Will a Perfect Pokémon Stay Perfect? The Definitive Guide
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Yes, a perfect Pokémon (meaning it has 100% IVs, or 15/15/15 in Attack, Defense, and Stamina) will remain perfect throughout its entire existence in Pokémon GO, regardless of whether you power it up, evolve it, or even purify it if it’s a Shadow Pokémon. Individual Values (IVs) are permanently assigned to a Pokémon when it is first encountered or created (e.g., hatched from an egg). These values are essentially its genetic makeup within the game.
This means that if you’ve painstakingly acquired a 100% IV Pokémon, you can rest assured that it will retain its status as a hundo (a community term for a perfect Pokémon) no matter what you do. This contrasts with Combat Power (CP), which is a variable stat that increases as you power up your Pokémon. So, you can freely evolve and strengthen your perfect specimens without fear of diminishing their inherent perfection! This holds true across the entire evolutionary line – a perfect Bulbasaur will evolve into a perfect Ivysaur and then a perfect Venusaur.
Understanding the Significance of IVs
While IVs aren’t the be-all and end-all of Pokémon GO, they do contribute to a Pokémon’s overall potential. Think of it like this: CP determines the Pokemon’s immediate strength, while IVs determine the maximum CP it can achieve at its peak level. A Pokémon with high IVs will always have a slightly higher maximum CP than the same species with lower IVs, assuming both are powered up to the same trainer level. This difference, although sometimes marginal, can be crucial in competitive situations like raids and Gym battles.
Furthermore, the pursuit of perfect Pokémon adds another layer of collecting and gameplay to Pokémon GO, making it more engaging for dedicated players. Many players find joy in the hunt for these rare creatures, and the satisfaction of finally obtaining a 100% IV Pokémon is undeniable. This is supported by research from organizations like the Games Learning Society which shows that goal-oriented gameplay, such as the search for perfect IVs, increases user engagement and long-term investment in games. See more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Clearing Up Common Misconceptions
One common misunderstanding revolves around the relationship between IVs and movesets. While IVs determine the potential of a Pokémon, movesets determine its effectiveness in battle. A perfect Pokémon with a poor moveset may still underperform compared to a Pokémon with slightly lower IVs but a superior moveset. Therefore, while a perfect IV is desirable, it’s essential to consider movesets when building a competitive team.
Another misconception is that powering up a Pokémon before evolving it can somehow impact its IVs. This is not true. As stated earlier, IVs are fixed at the time of encounter and are not affected by powering up or evolving. The only exception to this rule is purifying a Shadow Pokemon where the IV stats will increase by 2 points in each category.
FAQs: Your Perfect Pokémon Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the concept of perfect Pokémon and IVs in Pokémon GO:
1. Are 100% IV Pokémon rare?
Yes, 100% IV Pokémon are quite rare. The base chance of encountering a wild Pokémon with perfect IVs is approximately 1 in 4096 (0.0244%). This makes them highly sought after by dedicated players.
2. Does weather boost affect the chance of getting a perfect Pokémon?
Yes, weather boost increases your chances. A weather-boosted Pokémon has a minimum IV of 4 in each stat, increasing the odds of finding a perfect IV Pokémon to 1 in 1728.
3. What is a “nundo,” and how rare is it?
A nundo is a Pokémon with 0 IVs in all stats (0/0/0). Nundos are even rarer than hundos (100% IV Pokémon) because they cannot be obtained from Raids, Field Research, or Eggs, as these encounters have minimum IV floors.
4. Should I evolve a perfect Pokémon?
Absolutely! If you have a perfect IV Pokémon, evolving it is generally a good idea. Since its IVs won’t change, you’ll end up with a perfect version of its evolved form. This is a valuable asset for raids, Gym battles, and PvP.
5. Does purifying a Shadow Pokémon change its IVs?
Yes, purifying a Shadow Pokémon will increase each of its IV stats by 2 points. This means a Shadow Pokémon with, for example, 13/13/13 IVs will become a 15/15/15 (perfect) IV Pokémon after purification. This is the only way to change IVs in the game.
6. Is it worth purifying a Shadow Pokémon to get a perfect IV Pokémon?
This is debatable. While purifying a Shadow Pokémon can result in a perfect IV Pokémon, Shadow Pokémon receive a significant attack boost, making them powerful attackers. You may want to consider the overall utility of the Pokemon before purifying.
7. What’s the difference between a “hundo” and a “shundo?”
A hundo is simply a Pokémon with 100% IVs (15/15/15). A shundo is a combination of “shiny” and “hundo,” meaning it’s a shiny Pokémon with 100% IVs, making it incredibly rare and highly desirable.
8. Do Lucky Pokémon have better IVs?
Yes, Lucky Pokémon are guaranteed to have a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12. While not guaranteed to be perfect, Lucky Pokémon have a significantly higher chance of having good IVs than standard wild catches.
9. What is a “lundo?”
A lundo is a community term that combines “lucky” and “hundo.” It refers to a Pokémon that is both a Lucky Pokémon and has 100% IVs.
10. How can I determine a Pokémon’s IVs?
You can determine a Pokémon’s IVs in a few ways:
- Appraisal: Use the in-game appraisal feature provided by your team leader (Candela, Blanche, or Spark). This gives you a general indication of the Pokémon’s IV range.
- IV Calculator Apps/Websites: Use third-party IV calculator apps or websites. These tools require you to input information like the Pokémon’s CP, HP, and Stardust cost for powering up. They then provide an estimated range of IVs.
- Direct Observation: A Pokemon with three red stars has 100% perfect IVs. If it has three stars with an orange stamp, it has around 80-99% perfect IVs. Two stars means 66-80% IVs and one star means 50-65% IVs.
11. Should I power up a Pokémon before evolving it?
Powering up a Pokémon before or after evolving it has no impact on its IVs. The order doesn’t matter. The IVs are set at the time of the encounter, making this a matter of personal preference.
12. Are IVs more important than movesets?
Both IVs and movesets are important, but movesets often have a more immediate impact on a Pokémon’s performance. A Pokémon with a good moveset but slightly lower IVs may outperform a Pokémon with perfect IVs but a poor moveset. However, over the long term, the hundo will be stronger.
13. Can I trade a perfect Pokémon?
Yes, you can trade perfect Pokémon. However, keep in mind that IVs are re-rolled when trading, so the Pokémon will no longer be perfect for the receiver (unless they get extremely lucky).
14. How does CP relate to IVs?
CP (Combat Power) is a measure of a Pokémon’s overall strength and is calculated based on its Attack, Defense, Stamina, and level. IVs contribute to these underlying stats, meaning that a Pokémon with higher IVs will generally have a higher CP ceiling than a Pokémon of the same species with lower IVs.
15. Do legendaries have better IV floors?
Yes, legendary Pokémon obtained from raids and research breakthroughs have an IV floor of 10/10/10. This makes them more likely to have decent IVs compared to wild catches. This does not apply to Masterwork research which guarantees a hundo Pokemon.
In Conclusion
The quest for a perfect Pokémon is a rewarding pursuit in Pokémon GO. Understanding that IVs are permanent allows you to strategically invest in your Pokémon, knowing that their inherent potential will remain intact as you power them up and evolve them. So, keep hunting, keep battling, and may the odds be ever in your favor in your search for those elusive 100% IV Pokémon!