katashi65
Shadowy Informer
~ Preamble: Why Bother? ~
Many people think Individual Values and Effort Values are boring or are too complicated. But they make a huge difference in battling, and they aren't quite as tedious to take advantage of as some might believe. Since Individual Values and Effort Values both impact Pokémon so greatly, this guide is dedicated to showing that these two factors are not that difficult to understand.
There is no "right" or "wrong" way to enjoy playing Pokémon, but I do want to make available the knowledge to fully tap a Pokémon's potential. I am always open to the suggestions for improving this thread, and I accept advice and corrections. This guide refers to mechanics relevant from the third generation games onward, where most competitive battling takes place. To drive the point home, I urge you to enjoy the following animation of a perfectly bred and EV trained Caterpie and a wild, untrained Steelix.
Table of Contents
- Getting Started - Individual Values
An Invisible Stat . . . Characteristics . . . Helpful Links
Breeding For Individual Values . . . Baby Eevee Example
Checking Individual Values . . . The Judge's Quotes . . . In-Game Event Pokémon IVs
The Value of Effort . . . EV Training Locations . . . Horde Encounters
Shortcuts Are Welcome . . . Vitamins, Wings, PokéRus, Training Items, Exp. Share, Join Avenue, Juice Shoppe, Rare Candy/Daycare
Sample Battles for Effort Values . . . Alakazam vs Ghastly
Super Training: Alternative to Battles . . . Overview . . . Difficulty . . . Tips and Tricks
A Berry Nice Solution . . . EV Reducing Berries
Stuck At Level 100 . . . A 5th Generation Change
Making EV Spreads . . . EV Spread Examples
~ Getting Started - Individual Values ~
IVs are Individual Values, and Pokémon are born with them. They range from 0-31 (0 being the worst and 31 being the best). An IV directly affects the stat it is assigned to and each and every stat is assigned an IV; this keeps every Pokémon's individual abilities varied to a degree. An IV increases a stat based on its value and can never bring a stat down; it's like every Pokémon gets a free boost, but some Pokémon get more of a boost at birth than others.
Let's say I have two level 50 Staraptor, and all factors other than IVs are kept constant. One has 179 Attack and the other has only 165 Attack. They are the same Pokémon; why does the stat differ? Because one was born with inherently higher Attack - this is the IV factor. The effect of IVs are scaled to level and are expressed by [Level]%. 50% of the Individual Value is added to the stat at level 50, 100% of the Individual Value (full expression) is added to the stat at level 100.
It does not matter how you acquire the Pokémon; IVs (0 - 31) are randomly assigned to each of a Pokémon's stats when it appears in a wild battle or the moment an egg is conferred upon you by the Daycare man like a simplified version of genetics expressed numerically. At that point, there is no way to alter IVs.
~ An Invisible Stat ~
It might be a bit frustrating to discern them since IVs are an “invisible” mechanic in the game, meaning they are never shown directly. In the fourth generation games, however, they hint at it by giving you a Characteristic in addition to Nature. While Natures boost one stat by 10% and lower another by 10% (or do nothing at all to the stats for a “neutral Nature”), a Characteristic indicates a Pokémon’s highest IV. For example, two Blaziken that are identical aside from IVs likely have different Characteristics nonetheless. Maybe one has higher Special Attack and is “highly curious” (its highest IV is for Special Attack) while the other “likes to run” (its best IV boosts Speed). Knowing these traits help you guess your Pokémon’s IVs.
>> Hit Points >>
Often dozes off / Takes plenty of siestas
Loves to eat
Likes to relax
Scatters things often
Often scatters things / Nods off a lot
>> Attack >>
Likes to thrash about
Proud of its power
Quick tempered
Likes to fight
A little quick tempered
>> Defense >>
Capable of taking hits
Sturdy body
Good perseverance
Good endurance
Highly persistent
>> Special Attack >>
Mischievous
Highly curious
Often lost in thought
Very finicky
Thoroughly cunning
>> Special Defense >>
Somewhat vain
Strong willed
Somewhat stubborn
Hates to lose
Strongly defiant
>> Speed >>
Alert to sounds
Likes to run
Quick to flee
Somewhat of a clown
Impetuous and silly
IVs also influence the type of Hidden Power a Pokémon has, and its base power (set at 60 from the sixth generation onward).
Here are some helpful links for gauging IVs and more details about Hidden Power.
Psypokes Calculator
Metalkid Calculator
Hidden Power Mechanics
Hidden Power Calculator
~ Breeding For Individual Values ~
When a baby Pokémon is born, all of its IVs are already randomly set. Then, one IV from any stat of either parent is passed onto the offspring and overrides the corresponding old one. Next, another IV that is not HP is passed onto the offspring from either parent. Lastly, a third IV is passed on from either parent to the baby, but it cannot be HP or Defense. In this way, a baby inherits three IVs from its parents, either all three from one parent, or two from one parent and the last one from the other parent. The other three IVs remain randomly generated.
