Unleash the Power: Why Keeping 0-Star Pokemon in Pokémon GO Can Skyrocket Your Team's Success!

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Are 0-Star Pokemon Good for PVP? (Pokemon GO League)

Should You Transfer Shadow Pokemon with 0 Stars?

Every Pokemon possesses Individual Values (IVs) that determine their stats including HP, Attack, Defense, Speed, Special Attack, and Special Defense. In Pokemon GO, IVs only gauge a Pokemon's Attack, Defense, and Speed. They are rated on a scale of 0 to 15, and these ratings determine a Pokemon's Appraisal, ranging from 0 to 4 stars.

In Pokemon GO, trainers will be capturing Pokemon constantly. Each Pokemon's CP will vary, as will their IVs and Appraisal. In fact, it's probable that trainers will encounter more Pokemon with no stars than ones with three stars. Players might be eager to Transfer these Pokemon, but there is still some merit in holding onto zero-star Pokemon.

Why You Should Transfer 0-Star Pokemon (& Why You Should Not)

Players have the freedom to Transfer any Pokemon of their choosing. If their Pokemon Storage is already at maximum capacity, it may be more beneficial for them to Transfer a 0-star Pokemon instead of a 3-star one in order to create space. To initiate the process of transferring a Pokemon, follow these steps:

Tap the Poke Ball icon.

Tap the Pokemon icon (Pikachu).

To find a specific Pokemon, you can either type its name in the search bar or use the keyword icons in the Search Bar (or See More) when sorting by Appraisals. Once you have entered the desired information, select the Pokemon to proceed.

Tap the icon located at the bottom right corner and choose Transfer. If a Pokemon possesses special attributes such as being an Event, Shiny, XXL/XXS, or a Legendary/Mythical, players will be prompted twice to confirm their decision to Transfer. Furthermore, if a Pokemon is designated as a Favorite, players must first tap the Star icon in order to Transfer it.

In Pokemon GO, trainers generally prefer Pokemon with higher CP (Combat Power) over those with lower IVs, even if the latter have weaker Individual Values. Despite not following a traditional Level system, CP in Pokemon GO somewhat functions as a measure of a Pokemon's "Level". Consequently, capturing Pokemon with high CP poses more of a challenge compared to those with lower CP.

Pros of 0-star Pokemon

Many times, players come across a Pokemon with a high CP (1k+) but a 0-star Appraisal. Although this may discourage trainers from keeping the Pokemon on their team, a 0-star can actually be beneficial for battling Team GO Rocket. The Pokemon used by Team GO Rocket Grunts (and their leaders) are all Shadow Pokemon and typically have an incredibly high CP. A Pokemon with a high CP can effectively withstand attacks from a Shadow Pokemon, regardless of its Individual Values (IVs).

Furthermore, 0-star Pokemon with high CP are also well-suited for defending Gyms or engaging in battles within Gyms.

If GO trainers manage to catch a Shiny Pokemon, there is a possibility that it may have no stars. Nevertheless, considering the rarity of finding a Shiny, trainers must have been exceptionally lucky to come across one. Even if a Shiny Pokemon has a low Appraisal, it is still not advisable to transfer it.

In cases where players do not possess another Pokemon of the same species, it might be wise to keep the 0-star Shiny until a better Appraisal can be obtained by replacing it with a different one.

A fully 0% IV Pokemon is extremely rare, even when compared to their 4-star/Perfect IV counterparts. Players may want to keep it just for the rarity.

Cons of 0-star Pokemon

Storing too many Pokémon can quickly fill up the Pokémon Storage. Since it takes a long time for most players to reach the maximum capacity, it is advisable to release Pokémon with 0-stars and keep those with 1/2/3/4-stars. To expand storage, players can purchase Storage Expansions from the Shop for 200 Coins, adding 50 additional Slots. The maximum capacity for Pokémon storage is 6250 Pokémon.

In battles, a Pokémon with 0-stars and high CP will always be defeated by a Pokémon with 3-stars and high CP. Pokémon with 0-stars and no Defense IVs will be easily defeated when facing off against a Pokémon with Perfect IVs.

Are 0-Star Pokemon Good for PVP? (Pokemon GO League)

Transferring Pokemon is an excellent method for efficiently accumulating Candy, especially if players possess multiple individuals of the same species. However, it should be noted that if players choose to retain Pokemon with a 0-star rating, they will be unable to generate Candy via the Transfer process. Additionally, noteworthy events occasionally take place within the game that promptly doubles the amount of Candy acquired through Transfers. Consequently, it becomes evident that Pokemon with 0-stars are more advantageous to Transfer compared to those with superior appraisals.

Pokemon with a 0-star appraisal can still be valuable in a Pokemon League if their CP is high. However, it is important to note that Pokemon Leagues have a CP-cap. The Great League has a cap of 1500, while the Ultra League sets the limit at 2500. Therefore, if a 0-star Pokemon's CP exceeds these thresholds, it is not eligible for use in the respective league.

Chances are, when engaging in battles with fellow players in Leagues, it is highly likely that they will bring out their most formidable Pokemon. Therefore, it might not be the wisest decision to utilize a 0-star Pokemon for the Ultra League. However, if this 0-star Pokemon happens to be the sole option for players possessing the highest CP, it is certainly worthwhile to give it an opportunity and enroll it in the leagues.

Should You Transfer 0-Star Shadow Pokemon?

After defeating a Team GO Rocket Grunt/Leader, players will be presented with a Bonus Challenge. This is the opportune moment to secure one of the Grunts' Shadow Pokemon (typically the first one they utilize during the skirmish). These Shadow Pokemon can only be captured using Premier Balls, a reward granted to players upon the culmination of a Team GO Rocket confrontation. The quantity of Premier Balls received is contingent upon the player's performance in battle.

Shadow Pokemon can receive a 0-star Appraisal, but they possess a "Shadow Bonus" alongside their Fast and Charged Attacks. This bonus enables them to inflict additional damage on opponents, although their Defense is compromised.

Purifying a Shadow Pokemon can occasionally result in an increased Appraisal; however, it also eliminates the Shadow Bonus. Therefore, if a Shadow Pokemon possesses decent Attacks and CP despite being rated 0-stars, it is advisable to refrain from purifying it in order to utilize its potential in future battles.

Pokemon GO is available for mobile devices.