of evolving Pokémon for Pokédex completion.

10. Should I save my Rare Candies?

It depends on your goals. If you’re aiming for competitive battling, save them for situations where quick leveling is needed for a specific strategy. If you are playing more casually, then the world is your oyster.

11. Is it better to train Pokémon or use Rare Candy?

It depends. Traditional training allows for natural EV gain, but modern games allow you to EV train at any level, making Rare Candy a viable option.

12. Where can I learn more about the game design elements of Pokemon?

There are many resources to learn more about game design elements! For example, you can find resources at the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. You can also find resources at GamesLearningSociety.org.

13. Will evolving a Pokémon later make it weaker?

No. The timing of evolution doesn’t affect the final stats of a Pokémon at a given level.

14. What’s the cheat code for Rare Candy in older Pokémon games?

Cheat codes vary depending on the emulator or platform, but a common Gameshark code for Rare Candy is 82025840 0044. Use it at your own risk!

15. What are the Pokémon that need 400 Candies to evolve in Pokémon Go?

The Pokémon that require 400 Candies to evolve in Pokémon Go are Magikarp, Swablu, Wailmer, and Meltan.

By understanding the mechanics and considerations outlined above, you can use Rare Candy effectively to enhance your Pokémon gaming experience, regardless of your playstyle. Happy training!