For example, let us use two Leafeon breeding for Eevee. The mother and father have the following IVs for the respective stats in this order:
HP/Attack/Defense/Speed/Special Attack/Special Defense
Mother: 7/29/22/19/12/22
Father: 26/12/31/28/27/14
Now, the baby Eevee starts out with its own randomly generated IVs for its stats. Some of these will be overwritten.
Eevee: 19/23/15/25/22/19
The first stat to be inherited can be any stat from either parent. Let us say that the baby inherits Attack the first time around from the mother. [29]
Eevee: 19/29/15/25/22/19
The next stat comes from either parent, but cannot be HP. Let us say that the baby inherits Speed from the father next. [28]
Eevee: 19/29/15/28/22/19
Lastly, the third stat to be inherited can come from either parent, but is neither HP nor Defense. Let us say that the baby inherits Sp. Defense from the mother. [22]
Eevee: 19/29/15/28/22/22
So now let us put it all together, showing the mother’s IVs, the father’s IVs, and the baby Eevee’s final Individual Values in this example:
Mother: 7/29/22/19/12/22
Father: 26/12/31/28/27/14
Eevee: 19/29/15/28/22/22
In addition, you can have either of the parents hold a Power item. Each Power item corresponds to each of the six stats and are normally used to help EV train (more on that later), but gained another function in the Johto region remake games; they can manipulate IV inheritance. Each one, when given to a parent in the Daycare, will allow that parent to pass on the IV for that particular stat for sure. Take the Power Belt, which affects Defense EVs. When it is held by a parent (either one), that parent’s Defense IV will be passed on to the offspring, such as that Defense IV of 31 from the father Leafeon stated before. If he holds a Power Belt (and the mother is not holding another Power item), he will pass on his Defense IV guaranteed, meaning his will automatically overwrite the offspring’s Defense IV. As such, the baby Eevee would get these IVs:
Father: 26/12/31/28/27/14
Eevee: 19/29/31/28/22/22
If we arrange the process in steps, it looks something like this:
Baby randomly generates IVs > Power item overwrites one IV > Parental overwrite of several original IVs
In the end, the Power item wins out since it is the first expressed, but sometimes the regular parental inheritance overlaps, making one of them erase the other (this is non-refundable). If both parents hold a Power item, one of them (equal chance for either parent) passes on the corresponding IV. Otherwise the offspring's IV will be its originally randomized one.
In Pokémon X and Y, Destiny Knot causes a baby Pokémon to inherit five IVs from either parent when it is held during the breeding process. Use a Power Item to pass around specific desired IVs to the next generation of parents, then use a Destiny Knot and Everstone to go for perfection!
~ Checking Your Pokémon's Individual Values ~
It's tricky to check your Pokémon's IVs with an IV calculator at lower levels since stats are so close together, but once a Pokémon passes 20, it becomes easier to get an accurate IV range as stats become more differentiated. However, a Pokémon's stats are also influenced by Effort Values (EVs) so you need to take those into account as you calculate the IVs.
The Judge (Battle Frontier/Subway/Maison) can "sense" IVs of a Pokémon and gives two indicators. The first statement is an analysis of the Pokémon's overall ability. Next, announces the stat(s) in which the Pokémon has the highest IV and indicate a general range of what the value could be. If a Pokémon has more than one stat with the same highest value, all of them will be stated (and one of them shall correspond to the Characteristic).
First Statement
The IV total is from 0 to 90: "This Pokémon's potential is decent all around."
The IV total is from 91 to 120: "This Pokémon's potential is above average overall."
The IV total is from 120 to 150: "This Pokémon has relatively superior potential overall."
The IV total is from 151 to 186: "This Pokémon has outstanding potential overall."
Second Statement
Best IV is from 0 to 15: "It's rather decent in that regard."
Best IV is from 16 to 25: "It's very good in that regard."
Best IV is from 26 to 30: "It's fantastic in that regard." or "It's got some fantastic stats."
Best IV is 31: "It can't be better in that regard." or "Stats like those... They simply can't be beat!
For example, I show the Judge my Braviary and he says "This Pokémon's potential is above average overall." Then, he goes on to say that its best stat is Defense and that "It can't be better in that regard." This means Braviary has an IV total from 91 to 120 and that it's got an IV of 31 in Defense. Although this is not the most accurate way to find out a Pokémon's IVs, it's a fast and easy way to gauge a Pokémon's general potential. In X and Y, the Judge will feel obliged to reveal all of the Pokémon's perfect IVs as well as to make a note of the Pokémon's worst possible IVs (0).
Finding Great Individual Values In-Game
The Pokémon that you receive from in-game trades in the Gen V games all have set IVs, and each one of them has at least one perfect IV! For example, that Modest Cottonee you get? It's got an IV of 31 in Sp. Attack! Use these Pokémon to breed perfect IVs onto your other Pokémon; only Rotom (genderless) and Petilil (female only) can't spread their IV onto different types of Pokémon, but that Magikarp you can buy after beating Ghetsis also comes with a set 31 IV in Speed.
