EV Training Basics: Effort Values Explained (Main Series)

A practical EV guide: per-stat caps, total cap, common training methods, and how EVs change stat math for IV calculators.

EVs in one minute

EVs (Effort Values) are “training points” that increase your stats as you battle, use vitamins, or other methods. They are separate from IVs.

Typical rules (varies by generation, but commonly):

• per-stat cap: 252
• total cap: 510

Why EVs matter for IV calculators

If EVs are unknown, IV inference becomes a range (or can be impossible). That’s why the calculator asks for EV inputs.

Tool: Pokémon IV/EV Calculator

Practical tips

• If you don’t know the EVs, start with common spreads (e.g., 252/252/4) and iterate
• Nature also changes stat math, so confirm nature before finalizing

Next: Nature Stat Modifiers