Let's Talk IVs

[Sopheria]

Individual Values is the unofficial name for values that each individual Pokemon has that determine its overall stat totals. Each stat ranges from 0 to 31, and it adds that many points to the Pokemon's stat total at level 100 (e.g. a Pokemon with a speed IV of 31 would have a speed stat that is 31 points higher than the same Pokemon with a speed IV of 0, provided they have the same EVs and nature).

This is an interesting topic to discuss because I've heard opinions across the board regarding IVs--some people like them because they make each Pokemon unique with its individual gifts and weak points, other people feel that it's unfair for a Pokemon's stats to be affected by a factor that's so difficult to control.

What side do you fall on in this debate, if any? What are your thoughts on IVs as a whole? How much effort do you put into making sure your Poke has the perfect IVs?

 

[esperance]

I like the aspect of uniqueness that each Pokémon gets from IVs. It really does make them feel like living creatures. What I don't like is how they've started handling it recently with Pokémon from the Undiscovered egg group automatically receiving 31 IVs in three stats. That takes a bit of the reality out of it for me.

 

[Sopheria]

I like the aspect of uniqueness that each Pokémon gets from IVs. It really does make them feel like living creatures. What I don't like is how they've started handling it recently with Pokémon from the Undiscovered egg group automatically receiving 31 IVs in three stats. That takes a bit of the reality out of it for me.

I feel the same way. When I first caught Yveltal in Pokemon Y and it had 3 perfect IVs, I thought I was just super lucky before I learned that legendary Pokemon get that automatically. I think they did it because a lot of people complained about IVs, and it seems like the responses to this change has been mostly positive, but like you said, just takes the realism out of it =/

 

[esperance]

I feel the same way. When I first caught Yveltal in Pokemon Y and it had 3 perfect IVs, I thought I was just super lucky before I learned that legendary Pokemon get that automatically. I think they did it because a lot of people complained about IVs, and it seems like the responses to this change has been mostly positive, but like you said, just takes the realism out of it =/

It really does. Not to mention some Pokémon in the group, such as Nidorina, Riolu, Elekid, Azurill, etc. get a hugely unfair advantage if you catch them in the wild because of this. Say you catch an Elekid in ORAS, you're basically guaranteed a super powered Electivire. How is that fair for competitive battling?

 

[Megan]

It really does. Not to mention some Pokémon in the group, such as Nidorina, Riolu, Elekid, Azurill, etc. get a hugely unfair advantage if you catch them in the wild because of this. Say you catch an Elekid in ORAS, you're basically guaranteed a super powered Electivire. How is that fair for competitive battling?

Afaik, baby Pokemon don't get 3 perfect IVs in ORAS anymore, when you're catching them. That's just a XY exclusive feature.

I think, IVs are a good way to make Pokemon more unique, but at the same time, I think, people who don't play competitively and who hear about IVs, interpret a little bit too much into it.

 

[Hikamaru]

I feel the same way. When I first caught Yveltal in Pokemon Y and it had 3 perfect IVs, I thought I was just super lucky before I learned that legendary Pokemon get that automatically. I think they did it because a lot of people complained about IVs, and it seems like the responses to this change has been mostly positive, but like you said, just takes the realism out of it =/

I feel for you, although my Xerneas in X was crap due to having 0 Sp. Atk IVs which is a huge bummer because its best offenses are in the special department, but it was nice XY had Legendaries and baby Pokemon come with 3 perfect IVs. Kind of a shame it was altered in ORAS regarding the babies, not sure about the Legendaries though.

I do admit the IV system makes your Pokemon all that more unique because that'll make some stronger and some weaker in certain departments, even more when you take natures and EVs into account.

 

[Spinosaurus]

This mechanic needs to go. Completely.

It's poor design in every way, and the way they're implemented is dumb. What's their use besides something so trivial by making your Pokemon somehow "unique"? Hidden Power is the only thing I can think of, but it's hardly worth all the drawbacks IVs bring.

The majority of people don't know what it is or don't care what it is, the people who do mostly want nothing but perfect IVs for competitive battling and are forced to waste their time as a result. The people that care about having their Pokemon unique because of some statistic numbers are a huge minority.

This whole argument about it being necessarily to differentiate Pokemon is completely arbitrary to begin with. Are EVs and movesets not enough? God forbid your digital pet isn't unique. Applying realism in game design is rarely a good idea.

And since I know this is gonna get brought up, no, removing IVs isn't the same as EVs. EVs actually do add depth to the system, because you have complete control over it and the way they're implemented makes it so there's a limit in which stats you can maximize, resulting in Pokemon being able to allow different, varied playstyles and to have their own individual niche. IVs have no such limits however, so there's really no depth there. Ask yourself, will the removal of EVs have the same effect as removing IVs in the meta? The former will actually change the meta as a whole (for the worse), but the latter won't change anything outside of Hidden Power. (Which can be worked around, it doesn't take much to find a different way to implement them) IVs do not add depth in the meta.

