Effort Values (EVs)

Learn how to maximize Pokémon USUM stats with Effort Values (EVs). A Pokémon gains 1 stat point per 4 EVs, with a max of 63 in one stat.

While a Pokémon’s IVs are predominantly fixed, EVs can be customised. You don’t need to concern yourself with EVs during the main story, as their influence is hardly felt. Only for tougher battles should you start to consider planning.

At Level 100, a Pokémon gains 1 stat point for every 4 EVs accumulated. Since a Pokémon can gain up to 252 EVs in one stat, that equates to a 63 maximum stat boost in a single stat. You’re allowed 510 total EVs, so you can have a second stat boosted by 63 points and a third stat boosted by 1 point.

Comparing a run-of-the-mill Pokémon taken from the main story with a random Nature and IVs and unoptimised EVs with a hardcore trainer’s Pokémon with a carefully selected Nature, the best IVs and optimised EVs is like looking at night and day!

Manipulating EVs

Each Pokémon awards a specific type of EV; Diglett awards Speed EVs.

The primary method of EV training is via battling wild Pokémon. Each Pokémon species awards 1 to 3 EVs in a given stat. Therefore, all you need to do is identify which species gives what EVs, then focus on defeating that species. EV training is best done after the main story. Before that, careful EV management is simply unfeasible due to the varied range of opponents you face.

Outside of battles, you can feed your Pokémon vitamins such as Calcium and Carbos, which boosts EVs by 10 points in the specified stat. They’re expensive and cannot be used if the EVs in a stat are 100 or more. Wing items such as Genius Wing boost EVs by 1 point each.

Isle Evelup in Poke Pelago allows you to passively EV train up to 3 groups of 6 Pokémon. Finally, you can use Festival Coins to buy drinks for your Pokémon in the Festival Plaza that instantly maximise the EVs in one stat. However, you can only enjoy this luxury once per day.