What Level Should You Power Up Your Pokémon in Pokémon GO? A Comprehensive Guide
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The burning question every dedicated Pokémon GO trainer eventually faces: when is the right time to invest precious Stardust and Candy to power up your Pokémon? The short, unsatisfying answer is: it depends. But don’t worry, we’re not leaving you hanging there! A more comprehensive answer considers your trainer level, resources, goals, and the specific Pokémon in question. As a general rule, avoid excessive power-ups before reaching Trainer Level 30. This is because Pokémon caught in the wild can be up to level 30, meaning you’ll find stronger Pokémon naturally as you level up. Powering up significantly before then can be a waste of resources on Pokémon you’ll quickly outgrow. After level 30, focus on powering up Pokémon with high IVs (Individual Values) and desirable movesets that will be useful in raids, gyms, or PvP battles. Resource management is key in Pokémon GO. Don’t indiscriminately power up everything; be strategic!
Powering Up: A Deep Dive
The mechanics of powering up in Pokémon GO are straightforward. You use Stardust and Pokémon-specific Candy to increase a Pokémon’s level, thereby boosting its CP (Combat Power) and HP (Hit Points). The higher your trainer level, the higher you can power up your Pokémon. However, that maximum level is capped at 2 levels above your current trainer level. The real complexity lies in deciding which Pokémon to invest in and when. Here’s a breakdown of factors to consider:
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Your Trainer Level: As mentioned earlier, this is crucial. Hold off on major power-ups until at least level 30. Reaching level 30 allows you to find Pokémon in the wild that are naturally stronger, saving you tons of stardust. From level 30 to level 40, the stardust requirements increase substantially so make sure you power up Pokemon that will be useful in raids, gyms, and pvp battles.
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Pokémon IVs: Individual Values (IVs) are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon’s potential. A Pokémon with perfect IVs (15/15/15 in Attack, Defense, and HP) will always be stronger than one with lower IVs, all else being equal. Use appraisal tools or apps (carefully, as some violate ToS) to assess your Pokémon’s IVs.
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Movesets: A Pokémon’s moveset significantly impacts its effectiveness in battle. Some moves are simply better than others, offering higher damage output or faster energy generation. Research optimal movesets for the Pokémon you’re interested in before investing.
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Resource Availability: Stardust and Candy are finite resources. Consider how much you have and how easily you can acquire more. Powering up a team of six Pokémon to a reasonable level might be more beneficial than maxing out only one.
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Your Goals: What do you want to achieve in Pokémon GO? Are you focused on raiding, gym battles, PvP, or simply collecting? Your goals will influence which Pokémon you prioritize.
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Community Day/Event Consideration: Wait and see if there is a Community Day coming up for the pokemon you want to evolve. Community Day events will feature increased spawn rates and a special move so it is worthwhile to wait.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Powering Up Pokémon
Here are some of the most common questions Pokémon GO trainers have about powering up their Pokémon, along with detailed answers:
1. Should I Power Up Before or After Evolving?
- Generally, evolve first, then power up. Evolving a Pokémon changes its moveset, and you want to ensure you get a desirable one before investing resources. The CP potential and IVs are not affected by evolution; these values stay the same regardless of when you evolve. If you get a bad moveset, you might not want to power up the Pokemon so don’t power up before evolving.
2. What are IVs, and How Important are They?
- IVs (Individual Values) are hidden stats ranging from 0 to 15 for Attack, Defense, and HP. They represent a Pokémon’s genetic potential. While not as crucial as movesets, high IVs are desirable for maximizing a Pokémon’s strength. Three-star Pokémon with a red stamp will have maximized stats.
3. Should I Power Up a Pokémon with Low CP?
- It depends. If the Pokémon has excellent IVs and a great moveset (after evolution), it might be worth powering up, even if it starts with low CP. However, if its IVs are poor, you’re better off waiting for a Pokémon with higher CP and better stats. You want to evolve high CP Pokemon over lower CP Pokemon but just because a pokemon has a high CP doesn’t mean it’s good.
4. When Should I Stop Powering Up a Pokémon?
- A Pokémon caught from a raid or hatched from an egg can be level 20 at most. After level 30, the cost in Stardust and Candy increases dramatically for diminishing returns. Pokémon at level 30 already have a significant percentage of their stats (around 91%). If you’re on a budget, stopping at level 30 can be a good compromise.
5. Is it Worth Powering Up a Shadow Pokémon?
- Shadow Pokémon receive an attack boost but also take more damage. They can be powerful attackers, but they are expensive to power up. The attack boost is generally worth the investment, especially for meta-relevant Shadow Pokémon.
6. Should I Purify a Pokémon Before Evolving?
- Purifying gives the Pokémon a boost to its IVs and requires less candy to evolve. Make sure to purify before you evolve to spend less candies.
7. How do I Get More Stardust and Candy?
- Catch Pokémon: Every catch rewards Stardust and Candy.
- Hatch Eggs: Hatching eggs provides significant Stardust and Candy rewards.
- Transfer Pokémon: Transferring unwanted Pokémon to the Professor yields Candy.
- Complete Research Tasks: Many research tasks offer Stardust and Candy as rewards.
- Participate in Events: Events often feature increased Stardust and Candy bonuses.
8. Does Age Matter in Pokémon GO?
- While the age of your account doesn’t directly impact gameplay, Pokemon Go WILL require a player to travel to different locations in order to catch different Pokemon. You must be over the age of 13 to set up an account.
9. Is it Better to Power Up My Starter Pokémon?
- While sentimental, starter Pokémon are usually not the best candidates for power-ups. They typically have lower stats than Pokémon found later in the game.
10. Does Leveling Up Increase Damage?
- Yes, leveling up increases damage. Powering up increases their level, which increases their attack/defense/stamina.
11. Should I Evolve Shiny Pokémon?
- Evolving shiny Pokémon is purely a matter of personal preference. Shiny Pokémon are cosmetically different but have the same stats as their regular counterparts. The uniqueness of the coloration makes some trainers prefer the evolved form of their shinies!
12. Is it Better to Raise a Pokémon from Level 1?
- No, it doesn’t matter where the Pokemon is raised. A Pokémon that is trained from a low level to a higher level will generally have better stats than a Pokémon that is caught at a higher level. However, a wild caught level 30 is still a higher level than a level 1.
13. Is it Better to Evolve a Pokemon or Level it Up?
- Evolving first is preferred because it costs less Stardust to evolve than to power up, and you need to see if you want to spend the stardust on that particular Pokemon’s moveset. At times, players will power up a Pokemon significantly only to evolve them and find that they’re not used all that often.
14. What is a Perfect 3-Star Pokémon?
- If your Pokémon has three stars and a red stamp, it means that it has 100% perfect IVs.
15. Are Shiny Pokémon Stronger?
- No, Shiny Pokémon are not any stronger or weaker than normal Pokémon. It’s purely cosmetic.
Final Thoughts
Powering up Pokémon in Pokémon GO is a strategic decision that requires careful consideration. By understanding the factors discussed above and answering the questions above, you can make informed choices and maximize the effectiveness of your Pokémon team. Remember, resource management is key, and focusing on Pokémon with high IVs, desirable movesets, and relevance to your goals will lead to the most rewarding experience.
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