Question regarding EV

[areyouabc]

Can anyone give me a super duper easy explanation of EV?

1) For example, I know that keep fighting Vileplume can give you better SP.Atk stat on level up, but at some point it stop giving better stat on level up, but how do I know when?

2) If I use the specified item + nature's bonus, will I max that individual stat faster?

3) Also, If I already 'max' out EV of SP.Atk, can I go for another stat? Will it affect the SP.Atk that I had gotten so far?

 

[slate]

you should probably read this if you haven't already

1. most of the time you just have to count the effort values. serebii/bulbapedia both will tell you how many effort values you'll get from defeating a certain pokemon, and from there you just account for potential pokerus + held items. it's a fairly simple but tedious exercise. drastic increases like +12 or something upon level-up usually end when you stop EV training your pokemon or around 2-5 levels after the first spike happens, depending on how many EVs you pump into your pokemon
2. nature doesn't have anything to do with maximizing EVs. certain held items + pokerus will help you max your EVs, though
3. yes, you can pour 255 evs into any stat. important to note that you gain no more points after 252. afterwards you can dump the remainder of your EVs into any stat you want and it won't affect another stat's growth.

good luck

 

[areyouabc]

I did see that link you gave, but I still can't understand.
Sorry that I'm not fluent in English but for point 1, what is "first spike", I don't get it.

 

[Soki]

Sadly there just isn't a super duper easy explanation of EV's, but I'll do my best I also recommend reading this guide, which also talks about natures and EV-training.

So what you first need to know:

• Every Pokémon can have a maximum of 510 EV's in total.
• You should put no more than 252 EV's in a stat (don't ask why, it's a complicated story, just trust me).
• Mostly you just put 252 EV's in the two most important stats and then 6 EV's in a third stat (252+252+6= 510 EV's total). For example, for my Weavile I put 252 EV's in Speed and Attack, cause I want it to be fast and to be able to hit hard. The remaining 6 EV's I put in HP, so it survives a bit longer.
  
• If you want to EV-train a certain Pokémon, I suggest using the internet to search for advice on which stats should be EV-trained for that specific Pokémon.
  
• A good nature also helps, as they make stats go higher. My Weavile has a Jolly nature, so its Speed stat is higher than a Weavile with a different nature. It doesn't affect the amount of EV's you can put into a stat though, my Weavile still has 252 EV's in Speed.

So with that out of the way: how do you EV-train your Pokémon?

1. Optional: give your Pokémon Pokérus. It will make EV-training go twice as fast.

2. Give your Pokémon one of these held items, depending on which stat you want to EV-train:
- Power Weight (for HP)
- Power Bracer (for Attack)
- Power Belt (for Defense)
- Power Lens (for Special Attack)
- Power Band (for Special Defense)
- Power Anklet (for Speed)
These items will also make EV-training go faster.

3. Fight hordes with your Pokémon. (Or let another Pokémon fight them and turn Exp. Share on. As long as the Pokémon you want to train is in the party, it will get the EV's). This really is the fastest way to EV-train, as you only need to fight five hordes to get 250 EV's in one stat. This is why:

• 1 Whismur gives you 1 EV in HP.
• 1 horde of Whismur thus gives you 5 EV's in HP.
• Pokérus doubles the amount of EV's you get, so 1 horde gives 10 EV's if your Pokémon has Pokérus.
• The held items I've named give you 4 extra EV's for each Pokémon you beat. So 1 Whismur would give you 5 EV's (1+4) in HP and 1 horde would give you 25 EV's (5x5) in HP if your Pokémon holds a Power Weight.
  
• So when your Pokémon has Pokérus+the right held item: 1 horde will give you 50 EV's.

So for example, you want your Pokémon to have 252 EV's in HP. You give it Pokérus and a Power Weight and then fight 5 hordes of Whismur. This will give your Pokémon 250 EV's in HP. Then take the Power Weight off and fight one more Whismur for the remaining 2.

If your Pokémon doesn't have Pokérus: fight 25 hordes of Whismur for 250 EV's. Then take the Power Weight off and fight one more Whismur for the remaining 2.

Here's a nice list of hordes in ORAS, where to find them and which EV's they give.

You can also use Super Training and/or Vitamins for EV-training, but those methods are slower and Vitamins are really expensive, so I definitely recommend hordes.

I think that's about the shortest summary I can give, if I forgot something or explained something incorrectly, anyone is welcome to correct me ^^;

 

[DoctorWhy]

Most of what I've seen posted is right. I would also add that EVs collected need to be in multiples of 4. 3 won't do anything. 5 is wasting 1. Gotta be multiples of 4. That's why the cap is 252 for a single stat.

Max 510 EVs for a Pokemon. 255 is the max for a single stat, but you need to be sure to stop at 252 to retain multiples of 4. More EVs = higher stat.

In the main game, don't worry. If you're just casually enjoying and playing through a game, don't worry about them at all. Not worth crap.

EVs only matter in competitive/metagame.

Super Training is personally my favorite method.