Should You Evolve 4-Star Pokémon? A Comprehensive Guide
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Absolutely! Evolving a 4-star Pokémon, often called a “hundo” (short for 100% IV), is generally an excellent idea in Pokémon GO. These Pokémon possess perfect Individual Values (IVs) in Attack, Defense, and HP, meaning they have the highest possible potential for their species. Evolving them ensures that the resulting evolved form will also have perfect IVs, making it a formidable contender in battles and raids. This article will delve deeper into why evolving a hundo is beneficial, explore potential exceptions, and answer frequently asked questions to guide your Pokémon GO journey.
Why Evolve a 4-Star Pokémon?
Evolving a 4-star Pokémon is strategically advantageous for several reasons:
- Maximum Potential: A hundo represents the peak of a Pokémon’s potential. When fully evolved and powered up, it will have the highest possible CP (Combat Points) for its species, making it a powerful asset.
- Consistent IVs: IVs are permanent and do not change upon evolution. A 4-star Pokémon will remain a 4-star Pokémon throughout its evolutionary line.
- Superior Performance: Higher IVs translate to better performance in battles, raids, and Gym defense. While movesets also play a crucial role, a hundo with a good moveset will always outperform a Pokémon with lower IVs.
- Rarity: Perfect IV Pokémon are relatively rare. Finding one is cause for celebration and should be capitalized upon. It’s a testament to dedication and sometimes, sheer luck!
- Long-Term Investment: Investing in a hundo is a worthwhile long-term strategy. You are building a resource that will remain valuable throughout your Pokémon GO career, especially as new content and challenges are introduced.
Exceptions to the Rule: When to Hesitate
While evolving a 4-star Pokémon is generally recommended, a few exceptions should be considered:
- Community Day Moves: Some Pokémon receive exclusive moves during Community Day events. These moves can be significantly more powerful than regular moves, making them highly desirable. If your 4-star Pokémon is of a species that will have a Community Day in the near future, it might be wise to wait to evolve it during that event.
- Shadow Pokémon: Shadow Pokémon receive a 20% attack boost but take 20% more damage. In many cases, this makes Shadow Pokémon stronger attackers than their normal counterparts, even if they have lower IVs. Consider carefully if you wish to purify a 4-star Shadow Pokémon, as you will lose the Shadow bonus.
- Cost: Evolving and powering up Pokémon, especially a hundo, can require a significant amount of Stardust and Candy. Make sure you have sufficient resources before committing to evolving and powering up your 4-star Pokémon.
- Movesets: After evolving, a Pokémon receives a random moveset. If the evolved form receives a poor or suboptimal moveset, it may not be as effective. However, you can use Charged TMs to change the Charged Attack and Fast TMs to change the Fast Attack.
- Pokémon GO PvP Considerations: Some Pokémon are particularly useful in specific PvP (Player vs. Player) leagues due to their CP limits and move availability. A 4-star Pokémon might not always be optimal for every PvP league.
The Purifying Dilemma: Should You Purify a 4-Star Shadow?
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon will improve its appraisal, potentially turning a low-IV Shadow into a high-IV or even a hundo. However, purifying removes the Shadow bonus, which increases attack by 20% at the cost of defense.
Purifying a 4-star Shadow Pokémon isn’t possible since it has to already be 100% IV. Purifying a Shadow Pokémon that could become a hundo with purification is a highly debated topic within the Pokémon GO community. While it gives you a perfect IV Pokémon, you’ll lose the Shadow bonus. For Pokémon that excel as attackers in raids, keeping them as Shadows is often the preferred strategy. For Pokémon that serve primarily as defenders, purification might be a viable option, since the defense boost is negligible compared to the attack.
CP vs. IV: Understanding the Difference
It’s crucial to understand the difference between CP and IVs:
- CP (Combat Points): CP represents a Pokémon’s overall strength. It’s influenced by the Pokémon’s base stats, level, and IVs. CP can be increased by powering up the Pokémon.
