IV Priorities by League

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Section 6: IV Priorities by League

Why IVs Work Differently in Each League In capped leagues (Great and Ultra), the CP formula penalizes high Attack IVs by causing a Pokémon to reach the CP cap at a lower level, leaving fewer levels to gain bulk. Lower Attack IVs allow a Pokémon to be leveled higher under the same CP ceiling, increasing its Defense and HP — the stats that matter most in drawn-out shield wars. This is the opposite of what most players initially assume.

IV Target Guide

League CP Cap Target Attack IV Target Defense IV Target HP IV Notes Great League 1,500 0–5 13–15 13–15 Most competitive ; IV hunting strongly recommended Ultra League 2,500 0–5 13–15 13–15 XL Candy often required; IV matters but slightly less extreme than GL Master League No cap 15 15 15 Perfect IVs always optimal; no penalty for high Attack Premier Cups Same as base league Same rules apply Same rules apply Same rules apply Same as the league format you are playing CMP (Charge Move Priority) - When two Pokémon use a Charged Move simultaneously, the Pokémon with the higher Attack stat goes first — this is called CMP (Charge Move Priority) - CMP can completely flip mirror matchups, turning a loss into a win - In Great League, having a slightly higher Attack IV can win CMP ties against identical Pokémon - Always check CMP when building leads in mirror-heavy metas

Practical IV Hunting Tips

• Use PvPoke.com or Pokémon GO IVs apps to check rank by Stat Product - Rank 1–10 spreads are exceptional; Rank 1–100 is competitive at most Elo ranges - Community Day and event spawns are the best time to hunt PvP IVs due to dramatically increased spawn rates - Never power up a GL or UL Pokémon without checking its PvP rank first — wasted Stardust cannot be recovered - In Master League, assess any 15 Attack catch for powering up - Within ~1% of Rank 1 Stat Product is viable — do not hold out indefinitely for perfect spreads