Pokémon Go stats explained: CP, IV and others

Pokémon Go stats explained: CP, IV and others

In Pokémon GO, Pokémon have three basic stats: Attack, Defense, and Stamina. All Pokémon of the same species will have the same base stats. The stats are relatively straightforward: A Pokémon's attack stats affect the damage its attacks will deal. Defense affects the amount of damage a Pokémon receives from attacks. Stamina affects the Pokémon's maximum health. Unfortunately, these base stats don't reflect the game, so you'll have to rely on a Pokémon's Combat Power (CP) to determine its overall combat ability.



If you're willing to do a little more research, you can find a table listing all of the basic Pokémon stats in Pokémon GO on Bulbapedia. There are also plenty of useful mobile apps that let you view a Pokémon's basic stats on the fly (we'll get to that later).

Like the main series Pokémon games, some Pokémon are inherently better than others. Some Pokémon will unfortunately always be weak no matter how good their IVs are due to low base stats. A Pokémon's base stats will never change.

Pokémon in Pokémon GO also feature height and weight stats, but those have absolutely no effect. Fans of the main series Pokémon games are probably familiar with the small pool of moves that are affected by a Pokémon's weight, like Heavy Slam or Grass Knot. This is not true in Pokémon GO, The weight and size are entirely arbitrary. At least it's a little fun to see how high an Alolan Noadkoko can dominate his peers.

Understanding Combat Power (CP)

A Pokémon's CP represents its strength in battle and comes from a Pokémon's base stats and hidden stats called Individual Values ​​(IV). IVs are a measure of a Pokémon's potential. Its species also determine the maximum CP of a Pokémon; some Pokémon naturally have lower CP values ​​than others. Don't judge a Pokémon by its CP, as its stats, type, and moves are the most important when considering how well it performs in battle.



Higher CP Pokémon will usually have higher base stats, as these are certainly taken into account when calculating CP and have an effect on a Pokémon's overall performance. CPs can be significantly weighted in favor of attacking, meaning Pokémon with a high attack stat will have significantly higher CPs than those without. However, just because a Pokémon's attack is high doesn't mean it's a great Pokémon to use for battles. If his defense is weak, he can be eliminated more easily than the others. This is where IVs can come into play in a significant way, as they can offer increases to a Pokémon's otherwise low base stats.

Understanding Individual Values ​​(IV)

Pokémon in Pokémon GO have individual values ​​(IV), like those in the main series games. Unlike the main series Pokémon games, in which a Pokémon will have six IVs (HP, Attack, Defense, Speed, Sp. Def and Sp. Atk), ranging from 0 to 31, Pokémon in Pokémon GO only have three IVs ( Attack, Defense and Stamina), with a range of 0 to 15. An IV of 0 is the lowest possible and an IV of 15 is the highest possible. A Pokémon's most valuable IVs are those for its lowest base stats. A Pokémon with 15 in all three IVs (so 45 in total) is "perfect".

Because all Pokémon of the same species have the same basic stats, an individual Pokémon's IVs determine if it is stronger than others of its species. A Pokémon's IVs are usually the most essential factor to consider when deciding whether to invest Stardust in its power-up. Unfortunately, a Pokémon's IVs are hidden, but you can quickly check them using online and mobile tools.



It should be noted that while a Pokémon's base stats never change, its IVs do change when traded with another trainer. This feature ultimately exists to prevent the creation of a market for perfect Pokémon IVs and can be detrimental or beneficial to those in the trade. A Pokémon's IVs are completely random when traded, so there is no way to guarantee that a Pokemon initially traded with high IVs will still be awesome when received. Additionally, a Pokémon can only trade once, so there is no trade between the two until the Pokémon rolls good IVs. Learn more about the Pokémon GO trade in our helpful guide.

Pokémon Rating

While a Pokémon's IVs remain hidden from players, you can receive tips to help you determine your Pokémon's IVs using the rating feature. When you rate a Pokémon, your team leader offers a glimpse of that individual Pokémon's power, alluding to its IV range. Of course, they won't tell you the information. Instead, they offer somewhat cryptic lines of dialogue to give you a general idea of ​​their stats. We have deciphered some of their statements below.

To select a Pokémon to review, tap the Pokémon you want to learn more about, then select “Rate” from the menu at the bottom right. Your team leader will appear to tell you more about this Pokémon.