 

[punkysaur]

I will only say that I solely depend on luck for my mons to get good iv's cause I dont have much patience to breed them!Yes I also like the IV system being one of the things responsible in a mon's uniqueness!

 

[Frozen Lotus]

Personally I think IV's are extremely tedious and all around a bad thing. I am NOT against Pokemon having uniqueness somehow from Mon to Mon... but not this way. Due to IV's it means 99% of all the Pokemon you -ever- encounter, outside of controlled breeding, are basically going to be useless because MOST people who play online IV breed. So you're either forced to be at a massive disadvantage or go through a potentially very tedious process.

That said, they HAVE made great improvements over the years on IV breeding, and it's not nearly as tedious as it once was... but I still think SOMETHING better could be implemented instead. After all, while IV's do technically make a Pokemon unique... it's not a good kind of uniqueness. It's just a "this Pokemon is born naturally better than this one" kind of thing... and that feels like it directly goes against what Pokemon is. I feel EV's are great because they're exactly what Pokemon is all about; work hard and your Pokemon will become stronger than others like it, because you put the effort in together and progressed.

IV's... basically treat Pokemon like they're numbers. "This one's not good enough. Throw it away. NEXT!"

 

[mikey]

I honestly do not pay attention to IVs at all lmao. I hear a lot about them but I never bother with it. So, many things in this thread being said don't make sense to me :3

 

[Poké Bean]

I wouldn't say I completely understand IVs and for the most part don't worry to much about them. One thing that bugs me though is that you get attached to the Pokemon you play through the game with and then if you want to battle competively you're most likely to be at a disadvantage because they're not strong enough. For those who are way into it then I can imagine them getting a good sense of satisfaction when they breed their ideal.

 

[Sopheria]

Some good points made here. I do think that in a sense it is a little unfair from a competitive perspective that some Pokes will be more naturally gifted than others due to a completely random value. But at the same time, they don't actually add that big a stat boost in comparison to other factors. A Pokemon with max IVs in a stat will have 31 extra points in that stat at level 100. On the other hand, a Pokemon with max EVs will have 71 extra points in the stat. I don't think a non-EV trained max IV Pokemon could beat a properly EV trained, 0 IV Pokemon.

 

[Spinosaurus]

In a competitive environment, every little counts. If you could get even 1 extra point in your stat, you have no reason not to go for it. Regardless of how minimal the advantage is, it is gonna be a factor.

It's like wavedashing in Smash Bros Melee or 1 frame links in Street Fighter 4. In essence, they are not necessary to win. You can easily just win by fundamentals, footsies and spacing. Yet, every single top player of those games wavedash and practiced their 1 frame links. Why? Not because they're necessary, but because they help. Every little counts.

You don't see pro Pokemon players without max IVs for each Pokemon (hidden power not withstanding) do you?

 

[Lycanthropy]

I don't really care about IVs, it's a lot of work. There's nature and EV to take care of already. Those are doable. EVs are at least not based on luck, but it's just putting a little effort in your training to help your Pokémon to get notably stronger. I'm not really a fan of the IV system, because it's a too much effort to get it perfectly or even near that.

 

[Sun]

There are pros and cons for IVs. At most times they help a lot, IVs are essential for competitive battlers and competitive breeders. But if you put it in a way, it can be sad as people often abuse IVs for their own uses. So fortunately Pokémon aren't living things like animals and plants alike, or it's gonna be tragic. :(

 

[Oblox]

I dont mind IV's as im a breeder but I definitely do agree that they make wild pokemon and most legendaries worthless. Id rather there was some method that you could then improve your pokemons IV's after breeding/capture so if you dont want to breed then you still have an option or in the case of legendaries then you can make yours decent.

Any non breeding system though should limit to max 5 perfect IV's as the 6th IV is often A) Pointless B) Rare even when breeding.

 

[Flushed]

IVs are just one of the elements that gives the games more complexity. As a player you can choose to ignore these (or you may just not know that they exist) and you can still enjoy the game. But after playing 6 generations of essentially the same thing, it's the complexities and nuances I think that make the difference. New and old players alike can find new outlooks on raising, breeding, battling, etc., and I think that's why the games are so successful. Sure, there are enough elements in the game that make it complex, EVs being one of those. By that token, I'd be fine with doing away with IVs. But as it stands, I don't see a problem with the system at all, if you want to play casually you can. If you decide to take to the competitive scene, things get more complex, as they should, and I think that's an interesting aspect, that you can play the game however you want, and that there are aspects to the game that appeal to everyone.

 

[Spinosaurus]

What complexity?

Countless breedings and grinding to get that ideal Pokemon is not a complicated process, it is a waste of time. Any mechanic that does not respect the player's time is a poor design, period.