Pokémon GO IV Calculator
Enter your Pokémon's Attack, Defense, and Stamina IVs (each from 0 to 15). The calculator will show IV percentage, appraisal tier, role fit, and optional Shadow purification outcome.
What this IV calculator helps you decide
If you play Pokémon GO regularly, you already know that resources are limited: Stardust, Candy, XL Candy, Elite TMs, and raid passes all add up fast. This calculator gives you a quick decision framework so you can evaluate whether a Pokémon is worth powering up now, saving for later, purifying, or transferring.
It focuses on the core IV calculation used by most players: Attack, Defense, and Stamina IV values from 0 to 15 each, plus a clear rating and role-specific recommendation.
How IVs work in Pokémon GO
Every Pokémon in Pokémon GO has three hidden IV stats:
- Attack IV
- Defense IV
- Stamina IV
Each value ranges from 0 to 15, so the maximum total is 45. The game combines these IVs with a species’ base stats and level to determine final battle performance.
The most common summary metric is IV percentage:
IV% = (Attack + Defense + Stamina) / 45 × 100
Appraisal star tiers
In-game appraisal stars are tied to IV total ranges. Use this quick reference:
| Tier | Total IV | Approx. IV% |
|---|---|---|
| 0★ | 0-22 | 0.0%-48.9% |
| 1★ | 23-29 | 51.1%-64.4% |
| 2★ | 30-36 | 66.7%-80.0% |
| 3★ | 37-44 | 82.2%-97.8% |
| 4★ (Hundo) | 45 | 100% |
Why “best IVs” depends on your goal
Raids and gym offense
For PvE content, high Attack and high overall IV are generally best. You want damage output and strong total stats, especially for expensive legendary or shadow builds.
Great League and Ultra League
For CP-capped PvP leagues, the best spreads are often not 15/15/15. Lower Attack with high Defense and Stamina can allow more levels before hitting the CP cap, which improves bulk. That is why many top PvP IV spreads look like 0/15/15 or similar.
Master League
No CP cap means raw stats win. High IV totals (often near perfect) matter much more here, especially for mirror matchups and bulk breakpoints.
Shadow Pokémon and purification
When you purify a Shadow Pokémon, each IV increases by +2 (up to 15 max). This means a 13/13/13 Shadow becomes a 15/15/15 purified hundo. The calculator includes this projection so you can quickly see whether purification could create a perfect Pokémon.
Remember: purification changes battle behavior and removes the Shadow damage bonus, so “can become hundo” does not always mean “best to purify.” Decide based on your raid team, PvP strategy, and resource plan.
Practical IV strategy (simple and effective)
- For raids: Prioritize top attackers with high Attack IV and high total IV.
- For Great/Ultra PvP: Check rank tools for exact species spreads; low Attack bulk builds are common.
- For Master League: Invest mostly in very high IV Pokémon.
- For shadows: Evaluate both Shadow and purified outcomes before spending Stardust.
- For casual play: Anything 3★ and useful in battles is usually a solid long-term hold.
Common mistakes players make
- Powering up low-impact species just because they are 100% IV.
- Ignoring movesets and role value while focusing only on IV percentage.
- Transferring low-Attack Pokémon that are excellent for Great/Ultra League.
- Purifying strong raid shadows without checking long-term damage potential.
Final takeaway
IVs matter, but context matters more. Use this calculator to make faster, smarter keep/power-up decisions. For elite PvP optimization, combine these results with species-specific rank tools and matchup sims. For most players, this tool provides exactly what you need: a clear, immediate answer on Pokémon quality and intended role.