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What are the Chances of Getting a 100 IV Legendary in Pokémon GO?

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The quest for a hundo legendary in Pokémon GO – a legendary Pokémon with perfect Individual Values (IVs) of 15/15/15 in Attack, Defense, and Stamina – is a coveted goal for many trainers. The odds vary depending on how you acquire the legendary, but the most common method, raids, offers the best chance. From raids, the odds of encountering a 100 IV legendary are 1 in 216. It’s important to note that this is just the probability of the IVs being perfect; catching the Pokémon is another challenge altogether! Let’s delve into the specifics and explore other scenarios where you might encounter legendary Pokémon and their respective chances of being a hundo.

Understanding IVs and Their Significance

Before diving into the probabilities, let’s quickly recap what IVs are and why they matter. Individual Values (IVs) are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon’s potential. Each Pokémon has an IV value from 0 to 15 for Attack, Defense, and Stamina. These IVs are fixed and cannot be changed through training (except with the use of Hyper Training in core series games, which doesn’t exist in Pokémon GO).

A 100 IV Pokémon, often called a “hundo,” has the maximum possible IV of 15 in each stat. This makes it a powerhouse in battles, as its stats are inherently higher than Pokémon with lower IVs. While skill and strategy are important, a hundo provides a significant advantage in competitive play like raids, gym battles, and the GO Battle League.

Raid Encounters: Your Best Bet

As mentioned earlier, raids offer the most favorable odds for acquiring a hundo legendary. Legendary Pokémon are frequently available as raid bosses, and these encounters have a specific IV floor. This means that the IVs are not completely random, greatly increasing your chances of a high-IV Pokémon.

Raid Pokémon have a minimum IV of 10 in each stat. This limits the possible combinations and drastically improves your chances of a hundo. With each stat able to roll between 10 and 15 inclusive, there are 6 possible values for each stat. Since each stat is independent, that gives 6 * 6 * 6 = 216 possible IV combinations. Therefore, the odds of getting a hundo from a raid are 1 in 216.

Research Breakthrough Encounters

Legendary Pokémon are sometimes available as rewards for completing Research Breakthroughs. Like raid encounters, Research Breakthrough encounters also have an IV floor. The IV floor is typically the same as raid encounters, so they are another good way to get your hands on a hundo legendary.

Trading: A Risky Proposition

Trading Pokémon with friends is another way to acquire legendaries, but the IVs are re-rolled during the trade, and the outcome is influenced by your friendship level.

Good Friends: Minimum IV of 1/1/1
Great Friends: Minimum IV of 2/2/2
Ultra Friends: Minimum IV of 3/3/3
Best Friends: Minimum IV of 5/5/5

While higher friendship levels guarantee a better minimum IV, they don’t drastically increase your odds of a hundo compared to raids. The possible IV ranges are still wide, making the odds of getting a perfect IV spread significantly lower. Furthermore, you cannot trade Mythical Pokemon, and some Legendary Pokemon cannot be traded, depending on special events.

Wild Encounters: An Almost Impossibility

Encountering a legendary Pokémon in the wild is extremely rare, usually limited to special events or specific game mechanics. Wild-caught Pokémon have completely random IVs (0-15 for each stat), making the odds of a hundo a staggering 1 in 4,096 (1/16 * 1/16 * 1/16). Weather Boost can affect a wild spawn’s stats by increasing the minimum IV for each stat to 4. This increases the odds of catching a hundo, but only slightly.

Shadows & Purified Pokémon

Shadow Pokémon are Pokémon caught after defeating Team GO Rocket members. They do not have an increased chance of being a hundo. Purifying Shadow Pokémon gives a +2 bonus to each IV. Thus, if you have a shadow Pokemon with 13/13/13 IVs, it would become a hundo upon purification.

Other Methods

From time to time, legendary Pokemon can be rewarded through Special Research Tasks. These encounters have varying odds of finding a Hundo Legendary Pokemon. They tend to have the same IV floor as raids, which makes their odds of finding a hundo the same as raids.

