DVs and Stat Exp in Pokemon Gen 1 and 2 | PokéMaths | Episode 6

A deep dive into DVs and Stat Experience in Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver and Crystal.

Avatar illustration:

Thumbnail: @Squidgy

The OG Tombstoner: @GymLeaderMatt1987

0:00 Intro
0:24 Stat Equations
0:37 Base Stats
0:55 DVs
2:10 HP DV Calculation
3:17 Perfect DV Odds
3:47 Shiny Odds
4:15 Other DV Stuff
4:19 Stat Experience
5:09 Splitting Stat Exp
5:17 Stat Exp Max Values
5:28 Stat Experience Example
6:45 PokeRus
6:54 Vitamins
7:25 Stat Calculation Example
8:31 Stat Recalculations
8:47 Enemy Pokemon
9:10 Mewtwo Example

[RBYPokemonChallenges]

This is my jam! The diffinitive proof that Zero DVs aand Minimum Battles really kneecaps a Pokemon! Glad to see you back!!@!!!!

[Squidgy]

Cheers Dan, you've helped me understand something that's been a mystery for a couple of decades!

[Neon-Lines]

just know you are a legend for posting this

GSC all the way

[dirtydan]

Finally I understand how stat exp differs from EVs. Thanks!

[philoc]

the shiny baby kangaskan while talking about shiny pokemon was a nice touch :)
This video was a really nice explanation, tysm!

[pokephenomenal]

Wow, super informative video! I like the way you present everything--makes it much easier for my decidedly not math-oriented brain to understand.

Looking forward to Episode 7!

[Pwkoizoie]

This type of videos is the most thought provoking, engaging and informative on the Pokemon scene. It is also very well paced and presented. I went back and paused on different parts of the series to ponder on the implications of the various formulas, i.e. refactoring (I know you shouldn't do this for specific calculations), making variable constants for specific situations, defining some ratios as my own measures to figure out relevant estimations, trends and get a better sense of what matters when it comes to numbers. Excellent choice of subject matter, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I would love a similar type of video on gen 1 AI. It would lie more on the end of programming rather than algebra/arithmetic but I assume you would also be versed in that subject matter considering you're able to extract relevant information from the binary data structures in memory. This would encompass what trainers react to what situations in what ways with what probabilities. I know there are some fun ways to manipulate the AI (like Lance's Dragonite never attacking a poison Pokemon). I know some tricks from various comments here and there however the resources on the topic seem scattered. I would love an analysis/recap of AI mechanics or any pointers to a good resource.

I comment on this video specifically for the following question : considering Nuzlocke like challenges where you cannot level above a gym leader's ace's level, would the best strategy then be to fight level 2 pidgeys to gain the most stat experience per experience point ratio to reach max EVs at the earliest level (so before the second gym) ?

This may be tedious even in a sped up game but since we are talking about maths and upper bounds, wouldn't that be the best possible configuration for a Pokemon for an early edge ? Maybe there's an alternative where you first get vitamins before EV trainings but it doesn't seem plausible to have enough money (unless you gamble ?) to get all you want.

How would the game look like in that case ? Would it be too much of a breeze especially in early parts of the game ? For pre-evolution Pokemons and Pokemons with bad stats (relevant in Nuzlockes), that would be ~60% of an average base stat. Would you say it should be a self imposed rule to not do this to keep the challenge fun ? To me this would remove a feature of the game and it would be difficult to go about controlling your grinding and it might not be as broken towards the end of the game.

If that is the case and you allow things like EV training, AI manipulation, gen 1 OP mechanics/"glitches" (why play gen 1 if it is to forgo its unique features like badge boosting which even if not intended turns out to be a fun mechanic and offers more possibilities) and unbalanced types/moves, it could be fun to figure out what the minimum level is to beat the game in a very consistent manner.

