Will Pokémon Evolve If You Power Up Enough? A Comprehensive Guide to Evolution and Powering Up in Pokémon GO
The straightforward answer is no, powering up your Pokémon will not cause it to evolve. Unlike the main-series Pokémon games where level-up mechanics often trigger evolutions, Pokémon GO uses a completely different system. In Pokémon GO, evolutions are primarily triggered by using specific amounts of Candy, which are obtained by catching, hatching, or transferring Pokémon within the same evolutionary family. Powering up, on the other hand, increases a Pokémon’s Combat Power (CP) and HP, making it stronger in battles, but it has absolutely no bearing on whether a Pokémon will evolve. Understanding the distinction between these two mechanics is crucial for efficient gameplay.
Understanding the Mechanics of Evolution
Evolving a Pokémon in Pokémon GO requires accumulating the necessary Candy specific to that particular Pokémon or its evolutionary line. For example, evolving a Bulbasaur into an Ivysaur requires Bulbasaur Candy. The number of Candies required varies depending on the Pokémon and its stage in the evolution line. This system emphasizes collecting and strategizing rather than just raising a Pokémon’s level. Unlike the mainline games, there is no level requirement to evolve Pokémon in Pokémon GO. This means you can evolve a Pokémon as soon as you have the required candy, regardless of its current CP or level.
The Importance of Evolving Before Powering Up
One of the key strategies in Pokémon GO is to evolve a Pokémon before investing Stardust and Candy into powering it up. Why? Because the moveset of an evolved Pokémon is randomly determined, and there’s no way to predict it before the evolution process. If you power up a Pokémon first and then evolve it only to receive a suboptimal moveset, you’ve wasted precious resources. Therefore, evolving first allows you to assess whether the resulting Pokémon has desirable moves before spending Stardust to maximize its potential. The evolution process offers a substantial increase in CP at the cost of only candy, which is often more readily available than Stardust.
The Role of Powering Up
Powering up a Pokémon in Pokémon GO serves a very different purpose than evolution. It’s designed to increase a Pokémon’s CP and HP, making it more effective in battles against Gyms, Raids, and other Trainers. This process consumes both Stardust and Candy specific to the Pokémon, and the amount needed rises with each power-up. Pokémon in Pokémon GO can reach a maximum level, or Level 40, through powering up, and that is also the trainer level cap in Pokémon GO. Importantly, a Pokémon’s maximum potential is not altered by the order in which you power up and evolve; you can power up and then evolve, or evolve and then power up and will achieve the same max CP.
Maximizing Your Resources
Since Stardust is generally harder to acquire than Candy, it’s crucial to make wise decisions about which Pokémon to power up. If you have a Pokémon with a powerful moveset and good IVs (Individual Values), then powering it up is a worthy investment. IVs are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon’s inherent potential, making some individuals better than others of the same species. In general, it’s a good idea to look at a combination of a Pokémon’s CP, IV’s, and moveset before deciding whether to invest resources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Pokémon Evolution and Powering Up
1. Should I only evolve 3-star Pokémon?
Not necessarily. While 3-star Pokémon generally have better IVs and therefore higher potential, a 0-star Pokémon with a high CP might also be worth evolving, especially if you are low on resources, as it’s already close to its maximum potential. It’s about balance and whether a 3 star Pokémon has more potential than a high CP, low star Pokémon.
2. Is it better to power up a Pokémon before or after Mega Evolving?
You must power up your Pokémon before Mega Evolving it. The stats of a Mega-Evolved Pokémon are based on its stats in its normal form. Mega-Evolved Pokémon can not be powered up while in their Mega form.
3. Which Pokémon is the best to power up?
Pokémon with high damage output and good stats are good candidates to power up. Mewtwo, for example, is a powerhouse and a strong option for powering up. Ultimately, the best Pokémon to power up depends on your team and your goals in the game.
4. Should I power up a perfect IV (4 star) Pokémon?
Yes, a perfect IV Pokémon is a good choice to power up, as they have the highest potential. However, it’s not necessary to wait for a perfect IV Pokémon to start powering up. Pokémon with decent IVs that have the right moveset are also great options. Always evolve before powering up so that you don’t waste stardust if the move set is poor.
5. Should I purify Shadow Pokémon?
Shadow Pokémon have a damage bonus, making them stronger than their normal counterparts. However, purifying a Shadow Pokémon will boost their IV’s and it will cost less to power up and evolve. It’s often better to keep shadow pokemon unpurified unless you want a Pokémon with a better IV or a Pokémon that uses the exclusive move “Return.”
6. Should I evolve shiny Pokémon?
It’s a personal choice. Some players prefer to keep shiny Pokémon in their base form as a trophy. However, others prefer to evolve their shiny Pokemon because they want to use them in battles. If you happen to get two shiny of the same Pokémon, it can also be a good idea to use one for trade and perhaps acquire a lucky shiny pokemon with better stats.
7. Is it better to power up before purifying Shadow Pokémon?
No, it’s better to purify Shadow Pokémon first and then power it up. Purifying a Shadow Pokémon lowers the candy and dust cost for powering up and evolving the Pokémon, and the Pokemon receives a combat power boost. Purifying the Pokémon also changes the Shadow Pokémon’s special move, Frustration, to Return.
8. What happens if you purify a 4-star Shadow Pokémon?
Purifying a 4-star Shadow Pokémon will not only increase its combat power, but it will also lower the candy and stardust cost for evolving or powering up that Pokémon, and the Pokémon will lose the Shadow bonus and gain a purified move Return. The 4 stars will remain the same.
9. Is a 0-star Shadow Pokémon good?
Yes, a 0-star Shadow Pokémon can be good. Due to their attack boost, they can be more powerful than a high-IV regular Pokémon, so it may be better to leave the pokemon unpurified.
10. How does purifying affect a 2-star Shadow Pokémon?
Purifying a 2-star Shadow Pokémon can potentially make it a 3-star Pokémon due to the increase in IVs. Also, purified Pokémon will receive a boost in combat power.
11. Does a 4-star Pokémon stay 4-star after evolving?
Yes, IVs stay the same after evolving, so a 4-star Pokémon will remain a 4-star after you evolve it.
12. What does Eevee evolve into, and how do I control it?
Eevee has various evolutions. You can use the name trick to control which evolution you get once per name. Rename your Eevee as: Rainer to get Vaporeon (water), Sparky to get Jolteon (electric), Pyro to get Flareon (fire), Sakura to get Espeon (psychic), Tamao to get Umbreon (dark), Linnea to get Leafeon (grass), Rea to get Glaceon (ice), and Kira to get Sylveon (fairy).
13. What is the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie are some of the rarest Pokémon in the game, as they spawn in specific regions and not very often.
14. How do I power up my Pokémon?
You power up a Pokémon using Stardust and Candy, which you get from catching Pokémon, hatching Eggs, or transferring Pokémon.
15. Is Mega Evolving always worth it?
Mega Evolution offers significant stat boosts, increased damage, and bonuses such as extra candy of the same type, but is limited by your mega evolution level and mega energy, so it may not always be worth it. Mega Gengar is often considered one of the best Pokémon to Mega Evolve in Pokémon GO.
Conclusion
In Pokémon GO, evolution and powering up are two different mechanics with distinct goals. Evolving is done with Candy and can be done regardless of level, and power ups require stardust and candy. Powering up will not cause a Pokémon to evolve. By prioritizing evolution before powering up, carefully managing your resources, and understanding the different aspects of Pokémon, you can build a strong team and maximize your enjoyment in Pokémon GO.