Pokémon Scarlet and Violet EV training guide: How to max EVs

Pokémon Scarlet and VioletIt still is Effort valuesYou can also call it: EVs, a complex stat system that changes depending on which Pokémon you battle.

Raising EVs can be complicated, but it’s worth it, as it’ll significantly boost your Pokémon’s stats.

What is an EV?

EVs or Effort Values are stats your Pokémon gain from defeating or catching specific Pokémon. Pokémon can gain 510 EVs total, with a max of 252 per stat; 4 EVs rounds out to a one-point increase for a specific stat.

By defeating various Pokémon, your Pokémon will gain passive stats. Competitive players will min-max these to benefit Pokémon specifically by typically assigning 252 EVs to two valuable stats and the remaining four to another stat. (There are other EV spreads that are used for specific builds and Pokémon, but running 252/252/4 is the most common.)

Essentially, you can significantly boost your Pokémon’s stats by having it battle specific Pokémon until its EVs are maxed.

You can check your Pokémon’s EVs by opening their summary menu and pressing the L trigger on their stat screen. The EVs are displayed in a solid color shape. Stats with maxed-out EVs are sure to shine.

Image: Game Freak/The Pokémon Company, Nintendo via Polygon

How do I EV train in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Here’s what we do to EV train:

1. Set a powerful Pokémon that either has max EVs or stats we don’t care about in the front of the party.
2. Fill up the rest of the party with Pokémon that all need the same EV. We had Gholdengo and Kirlia as well as Charcadet, Tatsugiri and Toedscool because we were training them to speed.
3. Give each of the EV training Pokémon their respective stat-boosting item. (See below for the power item section.
4. Eat a sandwich that boosts the encounter rate of the target Pokémon.
5. Exclusively battle the target Pokémon that gives the desired EVs until the EVs are maxed. This takes 28 Pokémon using our provided targets and items.

This was how our party turned out:

Image: Game Freak/The Pokémon Company, Nintendo via Polygon

The Pokémon we battled, along with their locations and EVs given are as follows:

We ate the sandwiches listed in the above table, but any sandwiches that boost the encounter rate for the Pokémon’s type will work.

Each of these Pokémon grant one EV per K.O. One EV per K.O., but you can boost this significantly by letting your Pokémon hold power items. With a power item, your Pokémon will instead gain Nine EVs per K.O. nine EVs per K.O. of the above Pokémon. Each Pokémon in your party will gain EVs because of the permanently-activated Exp. Share.

Autobattling is not a way to get electric vehicles.

How do power items work and where can they be purchased?

Power items reduce the speed of the Pokémon holding it, but they increase the EV gain for a specific stat depending on the item.

Each power item can be bought for just $10,000 Delibird Presents from the “General Goods” section. The following statistics correspond:

• Power Bracer Attack
• Power Belt: Defense
• Power Lens: Special Attack
• Power Band Special Defense
• How to Lose Weight HP
• Anklet for Power: Tempo

What can I do to get rid of EVs

You will likely get random EVs from simply battling other creatures. You can wipe your Pokémon clean using some specific types of berries.

Each of these berries reduce the Pokémon’s EVs by 10 in the specified stat and make it more friendly:

• PomegLower HP
• Kelpsy: Lowers Attack
• QualotLowers defense
• Hondew: Lowers Special Attack
• GrepaSpecial Defense: Lower
• TomatoLow Speed

Although these berries are available as sparkling objects on the ground you can only get them from the Porto Marinada online auction. Randomly, one of the NPCs will sell more than 50 of these berries at once — you can snag a ton in one go to help clear out your beloved Pokémon’s stats.