# Let's Talk Pokemon! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 9, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504 "2009-07-09T23:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/81 "2009-07-21T18:09:11Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > Yea that’s EV training, a way to maximize invisible values by calculating things that make my brain hurt. Furthermore it’s an exploit and not an official gameplay element, you actually have to go sort through pages of information online to figure that stuff out…He certainly didn’t learn it from the cartoon:) Can you give me a bit more detail on this? I ask because so far, at least as far as I know, he hasn’t been cheating at this – no cheat codes giving him impossible Pokemon or unlimited health or anything. I suppose it’s inevitable he’ll want to try that route at some point, but are you saying that this business of gastrodon killing is an exploit and not part of the game? ---
**Author:** ![CyclopticXander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/82 "2009-07-21T18:24:04Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Can you give me a bit more detail on this? > > I ask because so far, at least as far as I know, he hasn’t been cheating at this – no cheat codes giving him impossible Pokemon or unlimited health or anything. I suppose it’s inevitable he’ll want to try that route at some point, but are you saying that this business of gastrodon killing is an exploit and not part of the game? No it’s not cheating at all, it’s just not a part of the game that the programmers intended to be used, but it is definitely fair game if you know how to work it. Basically the intention was for everyone’s pokemon to have slightly different stats, so they programmed each of the wild pokemon you battle and defeat to have a hidden value that is adds extra stats to a particular attribute (Attk, Speed, etc), once you hit a certain number of these extra “effort values” then you are maxed out. This is all normally plays out without the player’s understanding since there’s no way to actually see these numbers anywhere. If you know which wild pokemon grant the certain combination of stats that you are looking to maximize then you can use a formula to battle that pokemon a certain number of times, you have to work the math out yourself. Most competitive players use it, all I meant to say is that it is beyond the comprehension of most seven year olds since you are not going to read about it in any official Nintendo products or anything. Hope that clears it up. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/83 "2009-07-21T20:30:17Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > I’ll be around. I’m almost certain i can breed you a Paras if you can’t find one. > > I don’t know if you are familiar with this site, it’s a great resource for planning your pokemon. [Serebii.net Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold & Soul Silver Pokédex](http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-dp/) > > That site contains all the stats and moves and all the info you could need on each Pokemon, for instance in the entry for Paras you can see that he learns one of the best moves on the game (spore) at level 17. Spore is so awesome in fact that it is usually banned from the competitive online metagame, but you needn’t worry about that if you are just playing with people casually. I can trade you a level one Sneasel for a Pars. If you’d like a different one just tell me. I am free after 4 pacific. ---
**Author:** ![CyclopticXander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/84 "2009-07-21T21:50:47Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I can trade you a level one Sneasel for a Pars. If you’d like a different one just tell me. I am free after 4 pacific. I’ll give you a Paris, just bring whatever disposable pokemon you want to trade. I just hatched a male for you, but you can use it to breed one to your liking. My FC is 0945 8715 0143 This is for my diamond game which has most of my pokemon on it, if we eventually battle I’ll be using my platinum game that has my team so the FC will be different. We can do it tonight if you like, whatever time is best for you. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/85 "2009-07-21T22:55:42Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > I’ll give you a Paris, just bring whatever disposable pokemon you want to trade. > > I just hatched a male for you, but you can use it to breed one to your liking. > > My FC is 0945 8715 0143 > This is for my diamond game which has most of my pokemon on it, if we eventually battle I’ll be using my platinum game that has my team so the FC will be different. > > We can do it tonight if you like, whatever time is best for you. How does 6 PM, Pacific sound? ---
**Author:** ![CyclopticXander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/86 "2009-07-21T23:04:20Z")
6 Pacific is fine, I’ll meet you then. ---