Your team leader analyzes your Pokémon and shares the following details:

  1. The overall total range of your Pokémon's IVs
  2. Which of your Pokémon's base stats is higher, and if other stats are equal
  3. The IV range of your Pokémon's highest base stat
  4. Comment on the size (meaningless) of your Pokémon

As a reminder, a Pokémon can have up to 15 points in each of the three IVs, for a total value of 45. We have omitted the size comments, as you can see a Pokémon's size by checking its profile.



Determine the total IV range of your Pokémon

Your team leader will then tell you which of your Pokémon's stats (Attack, Defense or HP) is the highest and if any of its other stats are equal.

Determine the range of your Pokémon's highest IVs

Understanding the arc

A Pokémon's entry shows an arc displayed under its PC number. The bow does not represent a Pokémon's CP. Instead, the arc represents the Pokémon's current level relative to your trainer level and its growth potential. As your trainer level increases, you essentially increase the CP cap for your Pokémon, as it is possible to light up until the Pokémon is 1,5 levels higher than your current trainer level.

Pokémon with a lower point on the arc are lower level and have more growth potential until they reach its current level. A Pokémon with a higher point on the arc is closer to your trainer level, and a max arc means it is equal to or 1,5 levels higher than your current trainer level. Once your trainer level increases, the arc moves backward, indicating the availability of power-up gain. It goes back to the maximum once the Pokémon has been powered up to its maximum for your level.

Increase the CP of a Pokémon by turning it on

As a Pokémon powers up and levels up more, its CP increases. Since Pokémon species and IVs determine CP, it's possible to calculate the Pokémon's maximum CP once you know its IVs and level. The amount of CP a Pokémon gains upon power-up comes from its IVs, including the Pokémon's level and species. A Pokémon's CP has no determination on how much damage it deals in battles, as it comes from the Pokémon's attack IV and the power of individual moves. When defending a Gym, a Pokémon loses motivation upon defeat, which lowers its CP unless it no longer eats berries.

It's important to note that the higher the Pokémon's level, the less CP it gains per power-up. Once a Pokémon reaches level 30, its CP gains from Powering Up drop by about half. Therefore, powering up beyond this point is generally considered too minor to upgrade for the incredible amount of stardust required. If you have a large surplus of Stardust, feel free to keep upgrading to the Pokémon max level of 40.

Determine the level of a Pokémon

A Pokémon's base stats and CPs increase with each power-up. Each power-up grants half a level, up to a maximum level of 40. You can only power up a Pokémon 1,5 levels higher than your current training level. Each Power Up has a Stardust cost and requires a certain amount of candy. This cost, combined with the arc mentioned above, can help you estimate your Pokémon's current level range across all four Power Ups.

Pokémon Power Up costs based on tier range

Levels 1-3: 200 Stardust, 1 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 3-4: 400 Stardust, 1 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 5-7: 600 Stardust, 1 Candy (per power-up)

Levels 7-9: 800 Stardust, 1 Candy (per power-up)

Levels 9-11: 1000 Stardust, 1 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 11-13: 1300 Stardust, 2 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 13-15: 1600 Stardust, 2 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 15-17: 1900 Stardust, 2 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 17-19: 2200 Stardust, 2 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 19-21: 2500 Stardust, 2 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 21-23: 3000 Stardust, 3 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 23-25: 3500 Stardust, 3 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 25-27: 4000 Stardust, 4 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 27-29: 4500 Stardust, 4 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 29-31: 5000 Stardust, 4 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 31-33: 6000 Stardust, 6 Candy (per power-up)

Levels 33-35: 7,000 Stardust, 8 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 35-37: 8,000 Stardust, 10 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 37-39: 9,000 Stardust, 12 Candy (par Power Up)

Levels 39-40: 10000 Stardust, 15 Candy (par Power Up)

Tools and Apps

There are many formulas you can use to learn more about your Pokémon's stats. It is much easier to use one of the many great calculators available online. There are also many useful mobile apps that we recommend to help you check your Pokémon while you are actively playing Pokémon GO.

We've included those that are completely safe to use, and we don't recommend using those that require your Pokémon GO to directly log in or modify the app in any way. Here are our favorite tools to help you determine your Pokémon's true potential:

Mobile app

Online tools



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