The EV Issue

[Light Knight]

There has been an event, throughout my experience in the Pokémon environment, that compelled me to change my approach to the game: the "System Issue".
I found out how IVs and EVs worked, and began to see the game under that perspective. I found out myself EV-training my pokémon, spending my time to set Effort Values in the right places. It requested a considerable effort to learn the tecnique. Finally, I managed to EV train a Gliscor. I was satisfacted: it had right EV, good IVs and effective moves. Time passed, and when I decided to play a new adventure, I was influenced by EVs in battling trainers, even if I tried to forget about them, at least for that playthrough.
Slowly, I realized that the System Issue compromised the way I previously played the game. I lost the enjoyment I had when I played it simply raising my pokémon to level 100.
I have some questions to new and veteran trainers:
Do you like EV/IV system?
If not, how would you change it?
What approach would you choose?

• Evaluate IVs, and, if satisfacted, EV train your pokémon
• Ignore IVs, EV train your pokémon
• Ignore IVs, EV train your pokémon but not rigorously
• Ignore IVs and EVs, and train your pokémon
• Only care about IVs, and train your pokémon

I read about someone nicknamed Tyranitar who abandoned (or never begun) EV training. I would like to know your points of view and your proposals to solve this hypotetical issue. I'll propose something soon.

Thanks for the attention.

 

[Shiny Bashamo]

On the first playthrough in the games play just to finish the game. After I finshed the game I start EV training, So the EV training doesn't mess with me enjoying the games.

When I EV train I breed/SR for good IV's, then train my pokemon

 

[Empoleon Bonaparte]

EV's/IV's are not an issue. In fact, they have nothing to do with the main game. If you battle competitively, you EV train. If you don't, you don't care about EV training (not taking the Battle Frontier in account).

So no, it doesn't need to be changed.

 

[Pkmn Breeder Jack]

It is true that once you learn of EVs and IVs, you'll never play the games the same again. I've known about them since 07 and got into battling and all that. I've dropped wifi battling but still play occasionally on shoddy, so EVs and IVs are still pretty forward in my mind.

When playing the main adventure, I always remind myself that the pokemon I'm using won't ever be used for competitive battles, so EVs and IVs don't matter. Yes, I still try to get the right natures and yes I avoid leveling up someone with the build of a special sweeper on pokemon giving defense EVs, but for the most part I recognize that the ingame playthroughs and competitive battling are completely different things, requiring completely different pokemon.

 

[MetalFlygon08]

Obligitory, but I wont say it looks at sig...

I used to not care about natures/IV/EV's until I discovered Serebii, then I started caring, in game I only care for natures since EV training in story mode is hard.

 

[Profesco]

Ah, I remember those long-ago days before I learned the very complex nature of true competitive play~ *nostalgic sigh*

In 2003, when I bought Ruby version, I knew nothing whatsoever about EVs, IVs, or the just-introduced concept of natures. Thusly inexperienced, I played through the game with a team I grew attached to yet had absolutely no real competitive power. My team leader was a Docile Sceptile with entirely random EVs and a mixed moveset that was merely the best diversity I could manage with my TMs. Oh, and I'll never forget about my Brave-natured male Gardevoir...

Anyway, I loved my team and never lost with them, whether it was in-game or linked with my cousins. Still, it was easy to recognize that they could be better.

Somewhere before Emerald version, I learned the ins and outs of EV/IV importance, and to me this change in perspective was much welcome. I don't find it boring or distracting; rather, I love the specialization, the organization, the extra challenge, and ultimately, the ability to train and produce some top-shelf Pokemon with stellar stats and way more confidence. I love being able to bring out the very best in my Pokemon, and the extra time and effort (ha) it takes to do so is not so much a labor of love for me as it is a fun pasttime of love.

At this point in time, I can't honestly say I think I'd ever go back to training without considering these deeper aspects of the games.

