Detailed guide to breeding perfect IVs, training EVs efficiently, and optimizing stat spreads.
Last updated: 2026-06-03
Breeding for perfect IVs is a step-by-step process that requires understanding how IVs pass from parents to offspring. The key item is the Destiny Knot, which causes the offspring to inherit 5 IVs randomly from its parents instead of the usual 3. The sixth IV is generated randomly between 0 and 31. This means if both parents have high IVs, the offspring has a good chance of inheriting those high values.
The standard breeding process starts with catching or breeding a Ditto with high IVs. A 6-IV Ditto (31 in every stat) is the most valuable breeding tool because it can breed with almost any Pokemon. Since Ditto is in the Field Egg Group, it can breed with any Pokemon that is also in the Field Egg Group, and through chain breeding, with virtually all egg groups. Using a Ditto with perfect IVs reduces the breeding time significantly.
The Everstone guarantees that the offspring inherits the nature of the parent holding it. When breeding for competitive Pokemon, give the Everstone to the parent with the desired nature. In Generation 8 and later, you can also use the Mint items to change a Pokemon's effective nature, though the original nature is still passed down through breeding. Mints are available in the Battle Tower or through the in-game shop.
Hyper Training, introduced in Generation 7 (Sun and Moon), allows a Level 100 Pokemon to have its stats treated as if they had 31 IVs. Take your Pokemon to the Hyper Training facility, and for each Bottle Cap, one stat can be hyper trained. A Gold Bottle Cap trains all six stats at once. Note that Hyper Training does not actually change the Pokemon's IVs, only the effective value, so bred perfect IVs are still valuable for breeding purposes and for use below Level 100.
Bottle Caps are obtained through various methods including the Battle Tower, lottery in Pokemon Centers, and Max Lair adventures in Generation 8. In Generation 9, Bottle Caps can be purchased at Chansey Supply for 20,000 Poke Dollars each, and Gold Bottle Caps cost 100,000 Poke Dollars. This makes Hyper Training accessible to any player with enough resources, without requiring extensive breeding.
EV training has evolved across generations, with each new game offering more efficient methods. The traditional method involves defeating specific wild Pokemon that yield desired EVs. For example, defeating Zubat yields Speed EVs, while defeating Geodude yields Defense EVs. The Macho Brace doubles EV gain but halves Speed, while Power items grant 8 additional EVs in a specific stat per battle.
Pokerus is a rare virus that doubles EV gain from all sources. A Pokemon with Pokerus gains 2 EVs from battle instead of 1, and when holding a Power item, the bonus 8 EVs are also doubled, resulting in 18 EVs per battle (2 from the Pokemon + 8 from Power item, doubled to 18). Pokerus can spread to other party Pokemon through battle and is preserved in the PC, though cured Pokemon no longer spread it.
Vitamins: Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Carb, and HP Up each give 10 EVs in their respective stat. In Generations 8 and 9, vitamins can be used up to 252 EVs in a single stat, making them the fastest EV training method for players with sufficient funds. Full EV training for one Pokemon costs 530,000 Poke Dollars (26 Protein at 10,000 each for Attack, 26 Carb for Speed, 1 HP Up).
Standard EV spreads typically follow the 252/252/4 pattern, maxing out two stats and putting the remaining 4 EVs in a third. Physical attackers usually max Attack and Speed (252 Atk, 252 Spe, 4 SpD). Special attackers max Special Attack and Speed. Bulky Pokemon often invest heavily in HP and their primary defensive stat.
More nuanced EV spreads consider specific damage calculations. For example, 244 HP EVs on Rotom-Wash gives it a Stealth Rock number that maximizes Leftovers recovery. 44 Speed EVs on Tyranitar allows it to outspeed uninvested base 50 Speed Pokemon. These optimized spreads are found through damage calculators and usage statistics from actual tournament play.