Like with all previous games in the franchise, Pokémon GO has sparked the creation of various tools that explore its mechanics and provide players with specific information to make them better trainers. Today, we're featuring Pokémon Evolution Calculator, which, by simply entering the Pokémon and its combat power, can calculate that same value for its later evolutions.
Evolution in Pokémon GO: The Candy Factor
Pokémon GO differs significantly from its handheld console counterparts. In the original Game Boy and DS versions, Pokémon evolve either by accumulating experience points and leveling up, or by meeting certain conditions (trading, using items, beauty, friendship, stats, regions, moves, time of day, stones, etc.). However, in Pokémon GO, you need candies—lots of candies. This creates the need to capture constantly: the plan is to keep the Pokémon with the highest combat power and send the rest to Professor Willow to receive candies in return (not forgetting that each capture also gives you one candy). On average, a full evolution line (for example, Squirtle–Wartortle–Blastoise) requires about 125 candies, with the great exception of Magikarp, which needs 400 candies to become a Gyarados. Using the 125-candy reference again, we're talking about at least 63 captures: keep the strongest Pokémon from that group, send the other 62 to the professor, and initiate all its evolutions.
How the Pokémon Evolution Calculator Works
In other words, a huge amount of work. Each candy ends up being worth its weight in gold, and the Pokémon that receives them must be the right one so the process doesn't go to waste. That's where the Pokémon Evolution Calculator comes in. All it asks for is the type of Pokémon and its combat power at the time of capture or hatching. From there, the site adds a multiplication factor for each Pokémon that depends on multiple factors, including the trainer's level and a randomly chosen number. The image above shows a Charmander with a combat power of 615. Its multiplier ranges from 1.64 to 1.7, so the Charmeleon will have a combat power between 1,008 and 1,045. The detail is that this multiplier changes again for Charmeleon, from 1.71 to 1.79, giving a Charizard with 1,723–1,870 power points.
Needless to say, the Pokémon Evolution Calculator is only useful for Pokémon that can evolve. Besides all legendary Pokémon, three examples that come to mind and are not on the site are Snorlax, Lapras, and Kangaskhan. But combat power is just one factor. The plan changes completely when you're looking to optimize experience, and then there are the 'intermediate values,' secret numbers that slightly affect stats. As the trainer gains experience, they will find Pokémon with higher combat power, so I believe seeking experience faster is a better short-term strategy.
