You've probably been there. You just spent three hours grinding for a Dratini, finally caught a high-level one, and then your friend tells you it's "trash" because of its IVs. It's frustrating. Honestly, it feels like everyone is speaking a different language when they start tossing around terms like "hundo," "perfect spread," or "31 across the board."
Basically, what are pokemon ivs? They are the hidden genes of the Pokémon world. Just like two humans can be the exact same age but one is naturally faster or stronger, two Charizards can have vastly different potential based on these numbers.
The DNA of a Monster
Think of it like this: every Pokémon species has "Base Stats." Every single Pikachu ever born has the same base speed. But Individual Values (IVs) are the extra points added on top of that base. In the mainline Nintendo Switch games like Scarlet and Violet, these values range from 0 to 31 for each of the six stats: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
A Pokémon with a 31 in Speed is naturally going to outrun the exact same species with a 10. That’s just the math.
In Pokémon GO, things are a bit simpler but arguably more stressful for collectors. Instead of six stats, you only have three: Attack, Defense, and HP (Stamina). These range from 0 to 15. If you see someone screaming about a "hundo," they’ve found a 15/15/15 Pokémon—the holy grail of the mobile game.
Why You Might Actually Want Bad IVs
Here is where it gets weird. Most players think "higher is always better." That’s usually true for Raids or Gym battles where you just want raw power. But if you're getting into the competitive Great League or Ultra League in Pokémon GO, you actually want a low Attack IV.
I know, it sounds backwards.
The reason is the CP cap. Attack weighs more heavily in the Combat Power formula than Defense or HP. By having a low Attack IV, you can level your Pokémon up much higher while staying under the 1500 CP limit. This makes your Pokémon "bulkier"—it can take more hits even if it hits slightly less hard. In the high-stakes world of competitive play, survivability is king.
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In the mainline games, players often hunt for a "0 Speed IV." This is specifically for "Trick Room" teams, where the slowest Pokémon moves first. If your Pokémon is "too good" (too fast), it becomes a liability the moment that move is played.
Checking the Numbers Without a Calculator
Back in the day, you had to use a literal spreadsheet and a math degree to figure this stuff out. It was a nightmare. Now, the games have built-in "Judge" functions.
- In Scarlet/Violet: Once you finish the main story, you can check your boxes and see words like "No Good," "Decent," "Fantastic," or "Best." "Best" is the 31 you're looking for.
- In Pokémon GO: You just hit the "Appraise" button. Your team leader shows you a three-bar graph. If all three bars are full and the seal turns red with three stars, you’ve got a 100% IV Pokémon.
Can You Change Them?
For a long time, the answer was a hard no. You were stuck with what you caught. That made breeding an absolute chore. You’d spend weeks biking in circles in front of a daycare center just to get five perfect stats.
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Now, we have Hyper Training.
If your Pokémon reaches level 50 in the recent mainline games, you can take it to an NPC (usually near a snowy mountain or a Battle Tower) and trade a Bottle Cap to "max out" a stat. It doesn't actually change the IV—if you breed that Pokémon, the baby will still inherit the original, crappy stats—but for that specific Pokémon in battle, it functions as if it has a 31.
Pokémon GO is different. You can't just buy a Bottle Cap. The only way to change IVs is through Trading or Purifying. When you trade, the IVs are completely rerolled. When you Purify a Shadow Pokémon, every stat gets a +2 boost. This is why a "93% IV" Shadow Pokémon can become a "100% IV" hundo after purification.
The Reality Check
Look, unless you are playing in official VGC tournaments or trying to climb the highest ranks of the GO Battle League, IVs don't matter as much as people say. A Pokémon with 0 IVs is still roughly 90-95% as strong as one with perfect IVs.
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A high-level "bad" Pokémon will almost always beat a low-level "perfect" one.
Don't delete your favorite Pokémon just because its stats aren't red. Use it. Level it up. If it really bothers you, save up some Bottle Caps later. The "meta" changes every year, but the fun of the game shouldn't be buried under a pile of numbers.
Next Steps for Your Team
- Unlock the Judge function in your current game by finishing the main campaign; it's the only way to stop guessing.
- Save your Gold Bottle Caps for Legendaries or Shiny Pokémon since you can't easily breed them for better stats.
- Check for "0 Attack" on your Pokémon GO catches before you transfer them—you might accidentally be throwing away a top-tier PvP contender.
- Don't stress the 100% hunt if you're just playing for fun; base stats and move sets contribute way more to winning than a few extra IV points ever will.