Unlocking Perfection: The Odds of a 100% IV Pokemon from a Raid
The burning question on every Trainer’s mind: What are the chances of getting a 100% IV Pokemon from a raid? The answer, while seemingly simple, requires understanding a few key factors. The base chance of encountering a 100% IV (15/15/15) Pokemon in the wild is 1 in 4096 (0.0244%). However, raids have different mechanics. For most raid bosses, the IV floor is raised, dramatically increasing your odds. The most common scenario gives you roughly a 1 in 216 chance of encountering a perfect IV raid boss. It’s a far cry from the wild encounter odds, making raids a prime hunting ground for those seeking Pokemon perfection.
Diving Deeper: Understanding IVs and Raids
Before we delve further into the specifics, let’s clarify some core concepts. IVs, or Individual Values, are hidden stats that determine a Pokemon’s potential. Each Pokemon has an IV for Attack, Defense, and HP, ranging from 0 to 15. A 100% IV Pokemon, often called a “hundo,” has 15 in each of these stats.
Raids, on the other hand, are cooperative battles where players team up to defeat a powerful Pokemon. These Raid Bosses offer an increased chance for better IVs, making them highly desirable targets for dedicated players.
How Raids Affect IVs
The magic behind raid-boosted IVs lies in what’s called an IV floor. In wild encounters, IVs are generated randomly between 0 and 15 for each stat. However, raid encounters have a minimum IV value for each stat, typically set at 10. This eliminates all the lower IV combinations, significantly improving your chances of getting a high-IV Pokemon.
The exact odds can vary depending on the specific type of raid and event bonuses that may be in play. But, for most standard raids with a fixed IV floor of 10, you are looking at 1 in 216 chance. This stems from the fact that each IV is rolled between 10 and 15. That’s 6 possible values for each stat (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15). Therefore, the total number of possible IV combinations is 6 x 6 x 6 = 216. Only one of those combinations is the perfect 15/15/15.
The Impact of Weather Boost
While raids inherently provide better IVs, another factor can further skew the odds: weather boost. If the Raid Boss is boosted by the in-game weather, the minimum IV floor is raised even higher, typically to 4/4/4 in the wild, and even higher in raids. Thus, if you get a weather boost from a raid, the minimum IV floor may be raised, which in turn, helps increase your chances of getting a hundo.
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
Let’s address some common questions about IVs, raids, and the quest for perfection:
1. Can you get a 100% IV Pokemon from a Shadow Raid?
Shadow Raids follow similar rules to standard raids, albeit with the added challenge of Shadow Pokemon dealing and receiving more damage. The IV floor is typically the same as standard raids, meaning approximately a 1 in 216 chance for a hundo.
2. Are the chances of getting a 100% IV Pokemon higher in higher-level raids?
No, the chance of getting a 100% IV Pokemon is not influenced by the raid level. The raid level affects the base stats (CP) of the Pokemon, and the difficulty of beating it. The same 1 in 216 chance applies to any raid that guarantees a 10/10/10 floor.
3. Does being Best Friends with someone affect IVs in raids?
No, your friendship level with other players does not influence the IVs of the Pokemon you encounter in raids. Friendship level grants attack bonuses and extra Premier Balls during the catch encounter, but does not alter IV generation.
4. Are Lucky Pokemon guaranteed to have 100% IVs?
No, Lucky Pokemon are not guaranteed to be perfect. Lucky Pokemon have a floor of 12/12/12, meaning each IV is at least 12. This dramatically improves the chances of a hundo compared to wild spawns, but it’s still not guaranteed. The odds of a Lucky Hundo is about 1.56% (1 in 64).
5. Is it worth purifying a Shadow Pokemon with near-perfect IVs?
This is a subjective decision. Purifying a Shadow Pokemon raises its IVs by +2 to each stat, and can raise them by +3 to each stat. However, Shadow Pokemon deal significantly more damage. Therefore, many players prefer to keep their Shadow Pokemon unpurified, even with lower IVs. If your Shadow Pokemon is already close to perfect, purifying it could guarantee a hundo.
6. How can I quickly check the IVs of a Raid Boss?
The fastest method is to use the in-game Appraisal feature. While not precise, it provides a general IV range. External IV calculators or apps can also provide accurate IV assessments. You can also use the search term “4*” to quickly locate your perfect IV (100%) pokemon in your storage.
7. What’s the difference between IVs and CP?
CP, or Combat Points, is a general measure of a Pokemon’s strength, determined by its stats (Attack, Defense, and HP), level, and IVs. IVs are individual, hidden stats that contribute to a Pokemon’s overall potential. Higher IVs result in higher maximum CP.
8. How do legacy moves affect the value of a Hundo?
Legacy moves (moves that are no longer available) can significantly increase the value of a hundo. If your perfect IV Pokemon has a sought-after legacy move, it becomes exceptionally rare and desirable.
9. Should I evolve a Pokemon with high IVs, even if it’s not a Hundo?
Yes. Waiting for a perfect IV Pokemon can be time-consuming. Pokemon with high IVs (e.g., 13/14/15 or higher) are still excellent candidates for evolution and powering up. The difference in performance between a near-perfect Pokemon and a true hundo is often negligible.
10. Do Community Days increase the odds of finding a 100% IV Pokemon?
Community Days do not directly increase the odds of a 100% IV Pokemon. However, increased spawn rates provide more opportunities to encounter Pokemon, potentially increasing your chances of finding a hundo.
11. Are Nundos (0% IV Pokemon) rarer than Hundos?
Yes, generally speaking, Nundos are much more rare. Nundos can only be obtained in the wild, which have very few guaranteed IV floors. This in turn, makes hundos more frequent from all sources (raids, trades, research tasks, etc.).
12. Are the Pokémon in the GO Battle League guaranteed to have 3 stars or 4 stars?
The Pokémon you encounter in the Go Battle League will have the same IV floor as all trades with a “Good Friend”. This means that the floor will be 1/1/1 for all IVs. Pokemon in the Go Battle League do not guarantee 3 or 4 stars.
13. Should I hold on to Pokémon with low IVs?
This depends on personal preference. Some trainers keep Pokemon with 0% IVs for their rarity, while others transfer them to Professor Willow. It’s also possible that they might have potential in certain niche battles, but are generally less desirable than Pokemon with higher IVs.
14. What is the meaning of the star ratings for Pokémon?
The number of stars of each Pokémon represents the overall IV percentage. The overall IV percentage is calculated by adding the 3 IVs together, and then dividing the result by 45. The number of stars are then assigned using the following table:
- 0 stars: 0% to 48.9%
- 1 star: 51.1% to 64.4%
- 2 stars: 66.7% to 79.9%
- 3 stars: 82.2% to 99.9%
- 4 stars (red background): 100%
15. Can you manipulate IVs through trading?
No, you cannot directly manipulate IVs through trading. When you trade a Pokemon, its IVs are rerolled, with the range of possible IVs determined by your friendship level with the other trainer.
The Pursuit of Perfection
While the odds of snagging a 100% IV Pokemon from a raid can seem daunting, they are significantly better than encountering one in the wild. Understanding the mechanics of IV floors, weather boost, and other factors can help you strategize your raids and maximize your chances. Remember that Games Learning Society believes in the power of games to educate and engage, so keep exploring, experimenting, and having fun on your quest for the perfect Pokemon! Learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.