Should You Always Evolve Lucky Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
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The short answer is: not always. While evolving a Lucky Pokémon retains its Lucky status and the benefits that come with it, several factors should influence your decision. These include the Pokémon’s Individual Values (IVs), the Pokémon’s role on your team, the availability of resources, and your overall game strategy. Don’t rush the process; a little consideration goes a long way in maximizing the benefits of your Lucky Pokémon.
Understanding Lucky Pokémon and Their Benefits
Before diving into the decision-making process, let’s recap what makes Lucky Pokémon so desirable:
- Reduced Stardust Cost: Powering up a Lucky Pokémon requires significantly less Stardust than a regular Pokémon. This is a massive advantage, especially for rare or legendary Pokémon that require a hefty Stardust investment.
- Guaranteed Good IVs: Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12, ensuring they are at least decent in terms of stats. This increases the likelihood of having a battle-ready Pokémon.
- Visual Distinction: Lucky Pokémon are easily identifiable by their shimmering effect in your Pokédex and on their summary page. It’s a nice visual cue that sets them apart.
Factors to Consider Before Evolving
Now that we’ve refreshed our understanding of Lucky Pokémon, let’s examine the key factors that influence whether you should evolve them:
1. IVs and Appraisal
While Lucky Pokémon have a decent IV floor, they aren’t guaranteed to be perfect. Before evolving, carefully appraise your Lucky Pokémon using the in-game appraisal system or a third-party IV checker. If the Pokémon has low IVs (below 82%), you might want to reconsider evolving it, especially if you have access to better Pokémon of the same species. Remember, a 3-star Pokémon with great IVs is more desirable in the long run.
2. Pokémon’s Role and Meta Relevance
Consider the Pokémon’s role in battles and raids. Is it a strong attacker, a reliable defender, or a useful Pokémon GO Battle League (PVP) contender? Some Pokémon are simply more valuable in their evolved forms, making them a prime candidate for evolution. Research the current meta (most effective tactics available) to determine if evolving your Lucky Pokémon will give you a significant advantage.
3. Resource Availability
Candy and evolution items (like stones or special lures) are essential for evolving Pokémon. Make sure you have enough resources before committing to an evolution. If you’re short on Candy, consider walking with your Buddy Pokémon, completing research tasks, or participating in events that offer bonus Candy.
4. Move Sets
In Pokémon GO, movesets are everything. Each move deals a certain amount of damage with an energy cost. Unfortunately, evolution randomizes a Pokémon’s movesets so, if you currently have a Lucky Pokémon with ideal movesets for attacking or defending, evolving it will wipe those moves and grant it new ones at random. These new moves may be stronger, weaker, or even the same as your current moveset. Therefore, do some research and consider if the evolution is worth potentially losing a good moveset.
5. Long-Term Planning
Think about your long-term goals in Pokémon GO. Are you focused on completing your Pokédex, building a powerful raid team, or dominating in PVP? Your goals will influence which Lucky Pokémon you prioritize for evolution. For example, if you’re aiming for a complete Pokédex, you might evolve any Lucky Pokémon to fill gaps. If you’re building a raid team, focus on evolving Lucky Pokémon that are strong attackers.
Scenarios Where You Should Definitely Evolve
Despite the caveats, there are situations where evolving a Lucky Pokémon is a no-brainer:
- Rare Pokémon: If you have a Lucky version of a rare or region-exclusive Pokémon, evolving it is generally a good idea. These Pokémon are harder to come by, so maximizing their potential is worthwhile.
- Legendary Pokémon: Evolving a Lucky Legendary Pokémon is almost always a smart move. Legendary Pokémon are incredibly powerful, and the reduced Stardust cost makes them more accessible to power up.
- Pokémon with Mega Evolutions: If your Lucky Pokémon has a Mega Evolution in Pokémon GO, evolving it is essential to unlock its full potential.
- Pokémon with Limited-Time Moves: Some Pokémon can only learn specific moves during special events. If your Lucky Pokémon already knows a valuable legacy move, evolving it might be worth the risk to potentially gain an even better move set in its evolved form.
Scenarios Where You Should Hesitate
Conversely, consider these situations before evolving your Lucky Pokémon:
- Low IVs: As mentioned earlier, if your Lucky Pokémon has poor IVs, it might not be worth evolving, especially if you have access to Pokémon with better stats.
- Common Pokémon: Evolving a Lucky version of a common Pokémon might not be the best use of your resources. You can easily find better versions in the wild or through trades.
- Specific PVP Requirements: Some PVP leagues have CP (Combat Power) restrictions. Evolving a Lucky Pokémon might push it over the CP limit, making it ineligible for the league.
- You Currently Have a Good Moveset: As mentioned earlier, do some research on possible movesets for the evolution of a Lucky Pokémon. If the move sets are all undesirable and you are already happy with your current Lucky Pokémon’s movesets, you may want to refrain from evolving.
