How to Check IVs in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding Individual Values (IVs) is crucial for competitive Pokémon battling in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. IVs are essentially hidden stats that contribute to a Pokémon’s overall strength, and knowing how to check them allows you to breed and train the perfect team. This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough on how to unlock and utilize the IV checker function in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

What are IVs and Why Do They Matter?

Individual Values (IVs) are like Pokémon’s genetic potential. Each Pokémon has six IVs, one for each stat: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. These values range from 0 to 31, with 31 being the best possible value. A Pokémon with an IV of 31 in Attack will have a significantly higher Attack stat than a Pokémon of the same species, level, and nature with an IV of 0 in Attack.

IVs are especially important for competitive battling because they can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat. A Pokémon with high IVs in its key stats will simply perform better than a Pokémon with low IVs. For example, a Pokémon like Garchomp, known for its speed and attack, benefits immensely from high IVs in those stats.

Essentially, IVs represent a Pokémon’s inherent potential, separate from their Effort Values (EVs) and Nature. While EVs are earned through training and Natures affect stat growth, IVs are determined at the moment a Pokémon is generated (either when caught in the wild, hatched from an Egg, or received as a gift).

Unlocking the Judge Function (IV Checker)

Before you can check IVs in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, you need to unlock the Judge function in your Pokémon Boxes. This function allows you to view a Pokémon’s IVs within the game. The process is fairly straightforward, but it requires you to progress through the main story.

Step 1: Complete the Main Story

The most important prerequisite for unlocking the Judge function is beating the main storyline of Pokémon Scarlet or Violet. This includes defeating all the Titan Pokémon, conquering all the Gyms and defeating the Elite Four and Top Champion, and completing the Starfall Street storyline.

This step might seem daunting, but it ensures you have a solid understanding of the game’s mechanics and access to various areas where you can catch and breed Pokémon.

Step 2: Post-Game Activity – The Academy Ace Tournament

After completing the main story, you need to participate and win the Academy Ace Tournament at the Naranja/Uva Academy. This tournament unlocks post-game content and gives you access to various trainers from your school and across the Paldea Region.

Talk to Geeta in the Academy. She will initiate the Academy Ace Tournament. You will battle a series of trainers, including the Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, and even some familiar faces from the academy. You will have to win the entire tournament to unlock the Judge Function.

Step 3: Accessing the Judge Function

Once you’ve completed the Academy Ace Tournament, the Judge function is automatically unlocked. You don’t need to talk to any specific character or visit a particular location.

How to Check IVs Using the Judge Function

Now that you’ve unlocked the Judge function, here’s how to use it to check your Pokémon’s IVs:

Step 1: Open Your Pokémon Boxes

Press the X button to open the main menu, then select “Pokémon” to access your Boxes. You can also access your boxes from any PC in a Pokémon Center.

Step 2: Select the Pokémon You Want to Check

Navigate through your boxes to find the Pokémon whose IVs you want to examine. Select the Pokémon by pressing the A button.

Step 3: View the Pokémon’s Summary

After selecting the Pokémon, choose “Check summary” from the options that appear. This will display the Pokémon’s information, including its stats, moves, and nature.

Step 4: Activate the Judge Function

While viewing the Pokémon’s summary, press the + button. This will activate the Judge function and display the IVs of the Pokémon.

Understanding the IV Ratings

The Judge function doesn’t display the actual IV numbers (0-31). Instead, it uses descriptive terms to indicate the quality of each IV:

Best: This indicates a perfect IV of 31.
Fantastic: This indicates an IV of 30.
Very Good: This indicates a high IV, typically between 26 and 29.
Pretty Good: This indicates a decent IV, typically between 16 and 25.
Decent: This indicates a low IV, typically between 1 and 15.
No Good: This indicates an IV of 0.

For competitive battling, you generally want Pokémon with as many “Best” IVs as possible, especially in their key stats.

Breeding for Perfect IVs: The Key to Competitive Battling

Once you know how to check IVs, you can start breeding Pokémon to create the ultimate team. Breeding allows you to pass down IVs from parents to offspring, increasing the chances of getting Pokémon with high IVs.

Step 1: Obtain a Pokémon with Desirable IVs

Catch or breed Pokémon with as many “Best” IVs as possible. These Pokémon will serve as your breeding stock.

Step 2: Use Destiny Knot

The Destiny Knot is a crucial item for breeding. When held by a Pokémon in the Day Care, it guarantees that five of the parent’s combined 12 IVs (6 from each parent) will be passed down to the offspring. This significantly increases your chances of getting good IVs on the offspring.

