You’ve Caught a Pokemon, But Is It Any Good?
You’re scrolling through your Pokemon collection, and a question pops into your head. That new Charizard looks cool, but is its Attack stat actually strong? Your recently hatched Larvitar has decent CP, but will it reach its full potential when it evolves? You’ve heard veteran trainers talk about “IVs” and “hundos,” and you want in on the secret.
Knowing a Pokemon’s Individual Values, or IVs, is the difference between raising a champion and investing precious Stardust and Candy into a dud. It’s the hidden layer of stats that determines your Pokemon’s true strength, its maximum potential in both Pokemon GO and the main series games. This guide will show you exactly how to uncover those numbers, no guesswork required.
What Are IVs, Really?
Think of a Pokemon’s visible stats—Attack, Defense, and Stamina (or HP)—as its base potential. IVs are a bonus added on top of that base. Each of the three stats gets its own IV, a value between 0 and 15. A Pokemon with 15 Attack IV will hit harder than the same species with 0 Attack IV, even if they are the same level.
A “hundo” or “perfect” Pokemon has 15/15/15 IVs. A “nundo” has 0/0/0. Most Pokemon fall somewhere in between. For casual play, IVs matter less than species, moveset, and level. But for competitive battling, maximizing your damage output in raids, or reaching the highest ranks in the GO Battle League, those hidden points make a critical difference.
The Built-In Appraisal Tool Is Your First Stop
Both Pokemon GO and the main series games provide official, in-game methods to check IVs. You don’t need to break any rules to get started.
In Pokemon GO, tap on a Pokemon, then the menu button in the bottom right, and select “Appraise.” Your Team Leader—Candela, Blanche, or Spark—will appear. They’ll give you a speech and show you a chart with three bars for Attack, Defense, and HP.
The number of filled bars and the accompanying phrases tell you the IV range. For example, “Its stats exceed my calculations. It’s incredible!” indicates 82% to 100% perfect IVs. The chart will show which stat is the highest. If all three bars are full and the leader says “It’s a wonder! What a breathtaking Pokemon!” you’ve found a perfect 100% IV Pokemon.
In main series games like Scarlet & Violet, the feature is called “Judge Function.” After you unlock it (usually by beating the main story and visiting the Battle Tower), you can open your Pokemon Box, press the + button, and see phrases like “Best,” “Fantastic,” “Very Good,” etc., next to each stat. “Best” means an IV of 31, which is the equivalent of 15 in Pokemon GO.
Using IV Calculator Websites and Apps
The in-game appraisal gives you a range, not the exact numbers. To pinpoint the exact IV combination, you use an IV calculator. These tools cross-reference your Pokemon’s CP, HP, and Stardust power-up cost with its species and your trainer level to calculate the possible IV combinations.
Popular and safe options for Pokemon GO include websites like PokeGenie (web version) or apps like Calcy IV (for Android) and PokeGenie (for iOS). These apps work by taking a screenshot of your Pokemon’s stat screen. They read the numbers automatically and compute the exact IV percentage and stat spread.
To use them effectively, you need to provide accurate information. Ensure your Pokemon is not your Buddy (as this can affect the displayed CP), and that you have not powered it up since taking the screenshot. The more data points you provide—like whether you’ve caught it in weather boost—the more accurate the calculation will be.
Interpreting the Calculator Results
After scanning, the calculator will show you a list of possible IV combinations, often narrowed down to one or two possibilities. It will display the IV percentage (e.g., 91%) and the individual stat numbers (e.g., 14/15/13).
It may also show the Pokemon’s “Product” or “Stat Product,” a combined number representing its overall bulk for PvP. For the Great and Ultra Leagues, you often want a high Stat Product, which doesn’t always mean a 100% IV Pokemon. Sometimes, a lower Attack IV allows you to power up the Pokemon to a higher level while staying under the CP cap, resulting in more bulk.
This is where IV checking moves from a simple curiosity to a strategic tool. You can use these calculators to find “PvP ideal” IV spreads for your favorite leagues.
Advanced Methods for the Main Series Games
In games like Pokemon Sword & Shield or Scarlet & Violet, checking IVs is more straightforward once the Judge Function is unlocked. However, understanding what to do with them is key.
For competitive breeding, you’ll want to know exact IVs to pass on via Destiny Knot. A Ditto with multiple “Best” stats is invaluable. You can also use items like Bottle Caps to “hyper train” a Pokemon at level 50, which maxes out a stat’s IV for battle purposes (though these maxed IVs are not passed down through breeding).
Many serious players use external tools like “Showdown!” teambuilders to plan their teams and IV spreads before even starting to breed in-game. This allows for precise planning, like ensuring a Trick Room attacker has a 0 Speed IV to be as slow as possible.
Common IV Checking Mistakes to Avoid
Relying solely on CP is the biggest mistake. A high-CP Pokemon can have terrible IVs, and a low-CP Pokemon can have perfect IVs—it just needs to be powered up. Always appraise.
Forgetting to account for weather boost in Pokemon GO can skew calculator results. Weather-boosted catches have a minimum level, which changes the possible IV combinations.
In the main series, confusing IVs with EVs (Effort Values) is common. IVs are the innate potential you’re born with. EVs are training points you earn by defeating specific Pokemon. You need to manage both for a perfect competitive monster.
What to Do Once You Know the IVs
So you’ve checked. Now what? Your action plan depends on the results.
For a perfect 100% IV Pokemon (a “hundo”): This is a top-tier investment. Favoritism aside, prioritize powering this one up for Master League PvP or as a top raid attacker. In main series games, this is a prime candidate for your competitive team or for further breeding.
For a high-IV Pokemon (e.g., 90%+): Excellent for raids and gyms. These are almost always worth investing in unless you are min-maxing for specific PvP leagues.
For a Pokemon with “PvP ideal” IVs: These are gems for the Great and Ultra Leagues. Tag them, and build them specifically for those battle formats. Their IV spread is often more valuable than a hundo for that specific purpose.
For low-IV Pokemon: Don’t just transfer them all. They can be useful for trading (IVs re-roll upon trade), for completing “Evolve a Pokemon” tasks, or as placeholders until you find a better one. In main series games, they might be useful for breeding if they hold a specific Nature or Egg Move you need.
When IVs Matter Less Than You Think
Don’t fall into the trap of transferring every Pokemon that isn’t a 90%+. For new players, a high-level, low-IV Pokemon is far more useful in raids *today* than a low-level, high-IV one that requires 200,000 Stardust to become relevant.
Moveset is often more important than IVs. A perfect Tyranitar with bad moves is worse than a mediocre one with the ideal Smack Down and Stone Edge. Always check and use TMs to get the right moves before worrying about the last few IV points.
For casual gym defense, species and motivation decay matter much more than a few Defense IV points. A Blissey is a Blissey, and it will be a pain to fight regardless of its IVs.
Your Path to Becoming an IV Expert
Start by appraising every single Pokemon you catch or hatch. Get familiar with your Team Leader’s phrases. Download a reputable IV calculator app and use it to investigate your best Pokemon or puzzling appraisals. Join online communities where players discuss ideal IV spreads for upcoming raid bosses or PvP cups.
The goal isn’t to obsess over every single digit, but to make informed decisions. It’s about knowing that the Magikarp you’re about to make your Buddy for 400 Candy is actually worth the journey, or that the Azumarill you just caught could be a Great League champion with a little investment.
Armed with this knowledge, you stop guessing and start building a purpose-driven collection. You save resources, build stronger teams, and gain a deeper appreciation for the complex stats behind your favorite creatures. Now, go check that Pokemon. Your next perfect partner is waiting in your storage.
