If you want the most powerful Pokémon, you'll need to EV train.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP) include a fun story that you can play through and even some high-level trainers that you can rematch. They're two of our favorite Nintendo Switch games and give you a chance to grow as a Pokémon master. As you progress throughout the games, being at a high level won't be enough to defeat certain opponents.
Even the best team for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will fall short without proper training. To raise your Pokémon to the next level, you need to EV train them. EV training can sound complicated if you're new to it. At the end of each section, we'll have a too long didn't read (TLDR) summary to make things simpler.
What are EVs?
In short, EVs are hidden points that permanently boost the stats of your Pokémon. You can earn EVs in each stat, including HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. There are maximum EV values for specific stats as well as a total maximum, meaning you can't infinitely boost your Pokémon's stats.
You earn EVs in a variety of ways: battling Pokémon, using medicine, and holding items while battling Pokémon. You can also reset EVs with berries, though we'll touch on that more later.
The stats of a Pokémon increase by one per four EVs in a given stat when that Pokémon is at level 100. The maximum EVs a Pokémon can have in a specific stat is 252, which results in an increase of 63 in that stat when the Pokémon reaches level 100.
510 is the maximum total amount of EVs a Pokémon can have. A common method of training is to max out two stats with 252 EVs and then place the remaining 6 in another stat.
TLDR: EVs help your Pokémon get stronger. By EV training your Pokémon, you can boost their stats significantly.
How to check EVs
Sadly, the makers of Pokémon won't just tell you how many EVs a Pokémon has in a specific stat, at least not numerically. You can, however, get a general idea about a Pokémon's EVs. You can also see if a specific stat is maxed out.
- Press X to open the in-game menu.
- Select Pokémon.
- Select the Pokémon you want to check the EVs of.
- Select Check summary.
- Navigate to the Pokémon Skills section.
- Press X.
You will now see a hexagon filled out with blue shading. These indicate how many EVs are in each stat. If there's a yellow star next to a stat, that stat is maxed out.
TLDR: Check the stats of a Pokémon and press X. A star means a stat is maxed out. You don't want to have EVs in stats that don't matter for that Pokémon.
How to earn EVs
If you've played through any part of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl, you've already earned EVs for a Pokémon. Good job! Now you can learn how to specifically earn EVs in the stats you want to boost.
Every time you defeat a Pokémon in battle, your entire party will earn some amount of EVs. Which EVs they earn and how many depend on the Pokémon you defeat. Pokémon can yield between 0-3 EVs when beaten in battle.
Usually, the EV yields of a Pokémon make sense. Pokémon that have high attack often let you earn attack EVs. That's not always the case, however.
The following chart are some suggested Pokémon to battle to earn certain EVs. These aren't your only options, but they're all easy to find. Many of these Pokémon are found in several locations, so we listed one or two per entry.
| Stat | Pokémon | Location | EV Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP | Gastrodon | Route 218 | 2 |
| HP | Bidoof | Route 201 | 1 |
| Attack | Bibarel | Route 209, Route 212 | 2 |
| Attack | Machoke | Route 210, Route 211 | 2 |
| Defense | Silcoon/Cascoon | Eterna Forest | 2 |
| Defense | Geodude | Route 211, Route 214 | 1 |
| Special Attack | Roselia | Route 212 | 2 |
| Special Attack | Gastly | Old Chateau | 1 |
| Special Defense | Tentacruel | Route 205 (surfing) | 2 |
| Speed | Floatzel | Route 213, Route 218 | 2 |
| Speed | Starly | Route 201 | 1 |
TLDR: Defeating Pokémon earns you EVs. Defeat lots of the same Pokémon to boost a specific stat.
