This is a guide for EV training in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.

What are EVs?¶

EVs (short for Effort Values) are hidden values that slightly affect a Pokémon’s stats. They reflect the hard work and training put in by your Pokémon.

Similar to IVs, each Pokémon has an EV in each of the six key stats (HP through Speed). To begin with, EVs are set to 0 in all stats (although there are exceptions).

As your Pokémon battles and defeats other Pokémon, your Pokémon will gradually gain EVs depending on the species of Pokémon defeated. Weak Pokémon generally award 1 EV in a certain stat, while stronger ones can award 2 or even 3 EVs.

EVs can be gained at any time, even if a Pokémon is Level 100. However, EVs cannot be endlessly gained. Pokémon can gain a maximum of 252 EVs in a single stat and, on top of that, each Pokémon is restricted to a total of 510 EVs spread between all stats.

At Level 100, a Pokémon gains 1 stat point for every 4 EVs accumulated (while at lower levels, the gain is proportionally smaller). Since a Pokémon can gain up to 252 EVs in one stat, that equates to a maximum stat boost of 63 in a single stat.

How to EV Train Pokémon¶

The typical way to increase EVs is by battling many, many wild Pokémon that grant the EVs in the stat you want.

Before you begin, decide which stat you want to target. It’s easier if you focus on a single stat at a time, so you don’t lose track of progress.

Recommended EV Training Spots¶

Since you need to defeat a lot of Pokémon, here are some places where you can easily find lots of Pokémon that award EVs in a particular stat.

How to Speed Up EV Training¶

Since you need 252 EVs to max one stat, it’ll probably take absolutely ages… without any help, that is.

To speed things up, make sure to buy the Power items from any branch of Delibird Presents. They will be found in the General Goods section. Each of these costs 10,000 Poké Dollars.

When held by a Pokémon, Power items temporarily halve the Pokémon’s Speed, but grants an extra 8 EVs in the corresponding stat. So when fighting a wild Pokémon that grants 1 EVs in HP, you could gain 9 EVs instead.

To reach the cap of 252 EVs will require 22 to 28 battles, which is still a lot, but far less than 84 to 252.

EV Training Method¶

In general, it’s best if you battle using a strong Pokémon that you’re not intending to EV train. They should have max EVs already or it doesn’t matter what EVs they gain.

Meanwhile, the Pokémon being EV trained can sit in your party. This is useful especially if the Pokémon being EV trained is holding a Power item, which halves their Speed, making them harder to use in battle.

When defeating a wild Pokémon, all Pokémon in your party will gain EVs, on top of the usual experience points. Also, unlike experience points, the amount of EVs is the same whether the Pokémon participated or not.

Since all Pokémon gain the same amount of EVs, to save even more time, you may want to EV train multiple Pokémon at once.

To keep track of EVs, you could do it the old fashioned way and use pen and paper. Also, if you forget, you could use your Pokémon’s PP to keep track, especially if you always one-shot the wild Pokémon. You’d still need to remember which Pokémon you fought though, if they give different EV amounts.

How to Instantly Gain EVs¶

Alternatively, you can directly increase EVs by using vitamin items, available from a Chansey Supply shop, after obtaining 3 badges.

Vitamins cost 10,000 Poké Dollars a pop. Since you need around 25 to max one stat, that’ll cost you a whopping 250,000 Poké Dollars. We wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re swimming in cash.

In addition, you could use the feather items that you can find in the sparkling spots around Casseroya Lake.

Feathers only increase EVs by 1, so they’re kind of useless for maxing out EVs. Unless you play for ages and accumulate loads of them. However, they can be useful for finishing off builds. Eg. if you’re at 250 EVs from vitamins and need 2 more.

How to Remove EVs¶

Sometimes, you may want to get rid of EVs.

For example, you miscalculated and added too many EVs. Or you changed your mind and want to invest in a different stat. Or maybe you want to salvage the Pokémon used during your playthrough (we don’t recommend this, but hey, it’s your call).

In which case, you’ll want to use the following berries:

You can obtain these berries randomly from sparkling spots on the ground. It might take a while to forage enough berries though. When you have spare time, you could try stalking the auction houses at Porto Marinada. Sometimes, they sell bulk amounts of the berries.