Effort Value

Effort Value Points (or EVs) are unseen statistics that can increase your Pokemon's stats. The system was introduced in the third generation. EVs are obtained by fighting other Pokemon. Depending on the Pokemon that you have just defeated, you will obtain different EVs. For example, Sneasel will provide speed EVs, but Chansey will give HP EVs. For every four EVs obtained in one stat, that stat will increase by one extra point at the next level up. To put it simply, if your Gyarados obtained four Attack EVs, at its next level up its Attack stat will get +4 instead of +3, if it gets eight EVs it will be +5 and so on. While this is very useful, there is a catch. After accumulating 510 EVs, the game will stop tallying them and EV training becomes useless for that Pokemon. So that means that after you gain all of your EVs, the total increase in stats for you Pokemon will be +126. There is also a cap on the amount of EVs you can gain in one stat. After your Gyarados has gained 255 Attack EVs, the game will stop tallying its attack EVs. This means that its Attack stat will cap off with +63. This doesn't mean that it has to stop gaining EVs, it just means that once it hits that mark, it'll have to get EVs in another stat, such as Defense or Special Attack.

Methods of Making the Process Easier

EV training can become very tedious very fast. Fortunately, there are items and effects that can make this whole process go by much more quickly.

• Macho Brace. This doubles the amount of EVs gained in a battle.
• "Power" Items (Generation VI only). These items will only work for one stat, but will help a lot. They increase obtained EVs by four. These are Power Weight (HP), Power Bracer (ATK), Power Belt (DEF), Power Lens (SPATK), Power Band (SPDEF) amd Power Anklet (SPD).
• PokeRus. This is a super rare virus that is obtained in battles against wild Pokemon. Same effect as Macho Brace, but wears off after time. Can be passed along party Pokemon by battling.
• HP UP, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc and Carbos. These add 10 EVs to their respective stat. Very practical as they cost 1 BP.