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Should You Evolve Multiple of the Same Pokémon? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer? Absolutely, yes! Evolving multiple of the same Pokémon in games like Pokémon GO (and many other similar games) can be a highly strategic and beneficial practice. The reasons are multifaceted, ranging from gaining experience points (XP) to building a diverse and powerful team. This guide will dissect the various considerations involved in evolving multiple of the same Pokémon, along with frequently asked questions to equip you with the knowledge you need to master this aspect of the game.

Why Evolve Multiple of the Same Pokémon?

Evolving Pokémon isn’t just about filling your Pokedex. It’s a crucial element of gameplay that affects your progress, battling capabilities, and resource management. Here’s a breakdown of why you might want to evolve several of the same species:

XP Farming: Every evolution grants you XP, helping you level up faster. Evolving common Pokémon with low candy requirements is an excellent way to maximize your XP gains, particularly during special events that offer bonus XP for evolving.
Building a Strong Team: Having multiple evolved forms of a Pokémon allows you to create a more diverse and specialized battle team. You can have Pokémon with different movesets, IVs (Individual Values), and roles.
Flexibility for Raids and Gym Battles: Different evolved forms of the same Pokémon can be effective in different battle scenarios. Having a variety lets you adapt to specific raid bosses or gym defenders.
Trading Opportunities: While not always applicable, some games feature trading mechanics. Keeping multiple evolved forms, especially those with good stats or special moves, could make you a valuable trading partner.
Mega Evolution Preparation: Certain Pokémon can Mega Evolve. Having multiple strong candidates to Mega Evolve, and potentially using for different situations, ensures you’re prepared for Mega Raids and other high-level content.
Shadow and Purified Pokémon: Shadow Pokémon can be evolved, and Purified Pokémon gain benefits. Having multiple allows you to compare Shadow and Purified versions of the same evolved form.
Collection Purposes: Completing collections, whether that’s having a living Pokedex or completing special research tasks, often requires evolving multiples of the same Pokemon.

Factors to Consider Before Evolving

While evolving Pokémon is generally beneficial, it’s essential to consider a few factors before indiscriminately evolving everything you catch:

Candy Costs: Evolution requires candy, which is obtained by catching Pokémon, transferring them, or through special research tasks. Ensure you have enough candy to evolve multiple Pokémon without depleting your resources.
IVs (Individual Values): IVs are hidden stats that affect a Pokémon’s potential CP (Combat Points). Aim to evolve Pokémon with high IVs, as they will be stronger in battles.
Movesets: The moves a Pokémon learns upon evolution are random. If you have a Pokémon with a desired moveset, consider whether you’re willing to risk potentially getting a less desirable moveset on another.
CP (Combat Points): Consider the CP of the Pokémon before evolving. While CP can be increased later with Stardust and Candy, starting with a higher CP Pokémon is generally more efficient.
Star Rating: The star rating, is a visual representation of a Pokemon’s IV’s and potential for strong battles. The closer you are to 3 stars, the better.

Optimizing Your Evolution Strategy

To maximize the benefits of evolving multiple of the same Pokémon, consider these tips:

Utilize Lucky Eggs: Lucky Eggs double the amount of XP you earn for a limited time. Use them when you have a large batch of Pokémon ready to evolve to significantly boost your XP gains.
Focus on Common Pokémon: Common Pokémon with low candy costs (e.g., Pidgey, Wurmple) are ideal for mass evolving for XP.
Prioritize High IV Pokémon: When evolving Pokémon for battles, focus on those with high IVs to ensure they reach their full potential.
Research Movesets: Before evolving, research the potential movesets the evolved form can learn. Choose Pokémon that are likely to learn moves that are effective in battles.
Take advantage of Events: Events in games often provide bonuses to catch/transfer/evolve Pokemon which will help you make decisions.

