EV training
/ˌiː ˈviː ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
CommonOptimizing a Pokemon's hidden stat points by battling specific enemies to max out chosen stats.
EVs are invisible to most casual players. Understanding them separates competitive players from casual ones. 'EV trained' on its own usually implies the Pokemon is properly optimized for battle.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | took me 2 hours to EV train this garchomp but she is ready for ranked | The player put in the work to optimize stats and the Pokemon is competition-ready. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | if you're not EV training you're just throwing away stat points for no reason | Not optimizing EVs is a waste because the game rewards you for doing it. | reddit, 2022 |
| 03 | accidentally put EVs in the wrong stat. now I have to reset and start over | A mistake in EV allocation means the training needs to be undone and redone. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | power items make EV training so much faster. just farm the right area and you're done in 20 min | Using specific held items speeds up the effort value grinding process noticeably. | youtube, 2024 |
Use it when
- Building a Pokemon for competitive battles with optimized stats.
- Explaining why a Pokemon hits harder or outspeeds opponents.
- Discussing the preparation phase of making a competitive team.
Do not use it when
- You mean just leveling up a Pokemon normally.
- You mean breeding for IVs specifically.Use “IV breeding” instead.
Variations and related forms
EV training vs IV breeding
EV training
EV training is done after catching a Pokemon by fighting specific enemies to grow chosen stats.
iv-breeding
IV breeding is done before or at birth by breeding for favorable hidden base stat values.
Origin and context
Effort Values have existed in the Pokemon games since Generation 1, but the mechanics were hidden and poorly understood for years. The competitive community reverse-engineered and documented them in the early 2000s, and the term 'EV training' emerged from that research.
- First seen
- early-2000s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/ev-training