In Black 2 and White 2, N's released Pokémon can be obtained. They each have an IV of 30 in each stat, which is quite respectable.
In Pokémon X and Y, any Pokémon that is in the No Egg group for breeding (meaning they can't) will always have at least three perfect IVs of 31 when encountered in the wild. That makes it much easier to reset for decent Legendary Pokémon. Also, any Pokémon encountered in the Friend Safari comes with at least two perfect IVs.
~ The Value of Effort ~
Effort Values (officially recognized as Base Values) numerically represent nurturing whereas IVs numerically represent genetics. EVs influence a Pokémon's stats about twice as much as IVs affect them for any one stat, but since IVs affect every stat, they can do more for a Pokémon more overall (0-186 stat points). EVs are more controllable, but only influence up to 127 points total. Each Pokémon can absorb up to 510 EVs in total, and up to 255 EVs in a single stat. Any more than 255 in any one stat is simply ignored, and when the 510 total is reached, the Pokémon gains no more EVs in any of its stats.
Every four of a single type of Effort Value translates into one stat point for that particular stat. For example, if a Pokémon gains 12 Attack EVs, its Attack rises by 3 points in the end (by level 100). If it gains 100 Attack EVs, its Attack rises by 25, and so on. You may not see the change immediately, and the changes are usually registered by leveling up. At level 100, the overall effect of max (252) EVs reaches up to 63 points in a stat. At level 100, that's like the difference between a 237 or 300 in Attack! Being able to add up to an additional 127 points to your Pokémon's stats (up to 63 in a single stat) is significant, so no wonder so many people make a big fuss over EV training.
It seems 63 is the magic number because a stat is given one point for every four EVs assigned in itt. 255 is the max number of EVs a Pokémon incorporates into any single stat, and 255 divided by 4 is equal to 63.75 (but the game rounds the stat boost down to only 63 points). Those last 3 EVs are wasted on the stat, and so that means it is better to only go up to 252; you can put those last little bits onto a different stat. As of Pokémon X and Y, the maximum number of EVs for any one stat is 252, making it easier not to waste EVs.
EVs are assigned simultaneously with Exp. after battles. The EVs gained after battle depend on the Pokémon that was defeated and often reflect that Pokémon's best stat(s). For example, a Ratata gives one Speed EV after battle, and a Gyarados gives two Attack EVs. EVs are normally also based on that Pokémon's evolutionary stage. A Ghastly gives one Special Attack EV, but Haunter gives two and Gengar gives three. Sometimes, an evolved Pokémon gives EVs different from its previous form, such as a Starly giving Speed and Staraptor giving Attack, which is something to watch out for. A Pokémon that does not evolve at all may give more that one EV such as Shuckle (1 Defense and 1 Sp. Defense EVs) or not in the case of Smeargle (1 Speed EV).
Knowing your enemies helps your Pokémon grow the way you like them to. So, here are some suggestions (thanks to serebii.net for these) on which Pokémon to EV train on and where to find them. In addition, here is a direct link to serebii.net and its database on which Pokémon give what EV(s).
Pokémon Listed by EVs
Ruby / Sapphire / Emerald
HP: Whismur [1 point] - Cave on Route 106
Attack: Carvanha [1 point] - Route 119 (Super Rod)
Defense: Sandshrew [1 point] / Skarmory [2 points] - Route 113
Special Attack: Spinda [1 point] - Route 113
Special Defense: Tentacool [1 point] - almost any body of water
Speed: Zubat [1 point] / Golbat [2 points] - Cave of Origin
______
Diamond / Pearl / Platinum
HP: Shellos [1 point] / Bidoof [1 point] - Valley Windworks
Attack: Machoke [2 points] / Bibarel [2 points] - Route 211 (East)
Defense: Graveler [2 points] / Onix [1 point] - Iron Mountain (Iron Island)
Special Attack: Ghastly [1 point] / Haunter [2 points] / Gengar [3 points] - Old Chateau
Special Defense: Tentacool [1 point] / Tentacruel [2 points] - Route 220 or any other body of water
Speed: Staravia [2 points] / Pikachu [2 points] - Trophy Garden
______
Heart Gold / Soul Silver
HP: Hoothoot [1 point] - National Park (night) or Slowpoke [1 point] - Slowpoke Well
Attack: Goldeen [1 point] / Seaking [2 points] - Route 42, Route 9, Route 10, Route 24, Route 25, Mt. Mortar, Cerulean City
Defense: Tangela [1 point] - Route 21 or Metapod [2 points] / Kakuna [2 points] - Viridian Forest
Special Attack: Psyduck [1 point] / Golduck [2 points] - Route 35, Route 6, Ilex Forest, Cerulean Cave (Surf)
Special Defense: Tentacool [1 point] / Tentacruel [2 points] - too many places to name (try New Bark Town)
Speed: Diglett [1 point] / Dugtrio [2 points] - Diglett's Cave
______
White / Black / White 2 / Black 2
HP: Ducklett [1 point] - Driftveil Draw Bridge or Stunfisk [2 points] / Palpitoad [2 points] - Moor of Icirrus
Attack: Patrat [1 point] / Lillipup [1 point] / Pidove [1 point] / Riolu [1 point] - Route 1, Flocessy Ranch *
Defense: Sewaddle [1 point] / Venipede [1 point] / Swadloon [2 points] / Whirlipede [2 points] - Pinwheel Forest, Route 20 **
Special Attack: Litwick [1 point] / Elgyem [1 point] - Celestial Tower
Special Defense: Frillish [1 point] - Routes 4, Route 17, Route 18, Driftveil City, P2 Labratory
Speed: Basculin [2 points] - Routes 1, 3, 6, 11, and 14 or various other bodies of water
*In White 2 and Black 2, Patrat, Lillipup, Pidove, and Riolu are all found at Flocessy Ranch whereas in the original White and Black, only Patrat and Lillipup are found on Route 1.
