Decoding the Stars: Understanding Pokémon GO’s Appraisal System

The star rating in Pokémon GO’s appraisal system directly reflects the Individual Values (IVs) of your Pokémon. IVs are hidden stats that determine how strong a Pokémon can potentially become. They exist in addition to the visible CP (Combat Power) and HP (Hit Points) and influence a Pokémon’s Attack, Defense, and HP. The higher the IVs, the higher the potential CP and overall battle effectiveness of the Pokémon. The star rating, combined with the Team Leader’s comments, provides a quick and easy way to gauge the quality of your Pokémon and decide whether it’s worth investing resources into.

Unveiling the Appraisal System: A Star-by-Star Breakdown

The appraisal system is a user-friendly tool designed to help players understand their Pokémon’s potential without needing external IV calculators. Your Team Leader will give you an overall star rating (from zero to four stars) and also provide specific feedback on each of the three IV stats: Attack, Defense, and HP.

• Zero Stars (0*): This rating indicates that your Pokémon has relatively low IVs. Its overall IV percentage falls below 50%. While it might still be usable for some basic tasks, it’s generally not recommended for serious battling or investment.

• One Star (1*): A one-star Pokémon has somewhat better IVs, ranging from 51.1% to 64.4%. These Pokémon are a step up from zero stars, but still not ideal for high-level play.

• Two Stars (2*): Two-star Pokémon possess moderate IVs, falling between 66.7% and 80%. They can be viable for some battles and raids, especially if you lack better alternatives.

• Three Stars (3*): This is where things get interesting! A three-star Pokémon has very good IVs, ranging from 82.2% to 97.8%. These are solid contenders for battles, raids, and even Master League if their CP potential is high enough. They’re worth considering for investment.

• Four Stars (4): The Holy Grail! Also indicated by a red background on the star, a four-star Pokémon boasts perfect IVs (100%). This means its Attack, Defense, and HP are all maximized. These Pokémon are absolute beasts and are highly sought after for any type of battle. Maxing out a 4 Pokemon will ensure that you have the most powerful version of that species possible.

Decoding the Team Leader’s Appraisal

Beyond the stars, pay close attention to what your Team Leader says during the appraisal. They’ll provide specific comments about each IV stat (Attack, Defense, HP). These comments give you a more precise understanding of the Pokémon’s strengths and weaknesses.

For example, a Team Leader might say:

• “Its best quality is its Attack.” (indicating the Attack IV is the highest of the three)
• “Its stats are noticeably trending to greatness!” (indicating high overall IVs)
• “I’m just as impressed with its Defense.” (indicating the Defense IV is also high)
• “Its HP is its best stat” (Indicating the HP IV is the highest of the three)

The number of bars shown for each stat during the appraisal also corresponds to the IV value for that stat. A full bar signifies a higher IV, and if the bar is red, that stat is maxed out at 15.

The Importance of IVs: More Than Just a Pretty Star

While CP is a significant factor in determining a Pokémon’s battle prowess, IVs ultimately dictate its potential. A Pokémon with high IVs will always outperform a Pokémon of the same species with low IVs, even if the latter has a slightly higher CP initially. This is because IVs provide a permanent stat boost that scales as the Pokémon is powered up.

Consider a scenario where you have two Pikachu. One has zero stars and the other has three stars. Even if the zero-star Pikachu starts with a slightly higher CP, the three-star Pikachu, with its superior IVs, will eventually surpass it in CP and overall strength as you power them up.

What does this mean for battling?

Investing in Pokémon with high IVs is crucial for success in raids, Gym battles, and PvP (Player vs. Player) battles. They’ll hit harder, withstand more damage, and ultimately contribute more to your team’s overall performance.

