ChampionsApril 29, 202610 min read

Beginner's Guide 3 | The Complete Pokémon Training Guide: EVs, Natures, and Moves

1. Why Training in the Mainline Games Can Be So Daunting

IVs are luck-based, EVs require grinding items or wild battles, and replacing moves means hunting down TMs.
You generally need to finish the main story before unlocking the more convenient training mechanics.
Getting your first Pokémon to "battle-ready" condition can easily eat up dozens of hours.

2. What Pokémon Champions Changes

IVs are removed: The same species of Pokémon will always have identical base stats, regardless of where or how you obtained it.
All training is done through a single Training interface — no running around required.
Everything can be adjusted at any time by spending VP. Once you've played for a while, VP is rarely scarce, making adjustments nearly free.

3. Stats

Every Pokémon has six stats: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
A Pokémon's base stats are determined by its base stat totals, which you'll need to look up separately.
HP = Base Stat + 75; all other five stats = Base Stat + 20.
You can view each Pokémon's exact stat values directly in-game.

4. Stat Points

Each stat can be allocated between +0 and +32 Stat Points, with a total cap of +66 across all six stats.
In the Training interface, use the sliders to distribute points. Adding 1 Stat Point costs 5 VP; reducing points is free.
Pokémon transferred via HOME Expedition will have their original EVs proportionally converted into Stat Points.
Because the total cap is fixed at +66, you'll need to make trade-offs: investing in Speed, for example, means sacrificing bulk.
Beginner's recommended spread: Max out the higher of Attack or Special Attack at +32. Then either max Speed at +32 if you want to move first more often, or max HP at +32 for more durability. Spend the remaining 2 points however you like.

5. Stat Alignment (Natures)

You can boost one stat by +10% and reduce another by -10%.
Switch between options in the Training interface for 500 VP.
Beginner's tip: Apply -10% to the lower of Attack or Special Attack, and +10% to the higher one, or go for +10% Speed if you want to outpace opponents.

6. Abilities

Each Pokémon has one or more abilities to choose from, each producing different effects in battle.
Switch between abilities in the Training interface for 500 VP.
After Mega Evolving, a Pokémon's ability typically changes.

7. Moves

Each Pokémon can know up to four moves, selected from its individual learnable move pool.
Teaching one move costs 250 VP in the Training interface.
Moves fall into three categories: Physical (damage calculated using Attack), Special (damage calculated using Special Attack), and Status (no direct damage).

8. Held Items

Each Pokémon can hold one item, and no two Pokémon on the same team may hold the same item.
Available items include various held items, Berries, Mega Stones, and more.
Standard held items can be purchased individually from the Pioneer Shop for 400, 700, or 1,000 VP depending on the item.
Mega Stones cost 2,000 VP each from the Pioneer Shop.
Completing the Mega Evolution tutorial rewards you with Mega Stones for the following Pokémon: Garchomp, Beedrill, Gyarados, Steelix, Heracross, Aggron, Manectric, and Abomasnow.
The Mega Stones for Chesnaught, Delphox, Greninja, and Diancie (Eternal Flower) can currently only be obtained by transferring the corresponding Pokémon from Pokémon Legends: Z-A via HOME Expedition.

9. Not Sure How to Train Your Pokémon?

Check Battle Data in-game to see how other players in Ranked Battle have trained their Pokémon — you can use these builds directly as a reference.
The maximum VP needed to fully train one Pokémon is 6,830 VP: 2,500 (recruitment) + 330 (66 Stat Points) + 500 (stat alignment) + 500 (ability) + 1,000 (4 moves) + 2,000 (held item).
In practice, you'll rarely spend that much, and more importantly, everything can be adjusted dynamically as you go.

10. Closing Thoughts