**In White 2 and Black 2, Sewaddle can be found on Route 20. In addition, Swadloon and Whirlipede can be easily found in Pinwheel Forest.
______
X / Y and Horde Encounters
Pokémon X and Y introduced Horde encounters, where five of a single type of Pokémon battle your active Pokémon at the same time (or four of one type and another related Pokémon). Being able to clear entire Hordes in a single move such as Surf or Earthquake, combined with the "new" mechanic for the Exp. Share allows for quick, group EV training. Use a Honey or Sweet Scent to draw out Horde encounters (does not work if raining in the area).
HP: Gulpin [1 point] - Route 5
Attack: Bellsprout [1 point] - Route 14
Defense - Geodude [1 point] - Victory Road or Nosepass [1 point] - Route 10
Special Attack: Vanillite [1 point] - Frost Cavern
Special Defense: Hoppip [1 point] - Route 7
Speed: Wingull [1 point] / Tailow [1 point] - Route 8
~ Shortcuts Are Welcome ~
Vitamins
Ever wonder about how Proteins and Calciums can raise your Pokémon’s stats? They do this by assigning exactly 10 of their respective EVs to the Pokémon and changes the stat immediately (as stated before, training for EVs require you to level up to see the change). However, each of these drinks only raises a Pokémon’s EVs if they are less than 100 when you use them; they do not raise EVs past that point. That is why your Pokémon will stop consuming them after around 10 times if you’ve not trained them at all, and even fewer if it’s started gaining EVs already. In the end, EV training is unavoidable, but these Vitamins certainly speed things along.
HP Up: +10 HP EVs
Protein: +10 Attack EVs
Iron: +10 Defense EVs
Carbos: +10 Speed EVs
Calcium: +10 Sp. Attack EVs
Zinc: +10 Sp. Defense EVs
Wings
From Black and White onwards, there are items called Wings. Each one of these acts like a mini Vitamin with a far less significant effect. The new Wing items also make a Pokémon happier after their use like the Vitamin and stat reducing berries. A Wing gives 1 of a sort of EV while a corresponding Vitamin gives 10 EVs. On the other hand, whereas Vitamins stop at 100 EVs in a stat, the Wings are limited only by the usual cap of 255 (252 from Gen 6 onward) in any one stat.
In the Unova region, they appear randomly among shadows on certain bridges. Ride around on your bike until you see such a shadow, step on it, and you'll either be swept into a battle (with a Ducklett or Swanna) or you'll pick up a Wing item. In Kalos, Wing items are potential prizes from playing Super Training exercises. Pretty Wings do not affect stats, but can be sold for a small sum.
[//] Health Wing: +1 HP EV
[//] Muscle Wing: +1 Attack EV
[//] Resist Wing: +1 Defense EV
[//] Genius Wing: +1 Sp. Attack EV
[//] Clever Wing: +1 Sp. Defense EV
[//] Swift Wing: +1 Speed EV
PokéRus
The elusive PokéRus doubles the intake of EVs in a battle, so a Pokémon's stats grow twice as quickly (though the caps still remain). If your Pokémon is infected, Nurse Joy will let you know after you let her examine your Pokémon it will be marked with the word "PokéRus" near its picture when you look at its status. PokéRus can spread to other Pokémon in the same party as the infected one. After a time, the infected Pokémon will recover from it and ceases to infect other Pokémon, although it continues to gain the boosted EVs after battles. When a Pokémon recovers from PokéRus, a little smiley face should at the corner of the Pokémon's picture when you check its status. Storing a Pokémon in the PC halts whatever stage the PokéRus is at, so you can store and save PokéRus to infect more Pokémon later.
