IVs and EVs - Rangi42/polishedcrystal GitHub Wiki

IVs and EVs in Polished Crystal have hybrid mechanics of the vanilla and Gen. III+.

Since IVs in Gen. I and II have historically been referred to as "determinant values" (DVs) due to their numerous roles, Polished Crystal documents often call IVs "DVs"; conversely, "stat experience" (Stat EXP), EVs' counterpart in Gen. I and II, won't appear due to the dissimilarity.

Contents

IVs

IVs in this game range from 0 to 15, stored for each of the six stats (instead of four).

  • IVs determine the type of Hidden Power using the parity of the six numbers as in Gen. III+. (hidden_power.asm)
    • Only in the Regular version, Fairy-type Hidden Power is now available.
  • IVs are independent from Shininess, Gender, or forms, as in later Generations.
  • The gameplay preferences have two IV-related options:
    • Color variation: IVs will affect the coloration of all Pokémon, both Shiny and non-Shiny. (vary_colors.asm)
      • The IV-based color variation is distinct from Shininess. Shiny Pokémon appear with the dedicated animation and the star-shaped icon as in FR/LG onwards.
      • It uses complicated calculations so players can't predict IVs from the tints and shades. It's NOT "the closer to the original, the better" situation, though perfect-IV Pokémon will have their original coloration.
      • It was inspired by Stadium's nickname-based system.
    • Perfect stats: All Pokémon, both yours and your opponents', will be treated as if fully Hyper-Trained. The actual IVs are still reserved for things determined by them.

Hyper Training

Hyper Training is available at the Celadon Hotel, a Gen. VII+ function that puts an IV modifier for a stat to be treated as if it had the highest. Give a Bottle Cap to Mr. Hyper in the hotel to have him Hyper-Train a stat of your Pokémon. Mr. Hyper in this game no longer requires Lv. 100; he now trains the IVs of a stat of maxed (252) EVs. The Bottle Cap is grind-able by Fishing.

EVs

EVs in this game max out at 252 for each stat. Each species has an ev_yield for the amount of points to be given to EVs when defeated as in Gen. III+. ev_yield is now shown in the Pokédex by 1–3 dots.

The gameplay preferences has the EV gain option:

  • 510 ensures the modern limit of 510 EVs in total;
  • All uncaps the total EVs, allowing a Pokémon to have 252 EVs for all six stats; and
  • No completely disregard EVs gained by (or set for) all Pokémon, both yours and your opponents', as if they had 0 EVs. (The EV gain still occurs, remaining just unused.)

Since the preferences are switchable during the gameplay, switching the EV gain option at a later point is possible:

  • From No to another: loads the unused EVs earned so far
  • From one to 510: lowers EVs evenly until they fall below the 510 cap

EVs can be removed using EV-reducing Berries, which can be found in Cherrygrove Bay; each Berry reduces the corresponding stat by 10 EVs. Mulch is purchasable at the Goldenrod flower shop, as in HG/SS; using it on a Berry tree increases the harvest speed and quantity.

Power Items

Power items are available in the game: three in pre-E4 and the rest in post-E4:

Item Stat Guest Location
Power Weight HP Cheryl Murky Swamp
Power Bracer Atk Riley Dim Cave
Power Belt Def Buck Cinnabar Volcano
Power Lens SpAtk Mira Scary Cave
Power Band SpDef Anabel Battle Tower Outside
Power Anklet Spe Marley Quiet Cave

Due to the code implementation, their EV-boost effect in this game differs from the canon games: when the active Pokémon holding a Power item gains EXPs and EVs in battle, the extra EVs from the Power item are applied to all Pokémon to gain EVs. This makes it significantly helpful to give a Power item to your party lead and an Exp. Shares to the rest.

EV grinding won't be necessary in a regular playthrough, but it should be used for the Polished Battle Tower challenges.

EV Training Spots

Wild Encounters (Pre-E4)

  • HP: Surf in the water behind the counter in Cliff Edge Gate to encounter only Wooper and Quagsire.
  • Attack: Surf at Route 42 to encounter only Goldeen and Seaking.
  • Defense: At night, the grass on Route 45 only has Geodude, Gligar and Graveler encounters.
  • Special Attack: Surf at Ilex Forest, Route 35 and Goldenrod Harbor to encounter only Psyduck and Golduck encounters.
  • Special Defense: Surf at either New Bark Town, Cherrygrove City or Olivine Port to encounter only Tentacool and Tentacruel.
  • Speed: Surf at Blackthorn City to encounter only Magikarp. Alternatively, spam Old Rod or Good Rod at most towns to encounter only Magikarp and Poliwag.

Special Rematches (Post-game)

The guest Trainers who give you a copy of the Power items will go to Battle Tower 2F for post-game rematches. They all feature the corresponding stat:

  • Cheryl: HP +17
  • Riley: Atk +18
  • Buck: Def +14
  • Mira: SpAtk +18
  • Anabel: HP +2, SpDef +14
  • Marley: Atk +2, Spe +13

Stats Judge

The Judge program has now been installed at Goldenrod PCC. The machines at the right side of the floor* display a hexagon chart of IVs and EVs of a Pokémon in your party. As the engineer expresses his hope for Breeders, you need to breed an Egg (NOT hatching gift Eggs) to unlock the Judge.**

* They were originally News Machines for paid online news letters as well as mini-games, quizzes, and rankings.

** In Alola, 21 Egg hatches were requried for the Judge.