Effort values: Difference between revisions

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(This is no longer true as of Gen VI. All Pokémon involved in a battle get 100% of the XP.)
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Roughly speaking, defeating fast Pokémon increases Speed better than fighting slow Pokémon, defeating Pokémon with high hit points improves HP more than defeating Pokémon with low HP, and so on. For example, fighting 100 {{p|Machop}} will improve a Pokémon's Attack stat more than fighting 100 {{p|Abra}} of the same level, whereas the Abra will improve the Special Attack stat more.
Roughly speaking, defeating fast Pokémon increases Speed better than fighting slow Pokémon, defeating Pokémon with high hit points improves HP more than defeating Pokémon with low HP, and so on. For example, fighting 100 {{p|Machop}} will improve a Pokémon's Attack stat more than fighting 100 {{p|Abra}} of the same level, whereas the Abra will improve the Special Attack stat more.


Unlike experience points, which are reduced when multiple Pokémon are receiving experience, effort points are awarded equally to all Pokémon who participated in defeating a Pokémon. Though they are shared, each of the Pokémon will receive the standard amount of effort points.
Effort points are awarded equally to all Pokémon who participated in defeating a Pokémon. Though they are shared, each of the Pokémon will receive the standard amount of effort points.


In [[Generation I]] and [[Generation II]], effort points given are equal to the Pokémon's [[base stats]]. For a list of the effort points that Pokémon give away on their defeat in [[Generation III]] and later, see [[list of Pokémon by effort value yield]].
In [[Generation I]] and [[Generation II]], effort points given are equal to the Pokémon's [[base stats]]. For a list of the effort points that Pokémon give away on their defeat in [[Generation III]] and later, see [[list of Pokémon by effort value yield]].

Revision as of 15:19, 2 April 2014

018Pidgeot.png It has been suggested that this article be moved to Base stat.
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Effort values (abbreviated EVs and previously called Stat Exp), officially called base stats (Japanese: きそポイント base point), are attributes which give bonuses to a Pokémon's stats and improve differently depending which Pokémon they defeat. These bonuses, in the form of effort points, are gained in addition to bonuses gained by increasing level. A Pokémon which increases in level using a Rare Candy instead of battling does not gain any EVs, making it weaker than a Pokémon who increases in level normally.

Roughly speaking, defeating fast Pokémon increases Speed better than fighting slow Pokémon, defeating Pokémon with high hit points improves HP more than defeating Pokémon with low HP, and so on. For example, fighting 100 Machop will improve a Pokémon's Attack stat more than fighting 100 Abra of the same level, whereas the Abra will improve the Special Attack stat more.

Effort points are awarded equally to all Pokémon who participated in defeating a Pokémon. Though they are shared, each of the Pokémon will receive the standard amount of effort points.

In Generation I and Generation II, effort points given are equal to the Pokémon's base stats. For a list of the effort points that Pokémon give away on their defeat in Generation III and later, see list of Pokémon by effort value yield.

Gaining effort points to increase desired EVs varies from being simple to complicated, depending on whether one wants their Pokémon to fully max out its stats or raise them to balanced heights. Should a Pokémon attain the maximum amount of 510 effort points, it will be eligible to receive an Effort Ribbon to signify this achievement (Generation III, IV and VI).

Effort values only appear in the core series Pokémon games, and are not present in the spin-off games, such as the Mystery Dungeon series.

Stat Experience

The Pokémon data structure contains two EV bytes for each of the five stats (HP, Attack, Defense, Speed and Special), starting at zero when caught and with a maximum EV of 65535 for each stat. When a Pokémon is defeated, its base stats are converted to effort points and then added to the EVs. For example, defeating a Mew grants 100 effort points to each EV. (Defeating 656 Mew, therefore, will give a Pokémon maximum EVs in each stat.)

EVs are factored into the Pokémon's stats when it levels up. Additionally, EVs are calculated into stats when a Pokémon is taken from Bill's PC; this is called the box trick. A Pokémon which reaches level 100 can continue to acquire EVs up to the maximum of 65535 in each stat, and use the box trick to have those EVs factored in.