You can purchase the Destiny Knot at Delibird Presents shops in Mesagoza after you have obtained at least four Gym Badges.

Step 3: Breed Your Pokémon

Place the Pokémon with the desirable IVs in the Day Care. If you’re aiming for specific Natures, give one of the parents an Everstone to hold. The Everstone guarantees that the offspring will inherit the holder’s Nature.

Step 4: Hatch the Eggs

Ride around the Paldea region on your ride Pokémon to hatch the Eggs. The number of steps required to hatch an Egg varies depending on the Pokémon species.

Step 5: Check the IVs of the Hatched Pokémon

Use the Judge function to check the IVs of the hatched Pokémon. Keep breeding until you get Pokémon with the desired IVs and Nature.

Step 6: Hyper Training

Even with careful breeding, you might not always get Pokémon with perfect IVs in every stat. That’s where Hyper Training comes in. Hyper Training allows you to artificially maximize a Pokémon’s IVs, effectively making them as if they were 31.

To unlock Hyper Training, you need to:

Reach level 50 with the Pokémon you wish to hyper train.
Talk to the NPC at Montenevera.

You will need Bottle Caps to Hyper Train. These can be obtained in a variety of ways, including Tera Raid Battles. Gold Bottle Caps can be used to max out all IVs at once.

Tips and Tricks for Efficient IV Checking and Breeding

Use a Pokémon with Flame Body or Magma Armor: Pokémon with these abilities halve the number of steps required to hatch Eggs, speeding up the breeding process. For example, Talonflame with Flame Body can drastically cut down hatching time.
Mark Your Pokémon: Use the marking feature in the Pokémon Boxes to keep track of Pokémon with good IVs. This helps you quickly identify your breeding stock.
Keep a Spreadsheet: For serious breeders, maintaining a spreadsheet of your Pokémon’s IVs, Natures, and abilities can be extremely helpful. This allows you to track your progress and plan your breeding strategies more effectively.
Utilize Online Resources: Websites like Serebii.net and Bulbapedia provide detailed information about Pokémon stats, breeding mechanics, and other useful tips.
Join Online Communities: Connect with other Pokémon breeders and competitive players online. Sharing tips and strategies can help you improve your breeding skills and build a stronger team.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring Natures: Natures play a significant role in a Pokémon’s stat growth. Make sure to breed for the right Nature in addition to high IVs. A Pokémon with perfect IVs but a hindering Nature might still be suboptimal.
Not Using Destiny Knot: Breeding without a Destiny Knot is highly inefficient. The Destiny Knot significantly increases your chances of passing down good IVs.
Forgetting About Abilities: Abilities can be just as important as IVs and Natures. Make sure to breed for the desired ability as well. Some Pokémon have hidden abilities that are only obtainable through breeding or special events.
Rushing the Process: Breeding for perfect IVs takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get the results you want right away. Keep breeding and experimenting until you achieve your goals.
Not Utilizing Hyper Training: If you’re close to perfect but have one or two imperfect IVs, don’t underestimate the power of Hyper Training. It can be a quick and easy way to fix those last few imperfections.

Advanced Strategies for IV Breeding

For those looking to take their IV breeding to the next level, here are some advanced strategies:

Using Ditto: Ditto can breed with almost any Pokémon, making it a valuable tool for breeding Pokémon with specific IVs or Natures. If you find a Ditto with good IVs, it can greatly simplify the breeding process.
Breeding for Hidden Abilities: Some Pokémon have hidden abilities that can only be obtained through breeding. To breed for a hidden ability, you need to breed a female Pokémon with the hidden ability with a male Pokémon of the same species or a Ditto.
Masuda Method: The Masuda Method involves breeding two Pokémon from different language regions. This significantly increases the chances of hatching a Shiny Pokémon.
Power Items: Power items like the Power Bracer, Power Belt, Power Lens, Power Band, Power Anklet, and Power Weight, each guarantee that the respective stat (Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed, and HP, respectively) will be passed down from the holding parent. This is especially helpful when trying to pass down a specific IV from a Pokémon that has multiple “Best” IVs.

Conclusion

Checking IVs and breeding for perfect Pokémon is a rewarding but time-consuming process in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can unlock the Judge function, understand IV ratings, and breed Pokémon with the potential to dominate the competitive scene. Remember to be patient, utilize the available resources, and have fun experimenting with different breeding strategies. Happy battling!

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