In Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl, players will want to build their best possible Pokemon teams. This means leveling Pokemon's stats and evolving them into their best forms. There are also some stats that players want to make sure they level, and one of these is EVs or Effort Values.

Updated on March 23, 2022 by Renri Seong: Most Pokemon gamers are more focused on catching and training their favorite Pokemon than they are raising them for competitive battle. However, for the trainers that do like competitive battling, they must pay attention to their Pokemon's Nature, stat growths, and do EV training. Since the Exp. Share started affecting all Pokemon in the party, it's been difficult for competitive trainers to EV train in games like Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Those serious about EV training their Pokemon for the Diamond/Pearl remakes will have to take some extra steps to properly EV train their party. The following guide has been updated to include tips of EV training in generation 8 Pokemon games.

What are Effort Values in Pokemon?

A battle screen in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl depicting a battle between Lucario and Garchomp

Effort Values in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl can be leveled with each Pokemon in order to push stats past their usual max level. Players can check the EV of any Pokemon in the Pokemon menu; after selecting the Pokemon that players want to check the stats of, click "Check Summary," then click on the hexagon. This page will display a Pokemon's numerical stats, including their EVs. Effort Values top out at 510 total points, but players have the option to add or move EV points from one stat to another with battles, items, and food.

RELATED: Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Player Discovers Hilarious Glitch at the Pokemon League

  • Each Pokemon tops out at 510 total EV points
  • 4 EV points are equal to one additional point in the connected stat.
  • EV points can be used to increase a stat beyond the maximum level.
  • Players can choose what kind of EV they want to farm for each specific Pokemon.
  • EV points can be removed through Pokemon food items like candy.
  • Each stat can have a maximum EV boost of 252 EVs or 63 additional levels.

Training Effort Values in Battle

Pokemon-Brilliant-Diamond-Shining-Pearl-EV-Guide-2

There is a small selection of wild Pokemon that grant Effort Values, each in a specific category. When players battle these specific Pokemon, it will raise the EV points by one in that stat.

  • Pokemon that give HP EVs - Bidoof (Route 201), Gastrodon (Route 218)
  • Pokemon that give Attack EVs - Bibarel (Route 212), Kricketune (Route 212), Machoke (Route 223)
  • Pokemon that give Defense EVs - Geodude (Ruin Maniac Cave), Hippopotas (Ruin Maniac Cave), Silcoon (Eterna Forest), Cascoon (Eterna Forest), Graveler (Iron Island)
  • Pokemon that give Special Attack EVs - Ghastly (Old Chateau), Roselia (N Route 212), Golduck (Sendoff Spring)
  • Pokemon that give Special Defense EVs - Tentacruel (Route 223), Girafarig (Valor Lakefront)
  • Pokemon that give Speed EVs - Floatzel (Route 218), Starley (Pokemon Diamond and Pearl's Route 201)

It's highly recommended to EV train a Pokemon while it still has a lot of leveling to do. A good example would be hatching a Pokemon, since newly hatched Pokemon will always be level 1.

Using Items for Effort Values in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Pokemon-Brilliant-Diamond-Shining-Pearl-EV-Guide-3

Although there are several differences between Pokemon Shining Pearl and Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, the items for raising and lowering EVs are the same. Players can use several different kinds of items to level a Pokemon's EV. There are Held items and food items that can change a specific EV. These items are:

  • Power Weight - Held item that grants 8 HP EVs per battle
  • Power Bracer - Held item that grants 8 Attack EVs per battle
  • Power Belt - Held item that grants 8 Defense EVs per battle
  • Power Lens - Held item that grants 8 Special Attack EVs per battle
  • Power Band - Held item that grants 8 Special Def EVs per battle
  • Power Anklet - Held item that grants 8 Speed EVs per battle
  • Macho Brace - Held item that grants double EVs earned in battle
  • HP Up - Food item that grants 10 HP EVs
  • Protein - Food item that grants 10 Attack EVs
  • Iron - Food item that grants 10 Defense EVs
  • Calcium - Food item that grants 10 Special Attack EVs
  • Zinc - Food item that grants 10 Special Defense EVs
  • Carbos - Food item that grants 10 Speed EVs
  • Pomeg Berry - Food item that lowers HP EVs by 10 (Players can purchase and grow these berries in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl)
  • Keplsy Berry - Food item that lowers Attack EVs by 10
  • Qualot Berry- Food item that lowers Defense EVs by 10
  • Hondew Berry- Food item that lowers Special Attack EVs by 10
  • Grepa Berry- Food item that lowers Special Defense EVs by 10
  • Tamato Berry- Food item that lowers Speed EVs by 10

EV Training with Permanent Exp. Share

pokemon brilliant diamond shining pearl battle

The Exp. Share went from being a Held Item to a Key Item in generation 6 before it became a permanent part of Pokemon's gameplay starting with Let's Go, Pikachu!/Eevee!. While this helps players keep their Pokemon around the same level, the shared experience has interfered with those who like to EV Train for competitive battling.

Now, Effort Values gained from a Pokemon goes to any non-fainted Pokemon on the team. Meaning if a trainer wanted Speed EVs from a Floatzel but had a Graveler in their party, then the 2 Speed EVs would go to Graveler and, of course, whichever Pokemon was used to defeat Floatzel. For a Pokemon like Graveler, it's pointless in raising its Speed stat.

If players are serious about EV Training in Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, the best way to do so is by having the Pokemon they want to train be the only Pokemon in the party. Or, they can fill their team with the Pokemon they want to EV Train and five other Pokemon that need the same type of EVs.

While this is more tedious than EV Training in earlier games, BDSP allows players to access their Storage System from their Party menu. To get the portable PC box, players will need to have met Bebe after defeating the Team Galactic Grunts in Jubilife City. This makes it easier to deposit/withdraw Pokemon without having to run back to a Pokemon Center.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl are available for Nintendo Switch.

MORE: Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl: Complete Guide & Walkthrough

Source: YouTube, YouTube