How Pokémon GO’s Appraisal feature works
We explain the details of the Pokémon Appraisal feature, and also examine what we learn of the Team Leaders!
The latest Pokémon GO update has given us a way to learn what Pokémon are better at battling. However, the Pokémon Appraisal system refrains from giving you any numbers or stats, instead opting to mimic the system within the main Pokémon games which is based on statements. You may wonder what exactly it all means – read on to learn more!
Pokémon Stats
What makes a Pokémon stronger than another of the same species? The starting point may appear to be the Combat Power (CP) of a Pokémon, but this number can be increased to a point given enough Stardust and Candy. Another consideration is the attacks the Pokémon know, although this cannot be influenced. The last of the visible statistics is HP, and you can roughly compare what you see with similar-CP Pokémon of the same species to see which one is better.
Each Pokémon however also has an Attack and Defense stat, which are not listed. Like HP, this is determined when you encounter the Pokémon, and cannot be changed. These are rather similar to ‘Individual Values’ (IVs) within the main Pokémon games. In Pokémon GO, these stats range from 0 to 15, 15 being the highest possible stat. A Pokémon with an Attack value of 8 will hit harder than one with a value of 3. In total, your Pokémon can have a maximum of 45 points, 15 for each stat.
The only way to find out what these stats were prior to the update required some third-party applications. While these give you exact numbers, now you can find out – roughly – what this stat number is with the Appraisal system. The Appraisal system doesn’t take CP into account.
Appraisal System Messages
To access the Appraisal system, go to your Pokémon’s status screen, and hit the button in the bottom right to bring up options. Selecting ‘Appraise’ summons your Team Leader (you need to be part of a team first to see them! Visit a Gym upon reaching level 5) who will examine your Pokémon.
They state the following in order:
- They’ll comment on the overall battle potential of your Pokémon. This takes HP, Attack and Defense into consideration.
- They’ll then tell you what the best stat is of HP, Attack and Defense. If you have two or three that are equal highest, they will name each one.
- They then give an indication of how high that statistic is.
- Lastly, they’ll make a comment based on the size of the Pokémon.
But what do these comments really mean? We’ve compiled the following table for you to use.
Total Potential
| Instinct (Spark) | Mystic (Blanche) | Valor (Candela) | IV Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall, your Pokémon looks like it can really battle with the best of them! | Overall, your Pokémon is a wonder! What a breathtaking Pokémon! | Overall, your Pokémon simply amazes me. It can accomplish anything! | 37/45 or higher! |
| Overall, your Pokémon is really strong! | Overall, your Pokémon has certainly caught my attention. | Overall, your Pokémon is a strong Pokémon. You should be proud! | 30/45 to 36/45 |
| Overall, your Pokémon is pretty decent! | Overall, your Pokémon is above average. | Overall, your Pokémon is a decent Pokemon. | 23/45 to 29/45 |
| Overall, your Pokémon has room for improvement as far as battling goes. | Overall, your Pokémon is not likely to make much headway in battle. | Overall, your Pokémon may not be great in battle, but I still like it! | 22/45 or less. |
In short, if you want a Top Percentage Rattata, you’re looking for a rather over-the-top expression from your Team Leader.
Best Stat
| Instinct (Spark) | Mystic (Blanche) | Valor (Candela) | Stat Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Its stats are the best I’ve ever seen! No doubt about it! | Its stats exceed my calculations. It’s incredible! | I’m blown away by its stats. WOW! | 15 (perfect!) |
| Its stats are really strong! Impressive. | I am certainly impressed by its stats, I must say. | It’s got excellent stats! How exciting! | 13-14 |
| It’s definitely got some good stats. Definitely! | Its stats are noticeably trending to the positive. | Its stats indicate that in battle, it’ll get the job done. | 8-12 |
| Its stats are all right, but kinda basic, as far as I can see. | Its stats are not out of the norm, in my opinion | Its stats don’t point to greatness in battle. | 0-7 (<50%…) |
Team Leader Personalities
So what can we learn from the Team Leaders? It is the first time we’ve seen them speak since joining a team after all.
Spark seems to be a more down-to-earth person. He may appear casual to some as well (saying ‘kinda basic’ and ‘really battle’), but he does also appear to not often exaggerate or put a positive spin on an appraisal. Quite often an exclamation mark is used in his analysis as well, suggesting he’s rather enthusiastic and keen about checking your Pokémon.
Blanche is rather different, certainly fitting the analytic type. A lot of her appraisals are formally given with some calculation or statistical theme (‘trending to the positive’, ‘not out of the norm’), and she only gets excited when a Pokémon truly stands out. It’s a pity her expression, like the other two Leaders, doesn’t change to reflect what she says…
Lastly, Candela tends to put a lot of a positive spin on the analysis, even expressing that of the weak Pokémon she sees, she ‘still like(s) it!’, while for the stand-out Pokémon gushing ‘It can accomplish anything!’ This seems to give her a rather sociable and likeable attitude, or at least a rather positive one.
What do you think of the new Appraisal system, and of what we’ve learnt on the Team Leaders? Let us know in the comments!
Edited by Jake.
Select images courtesy of Achromatic. All images courtesy of Niantic.
Stat information Source: GamePress