 

[Prince Amrod]

ive only recently learned about the hidden mechanics of EV/IV's but i dont think theyll ever change the way i play the games. story mode is for fun and ill use whatever pokemon i feel like using with wateva moveset happens to be their best from the level up moves, ive always been stingy with my tm's that way.
ive recently developed an interest in competitive play nd trying to best the frontier so that means specialisation is almost a pre-requisite to be able to hold my own, though saying that, randomly trained pokemon have held their own against skilled opponents before now. ive currently got 35 trained pokemon with 2 more ready to be trained, plans for 3 more at least before the preparation stages are completed.
ive found its a great way to keep the interest of those players who have the time and dedication to raise teams of pokemon jus for fun and to battle with

 

[~:Shadow:~]

Quite honestly, I can't imagine myself playing through HG/SS randomly like I did with the previous games. I just feel like it's a waste, since my Pokémon can be much more powerful. However, considering what some people posted here, I might play randomly through the games, as I will, probably but not entirely surely, be using other Pokémon for competitive reasons.

 

[Agonist]

i remember when if first learned about ivs and evs, and to a extent, natures, and it has changed the way i play the game, now there is rarely any occasion i dont breed for good ivs, then ev train, bar the first playthrough

 

[hitoshura0]

There have only been two playthroughs I've done since learning of EVs/IVs/Natures, but its only bothered with it after the Elite 4, mainly due to my lack of Pokerus and my policy of not trading things over to that game until I have the National Dex. I do check the natures of my team, and "rough" EV train them, but nothing that goes too over the top. I just think its not necessary to do it hardcore in-game until the battle frontier.

 

[arceus7]

I just play the game normally and reduce my pokes evs to 0 then re ev train if they are good pokes to use or are shiny

 

[leon25270]

I've noticed that I wasn't able to play Platinum the same way I played the other games. Throughout my Platinum playthrough, I've thought about IVs, EVs, Base Stats, and even movesets. Heck, I even planned my team beforehand in such a way that it is at least remotely competitively viable. My gosh!

... And thanks to the new Power Item thing for IV-Breeders and the fact that you only need Battle Points instead of Shards to pay the Move Tutors, I doubt I'll be able to play HeartGold the way I planned before. I wanted it to be the game where I just play... Where I wouldn't have to worry about all those invisible numbers...

... Where I could role play as Anabel before she became Salon Maiden... When she was just starting out in her journey in Johto...

... But yeah. Pokemon Breeding, particularly IV Breeding, gives me a sense of confidence, knowing how strong my Pokemon are.

 

[Final]

Do you like EV/IV system?

Yep. It may be time consuming breeding and resetting for good Natures and IVs but shortcuts can be taken like using a Synchronizer for Pokemon that can't be bred and using the Everstone trick when breeding. Those methods both significantly reduce the amount of time taken to breed and reset for a desireable nature and IVs. In the end, it is well worth it when I have Pokemon of a high competitive value.

What approach would you choose?

Evaluate IVs, and, if satisfacted, I EV train my pokémon. I don't go crazy on absolutely perfect IVs though since it would be way too time consuming to do so.

Also, I don't bother with EV Training until after I have cleared the main part of a playthrough.

 

[Sinnohdragon]

I've known about Evs and natures only since DP, so before then i never paid any attention to what Pokémon i battle against. But even now that i know how it all works i still don't train competitive Pokémon.
It might be because i'm just used to not caring and training Pokémon as they come as well as not having the patience to EV train or breed. I'm not sure myself XD

Not that i don't like the concept though. I do make a bit of effort like using decent strategic movesets and sometimes i'll spend a bit of time training against Staravias if i want more speed but that's my limit. I don't even look at what natures they have :/ Then again i don't do any sort of competitive battling so i guess i'm ok. I'm just happy training any sort of Pokémon any way which suits me best.

 

[Light Knight]

It has been very interesting to read your considerations. Overally speaking, it seems the problem is not felt, and that the system is even welcome. While I was reconsidering my position, it came to my mind the critical event which brought me to stop EV training: it's a sad story... (XD)

It all began with the decision to build a Sandstorm-based team. Those were the times Garchomp still was in the OU tier. I had my little Gligar, with his right nature, his good IVs, and I was full of hope. Then, I prepared myself for the first step: find a Gible with the right nature. Well, I found a Gible (with a "wrong" nature), I had my Ditto, so I started taking eggs. I began to hatch the first 6 eggs, but my hope to see my future team leader vanished. So, I tried with the second 6 eggs, still hoping, even if I had to spend so much time. And again, my hopes were washed away. I was really annoyed. I repeated the process: another failure. I did it again, hopeless. My future as an emrgent EV trainer was shattered.

