Pokemon GO: A Complete Guide To IVs and Appraisals

Pokemon GO: A Complete Guide To IVs and Appraisals

As a seasoned Pokémon trainer with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the intricacies of Individual Values (IVs) in Pokémon GO have truly kept me on my toes! The unique ways to modify IVs in this mobile game are certainly unlike any other mainline game.


In the world of Pokemon, each creature that trainers capture has its unique Individual Values, often referred to as IVs. These values are divided into six categories: Attack, Defense, Speed, Special Attack, Special Defense, and HP (Health Points). A Pokemon’s nature, base stats, and Effort Values (EVs) all play a role in determining these Individual Values. Thankfully, the IV system and calculations in Pokemon GO are less complex compared to the main games.

In the game Pokemon GO, the key attributes for each character (Pokemon) are Health Points (HP), Attack, and Defense. Unlike other Pokemon games, there’s no Nature system or EVs in Pokemon GO to calculate a Pokemon’s Individual Values (IVs). Instead of a maximum range of 31, the IVs in Pokemon GO now go up to 15. Players can assess their Pokemon’s IVs using the Appraisal feature, which helps them decide which Pokemon are worth keeping and which ones should be transferred.

Appraising Pokemon

How to Check IVs

Pokemon GO: A Complete Guide To IVs and Appraisals

As a gamer, when I catch a new Pokemon, I know I can examine its individual values (IVs) by tapping the icon in the lower-right corner. Then, I opt for an appraisal, and one of my team leaders assesses the Pokemon’s IVs. First up is Attack, followed closely by Defense, and lastly, HP. Each statistic has its unique “three bar scale,” which helps me rate the overall quality of the Pokemon on a 3-star system.

Pokemon with only half a bar and one bar filled in two out of three of their stats are likely to have zero stars. A Pokemon with two of their stats in the third bar with their last stat at two full bars is likely a 3-star Pokemon. If a Pokemon’s IVs are maxed, the orange bar becomes red. A Pokemon with perfect IVs is classified as a 4-star Pokemon.

Players can also search Pokemon based on their stats by using filters:

  1. On the overworld map, select the Poke Ball icon, then Pokemon.
  2. Tap the search bar, and select “See More.”
  3. Scroll down, and there will be a category called Appraisal with five different search options (0 stars to Perfect). Players can also find Pokemon by ranking by typing in a number (0-4) followed by an asterisk (*).

In the game Pokemon GO, Pokemon don’t have the ability to dodge attacks, so they primarily rely on their Health Points (HP) and Defense stats for survival during battles. A Pokemon should ideally possess good HP and Defense if it is to endure opponents’ attacks effectively. Apart from these, a Pokemon’s Attack stat and Fast Move also play significant roles in its performance in battle. Therefore, it’s essential to avoid using Pokemon with poor Individual Values (IVs) in battles, regardless of their Combat Power (CP).

It’s important to know that a Pokemon with a high Combat Power (CP) does not mean they have perfect IVs. Some Pokemon can have IVs as low as 247 and have 3-star IVs, while a Pokemon with 1373 CP may have poor IVs. Despite this, when
battling Team GO Rocket or partaking in Raids
, it’s vital to factor in CP and IVs to increase the chances of winning.

How to Increase or Change IVs

Purifying and Trading

Pokemon GO: A Complete Guide To IVs and Appraisals

In the world of Pokémon Go, it’s important to note that once you catch a Pokémon, you can’t alter its Individual Values (IVs), which are the hidden stats that affect a Pokémon’s combat power in the game. Unlike in traditional Pokémon games, where you can feed vitamins or berries to change a Pokéemon’s IVs, this isn’t an option in Pokémon Go. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. One method to potentially boost a Pokémon’s IVs in Pokémon Go is by purifying Shadow Pokémon.

The IVs of a Shadow Pokemon can be viewed the same way as any other Pokemon. Some trainers won’t purify because of “Shadow Bonus”, an amplifier placed on a Shadow Pokemon’s Fast and Charged Attacks. However, purifying the Shadow Pokemon will give it a boost in CP and cost less Candy to evolve. In addition to this, a Purified Pokemon receives 2 points for all their IVs. This means it’s possible for a Pokemon to go from 3 to 4 stars, 2 to 3 stars, etc. A Pokemon with 13 points (most of the third bar of an IV filled) will achieve the maximum IV points if it’s purified.

Another method for altering a Pokemon’s Individual Values (IVs) is by trading it with another player. This action shuffles the arrangement of the IVs, and it isn’t certain that you’ll receive a Pokemon with max IVs through trade. However, there exists a feature known as Lucky Trade, which can happen if your friendship level with another player reaches its maximum. In such Lucky Trades, the Pokemon you receive and the one you give away will both be rated 3 stars and have a distinctive background to signify their ‘Lucky’ status.

When you swap Pokemons with a three-star IV rating, there’s a chance that the Pokemon you get could have only two stars instead. This unpredictable exchange is like taking a risk, which can be disheartening, especially when both parties are aiming to evolve their Pokemons through trading. It might lead to disappointment if things don’t go as planned during the trade process.

Remember that once you trade a Pokémon, it can no longer be retrieved as it is permanently removed from your account after being traded.

How Are IVs Calculated if Pokemon Are Transferred?

How Pokemon HOME Changes IVs

Pokemon GO: A Complete Guide To IVs and Appraisals

With the compatibility of Pokemon HOME, you’re able to obtain Pokemon from console games such as Pokemon Scarlet/Violet and Pokemon Legends: Arceus, among others. Additionally, you can transfer Pokemon from GO to Let’s Go, Pikachu!/Eevee!. When you move or receive a Pokemon for GO through HOME, its Individual Values (IVs) get recalculated. This is primarily because the mainline Pokemon IVs and Effort Values (EVs) differ significantly from those in GO.

Moving Pokemon from GO to HOME changes the IVs as such:

  • The IVs for HP, Attack, and Special Attack are determined by multiplying the Pokemon’s Attack IV in Pokemon GO, then adding one point.
  • For Defense and Special, GO‘s Defense IV is multiplied by two and added by one.
  • Since Speed isn’t an IV in GO, the IV will be randomized once the Pokemon is moved to HOME/Let’s Go, Pikachu!/Eevee!.
  • Pokemon with perfect IVs will have a perfect IV appraisal when placed in Pokemon HOME.

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2024-08-14 21:27