Effort Value Training Items - Macho Brace and Power Items
A Macho Brace turns the gain of one EV into two, two EVs into four, and so on. A Power item simply adds four EVs to the total EV gain at the end of a battle. For example, a Kricketune normally gives two Attack EVs. If your Pokémon holds a Macho Brace, it doubles, making your Pokémon gain four Attack EVs. If you give it a Power Bracer instead of a Macho Brace, it adds four Attack EVs, so you gain two plus four, making the total six Attack EVs. If your Pokémon has the Power Bracer AND is infected with PokéRus, it doubles to twelve Attack EVs.
Power Items do not need to be matched up; they add four of their corresponding EVs regardless of the Pokémon you battle. For example, if you give a Power Anklet to your Pokémon, it gains two Attack EVs from the Kricketune and another four Speed EVs from the Anklet. PokéRus doubles the EV gains from both sources (Four Attack and eight Speed EVs). Be careful when you use these items because they cut your Pokémon's Speed in half during the battling in exchange for faster growths.
[//] Macho Brace: Doubles EVs earned after battle
[//] Power Weight: +4 HP EVs after battle
[//] Power Bracer: +4 Attack EVs after battle
[//] Power Belt: +4 Defense EVs after battle
[//] Power Lens: +4 Special Attack EVs after battle
[//] Power Band: +4 Special Defense EVs after battle
[//] Power Anklet: +4 Speed EVs after battle
Experience Share
The Exp. Share is an item that grants the holder 1/2 of the given battle experience points if held and even if it does not participate in battle. If the holder also fights, it hoards that 1/2 and the other 1/2 is redistributed evenly among itself and the other battlers.
Pokémon using the Exp. Share also gain full EVs from the battle. For example, I send an Alakazam to battle a Gengar, and I have Budew with an Exp. Share in reserve. Upon victory, Alakazam gains all 3 Special Attack EVs and Budew also gains all 3 EVs.
But, if Alakazam is holding a Macho Brace and obtains 6 EVs, Budew still only gains the 3. It makes sense since Alakazam is the one putting more effort into the battle. This applies to all of the Power items, too. Only the holder is benefited by these items, and the Exp. Share grants only the base EVs granted in battle.
PokéRus can stack effects with items including the Exp. Share. If the battler has PokéRus and the Exp. Share holder does not, the holder does not gain extra EVs. If the Exp. Share holder has PokéRus, it does gain the doubled EVs.
As of X and Y, the Exp. Share has become a Key Item that grants Exp. and EVs with all members of the party. Exp. is distributed normally among battlers, and another 50% of the original Exp. is distributed among those that did not battle. EVs are calculated individually for every party member accounting for Macho Brace/Power items and PokéRus.
Join Avenue
Introduced in Black 2 and White 2 is Join Avenue, a place where interaction with other players influences the shops that are set up in the facility. The Fitness, the Bistro, and the Beauty Salon all sell items that can be used once a day to influence EVs. The Fitness sells EV boosting items with effects in multiples of 4, 16, 32, or 64, the Bistro sells EV boosting items with effects of either 20 or 48, and the Beauty Salon sells items that erase EVs with effects of either 50,100. or all the EVs in a stat.
Juice Shoppe
The Juice Shoppe in Lumiose City allows you to buy one drink once a day and create a drink or soup once a day. These drinks can increase the level, affection, and EVs of a Pokémon depending on which is used, and one can even erase EVs.
Drinks that increase EVs will give from 4 to 32 points in one use; it will increase Happiness if the Pokémon has capped its EVs in the corresponding stat. To make each color juice, it takes two of the same color Berry.
[//] Purple Juice - HP
[//] Red Juice - Attack
[//] Yellow Juice - Defense
[//] Blue Juice - Sp. Attack
[//] Green Juice - Sp. Defense
[//] Pink Juice - Speed
Other items can also be bought and made at this shop.
Colorful Shake - Happiness (two different color Berries)
Rare Soda - 1 to 4 levels (Lansat + Starf Berries)
Ultra Rare Juice - 5 levels (Purchase only)
Perilous Soup - Clears all EVs (Kee + Maranga Berries)
Rare Candy and Daycare
A Pokémon does not gain any EVs if it levels up by Rare Candy or in the Daycare. As long as you fully EV train your Pokémon first, its stats will end up the same if you train it to level 100 by Rare Candies or in the Daycare or if you trained them by battling. Only make sure to assign all the EVs you need at some point before level 100 (unless you are playing by fifth generation and beyond mechanics).
~ Sample Battles for Effort Values ~
Okay, do you think you've gotten all that down? Perhaps some examples are in order. Alakazam and Ghastly have agreed to demonstrate how items and PokéRus affect EV distribution after a battle.
Ghastly normally gives one EV in Special Attack.
[Battle 1] Alakazam (no item)
Alakazam beats Ghastly without an item or PokéRus.
Alakazam: +1 Sp. Atk EV
______
[Battle 2] Alakazam (Macho Brace)
Alakazam beats Ghastly while it holds a Macho Brace, doubling that one Special Attack EV into two.