I guess a lot of this is arbitrary, but to make your own fun, you have to find the optimal configuration (to progress, figure out how to be "good" at the game or even the best you can be) within a set of restrictions (to make it challenging, create new rules, i.e. new problems with new solutions which is new gameplay). Considering all the unique/powerful tools you have at your disposal that cannot really be avoided consistently (or would not be fun to), might as well exploit them to the max and balance things out with heavier restrictions.

Whatever your self imposed restrictions, I think they are legitimate as long as they translate to a difficulty level that makes it the right amount of challenging for you, which would be evidenced by the fact that you are having fun, which is the goal in the end. It's interesting to think that gamers evolved to unencapsulate and break down a game to figure out the most amount of manipulations to perform which makes them the most powerful, and ten come up with arbitrary/self-imposed restrictions, which restricts their acquired power, to answer a personal question in the end, just like solving a math problem (Can I do this, considering this ?).

It's especially true considering the mathematical nature of video games, which is why nowadays you can just find on the internet the optimal "build" in games because they are a just a set of mathematical problems that even if complex can be simulated. So games are essentially solved, but that isn't fun to copy the best build in much the same way that being given the solution to a math problem defeats the purpose as you get no intellectual satisfaction out of it and do not develop problem solving skills but just amass a set of "recipes".

To have their own fun, gamers essentially had to further the role of a game designer, i.e. provide a set of manipulations/moves to solve a situation, much like you are using theorems to solve a math problem. I used to love finding alternate solutions (especially if they were more elegant) to math problems when I was a student even though it annoyed my teachers.

But isn't it fun to solve a problem in two lines rather than the one page the teacher intended you to write ? Yet another case of a "self-imposed restriction" (why not just apply the standard methodology that is known to work) that made me enjoy myself because I had to get creative, which often led to better performance or productivity and enhanced my problem solving skills (what if the standard methodology doesn't work ? many such cases in real life). Would love to hear your thoughts.

[austintome]

Came to this from Squidy’s Venasaur run in Crystal after he referenced you following his team getting Pokérus. Phenomenal explanations!

[zealot]

Awesome content, I think pokemon gen one is going through a revival I hope you grow!

[kriegenjoyer]

Thank you for helping me with my blue playthrough ❤

[TheCGA]

This was a superb explanation. Thank you very much.

[thisbox]

Took awhile for me to think about this channel again, but I'm back here again.

[bateltheassistant]

Thanks for explaining and exploring that one in a very simple and fun way. I always learn something new from your videos, and I have been missing them a lot, so thanks for making this video 😊.
That video reminded me of an experiment I did as a kid, trying grinding my starter in crystal with only level 2 or 3 pokemon and grinding my starter by grinding against high leveled pokemon, and then I realized that while both of them were on the same level, they did very differently.😮 And now thanks to you I know exactly why, so thanks for that.😊
By the way I really liked how the video was edited, especially when you've presented the visual part of the things you've explained.😊 Keep it up!

[JWStreeter]

Great explaination; clear and concise. I've tried researching this before and always got a headache. This stat EXP system in Gen 2 is actually really solid imo, though the IV/breeding stuff is a bit confusing. Idk why Gamefreak felt it necessary to make it needlessly more complex in later gens, it turns the games into min-maxing grindfest cancer.

[PhilipExperience]

First time seeing Dan's content, Quite enjoyable actually.

[romangeneral]

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for.... You sir are my hero !!!!
Will you be able to do EVs from GEN III and on ?

[RobKni]

ALGORITHM!!!!

Is the Blaine run still in the works? I've been looking forward to it!

[danielbejarano]

Finally! I understand! And, 😮 I didn't know that mechanic regarding the PC an experience

[MajorUpgrade]

The video is extremely informative! Thank you so very much for making this! You were able to break it down and answer my question about does a low level pokemon give the same stats as a high level pokemon of the same type! I couldnt find that answer anywhere! I really appreciate you doing this. Now i just have to figure out which low level pokemon have high stats for each category so i know what to grind for in battles to max stats as early as possible. I think hp is going to be a little trickier though.

[Cainenghis]

thanks for the easy to understand explanation