Editor’s Note
This excerpt introduces the concept of Individual Values (IVs) in Pokémon, explaining them as inherent, randomized stats that define a creature’s unique potential, a core mechanic returning in *Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl*.
IVs stand for “Individual Values” (Individual Values in English), also known as individual values. They are a total of 6 genes that all Pokémon possess and have been a part of the franchise for a long time. Of course, in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, IVs are once again available for each creature.
Each Pokémon has completely random IVs at the moment of capture, which define its unique strengths. That is, the 6 IVs are a range of scores that help us understand how good a Pokémon is or the potential it has in its different characteristics: Attack, Special Attack, Speed, Defense, Special Defense, and Hit Points.
As you may have deduced, the ideal is to seek or try to have our Pokémon’s IVs all at maximum or as high as possible, as this will determine that its potential is unbeatable and, therefore, if trained sufficiently, it will be the perfect version of that Pokémon.
The IV values for each Pokémon range from 0 (the worst) to 31 (the best). The game never lets us directly see the exact amount of IVs a Pokémon has, but it does allow us to get an idea of the IV range through the Judge function or gene judge.
The Judge function can only be unlocked after you have completed the main story. To obtain the Judge function, you must follow these steps:
First, you must complete the Pokémon League and become the new Champion of Sinnoh.
After this, you must have seen all the Pokémon in the Regional Pokédex.
Once you have done that, go to Professor Rowan’s lab in Sandgem Town to receive the National Pokédex.
Once you have the National Pokédex in your possession, travel to Canalave City. From now on, you can take the boat at the dock that allows you to travel to Fight Area.
This way, you can reach the location known as the Battle Zone. This is where the Battle Park and the Battle Tower are located, a huge building you must enter. Inside, head to the right side of the room, where there is an NPC scientist with blue hair.
Talk to this character, and they will give you the Judge function, which will now be permanently available in your game.
The Judge function lets you know which IV group all your Pokémon are in. To view this, simply access a PC and from the Pokémon Boxes, press the “+” or “-” button on the controller. A dropdown of your Pokémon’s data will open, and below their stats, you can read a phrase about their overall IV potential.
As mentioned earlier, you will never be able to see the exact amount or total number of IVs your Pokémon has, but the phrase about the potential gives you an approximation of the sum:
Through egg breeding, Pokémon can inherit IVs from their parents. By default, an egg randomly inherits 3 of the IVs from its parent. This is something you might be interested in doing if you want to further improve a Pokémon’s potential. For example, it’s a good idea if you have a Pokémon with excellent IVs and plan to breed a perfect Pokémon.
You should know that there are a series of power items you can acquire in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl to make an egg inherit the IVs you decide from a Pokémon when breeding (if the Pokémon is holding one of these items, of course).
These power items, also called held items, can be purchased with Battle Points (obtained by battling in the Battle Tower) at one of the counters in the buildings adjacent to the Battle Tower. They all cost 10 BP, and their names and effects are as follows:
You can also obtain a Destiny Knot to transmit IVs to your egg offspring. Specifically, the Destiny Knot in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is obtained on Route 224.