Alakazam: +2 Sp. Atk EVs
______
[Battle 3] Alakazam (Power Lens)
Alakazam beats Ghastly while it holds a Power Lens, and that that one Special Attack EV increases by four more.
Alakazam: +5 Sp. Atk EVs
______
[Battle 4] Alakazam (Power Anklet)
Alakazam beats Ghastly while it holds a Power Anklet, and that one Special Attack EV is accompanied by four Speed EVs.
Alakazam] +1 Sp. Atk EV; +4 Spd EVs
______
[Battle 5] Alakazam (PokéRus)
Alakazam beats Ghastly while it has PokéRus, doubling that one Special Attack EV into two.
Alakazam: +2 Sp. Atk EVs
______
[Battle 6] Alakazam (Macho Brace and PokéRus)
Alakazam beats Ghastly easily while it holds a Macho Brace, doubling that one Special Attack EV into two Special Attack EVs. In addition, the PokéRus further doubles the total.
Alakazam: +4 Sp. Atk EVs
______
[Battle 7] Alakazam (Power Lens and PokéRus)
Alakazam beats Ghastly while it holds a Power Lens, increasing that one Special Attack EV by four Special Attack EVs. In addition, the PokéRus further doubles the total.
Alakazam: +10 Sp. Atk EVs
______
[Battle 8] Alakazam (Power Anklet and PokéRus)
Alakazam beats Ghastly while it holds a Power Anklet, and that one Special Attack EV is accompanied by four Speed EVs. In addition, the PokéRus further doubles the total.
Alakazam: +2 Sp. Atk EVs; +8 Spd EVs
______
[Battle 9] Alakazam (no item) and Abra (Exp. Share)
Alakazam beats Ghastly without an item or PokéRus, so it gains one Special Attack EV.
In addition, Abra gains one Special Attack EV as well.
Alakazam: +1 Sp. Atk EV
Abra: +1 Sp. Atk EV
______
[Battle 10] Alakazam (Macho Brace) and Abra (Exp. Share)
Alakazam beats Ghastly while it holds a Macho Brace, doubling that one Special Attack EV into two.
Abra gains one Special Attack EV as usual.
Alakazam: +2 Sp. Atk EVs
Abra: +1 Sp. Atk EV
______
[Battle 11] Alakazam (Power Anklet) and Abra (Exp. Share)
Alakazam beats Ghastly while it holds a Power Anklet, and that one Special Attack EV is accompanied by four Speed EVs.
Abra gains one Special Attack EV as usual.
Alakazam: +1 Sp. Atk EV; +4 Spd EVs
Abra: +1 Sp. Atk EV
______
[Battle 12] Alakazam (PokéRus) and Abra (Exp. Share)
Alakazam beats Ghastly while it has PokéRus, doubling that one Special Attack EV into two Special Attack EVs.
Abra gains one Special Attack EV as usual.
Alakazam: +2 Sp. Atk EVs
Abra: +1 Sp. Atk EV
______
[Battle 13] Alakazam (no item) and Abra (Exp. Share and PokéRus)
Alakazam beats Ghastly without an item or PokéRus, so it gains one Special Attack EV.
Abra gains two Special Attack EVs because of its PokéRus doubling the initial one Special Attack EV into two Special Attack EVs.
Alakazam: +1 Sp. Atk EV
Abra: +2 Sp. Atk EVs
~ Super Training: Alternative to Battles ~
Overview
Super Training is an alternative to traditional EV training methods available in Pokémon X and Y. Instead of battling Pokémon for specific EVs, one plays a pseudo-soccer mini-game which involves launching soccer balls at square targets that appear on various parts of a Balloon Bot, a re-textured Pokémon model that serves as your opponent. If nothing else, the Super Training interface includes a graphic display of the Pokémon's EV distribution, making it easier to keep track or notice a mistake.
The circle pad is used to move the player's Pokémon (atop their own goal box) up, down, left, or right to avoid enemy projectiles and tapping the touch screen will launch a ball towards the relative location on the top screen to try and hit the targets. Successfully hitting one of these square targets will make the target disappear and reappear somewhere else (or maybe in the same place) and earn points.
Each round requires the player to earn a certain number of points to win against the Balloon Bot within a 3 minute time period. Balloon Bots will try to thwart the player during this time by shooting their own soccer balls at the player's goal to subtract points, summoning smaller balloons as obstacles (which fire their own balls independently of the main Balloon Bot), erecting barriers, etc.
Difficulty and Rewards
There are three main levels of difficulty and six different Balloon Bots that can be challenged per level, each corresponding to a certain type of EV. No more than 252 EVs can be awarded to any one stat in Super Training.