Enhancing Your Chances

While the odds of getting a hundo legendary might seem daunting, there are strategies to improve your chances:

Focus on Raids: Prioritize participating in legendary raids to leverage the higher IV floor.
Maximize Friendship Levels: If trading is your only option, aim for Best Friend status to guarantee better minimum IVs.
Participate in Events: Keep an eye out for special events that may increase the spawn rate of legendary Pokémon or offer them as research rewards.
Patience and Persistence: Remember that obtaining a hundo is a matter of luck and persistence. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get one right away. The more encounters you have, the higher your chances.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about obtaining 100 IV Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO:

Can a Legendary Pokémon have 0 IVs? No. Legendary Pokémon caught in raids and from research breakthroughs have an IV floor of 10/10/10. If trading, the IV floor depends on your friendship level, but is never 0/0/0.
Are Shiny Legendaries always good IVs? No, shininess is independent of IVs. A shiny legendary can have any IV combination, just like a non-shiny one. Don’t assume that a shiny legendary is automatically a good one.
Is it better to trade a Legendary or keep it? It depends. If you are looking for better IVs, trading can be beneficial, especially with a Best Friend. However, remember that IVs are re-rolled, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get something better. If you have a decent IV legendary already, you might prefer to keep it.
Can I increase a Legendary’s IVs after catching it? No. IVs are permanent and cannot be changed, except by purifying a Shadow Pokémon, which grants a +2 to each stat. There is no “Hyper Training” equivalent in Pokémon GO like there is in the core series games.
What is the minimum level for a Legendary Pokémon caught in a raid? Legendary Pokémon caught from raids are typically level 20, or level 25 if weather-boosted.
Do Lucky Pokémon have better IVs? Lucky Pokémon guarantee a minimum of 12/12/12 IVs, increasing your chances of a high IV spread compared to normal trades, but do not guarantee a hundo.
How do I know if my Pokémon has perfect IVs? Use the in-game appraisal feature. A Pokémon with three red stars and a red stamp indicates perfect IVs. Third-party IV checkers can also provide precise IV values.
Are certain Legendaries easier to get as hundos than others? No. The odds are the same for all Legendary Pokémon when obtained through the same method (e.g., raids, research breakthroughs). However, some Legendaries are available more frequently, giving you more opportunities.
Does Weather Boost affect the chance of getting a hundo in raids? No, Weather Boost only affects the level of the Pokémon caught (increasing it to level 25) and its boosted moves. It doesn’t change the underlying probability of getting specific IVs in raids.
Is it worth powering up a Legendary that isn’t a hundo? Absolutely! While a hundo is ideal, a Legendary with good IVs (around 80% or higher) is still a powerful asset. Don’t let the pursuit of perfection prevent you from enjoying and utilizing strong Pokémon.
What is a “Nundo” and how rare are they for Legendaries? A “nundo” is a Pokémon with 0 IVs in all stats. Since Legendary Pokémon from raids and research encounters have a minimum IV floor of 10/10/10, you cannot obtain a nundo Legendary from these sources. The only way to get a nundo legendary is through trading, with a probability of 1 in 4,096.
Are hundo Legendary Pokémon stronger than regular ones? Yes, a hundo Legendary will have the highest possible stats for that species at a given level. This translates to more damage output, greater survivability, and an overall advantage in battles.
Should I focus on getting a hundo or a shiny Legendary? This is a matter of personal preference. A hundo offers a performance advantage, while a shiny is a rare cosmetic variant. Some players prioritize functionality, while others value aesthetics.
Can you get a hundo Shadow Legendary? Yes! Shadow Legendary Pokemon can be caught with 10/10/10 IV’s or higher. If you catch one with 13/13/13 or higher stats, you can purify it to have a hundo Legendary.
Where can I learn more about Pokemon GO Strategies? A great place to learn more is the Games Learning Society, which combines game and learning! Go to GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.

Conclusion

The quest for a 100 IV legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. While the odds may seem daunting, understanding the mechanics and utilizing the right strategies can significantly improve your chances. Remember that patience and persistence are key, and even if you don’t get a hundo, a well-trained Legendary with decent IVs is still a valuable addition to your team. Happy hunting, trainers!