How to EV train with items
You can speed up the EV training process with items. All but one of the power items adds an additional 8 EVs in a specific stat every time you defeat a Pokémon. The held items give the same EV add-on regardless of which type of Pokémon you defeated.
| Item | Stat it boosts |
|---|---|
| Power Weight | HP |
| Power Bracer | Attack |
| Power Belt | Defense |
| Power Lens | Special Attack |
| Power Band | Special Defense |
| Power Anklet | Speed |
All of the above power items can be purchased for 16 Battle Points each in the Battle Park, a place you can access in the post-game.
The Macho Brace also boosts EVs received, but in a different way. The Macho Brace doubles the amount of EVs received after each battle. You can find the Macho Brace in Pastoria City in the house north of the Poké Mart.
TLDR: Power items can significantly boost the amount of EVs you earn after each battle.
How to boost EVs with vitamins
You can skip all of the complicated steps and training above if you have lots of money in the game. In previous games, there was a maximum of how many EVs you could give a Pokémon by giving them vitamins, but that's no longer the case. If you have enough money, you can max out any stats you'd like. Note that the same rules apply regarding maximum EV values.
You can purchase vitamins on the second floor of the Veilstone City department store. Each vitamin costs 9800 Pokémon Dollars each. You can also purchase vitamins for one battle point each at the Battle Park.
| Vitamin | Stat it boosts |
|---|---|
| HP UP | HP |
| Protein | Attack |
| Iron | Defense |
| Calcium | Special Attack |
| Zinc | Special Defense |
| Carbos | Speed |
TLDR: Purchase vitamins at the department store in Veilstone City to max out your Pokémon's EVs.
How to reset EVs
If you used a Pokémon to play through the story of BDSP, it will have EV points in all of its stats. EV points in stats a Pokémon doesn't utilize are wasted. For example, a Pokémon that only uses special attacks shouldn't have any EVs invested in its attack.
Luckily, you can lower the EVs of a Pokémon, including dropping them down all the way to zero. This is done by feeding a Pokémon berries. Each of the berries listed below reduces the corresponding EV value of a Pokémon by 10 per berry.
| Berry | Stat it reduces |
|---|---|
| Pomeg Berry | HP |
| Kelpsy Berry | Attack |
| Qualot Berry | Defense |
| Hondew Berry | Special Attack |
| Grepa Berry | Special Defense |
| Tamato Berry | Speed |
These berries are spread throughout Sinnoh. You can also purchase them for one battle point each at the Battle Park. Remember that you can grow berries, so you don't need to spend a load of battle points. Just purchase one of each and grow your own.
TLDR: You can reset your Pokémon's EVs to train them up a specific way. You can reduce EVs in each stat by feeding a Pokémon berries.
How Pokérus affects EV training
Pokérus is an extremely rare condition in Pokémon games. A Pokémon that has an active Pokémon virus earns twice as many EVs after each battle. That boost stacks with other increases, such as those from power items.
You only have a 3 in 65,536 chance of Pokérus appearing. Once a Pokémon has it, they can spread it to other Pokémon. Pokérus only remains active for a short time, so if a Pokémon has it, make sure to spread it around. Pokerus is easier to spread when your trade with others online as this widens the pool of people you can trade with who might have an infected Pokémon. When the Global Wonder Station (GWS) in Jubilife City finally becomes available in a future update, you'll want to trade often in the hopes of getting an infected Pokémon. If a friend's Pokémon gets infected, make sure to pass it among yourselves.
After Pokérus is inactive, it will still result in double EV points, but it won't be able to spread to other Pokémon. You can keep Pokérus active by storing a Pokémon in a box in the PC.
You can tell if your Pokémon has Pokérus by checking their summary page. A pink face symbol with an x through it means your Pokémon is infected with Pokérus. A pink face without the x means they had it, but now they're no longer infectious.
TLDR: If a Pokémon has Pokérus, it earns twice as many EVs after each battle. If you get a Pokémon with Pokérus, make sure to spread Pokérus to other Pokémon and to keep a Pokémon with an active case in a box.
Start EV training
Now you know everything there is to know about EV training in BDSP. Good luck getting your Pokémon to the best stats possible.
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