The quantities of EVs awarded correspond with the difficulty level:
Level 1: 4 EVs
Level 2: 8 EVs
Level 3: 12 Evs
In addition to directly earning EVs after a game, one will also be given a Bag of random size (S = 1 EV , M = 4 EVs, L = 12 EVs) that can be consumed to increase EVs of the same stat further. To use a Bag, one taps the icon on the lower right corner of the Super Training interface and tap repeatedly in the general area of the punching bag or Pokémon on the touch screen (a Pokémon hits the bag on its own once per minute). This is called Core Training. In addition to stat-increasing Bags, there are other Bags with various effects (awarded even after a loss).
Special Bags:
Strength Bag: Shots earn more points for one round.
Toughen-Up Bag: Hits taken deduct fewer points for one round.
Swiftness Bag: Increases movement speed for one round.
Big-Shot Bag: Increases ball size for one round.
Double-Up Bag: Doubles EV reward for one round.
Team Flare Bag: Pokémon hits Bag on its own more often.
Reset Bag: Clears all of the Pokémon's EVs.
Soothing Bag: Increases Pokémon's Happiness.
After all six games of one level are cleared, one can proceed to the next level of difficulty where more points are required to win and the Balloon Bots' efforts against the player grow increasingly more tenacious. Upon acquiring a fully EV trained Pokémon, one can unlock "Secret" levels that give Bags and extra items, such as Stardust or even evolution stones such as Water Stone or Fire Stone.
Tips and Tricks
>> Press the L button to throw up a short-lived Barrier to protect against projectiles. It can be used more than once per round, but cannot be activated repeatedly in a short period of time.
>> The directional pad can be used to move closer or farther away from the Balloon Bot.
>> As time passes, the Pokémon builds up Energy. The more Energy thePokémon has stored up, the more points are scored upon a successful hit, but each shot consumes some Energy. Shots fired at higher Energy levels are called Energy Shots.
>> Holding the stylus down instead of a rapid tap will "charge" the soccer ball to perform a Charge Shot that awards significantly more points than a regular shot or even Energy Shots.
>> The more Atk or Sp. Atk EVs a Pokémon has, the more points it scores per hit. The more HP it has, the larger the ball is, making targets easier to hit. More Speed EVs makes the Pokémon move and fire shots faster, allowing easier shooting while dodging. More Def and Sp. Def EVs makes Energy recharge faster and Barriers last longer. Any increase in EVs makes a Pokémon lose fewer points when taking hits during a round of Super Training.
>> Each Pokémon has a different style of hitting balls. Black balls are average in all regards and can be fired fairly quickly. Yellow balls are lower in power, but consume less Energy. Orange balls are also a little weaker, but are larger and hit targets easier. Green balls are higher power and size, but slower and consume more Energy. Blue balls can be fired in very rapid succession, but consume large amounts of Energy.
>> Watch for patterns. Targets on the same Balloon Bot will appear on several set locations, so launching balls at these spots preemptively can actually hit them as soon as the targets appear. For difficulty level 2 or higher, clearing all the targets before they fade and respawn several times will cause a red target to appear at the center of the Balloon Bot. This red target will not disappear upon being hit, and the balloon bot may cease to take action for a short period of time while the red target is active, so the player can rapidly rack up points like this.
Attack Balloon Bots are easy to dodge. Either they fire a stream of balls that are easily dodged by moving to one side, or a cluster of balls that spread out and ultimately miss you unless you move too much. However, making a mistake and getting hit means there is a heavy deduction of points.
Sp. Attack Balloon Bots specialize in homing shots. They will follow you around the screen, so it usually helps to have Speed EVs to help maneuver. Magnezone is particularly annoying since one may need to fire shots while dodging or else the player will run out of time. If the Pokémon does not have enough Speed, the player may have difficulty in beating this stage, so it might actually be easier to stick to level 2 training for Pokémon that don't want Speed EVs.
HP Balloon Bots have a high point requirement for victory. That aside, they are generally pretty easy and have a tendency to stay inactive longer than other Balloon Bots. At level 3, Wailord will summon smaller balloons to help it stall.
Speed Balloon Bots feature moving targets, but usually require fewer points to beat the stage. Targets appear on appendages and disappear fairly quickly, making it difficult to make red targets appear without practicing a lot on the same stage to grow accustomed to where the targets spawn and how they move.
Sp. Defense Balloon Bots also have moving targets and tend to summon smaller balloons for help. Popping one or two of the smaller balloons is usually enough to get through the stage. Going to the top of the screen immediately then just moving left and right occasionally is an easy way of dealing with the shots fired by the remaining small balloons.
Defense Balloon Bots make barriers and have slow moving, but large attacks. Hit the moving yellow circle on the barrier to nullify it. Targets on these Balloon Bots always appear in the exact same locations, so launching balls where they spawn before they actually appear helps a lot for these rounds.
