Skip to content
Effort Values (EVs)
Pokemon Sword and Shield

Effort Values (EVs)

Learn how to customize your Pokémon's stats in pokemon sword and shield using Effort Values (EVs). Max stat boost is 63 per stat.

By ···10 min read·Multi-source verified
1 reading this guide  

Learn how to customize your Pokémon's stats in pokemon sword and shield using Effort Values (EVs). Max stat boost is 63 per stat.

Unlike Nature and IVs, Effort Values (EVs) can be freely customised in pokemon sword and shield. You don’t need to concern yourself with EVs during the main story, as their influence is hardly felt, and managing them would be a nightmare. Only after you’ve cleared the story should you consider your plans.

At Level 100, a Pokémon gains 1 stat point for every 4 EVs accumulated. 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. You’re allowed 510 total EVs, so you can have a second stat boosted by 63 points and a third stat boosted by 1 point.

Comparing a run-of-the-mill Pokémon from the main story with unoptimised EVs to a hardcore trainer’s Pokémon with optimised EVs is like looking at night and day.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    EV Training: Identify which species gives what EVs, then focus on defeating that species. Each Pokémon species awards 1 to 3 EVs in a given stat. If your Pokémon has a “Power” item (eg. Power Anklet), they can gain an extra 8 EVs at the cost of having temporarily reduced Speed.
  2. 2
    Vitamins: Feed your Pokémon vitamins such as Calcium and Carbos, which boosts EVs by 10 points in the specified stat. These items are expensive. Wing items, like Genius Wing, boost EVs by 1 point each, but are not easily obtained. You can buy vitamins from the BP Shop in the first Hammerlocke Pokémon Centre or the Poké Mart clerk in the first Wyndon Pokémon Centre.
  3. 3
    Poké Jobs: Once you’ve obtained 4 Gym badges, you can use Poké Jobs to passively EV train multiple Pokémon. Pokémon will gain 4 EVs per hour in the chosen stat. If you give your Pokémon a “Power” item, they can gain 12 EVs per hour instead, reaching the max in 24 hours.
Tips
  • Vitamins are expensive but offer a quick way to boost EVs.
  • Poké Jobs are a slow but passive method, ideal for training multiple Pokémon simultaneously.
  • Power items increase EV gain from both EV Training and Poké Jobs.

100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content