Let's look at the important aspects about EV in Pokémon

Projects in the boundless Pokémon universe share one key principle — every pocket monster is unique. Unique not only among the player’s bestiary but also among hundreds of thousands of other trainers.

When it turns out that every creature differs from another, any trainer naturally wants to know how strong their pet is. This curiosity drives battles. Once a player begins fighting (especially online), they may notice that their Pokémon is weaker than an identical one belonging to an opponent. If the reason for this is unclear, it's likely you haven't trained EVs correctly!

What are EVs?

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Effort Values are hidden training values for your pet. They cannot be determined directly in the game, so it’s recommended to use a specialized calculator as soon as you catch a good specimen. These values affect strength. With EVs, you can enhance HP, attack, special attack, defense, special defense, and speed.

Almost all games include two very similar stats that influence characteristics, but players must never confuse Effort Values with IVs! Simply put, EVs represent a creature’s untapped potential, while IVs are its innate abilities. Effort Values have a far greater impact on strength, but Individual Values are unique to each monster and cannot be altered.

Pokémon with good IVs need EV training. Without it, your friend will be very weak, and victories in online matches will be nearly unattainable. However, it’s not just about dedication to training but also about doing it wisely.

How to train EVs?

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To begin, let’s understand how to raise this valuable stat. EV training occurs when your Pokémon triumphs over an enemy. Each victory awards the player a specific number of points for a certain stat. The stat trained depends on the type of opponent: for example, defeating a Whismur grants your character 1 EV in HP, while knocking out an Ekans grants 1 in attack.

However, the number of points awarded can vary. This depends on the rarity and natural strength of the opponent. For instance, defeating an Exploud gives 3 EV to boost HP. While useful, we don’t recommend hunting rare monsters for training, and here’s why.

What influences EV training?

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To gain a boost in a stat, a gamer needs approximately 4 points. It’s much simpler to earn points by defeating common, weaker opponents. We recommend searching for the right hero in grassy areas. Pokémon can earn a total of 510 EV but no more than 252 in a single stat. This means you can maximize two stats, increasing them by up to 63 points each. Focus on your Pokémon’s strengths and improve them.

Defeating the same enemy 250 times in a row can be tedious. You can speed up the process easily with vitamins:

Each provides 10 EV but stops working after 100. They’re an easy way to start Effort Value training. Wings work similarly, increasing EVs by 1 point without any cap.

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Wings also exist for each stat:

However, wings are rare items, so most of the training must be manual. No worries! The Macho Brace doubles all earned EVs while reducing speed.

You can also use Power Items:

When a Pokémon wins a battle with one of these equipped, it gains 4 additional EV points in the stat corresponding to the item. However, this won’t guarantee maximum gains. To accelerate stat growth, your pet should contract Pokérus.

What is pokérus?

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Don’t fear this disease! This is a rare virus that helps characters grow faster. Contracting it is challenging, and recovery occurs within a day, after which the monster gains immunity. However, an infected monster can spread the virus to its allies. If you store an infected Pokémon in the PC, the virus remains active. While infected, the character earns double the Effort Values from all sources.

Thus, a battle against a common opponent can yield up to 12 points! With vitamins, optimal EV training can be completed in just 25 battles, which isn’t much. However, your fighters have likely already faced a few opponents, meaning they may have received the wrong EVs. To fix this, there are special berries.

Reducing EVs

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Berries not only cheer up Pokémon but also reduce its stats. Many berries are available for monsters:

The first berry use reduces the stat to 100, and subsequent uses reduce it by 10 points each. To drop a stat from 252 to 0, you’ll need only 11 berries.

EV training tips

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If you want to multiply Effort Value gains in Gen VI, try Horde Battles! Using Sweet Scent or Honey, you can initiate battles with multiple opponents, each contributing points.

Gen VI also introduced Super Training, allowing players to view their companion’s EVs for the first time. By completing mini-games, users could not only earn punching bag items but also effectively train Effort Values.

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Previously, a good method was Avenue Dojo. In Black 2 and White 2, Pokémon could attend EV training courses, though the best ones required playing with friends. Support for these servers ended in 2014.

Pokémon may also enjoy sweet berry smoothies! In Lumiose City’s Juice Shoppe, you can mix ingredients to create drinks that grant up to 32 points. Hopefully, the berries haven’t stayed in your bag too long!

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Festival Plaza is another useful location for accumulating EVs. Here, Pokémon can play golf or dine at the Battle Table. While this won’t provide a lot of points, it adds variety to the routine.

In Alola’s Poké Pelago, Pokémon can train and relax simultaneously. However, the effectiveness depends on the island’s level, and players can earn 4–8 EV s every 30 minutes.

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Occasionally, you’ll receive help requests from Allan. Never ignore them! During SOS Battles, all allied Pokémon receive double EV. Helping others always pays off.

In Galar, characters can attend seminars at Hammerlock University, earning 4 points per hour. Knowledge is power!

All these skills are essential for professional trainers. Understanding game mechanics allows you to save time and excel both among friends and in the vast world of online battles!

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