~ A Berry Easy Solution ~
If you are ever unsure about whether your Pokémon has maxed out in accumulated EVs, there is always a person you can talk to who awards an Effort Ribbon to any Pokémon of yours that has acquired 510 EVs. In the Hoenn region, a lady in Slateport's open air market beside the stat boosting seller does this. In Sinnoh, there's somebody in another market in Sunyshore. For the Johto remakes, one can find somebody in Blackthorn City, and for Unova, the person is in Opelucid City in a building near the Pokémon Center. In Kalos, the Fan Club President in Laverre City does this.
If you have a Pokémon you dearly love, like that Torterra you raised from a Turtwig that has stayed by your side through thick and thin (but unfortunately got EV trained on all the random Pokémon encounters up through the Elite Four), there are a handful of Berries that can help it start its training anew. Each of these Berries is a counterpart to a stat-raising drink, reducing EVs by 10, but also raising a Pokémon’s happiness. In addition, if the Pokémon has over 100 EVs in a stat already, the corresponding Berry brings it down to precisely 100. That means that it takes 11 Berries at most to reset a Pokémon's EVs in one stat. For example, a Garchomp has the full 252 EVs in Special Attack and I want to erase them. The first Hondew Berry I use brings it straight down to 100 EVs, and each Hondew Berry after that reduces it by 10 (which means I need ten more Berries). These are really useful, so make sure to keep at least one of each Berry to grow more later.
[//] Pomeg Berry lowers HP
[//] Kelpsy Berry lowers Attack
[//] Qualot Berry lowers Defense
[//] Hondew Berry lowers Sp. Attack
[//] Grepa Berry lowers Sp. Defense
[//] Tamato Berry lowers Speed
~ Stuck At Level 100 ~
It is possible to make your Effort Values affect a level 100 Pokémon's stats if you give it at least four EVs in a stat and deposit it in the PC. Since this method is extremely tedious, it is probably better to EV train a Pokémon before it reaches 100. Unfortunately, this trick is pointless in generations 3 and 4 since, as mentioned before, EVs are distributed with Exp. in these games. Since level 100 Pokémon do not gain any Exp., they do not gain EVs, either. At that point, it is up to Vitamins to raise stats.
From generation 5 and onward, Effort Values are distributed simultaneously with, but independently of Exp. In addition, stats are recalculated immediately after battle instead of upon leveling up. This means it is now possible to EV train level 100 Pokémon by battling whereas only items could be used previously.
~ Making EV Spreads ~
Attack and Sp. Attack EVs are generally maxed on sweepers, though sacrificing some offensive power for bulk and Speed sometimes helps even more, especially on Pokémon that like to last a turn or two to set up with boosting moves.
As far as bulk goes, Defense EVs increase physical bulk the most, Sp. Defense EVs increase special bulk the most. Of course, HP in conjunction with defensive stats gives the most overall bulk.
HP is a more delicate subject because there are several things to consider. First, it offers an intermediate amount of both physical and special bulk because it allows the Pokémon to sponge more damage, so it's worth using just HP for bulk when EVs are tight. Second, max HP can be used to control entry hazard damage since they deal a set %. It is possible to allow a Pokémon to switch into Stealth Rock more often by letting them have a max HP that takes advantage of the game's rounding and sometimes leave them with 1 HP where they would otherwise have fainted from the damage (may take some calculator work). Third, if the Pokémon's max HP is divisible by 16, they maximize the amount of healing from Leftovers (conflicts with previous ability to mitigate effect of Stealth Rock).
Speed is also very important to consider. Being faster (or slower?) than the opponent can be a very critical part of winning a battle. Knowing which opposing Pokémon need to be out-sped is important when assigning EVs and might even require the full 252 and Speed-increasing Nature to be faster than or match opposing Pokémon of the same type. Other times, only some EVs are required to meet benchmarks for specific threats, or it might even be better to minimize Speed to abuse Trick Room.
Special Sweeper
Pokémon: Alakazam
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
Nature: Timid (+ Speed / - Attack)
EV Spread: 252 Sp. Attack / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Moveset: Psychic / Focus Blast / Shadow Ball / Encore
Physical Sweeper
Pokémon: Gyarados
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Moxie
Nature: Jolly (+ Speed / - Sp. Attack)
EV Spread: 252 Attack / 168 Speed / 88 HP
Moveset: Waterfall / Earthquake / Ice Fang / Dragon Dance
Mixed Sweeper
Pokémon: Arcanine
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Naughty (+ Atk / - Sp. Defense)
EV Spread: 176 Attack / 80 Sp. Attack / 252 Speed
Moveset: Flare Blitz / Overheat / Close Combat / Extremespeed
Wall
Pokémon: Gliscor
Item: Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
Nature: Impish (+ Defense / - Sp. Attack)
EV Spread: 252 HP / 252 Defense / 4 Sp. Defense
Moveset: Earthquake / Stealth Rock / Toxic / Roost
Support
Pokémon: Ninjask
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
Nature: Impish (+ Defense / - Sp. Attack)
EV Spread: 252 HP / 252 Defense / 4 Sp. Defense
Moveset: Swords Dance / Protect / Substitute / Baton Pass
Never stop learning.
