Hi Ashley! Just wanted to give you the information on EVs that you asked for. I cannot seem to find my write-up though. I think I lost it when I switched to my new laptop. Anyway, here is the write-up in the Strategies & Movesets section that is pretty close to what I would tell you:
What are EVs?
"EV" stands for Effort Values. EV Training is a special type of training that can increase your Pokémon's strength by far! An EV trained pokémon is sure to be stronger than a non-EVed Pokémon. A Pokémon can gain the maximum of 510 EV points to split between the stats of HP, Speed, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, and Special Defense. Each individual stat can have the maximum capacity of 255 EV Points.
How do I get EV Points?
When you are in In-Game, battling specific Pokémon will give you some EVs in a certain stat. A Pokémon only gains EVs if it can gain Experience Points. Whenever it gains Experience Points, the user gets EV Points. That means that if you run away, faint, or catch the opponent - you WILL NOT get EVs.
Each Pokémon provides different EV Points when they're defeated. They give a different number of EV Points as well as EVs in different stats.
How exactly does EV training help?
Like I said before, EV training can boost your Pokémon's strength significantly! So how does it boost your strength? Well, for each 4 Points you get while EV training, you get 1 extra Point in your stats. For instance: Pikachu provides 2 EV Points in Speed, so if you battle 2 Pikachu, then your Speed stat will get twp extra points. So that means if you max out your Speed EVs, then you will gain 63 extra Speed points. That means that a maxed EVed Speed stat will have 63 more points than the non-EVed pokémon!!!
I'm EV training, but my stats don't seem to change! What am I doing wrong?
You are doing nothing wrong. The results of EV training usually don't show up until your pokémon are at a later level. But not to worry, your EV work will be 100% shown.
Tips for EV Training ...
Well, there are some guidelines you should follow. Remember how you need 4 EVs to raise a stat? Well, 255 is not divisible by 4. So that means some of the EVs have no use! That's correct. You should only get the maximum of 252 EVs in a stat. Be sure that the number of EV points you give to a stat is ALWAYS divisible by 4.
As you probably have noticed, EV training does take a long time. It requires patience and dedication in making a strong pokémon. So here's a tip: write your EV points down! Keep track of the EV points you've gained on a piece of paper - as I doubt you will be able to keep track of 252 EV Points all in your head!
Is there any way to speed up EV Training?
You're in luck: there is! Hold items can boost the amount of EVs a Pokémon gains. Here are a list of items that increase EVs.
Stat Boosters - If you feed a Pokémon an item like Protein or Calcium gives you 10 EV points in the stat it raises.
HP Up --- Hit Points
Protein --- Attack
Iron --- Defense
Carbos --- Speed
Calcium --- Sp. Attack
Zinc --- Sp. Defense
Bear in mind that you can only feed your Pokemon either a maximum of 10 boosters or until your Pokemon has accumulated 100 points in that particular stat.
Macho Brace - Macho Brace will half your speed when it is held, but whenever you EV train, it doubles your EVs gained. For instance, Pikachu gives 2 Speed EV Points when it is defeated. So when a Pokémon holding a Macho Brace defeats a Pikachu, it gains not two - but 4 EV points in their stat!
Pokérus(PKRS) - Pokérus is NOT an item. It is a very rare disease obtained by battling a pokémon. The disease is even harder to obtain than a shiny pokémon! So if you get it, YOU ARE VERY LUCKY. This disease acts like the Macho Brace without the Speed halving. It doubles the EVs gained but the pokémon can still hold an item. So, in the Macho Brace example, if you had both the item AND Pokerus, when you defeat a Pikachu you will gain 8 EV points. Cool, huh?
EV DISTRIBUTION …
You are able to choose the EVs you give a Pokémon. So I should I distribute them properly? Well, first you determine what the role of a Pokémon is. Then you are able to determine the EV Distribution. Here are some guidelines :
- A Sweeper Pokémon will have usually 252 EVs in the Speed. There are some exceptions, such as if a Pokémon holds the Choice Scarf item. (e.g. Weavile has 252 EVs in Speed.)
- A Sweeper Pokémon will have a maxed out stat in Attack OR Special Attack 70% of the time. Ignore this rule if the pokémon you are using is able to defend or is a mixed sweeper (a sweeper with both physical and special moves). (e.g. Rampardos has 252 EVs in Attack)
- A walling pokémon will usually carry a maxed out HP stat. (e.g. Milotic carries 252 HP EVs.)
- A walling pokémon usually carries 252 EVs in their Defense or Special Defense stat. (e.g. Blissey runs 252 Defense EVs)
I also have information on using the Exp Share to further help you earn EV points and where to battle wild Pokemon that will give you the most EV points in a specific stat, but my post is long enough for now and I don't want to give you too much information at once. If you want to learn more about EVs, or even IVs, just let me know. Thanks and take care.