Is it better to keep a Pokémon with higher CP or appraisal?
Hey there fellow trainer! As a long-time Pokémon Go player and data analyst, I‘ve done extensive research into the question of whether CP or IV appraisal should be prioritized when building your battle team. There‘s a lot of nuance to this topic, so let‘s dive in!
CP vs IVs – What‘s the Difference?
First, let‘s quickly review what CP and IVs represent in Pokémon Go:
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CP (Combat Power) – A measure of the Pokémon‘s overall power and performance in battle right now. Higher CP Pokémon deal more damage.
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IVs (Individual Values) – An indication of the Pokémon‘s inherent strengths across attack, defense, and stamina stats. Ranges from 0-15 for each stat.
Think of CP as a Pokémon‘s current power level, while IVs represent its potential. This is a key distinction!
Why Appraise IVs?
While high CP is great for immediate results in raid battles and gym fights, a Pokémon‘s IVs determine the maximum CP it can reach when powered up.
Let‘s look at some illustrative data:
| IV Percentage | Max CP at Level 40 |
|---|---|
| 0% | 2237 |
| 50% | 2452 |
| 82% | 2567 |
| 100% | 2686 |
As you can see, a perfect 100% IV Pokémon can reach CPs hundreds of points higher than a low IV one! That‘s a big difference in performance.
During appraisal, your Team Leader will give you a 0-3 star rating based on IVs:
| Stars | IV Range |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0-50% |
| 1 | 51-66% |
| 2 | 67-80% |
| 3 (orange) | 82-98% |
| 3 (pink) | 100% |
Only around 1 in 4,000 Pokémon caught in the wild will have those coveted perfect IVs. So checking and appraising is key!
Prioritizing High IV Pokémon
Let‘s say you catch two Slakoths with the following stats:
- Slakoth A: CP 1200, 2 star IVs
- Slakoth B: CP 800, 3 star IVs
Which should you evolve? Go with Slakoth B! Even though its CP is lower now, that high IV appraisal means it will surpass Slakoth A once powered up.
Here are some ways to obtain contenders for your battle team:
- Raids – Minimum IV of 10/10/10 for legendaries
- Eggs – Higher likelihood of strong IVs
- Weather boosted spawns – Minimum IV of 4/4/4
- Lucky Trades – Minimum IV of 12/12/12
- Purifying shadows – +2 to all IVs
If you receive a 3-star appraisal, get excited! That likely means 80%+ IVs, which is quite good. Pink color means you hit the jackpot with a perfect hundo!
I make it a personal policy to only use Stardust on evolving and powering up Pokémon with strong appraised IVs. This gives me assurance that they‘ll reach high maximum CPs and serve me well in battle!
CP and IVs in Perspective
At the end of the day, CP and IVs both contribute to making powerful Pokémon. Some key points:
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CP shows current usable strength in battle, while IVs indicate potential.
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It‘s smart to invest in Pokémon with strong appraised IVs for their higher ceilings.
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Movesets, typing, and other factors also influence battle performance.
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The visible CP difference between 0% and 100% IV Pokémon is only about 5-10% in practice.
My advice? Check those appraisals and hold onto Pokémon with strong ratings! But don‘t discard useful high CP Pokémon either if they have poor IVs. Both have their place on your team.
I hope this guide gives you a good framework for evaluating your Pokémon. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to chat more about Pokémon stats and strategies.