For those interested in the learning aspects of games like Pokemon Go, it’s worth noting that understanding these mechanics involves elements of data analysis and strategic thinking. Learning game mechanics such as IVs in Pokemon go and other games can even translate to real-world applications. The Games Learning Society explores these very connections between games and education, offering valuable insights into the cognitive benefits of gaming, more information can be found at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pokémon GO Appraisals

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Pokémon GO’s appraisal system, providing further insights and practical advice:

1. Can I change a Pokémon’s IVs?

No, a Pokémon’s IVs are fixed at the time you encounter or hatch it. You cannot change them through any in-game mechanic like evolving or powering up. The only exception is purifying a Shadow Pokémon, which adds +2 to each IV stat.

2. Does evolving a Pokémon affect its IVs?

No, evolving a Pokémon does not change its IVs. The evolved form will inherit the same IVs as its pre-evolution.

3. Is it better to evolve a Pokémon with high CP or high stars?

Generally, it’s better to evolve a Pokémon with high stars (good IVs). While CP is important, IVs determine the Pokémon’s long-term potential. A Pokémon with high IVs will eventually surpass a Pokémon with high CP but low IVs as you power them up.

4. Should I only evolve 3-star and 4-star Pokémon?

While 3-star and 4-star Pokémon are ideal for evolving, consider the availability of resources and your current needs. If you’re short on a specific Pokémon’s candy and desperately need a strong attacker, evolving a 2-star Pokémon with decent CP might be a viable option.

5. How rare is a 4-star Pokémon?

The odds of encountering a wild 4-star Pokémon are approximately 1 in 4,096 (0.0244%). However, certain encounters, like those from raids, research tasks, or eggs, have better odds of yielding higher IV Pokémon. Lucky Pokemon also have an increased chance of having high IVs

6. What is the difference between a 3-star and a 4-star Pokémon?

A 3-star Pokémon has IVs ranging from approximately 82.2% to 97.8%, while a 4-star Pokémon has perfect IVs (100%). A 4* will also have a red background on its star when viewed in your Pokemon’s stat screen.

7. Should I power up a Pokémon before or after evolving it?

It generally doesn’t matter whether you power up a Pokémon before or after evolving it. The total cost in Stardust and candy will be the same. However, it’s often recommended to evolve first to see what moves the evolved form learns. If you get undesirable moves, you might choose to evolve a different Pokémon instead of investing resources into the one you just evolved.

8. Are Shadow Pokémon better than regular Pokémon?

Shadow Pokémon have a significant Attack boost but also take more damage. Whether they’re “better” depends on the specific situation and your play style. Some Shadow Pokémon with good IVs can be devastating attackers, but they require more Stardust and candy to power up.

9. What does purifying a Shadow Pokémon do?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon improves its appraisal by adding +2 to each IV stat, reduces the Stardust and candy cost for powering up and evolving, and replaces the Frustration Charged Attack with Return. A Shadow Pokémon can become perfect if its IVs are high enough before being purified.

10. Is it always worth purifying a Shadow Pokémon?

Not always. Purifying makes the Pokemon stronger and more powerful, but also can make the Pokemon worse. Shadow Pokémon can sometimes be more beneficial due to the attack bonus given.

11. How do Lucky Pokémon affect IVs?

Lucky Pokémon, obtained through trading, have a higher chance of having good IVs than regular Pokémon. This makes trading a great way to potentially acquire stronger Pokémon.

12. Should I keep 0-star Pokémon?

While generally not recommended for battling, some players keep 0-star Pokémon as trophies due to their rarity. They are not particularly useful for battle, so keeping them is up to the player.

13. How do weather boosts affect IVs?

Weather boosts do not directly affect IVs. However, they can increase the CP of wild Pokémon, potentially leading to higher-level encounters that may have better IVs.

14. Can Pokémon from raids or research tasks have perfect IVs?

Yes! Pokémon obtained from raids, research tasks, and eggs have a higher floor for their IVs, meaning they are more likely to have good IVs than wild Pokémon. This is also true of Lucky Pokémon.

15. Where can I find an IV calculator?

There are numerous IV calculators available online and as apps for both Android and iOS. However, remember that using third-party apps might violate Pokémon GO’s terms of service, so use them at your own risk. Most players prefer using the in-game appraisal system as it’s safe and reliable.