Pokémon Diamond Version, Pearl Version, and Platinum Version - Finding Individual Values and EV Training
This page is informative and discusses how the information in the "Stats" section of the "Various Notes" page can be put to practice.
Finding Individual Values
Finding a Pokémon’s individual values will be most accurate if that Pokémon was just caught or hatched. It’s less useful to find the IVs of a Pokémon that’s already had its base stats (EVs) raised (Base stats (EVs)) from battling, since in that case, two kinds of values are unknown-- namely, IVs and Base stats (EVs). Therefore, for best results, you should reduce the Pokémon’s base stats (EVs) to 0 before you find its IVs. You can do this by using the following berries on it:
- Pomeg Berry - Reduces HP base stat (EV)
- Kelpsy Berry - Reduces Attack base stat (EV)
- Qualot Berry - Reduces Defense base stat (EV)
- Tamato Berry - Reduces Speed base stat (EV)
- Hondew Berry - Reduces Special Attack base stat (EV)
- Grepa Berry - Reduces Special Defense base stat (EV)
Keep using each Berry on the Pokémon until it "won’t have any effect" or the respective stat won’t fall. When you do, you’ve cleared the base stats (EVs) on that Pokémon.
But first, open the Pokémon’s summary screen. If the Trainer Memo doesn’t say "Often dozes off", "Likes to thrash about", "Capable of taking hits", "Alert to sounds", "Mischievous", or "Somewhat vain", it’s a sure sign that the Pokémon’s highest IV isn’t 31, the maximum. This lets you easily eliminate many hatched Pokémon from consideration.
In addition, there are two effective ways to find a Pokémon’s IVs accurately:
- Save the game, use the Berries mentioned above until the Pokémon’s base stats (EVs) are cleared, then use enough Rare Candy on the Pokémon until it reaches at least level 10. Open the Pokémon’s summary screen and write down the Pokémon’s stats. Restart the game without saving.
- Use the Berries mentioned above until the Pokémon’s base stats (EVs) are cleared. Then find a friend who will let you conduct a so-called "IV battle." Each of you must have the other’s Friend Code in the Pal Pad. Enter the Wi-Fi Club and request a level 100 Single Battle. Your friend should accept the request. When the battle begins, open the Pokémon screen, choose the Pokémon to be checked, choose Summary, and write down the Pokémon’s stats. When you’re done, choose Run to end the battle. Now you know what stats the Pokémon will have at level 100.
Once you have the Pokémon’s stats, go to the Stat Calculator and enter the Pokémon’s species, nature, level, stats, and base stats (EVs) (which will be 0.) Click "Calculate" and note the IVs calculated.
Training for Base Stats (EVs)
Determining base stats (EVs) is more predictable than determining Individual Values, since they’re not earned randomly, but depend directly on which other Pokémon a Pokémon defeats. Since different Pokémon species award different Base stats (EVs), the player can let the Pokémon face off against only certain kinds of Pokémon in order to raise that Pokémon’s base stats (EVs) the way he or she wants. This is frequently known as "EV training."
A single Pokémon can have up to 510 base stat points (EVs) overall and 255 base stat points (EVs) per stat. (In practice, though, the limit per stat is 252 base stat points (EVs).) These limits allow you to emphasize or neglect particular stats as appropriate for a given strategy. For example, a Pokémon with just physical attacks wouldn’t benefit from having Base stats (EVs) in Special Attack.
Even lower-level Pokémon, such as those just hatched from Eggs, can benefit from defeating high-level Pokémon. Just let the lower-level Pokémon hold an Exp. Share and let your other Pokémon battle. With Exp. Share, even if the Pokémon doesn’t enter battle, it will earn the same Base stats (EVs) from defeated Pokémon as it would if it had defeated them itself. (However, a level 100 Pokémon can’t earn Exp. Points or Base stats (EVs) in battle.)
On account of the stat formula, every 4 base stat points (EVs) a level 100 Pokémon has in a particular stat increase that stat by 1. For this reason, a Pokémon should have Base Stats (EVs) divisible by 4, such as 64, 128, 192, or 252.
Moreover, items like Power Bracer, Power Lens, and so on add 4 base stat points (EVs) of the appropriate stat whenever a Pokémon that holds them earns base stat points (EVs) (of any kind) in battle. In this manner, for example, a Pokémon with Power Bracer that would earn 2 base stat points (EVs) in Attack would earn 6 base stat points (EVs) in Attack instead. These items can be purchased in the Battle Tower’s or Battle Frontier’s exchange corner for 16 BP each.
- Power Weight - Adds 4 to the HP base stat (EV)
- Power Bracer - Adds 4 to the Attack base stat (EV)
- Power Belt - Adds 4 to the Defense base stat (EV)
- Power Anklet - Adds 4 to the Speed base stat (EV)
- Power Lens - Adds 4 to the Special Attack base stat (EV)
- Power Band - Adds 4 to the Special Defense base stat (EV)
Finally, there are items that raise a Pokémon’s base stats (EVs) when they’re used. However, they can raise the base stat (EV) only up to 100, and won’t have any effect if the base stat (EV) is 100 or greater.
- HP Up - Adds 10 to the HP base stat (EV)
- Protein - Adds 10 to the Attack base stat (EV)
- Iron - Adds 10 to the Defense base stat (EV)
- Carbos - Adds 10 to the Speed base stat (EV)
- Calcium - Adds 10 to the Special Attack base stat (EV)
- Zinc - Adds 10 to the Special Defense base stat (EV)
Places to Train
Here are suggested places to train Pokémon efficiently. (They’re sometimes known as "EV training hot spots.") Defeating the species given below at the given places will earn a Pokémon 1 or 2 base stat points (EVs) for a specific stat.
Pokémon Diamond Version, Pokémon Pearl Version,and Pokémon Platinum Version
- HP - Bidoof/Shellos (+1, Route 205)
- Attack - Shinx (+1, Route 202); Bibarel (+2, Sendoff Spring); Swinub/Snover (+1, Acuity Lakefront, Platinum only)
- Defense - Geodude (+1, Oreburgh Mine/Ruin Maniac Cave, as well as Oreburgh Gate in Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version)
- Speed - Zubat (+1, Mt. Coronet/Ravaged Path); Magikarp (+1, Fishing, Old Rod)
- Special Attack - Gastly (+1, Old Chateau); Psyduck (+1, Eterna City/Lake Verity/Valor/Acuity water)
- Special Defense - Tentacool (+1, Route 213/218/219/220/221/222 water); Tentacruel (+2, Route 223 water)
Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version
- HP: Grimer (+1, Celadon City water); Slowpoke (+1, Slowpoke Well, water)
- Attack: Goldeen (+1, Route 4/9/10/24/25, Cerulean City, water); Seaking (+2, Mt. Silver Cave, water)
- Defense: Tangela (+1, Route 21); Geodude (+1, Dark Cave south of Blackthorn City)
- Speed: Magikarp (+1, Fishing, Old Rod); Poliwag (+1, Route 30/31/44, Viridian/Violet/Ecruteak City, water)
- Special Attack: Psyduck (+1, Route 6/35, Ilex Forest, water); Natu (+1, Ruins of Alph outside)
- Special Defense: Tentacool (+1, New Bark Town/Cherrygrove/Olivine/Cianwood City, Route 34/40/20/21/26, water)