**Author:** ![CyclopticXander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/87 "2009-07-22T01:06:42Z")
Well I had to rebreed since I forgot to save for some unknown reason, so it’s a female if that makes a difference. I meant to get on here in time to tell you to bring another junk pokemon to trade for an egg that I have no idea what’s inside, just for fun. I used to do a lot of breeding so i have a whole bunch of mystery eggs. Maybe next time. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/88 "2009-07-22T01:24:44Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > Well I had to rebreed since I forgot to save for some unknown reason, so it’s a female if that makes a difference. > > I meant to get on here in time to tell you to bring another junk pokemon to trade for an egg that I have no idea what’s inside, just for fun. I used to do a lot of breeding so i have a whole bunch of mystery eggs. Maybe next time. Don’t worry about being late (and the female is what I needed). I think it’d be fun, if we both brought an egg to trade, not telling the other what was in it. And thanks again for the Paras, I couldn’t find one online nor in the Safari. Online is horrid because you have a lot of people who don’t know the worth of their Pokemon. I am not going to trade you a level 100 Suicine for a level 12 Growlithe. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/89 "2009-07-22T14:54:29Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > I used to do a lot of breeding so i have a whole bunch of mystery eggs. Just going from memory (not typing at the direction of, in other words) my son did a great deal of eggmaking as well, including some deal where he was getting eggs, hatching them, and then discarding the result if it didn’t have the right “nature.” ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/90 "2009-07-22T18:49:54Z")
**Bricker** : Since I have no idea about anything Pokemon since the original 151 I really have no idea what half the things your son is saying, but I continually read this thread simply to see you write “Bricker Jr. says…”. He is freakin amazing. His knowledge and strategy is right outta West Point. You can tell he is descendant from a doper. ---
**Author:** ![CyclopticXander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/91 "2009-07-22T22:38:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Just going from memory (not typing at the direction of, in other words) my son did a great deal of eggmaking as well, including some deal where he was getting eggs, hatching them, and then discarding the result if it didn’t have the right “nature.” Yep, a Pokemon’s nature has a small effect on its stats (one area boosted and one hindered, 10% both ways ). So people who are intent on breeding the most perfectly constructed pokemon possible breed for natures. If he does that then I’m sure he also accounts for traits as well, they have varying effects a pokemon’s abilities. With attention paid to elements that minute I’d be willing to bet that Bricker Jr could whoop just about anybody he came across in real life. There are a few other factors that affect stats to varying degrees of minuscule, the most time consumingly annoying of which is IVs. They are also invisible randomizers like EVs and even harder to account for. I would be very surprised to learn if he puts the time in to select for this, maybe you could inquire?🙂 Basically it involves breeding a whole bunch of the species you want with the natures and traits you want and taking them into a test online battle with someone. The online battle mode automatically scales every pokemon up to the maximum level 100 for that battle. You record your pokemon’s stats at their maximised state and enter them (and other relevant information) into a calculator that you can find online that tells you what its IV variable in each catagory is. Repeat until you find one with satisfactory IVs in the important areas for how you plan to raise them. If he does THAT then…well…you need to enter him in some tournaments with cash prizes:) ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/92 "2009-07-23T01:00:21Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > **Bricker** : > > Since I have no idea about anything Pokemon since the original 151 I really have no idea what half the things your son is saying, but I continually read this thread simply to see you write “Bricker Jr. says…”. He is freakin amazing. His knowledge and strategy is right outta West Point. You can tell he is descendant from a doper. And the Pokemon he has! He’s got one hell of a collection and he knows how to use it. When I fought him, I was overjoyed to knock out _one_ of his while the floor was littered with my casualties. **CyclopticXander** - I hope BrickJr isn’t messing with IVs. I mean, I can understand the grinding of EVs; heck, I’ve done similar stuff in games in the past. I just don’t want the boy to be driven mad at such a young age. For with IVs, therein lies madness.\* \*- Or alternatively, “Abandon all hope, ye who deal with IVs.” ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/93 "2009-07-23T08:18:17Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > Yep, a Pokemon’s nature has a small effect on its stats (one area boosted and one hindered, 10% both ways ). So people who are intent on breeding the most perfectly constructed pokemon possible breed for natures. If he does that then I’m sure he also accounts for traits as well, they have varying effects a pokemon’s abilities. With attention paid to elements that minute I’d be willing to bet that Bricker Jr could whoop just about anybody he came across in real life. > > There are a few other factors that affect stats to varying degrees of minuscule, the most time consumingly annoying of which is IVs. They are also invisible randomizers like EVs and even harder to account for. I would be very surprised to learn if he puts the time in to select for this, maybe you could inquire?🙂 I asked him this question tonight. He said that the only thing he does is keep a list of his Pokemon’s IVs because when he makes eggs, the children have a chance to inherit the parent’s IVs and so when he finds a high IV Pokemon that’s the one he’ll use to make an egg. > [@](#): > > If he does THAT then…well…you need to enter him in some tournaments with cash prizes:) Are there such? ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/94 "2009-07-23T15:41:14Z")
**Bricker** - Could you ask BrickJr if he’s interested in a Mewtwo with a naughty nature? I picked up a spare and thought he might want it. I’d like a Totodile or any of its evolutions, but if he has a counteroffer, I’m open to most anything. ---
**Author:** ![CyclopticXander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/95 "2009-07-23T16:27:13Z")
> [@MeDrewNotYou](#): > > **Bricker** - Could you ask BrickJr if he’s interested in a Mewtwo with a naughty nature? I picked up a spare and thought he might want it. I’d like a Totodile or any of its evolutions, but if he has a counteroffer, I’m open to most anything. If Bricker Jr doesn’t take that deal then I certainly would. Also I still have an open invitation for anyone who would like a friendly battle, even if it means being cannon fodder for the little expert. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/96 "2009-07-23T17:26:54Z")
> [@MeDrewNotYou](#): > > Hmm… The only thing I really need right now is a Totodile. If you don’t have one of those, could you get a low level Stunky with the Aftermath ability or a Gible? I’d also like to use you to evolve my Poliwhirl into a Politoed, if you don’t mind. I have plenty of King’s Rocks, but I haven’t gotten around to evolving Poliwhirl yet. > > I’m not a huge fan of the grass/poison bunch either, but they are pretty good at status attacks, especially poison and sleep. And as another suggestion for your team, try Skorupi/Drapion (dark/poison). I’ve been levelling one up and its a lot of fun and pretty strong after it evolves. Drapion’s Sniper ability also bumps damage from critical hits from 2x to 3x, which is pretty nice when he has the crit+ item (Zoom Lens, I think). They’re also only weak to ground and immune to psychic, plus 3 or 4 resistances. I just caught a Gible, so I can breed him if you’d like. If anyone else wants one just give me a holler. ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/97 "2009-07-23T18:25:32Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > If Bricker Jr doesn’t take that deal then I certainly would. > > Also I still have an open invitation for anyone who would like a friendly battle, even if it means being cannon fodder for the little expert. What kind of stuff do you have? Besides the Totodile family, I mainly need Johto legendaries and movie legendaries, but if you have anything interesting, I’m open to negotiations. > [@RandMcnally](#): > > I just caught a Gible, so I can breed him if you’d like. If anyone else wants one just give me a holler. If you could. I’ll make a few Elekids tonight and give you the best one. ---
**Author:** ![CyclopticXander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/98 "2009-07-23T19:38:27Z")
> [@MeDrewNotYou](#): > > What kind of stuff do you have? Besides the Totodile family, I mainly need Johto legendaries and movie legendaries, but if you have anything interesting, I’m open to negotiations. Well I’m not really looking to trade off any legendaries. I can give you a totodile though if you can’t find one elsewhere. You could just give me whatever you think is fair, a Mewtwo for a Totodile isn’t exactly a fair deal for you. The Johto lendaries will be a lot easier to get acquire once the gold/silver remakes are released btw, so there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/99 "2009-07-23T19:56:58Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > Well I’m not really looking to trade off any legendaries. I can give you a totodile though if you can’t find one elsewhere. You could just give me whatever you think is fair, a Mewtwo for a Totodile isn’t exactly a fair deal for you. > > The Johto lendaries will be a lot easier to get acquire once the gold/silver remakes are released btw, so there’s that. Bricker Jr says: I got the Johto legendaries with GameCube games Pokemon Colossuem and XD Gale of Darkness. You can get all three Johto starters and Ho-Oh from Colosseum and Luiga from XD. I will add in my own voice: when he first started getting into Pokemon, it was the Straight Dope that confirmed for me that if he got Pokemon in the GameCube games, he could get them into Diamond / Pearl by first trading them to Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald/Fire Red/Leaf Green and then into D/P. ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504/100 "2009-07-23T20:23:22Z")
> [@CyclopticXander](#): > > Well I’m not really looking to trade off any legendaries. I can give you a totodile though if you can’t find one elsewhere. You could just give me whatever you think is fair, a Mewtwo for a Totodile isn’t exactly a fair deal for you. > > The Johto lendaries will be a lot easier to get acquire once the gold/silver remakes are released btw, so there’s that. Actually I’d consider that pretty fair. Having all (but one) of the starters and breeding them has been pretty valuable to me; I got my new Mewtwo for a female Mudkip w/ the grass-resist berry. Then again, I’ve been pretty lucky about finding good deals/stupid people on GTS, so YMMV 🙂 If you feel guilty, throw in whatever you think is reasonable. I’d guess it’ll probably be until December at least until we get the remakes. In the meantime, FR/LG and Emerald have some of the Johtos, but its a major PITA. Replaying the games multiple times [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-pokemon/502504.md?page=6)