- IVs (Individual Values): IVs are hidden stats that range from 0 to 15 for Attack, Defense, and HP. These values are fixed and cannot be changed (except through purification of Shadow Pokémon, or lucky trades which reroll the IV’s), and they contribute to a Pokémon’s overall potential.
While CP indicates a Pokémon’s current strength, IVs indicate its potential. A Pokémon with high IVs will always have a higher CP than a Pokémon with low IVs of the same species at the same level.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do IVs change when evolving Pokémon?
No, IVs remain the same when you evolve a Pokémon. A 4-star Pokémon will always evolve into a 4-star Pokémon.
2. Is a 4-star Pokémon always the best choice for battles?
Not necessarily. While 4-star Pokémon have the highest potential CP, their effectiveness in battles also depends on their movesets and the specific matchup. Some Pokémon are better suited for certain roles regardless of their IVs.
3. What is the probability of finding a 4-star Pokémon in the wild?
The chance of encountering a 4-star Pokémon in the wild is approximately 1 in 4,096 (0.0244%) without any IV-boosting factors.
4. How do Weather Boosts affect the chances of finding 4-star Pokémon?
Weather Boosts increase the level of wild Pokémon and guarantee a minimum IV floor of 4 for each stat, slightly increasing the odds of finding a hundo.
5. Should I max out a Pokémon’s CP before evolving it?
It doesn’t matter if you max out a Pokémon’s CP before or after evolving it. The resulting CP will be the same, given identical movesets. It’s generally recommended to evolve first to see if you get a desirable moveset before investing resources.
6. How can I check a Pokémon’s IVs?
You can check a Pokémon’s IVs using the in-game Appraisal feature or third-party apps like Poke Genie or Calcy IV.
7. What are the benefits of purifying a Shadow Pokémon?
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon improves its IVs by +2 to each stat, reduces the Stardust and Candy cost for powering up and evolving, and changes its Charged Attack to Return.
8. What is better, a Shadow or a Purified 4-star Pokémon?
This depends on the Pokémon. For attackers, the Shadow bonus is generally more valuable than perfect IVs. However, for Pokémon used primarily for defense or specific PvP scenarios, a Purified 4-star might be preferable.
9. How rare is it to find a 4-star Pokémon in a Raid?
Raid Pokémon have a higher IV floor of 10 for each stat, making the odds of finding a hundo approximately 1 in 216.
10. Should I keep Pokémon with low IVs?
Generally, it’s best to transfer Pokémon with low IVs to free up storage space, unless they are rare or have sentimental value.
11. How do IVs affect PvP battles in Pokémon GO?
IVs contribute to a Pokémon’s stats, including Attack, Defense, and HP. Higher IVs provide a slight advantage in PvP battles, especially in close matchups.
12. What happens when I evolve a Pokémon during a Community Day?
Evolving a Pokémon during its Community Day usually grants it an exclusive Community Day move, which can significantly improve its battle effectiveness.
13. Are IVs more important than movesets?
Both IVs and movesets are important. A Pokémon with perfect IVs but a poor moveset will not be as effective as a Pokémon with high IVs and a good moveset.
14. Can you trade 4-star Pokémon?
Yes, you can trade 4-star Pokémon. However, IVs are rerolled during the trade, so the recipient will likely receive a Pokémon with different IVs. A Lucky Trade can improve the odds of receiving high IV Pokemon.
15. Where can I learn more about Pokémon GO strategy and gameplay?
You can find valuable resources and information about Pokémon GO strategy and gameplay from various online communities, websites, and YouTube channels. Consider also exploring the research on games and learning at organizations like the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org).
Conclusion
Evolving a 4-star Pokémon is generally an excellent decision in Pokémon GO, granting you a powerful asset with maximum potential. While there are exceptions to consider, such as Community Day moves and the Shadow bonus, a hundo is almost always a worthwhile investment. Remember to carefully evaluate your resources and choose the right moveset to maximize its effectiveness. Happy hunting, Trainers!