Related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about evolving Pokémon to help you further refine your strategy:

1. Should I only evolve 3-star Pokémon?

Not necessarily. While a 3-star Pokémon is generally desirable due to its high IVs, a 0-star Pokémon with a significantly higher CP may be worth evolving, especially if you lack a better alternative. Consider the Candy and Stardust cost to Power Up a Pokémon. If both Pokémon have low CP and one is a 3-star, choose the 3-star.

2. Is it worth keeping 0-star Pokémon?

If you don’t have another Pokémon of the same species, it may be worth holding onto the 0-star until you can replace it with one with a better appraisal. Sometimes, a readily available Pokémon is better than none at all.

3. Should I evolve a 4-star Pokémon?

Absolutely! A 4-star Pokémon represents perfect IVs, meaning it has the highest potential CP. Evolving a 4-star Pokémon is a fantastic investment.

4. Should I keep catching the same Pokémon?

Yes! When you catch Pokémon of the same species consecutively, you’ll start to build a Catch Combo. This increases the odds that rare Pokémon will appear and that the Pokémon you’re catching will have high stats.

5. How many times can you evolve the same Pokémon?

Typically, a Pokémon can evolve once or twice. Certain Pokémon can achieve a third stage of evolution through Mega Evolution.

6. Is it OK to have two same types Pokémon on my team?

Yes, in many battle formats, it’s perfectly fine to have multiples of the same type on your team. Just make sure they’re not fulfilling the same role (e.g., both walling specific Pokémon or sweeping with the same counters).

7. Should I power up or Mega Evolve first?

Mega-Evolved Pokémon can’t be powered up while Mega-Evolved. Their boosted stats are calculated based on their stats in their normal form. Always power up a Pokémon before Mega Evolving it to maximize its potential.

8. Is it better to evolve first or power up first?

It doesn’t really matter unless you care about Player vs. Player (PVP) battles. CP is determined by base stats of a Pokémon, the Pokémon’s level, and its IVs. Evolving a Pokémon only changes the base stats, so the final CP will be the same regardless of whether you power up before or after evolving.

9. Should I transfer all duplicate Pokémon?

You should transfer Pokémon when you capture duplicates with lower Combat Points (CP) or worse IV’s, especially when short on storage.

10. Should you evolve every Pokémon?

While Evolution is usually a welcome development, it might not always be the best choice for your Pokémon. Evolved Pokémon often learn particular moves at later levels than unevolved Pokémon, or they might learn different moves altogether. Consider if this may matter to you.

11. Is it better to catch a fully evolved Pokémon?

Base stats are never different for the same species/forme within the species. IVs can be influenced by breeding, but it’s perfectly possible to get wonderful IVs from a wild Pokemon and less exciting IVs through breeding. So no, stat-wise, it won’t really matter.

12. Should you or should you not purify Shadow Pokémon?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon will improve their appraisal and reduce the amount of Stardust and Candy required for them to Power Up, Evolve, or learn a new attack. When Purified, a Shadow Pokémon will forget Frustration and learn Return, a Charged Attack that’s exclusive to Purified Pokémon. The decision depends on your strategy and the specific Pokémon.

13. Should you always evolve shiny Pokémon?

Evolve your favorites, but consider keeping them as base forms in case you get a second shiny of the same species with better stats. One reason not to evolve is to save them for lucky trades with someone who has the same shiny.

14. What is the best Pokémon to power up?

Mewtwo is an absolute powerhouse in the world of Pokemon Go and definitely worth considering when it comes to powering up your team. Not only is Mewtwo an impressive Pokemon to look at, but it also boasts the highest damage output in the entire game, making it a real force to be reckoned with. Other high-stat Legendary Pokémon are also good candidates.

15. Are there resources to learn more about game strategy?

Absolutely! Exploring the research and community at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org can provide valuable insights into the strategic elements of games and game-based learning.

Evolving multiple of the same Pokémon is a core strategy in these types of games. By considering the factors outlined above and following these tips, you can optimize your evolution strategy and build a formidable team. Happy evolving!

Should you evolve multiple of the same Pokémon?