Vitamins add 2560 to one stat's EV, but cannot raise a stat above 25600. Unlike the Exp. Share in later games, the Exp. All did not share EVs.

At level 100, the formula for determining the stat difference between a Pokémon trained in that stat and an untrained Pokémon is File:EV Formula GenI.png.

Generation I

The EV system was introduced in Generation I, where it was also called Stat Experience or Stat Exp.

Generation II

EVs behave the same in Generation II as they did in Generation I. Both Special Attack and Special Defense share the EV for Special to maintain compatibility. The amount of Special EVs received is equal to the defeated Pokémon's Special Attack base stat. The box trick can still be used.

Generation II introduced the Pokérus, a rare status condition which doubles the effort points gained in battle.

Modern system

Since Generation III, effort points have been completely separate values from base stats. Defeated Pokémon give out 1, 2 or 3 effort points to a particular stat, depending on species (see list of Pokémon by effort value yield). However, in battles that do not give any experience (such as in the Battle Tower or if the Pokémon is level 100), Pokémon will not gain any effort points. At level 100, a Pokémon's stats will be one stat point higher in a specific stat for every four effort points gained in that stat.

Pokémon are limited to a total of 255 effort points per stat, and 510 effort points in total. However, since stats are calculated by dividing effort by 4 and disregarding the remainder, only 252 effort points are required to maximize a stat.

Vitamins add 10 effort points, but cannot raise a stat above 100, or raise the total above 510. These Vitamins can be found for PokémonDollar.png9,800 in Department Stores or in Laverre City in Generation VI. The list of Vitamins include:

Stat Vitamin
HP HP Up HP Up
Attack Protein Protein
Defense Iron Iron
Special Attack Calcium Calcium
Special Defense Zinc Zinc*
Speed Carbos Carbos


If a Pokémon holds an Exp. Share, it will receive effort points even if the battling Pokémon has maxed out its effort points. If the Pokémon with the Exp. Share has Pokérus, the amount of effort points received is doubled.

The Macho Brace, doubles the effort points gained in battle. In combination with the Pokérus, a Pokémon can gain four times the normal effort points. However, the effects of the item do not transfer to a Pokémon holding an Exp. Share.

Generation III

In Generations III and IV, for every Pokémon that has gained Effort Points in battle, stats will be recalculated upon leveling up, except for Deoxys, whose stats are recalculated after every battle instead. Stats are also recalculated immediately if a Vitamin or stat-reducing Berry (see below) is used on the Pokémon.

Starting in Pokémon Emerald, certain Berries that were previously only used to make Pokéblocks can decrease certain effort values by 10 effort points, while increasing the friendship of the Pokémon they were used on. The game will tell the player if the Pokémon's friendship cannot increase or if the stat does not decrease. These Berries are:

Stat Berry
HP Pomeg Berry Pomeg Berry
Attack Kelpsy Berry Kelpsy Berry
Defense Qualot Berry Qualot Berry
Special Attack Hondew Berry Hondew Berry
Special Defense Grepa Berry Grepa Berry
Speed Tamato Berry Tamato Berry


Generation IV

Most of the Generation IV EV system remains unchanged from Generation III. However, EV-reducing Berries will reduce Effort Points to 100 if the current Effort Points for the stat were above 100.

A new series of items exist which give an additional four effort points per Pokémon defeated. Each applies the bonus to a different stat, in addition to the normal effort points gained. The bonus effort points are also doubled by the Pokérus. The effects of these items do not transfer over to a Pokémon holding an Exp. Share.

Stat Item
HP Power Weight Power Weight
Attack Power Bracer Power Bracer
Defense Power Belt Power Belt
Special Attack Power Lens Power Lens
Special Defense Power Band Power Band
Speed Power Anklet Power Anklet


If a Pokémon has alternate forms that change its stats (e.g. Giratina), any effort points acquired will be applied to its stats when the form is changed, allowing the player to boost their Pokémon's stats without having to level it up.

