Choosing IVs for PvP (low Attack wins in Great and Ultra League)
BattleLast checked 2026-10-31
In 3 lines
- In leagues with a CP cap, the lower the Attack IV, the higher you can level up within the same CP, which makes Defense and HP bigger.
- That's why, for Great League (1,500) and Ultra League (2,500), a Pokémon with fewer stars often beats a 100% one.
- On the PvP tab of a Pokémon's detail page, you can instantly check the rank 1 IVs for each league and where your own IVs rank.
Why is low Attack better?
Attack affects CP the most. In a league with a CP cap, a low Attack IV makes CP rise slowly, so you can level up further before you hit the cap. A higher level also raises Defense and HP, so the Pokémon lasts longer.
Stat product (Attack × Defense × HP) puts this 'staying power' into a single number. Under the same CP cap, a higher stat product is generally better.
Examples (site calculations)
| Pokémon · league | Rank 1 IVs | Level · CP |
|---|---|---|
| Azumarill · Great League | 0 / 15 / 15 | Lv45.5 · CP 1,499 |
| Dragonite · Great League | 3 / 15 / 14 | Lv14.5 · CP 1,500 |
For Azumarill, a Pokémon with 0 Attack is rank 1. A 100% one (15/15/15) has to stop at a lower level because of the CP cap, so it ranks lower.
It depends on the league
| League | CP cap | How to choose IVs |
|---|---|---|
| Little Cup | 500 | Unevolved Pokémon only. Low Attack is better |
| Great League | 1,500 | Low Attack · high Defense · high HP |
| Ultra League | 2,500 | Low Attack is better, but go for high IVs on Pokémon that can't reach the cap |
| Master League | None | 15 / 15 / 15 is best |
If a Pokémon can't reach a league's CP cap even at level 50 with 100% IVs, higher IVs are better for it in that league. The PvP tab points this out separately with a note that it 'can't reach this league's cap'.
Checking on the site
- Open the PvP tab on a Pokémon's detail page (e.g., Azumarill).
- Pick a league to see the rank 1 IVs and the top 10 combinations.
- Enter the numbers from the Appraisal screen in 'Your IVs' to see where they rank out of 4,096 combinations, what percentage of rank 1 they reach, and what level and CP to power up to.
- To see which Pokémon have the most staying power across a whole league, check the PvP league rankings.
Stat product doesn't include move matchups. In real battles, you also need to think about moves and your opponent's team.
Checklist
- Pick a league and check your IV rank on the PvP tab
- Power up only to a level that stays under the cap
- Keep a separate 100% Pokémon for Master League
Sources
- Site data: stat product and rankings calculated from the game rules settings (CPM and league caps in config/rules.json) and base stats (src/lib/calc/pvp.ts)
- Bulbapedia: GO Battle League — CP caps by league
Related Pokémon & events
- Azumarill
- Medicham
- Dragonite
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Game rules and numbers can change, so each article shows when it was last checked. Articles are rechecked once that date is 6 months old. If you spot a mistake, let us know with 'Report an error' at the bottom of the page.