Lucky Friends and Guaranteed Lucky Trades
Maximize your chances of getting good Lucky Pokémon by leveraging the Lucky Friends mechanic. When you become Lucky Friends with someone, the next trade you make with them is guaranteed to result in Lucky Pokémon for both players. This is a great way to acquire strong Lucky Pokémon with minimal investment.
Remember that trading with other players in Pokémon GO is a social experience as much as it is a tactical one. Consider joining online groups or in-person gatherings to coordinate trades and build your Lucky Pokémon collection. You can learn more about the social dynamics of gaming at sites such as GamesLearningSociety.org.
The Eevee Exception
Eevee deserves a special mention because its evolutions are random (with some exceptions). If you evolve a Lucky Eevee without using specific naming tricks or meeting specific conditions, you’ll get either Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon at random. This adds an element of chance to the process, so be prepared for the possibility of not getting your desired evolution. If you are pursuing Sylveon, know that it is by far the hardest Eevee to evolve.
Final Thoughts
Evolving Lucky Pokémon in Pokémon GO is a strategic decision that requires careful consideration. While the reduced Stardust cost and guaranteed good IVs make them tempting to evolve, it’s essential to assess each Pokémon individually. Consider IVs, the Pokémon’s role, resource availability, and your long-term goals before making a decision. With careful planning and a bit of luck, you can build a formidable team of Lucky Pokémon that will dominate in battles and raids.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will my Lucky Pokémon lose its Lucky status if I evolve it?
No, evolving a Lucky Pokémon does not remove its Lucky status. It will remain a Lucky Pokémon in its evolved form, retaining the reduced Stardust cost for powering up.
2. What’s the minimum IV for Lucky Pokémon?
Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12. This means that each of their Attack, Defense, and HP stats will be at least 12 out of a possible 15.
3. Does a Lucky Egg affect Lucky Pokémon?
No, a Lucky Egg only increases the amount of XP you earn. It has no effect on the probability of receiving Lucky Pokémon or their stats.
4. Is it better to power up a Lucky Pokémon before or after evolving it?
It doesn’t matter whether you power up a Lucky Pokémon before or after evolving it. The CP (Combat Power) it reaches will be the same regardless of when you choose to power it up.
5. How do I become Lucky Friends with someone?
To become Lucky Friends with another trainer, you must first reach the Best Friends level. Then, there’s a random chance that you’ll become Lucky Friends with them each day when you interact (e.g., opening gifts, raiding together).
6. Are Lucky Pokémon always 3 stars?
Not always. Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12, which translates to a rating at the very end of 2 stars. However, any Lucky Pokémon with IVs of 13/12/12 or higher will be rated as 3 stars.
7. What happens if I use two Lucky Eggs at the same time?
Unfortunately, the effects of Lucky Eggs do not stack. Using two Lucky Eggs simultaneously will not double the XP bonus beyond the standard 2x bonus.
8. Can I get a Shiny Lucky Pokémon?
Yes, it’s possible to obtain a Shiny Lucky Pokémon through trades or encounters. The combination of being both Shiny and Lucky makes these Pokémon highly sought after.
9. How does purifying a Shadow Pokémon affect its Lucky status?
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon will not make it Lucky. The Lucky status is only obtained through trades or specific research tasks. However, purifying a Shadow Pokémon will improve its IVs.
10. What’s the best way to use a Lucky Egg?
The best way to use a Lucky Egg is to maximize your XP gains during its 30-minute duration. This can be achieved by evolving Pokémon, completing research tasks, and improving your friendship level with other trainers.
11. How many Pokémon can I evolve in 30 minutes with a Lucky Egg?
On average, you can evolve approximately 55-60 Pokémon in 30 minutes with a Lucky Egg. This assumes you’re prepared with enough Candy and have already seen the evolutions in your Pokédex.
12. Does trading a Pokémon change its IVs?
Yes, trading a Pokémon rerolls its IVs. This means that even if you trade a Pokémon with perfect IVs, there’s no guarantee that it will retain those IVs after the trade. However, Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV floor, ensuring they won’t have terrible stats.
13. Are certain Pokémon better to make Lucky than others?
Yes, certain Pokémon are more valuable as Lucky Pokémon. These include rare, legendary, and meta-relevant Pokémon that require a significant Stardust investment to power up.
14. Can I use a Lucky Egg and a Star Piece at the same time?
Yes, you can use a Lucky Egg and a Star Piece simultaneously. Lucky Eggs double your XP gains, while Star Pieces increase your Stardust gains.
15. What’s the hardest Eevee evolution to obtain?
Sylveon is often considered the hardest Eevee evolution to obtain. To evolve Eevee into Sylveon, you need to earn 70 hearts with Eevee as your buddy and then evolve it while it’s still your buddy.