Generation V

In Generation V, most of the EV system remains unchanged from Generation III and IV.

EV-reducing Berries no longer reduce Effort Points to 100 if the points were above 100; instead, only 10 EVs are deducted.

Pokémon can now gain effort values from battling even at Level 100, and stats are recalculated at the end of every battle instead of only after leveling up, much like Deoxys in the Generation III games. When a Pokémon is defeated, EVs do not get added until after all experience points have been added (if the Pokémon levels up more than once, the second level it gains will have new EVs calculated into it). If a Pokémon levels up in the middle of a battle, its stats will update assuming there are EVs to add from a previously defeated opponent, but EVs from the opponent that caused it to level up will not be added until after the experience points have been completely added. This entire mechanic was overhauled in Pokémon Black and White Versions 2; EVs are now added before Experience, so if the victorious Pokémon gains enough Experience to level up, its new stats when displayed in battle include the new EVs.

A new kind of item called Wings are introduced which are similar to Vitamins but only give 1 effort point when consumed. Unlike Vitamins however, Wings are not subject to the 100 EV limit and can be consumed until the maximum value of 255 for one stat (or a combined 510 for all stats) is reached. There are 7 types of Wings in total, but only 6 Wings contribute to a specific stat: the Pretty Wing does nothing at all. Wings can be collected from the shadows at the Driftveil Drawbridge or Marvelous Bridge and are given as prizes for clearing higher level floors in the Black Tower and White Treehollow.

Stat Item
HP Health Wing Health Wing
Attack Muscle Wing Muscle Wing
Defense Resist Wing Resist Wing
Special Attack Genius Wing Genius Wing
Special Defense Clever Wing Clever Wing
Speed Swift Wing Swift Wing


In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Join Avenue's Beauty Salon, Dojo and Café can alter a Pokémon's EVs for a determined price.

Generation VI

All items and mechanics for effort values remain the same in Generation VI as they were in Generation V, except individual stats now max out at 252 EVs instead of 255.

Generation VI also introduced a new feature called Super Training, which allows the player to increase effort points for each stat individually, or remove all effort points from a Pokémon entirely. Super Training Regimens feature minigame activities where the Pokémon attacks various balloons with footballs/soccer balls, which award effort points for the stat of the player's choosing as well as awarding a Training Bag. Training Bags also typically increase effort points, though some of them have other effects—such as the Double-Up Bag, which doubles the number of effort points awarded after a Regimen, or the Reset Bag, which reduces all effort points on a single Pokémon to zero.

Super Training exposes base stats to the player for the first time. Using a Reset Bag will numerically display the effort points a Pokémon just had, which can be reverted by restarting without saving. Additionally, high-level Pokémon can determine their individual values mathematically by inspecting the values of their stats after a Reset Bag is used.

Fully Trained Pokémon

A Fully Trained Pokémon is a Pokémon that has reached 510 EVs overall, the maximum a Pokémon can achieve. In Generations III, IV, and VI, there is an NPC that will give an Effort Ribbon to Fully Trained Pokémon; in Generation V, an NPC in Opelucid City will comment that the Pokémon has put in a lot of effort if it is a Fully Trained Pokémon.

In Pokémon X and Y, Fully Trained Pokémon can access Secret Super-Training Regimens. Once a Pokémon has reached Fully Trained status, it will not lose it even if its EVs are removed, such as with a Reset Bag or friendship-raising Berries.

See also

In other languages

Language Title
France Flag.png French Stats de base
Germany Flag.png German Basiswerte
Italy Flag.png Italian Statistiche di base
South Korea Flag.png Korean 기초포인트
Spain Flag.png Spanish Puntos de base



Pokémon individuality
LevelStatsFriendshipGenderAbility (Hidden Ability) • NatureCharacteristic
Effort valuesIndividual valuesGo PowerEffort level
ConditionPerformanceAffectionMemory


Project Games logo.png This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.