(1 of 2) No matter how complicated things get, bigger numbers are usually better.
No matter how complicated things get, bigger numbers are usually better. (left), (right)
When you look at your Pokemon’s Summary screen, you’ll see their stats displayed on the top screen. While experienced Pokemon trainers will know these stats like the back of their hand, they can be quite intimidating for newcomers.
Key Stats¶
| Stat | Affects | What it Means |
|---|---|---|
| HP | Health | Short for “Hit Points”. This is the total health of your Pokémon. |
| Attack | Physical moves | The higher this stat, the more damage your Pokémon will deal with physical moves. |
| Defense | Physical moves | The higher this stat, the less damage your Pokémon will receive from physical moves. |
| Sp. Atk | Special moves | Short for “Special Attack”. The higher this stat, the more damage your Pokémon will deal with special moves. |
| Sp. Def | Special moves | Short for “Special Defense”. The higher this stat, the less damage your Pokémon will receive from special moves. |
| Speed | Priority in battle | The higher this stat, the greater the chance of your Pokemon acting first in battle. |
Physical or Special?¶
(1 of 2) A physical move
A physical move (left), A special move (right)
So far, so good, but how can you tell what’s a physical move and what’s a special move? Well, when you check a Pokemon’s moves (via the Summary screen or by pressing L+A during battle), you will see a specific Category icon above the move’s Power and Accuracy.
A red “crash” icon indicates that the move is physical-based, while a blue “spiral” icon indicates that the move is a special one. Or if the icon is a gray “yin-yang”, that means it’s a status move that’s neither physical or special.
Knowing this, the first thing you should do is have your Pokémon specialize in physical or special moves–the choice depending on if their Attack or Special Attack stat is the highest. If both stats are just as high, you’ve nothing to worry about!
Finally, you should consider your opponent when selecting a physical or special move. Just as some Pokémon have higher Attack or Special Attack, some have higher Defence or Special Defence. Trying to defeat 
Blissey with special moves could take all day, but a physical move will end it in seconds.
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