I'm now wondering if there is a better method, or if I can solve the problem through trading. I offered some of my pokémon on the trade forum to fulfil this objective.

If someone of you can lead me to a reconsideration of EV training and competitive battling, I'll be grateful and ready for any challenge!

Thanks to everyone for the interest.

 

[Penguinist Trainer]

I don't think the Ev/Iv system is that big of an issue. It's mainly there for people who want to battle competitively later on in the game. After all, the main game doesn't seriously take that long to complete, and for most veteran players, the pokedex is filled simply by transferring all your old pokemon over. The Ev/Iv system gives players another reason to keep playing the game for many hours after the game has been completed. I like it because I'm still fairly new to discovering it, which adds to the challenge of the game by trying to master it.

I don't think it detracts from the main game at all. That's why they are hidden values to begin with. They are there only if you care to use them.

 

[darkfalcon922]

I found about ev/iv last yr....it hasnt changed anything 4 me far as main game is concerned...my 1st experience w/ it was getting destroyed by my friend during stock markets and investment class...tht was the 1st and last tym i lost

 

[Empoleon Bonaparte]

It has been very interesting to read your considerations. Overally speaking, it seems the problem is not felt, and that the system is even welcome. While I was reconsidering my position, it came to my mind the critical event which brought me to stop EV training: it's a sad story... (XD)

It all began with the decision to build a Sandstorm-based team. Those were the times Garchomp still was in the OU tier. I had my little Gligar, with his right nature, his good IVs, and I was full of hope. Then, I prepared myself for the first step: find a Gible with the right nature. Well, I found a Gible (with a "wrong" nature), I had my Ditto, so I started taking eggs. I began to hatch the first 6 eggs, but my hope to see my future team leader vanished. So, I tried with the second 6 eggs, still hoping, even if I had to spend so much time. And again, my hopes were washed away. I was really annoyed. I repeated the process: another failure. I did it again, hopeless. My future as an emrgent EV trainer was shattered.

I'm now wondering if there is a better method, or if I can solve the problem through trading. I offered some of my pokémon on the trade forum to fulfil this objective.

If someone of you can lead me to a reconsideration of EV training and competitive battling, I'll be grateful and ready for any challenge!

Thanks to everyone for the interest.

There are a few solutions.
Patience/dumb luck.

...or you could try the RNG method, which can be found here

 

[Noctourniquet]

I really have no problems with EVs. I can use them or not. Simple. Although, I have never thought about the Game the same way since I discovered their importance.

 

[randomspot555]

...

That's my thoughts on the first post.

Okay, first off, let's clear up a misconception.

EVERYONE EV TRAINS.

Anytime a Pokemon gains experience from a battle, you get X amount of EVs in a certain stat. Sometimes, they give you EVs in 2 stats.

For every 4 EVs you get in one stat, your Pokemon will now have +1 more in that stat than if it had been raised by somehow other than battling (Day care, Rare Candy).

So if you with your Chimchar in Sinnoh beat up a bunch of Starlys before getting to the first gym, you'll probably notice that your speed stat is increasing moreso than the other stats. That's because of all the Starly's you beat up, which give you speed EVs.

NOW THEN, EV training in the 8 gyms + E4 main game is very hard to do. You'll have to constantly grow EV reducing berries when you encounter a battle that doesn't along with the EVs you want (And many battles are forced, you can't get around them). Or you just EV train right away, limiting the type of EVs you can get.

So ignore EV training in the game. It's not necessary. Want your Pokemon to be more powerful? Diversify it's moveset so it's not just Flamethrower, Flame Wheel, Fire Blast, and Ember. Then level it up.

I just played through Fire Red and even though I've EV trained many Pokemon, I had no trouble playing and enjoying the main game.