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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOpen the Pokémon’s summary to see its CP, then open that Pokémon’s menu and choose Appraise to view its star rating and separate Attack, Defense, and HP assessments. Check the Power Up button for the Stardust and Candy cost and whether Candy XL is required. Pokémon GO’s official help does not document a numeric power-up-level field, so CP alone cannot tell you an exact level.
What to check before you transfer
A transfer is permanent for the Pokémon you select, so review the information the game actually exposes before confirming it. The useful checks are:
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- CP: the Combat Power number on the Pokémon’s summary. Niantic describes CP as a measure of how well that Pokémon will perform in battle.
- Appraisal: the three-star rating and the Attack, Defense, and HP assessments shown by your Team Leader. Players commonly call these values “IVs,” but appraisal is the term used in the game’s official help.
- Power-up status: whether the Power Up control is available, what it costs, and whether Candy XL appears in the cost. The official help pages reviewed here do not establish a numeric power-up-level readout.
- Your investment and intent: whether you have already spent Stardust or Candy on this Pokémon, and whether you need it for a particular collection, evolution, trade, or battle role.
These dimensions answer different questions. CP describes the Pokémon’s current Combat Power; appraisal describes its assessed Attack, Defense, and HP potential; and the Power Up control shows what it would cost to raise CP and HP further. No single value is a universal keep-or-transfer rule for every battle format or player.
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- From Map View, tap Main Menu.
- Tap Pokémon to open your storage.
- Select the Pokémon you are considering transferring.
- Read the CP value on its summary screen. This is the Pokémon’s current Combat Power, not an exact statement of its level or future performance in every situation.
The summary screen also provides access to actions such as appraisal and transfer. If you are comparing several candidates, record CP alongside their appraisal results rather than using CP as a substitute for those results.
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To avoid checking the wrong entry, pause on the summary long enough to confirm the species and any identifying details you use in storage. Similar Pokémon can have different CP, appraisals, or prior investments. A quick glance at the list view is not a replacement for opening the individual summary.
How to see a Pokémon’s IVs (the in-game appraisal)
- Open the Pokémon’s summary using the path above.
- Open the Pokémon’s menu. The menu contains additional actions for that Pokémon.
- Tap Appraise.
- Read the Team Leader’s appraisal: a star rating plus separate assessments for Attack, Defense, and HP.
The appraisal uses a three-star scale. More stars indicate higher assessed battle potential according to Niantic’s explanation, but the rating is not a promise that a Pokémon with fewer stars has no use. A lower-rated Pokémon may still matter for a collection, an evolution, a trade, a particular battle requirement, or a personal goal.
“IVs” is common player shorthand for the underlying Attack, Defense, and HP appraisal information. The official user-facing instructions call the feature Appraise; use that label when looking for the control in the app.
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What the appraisal stars and bars mean
| Displayed item | What it tells you | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Star rating | A broad assessment of the Pokémon’s potential on the game’s three-star scale. | A universal transfer threshold or a guarantee of superiority in every battle format. |
| Attack assessment | One of the three separate attributes evaluated by the Team Leader. | The Pokémon’s current CP or a complete battle ranking by itself. |
| Defense assessment | One of the three separate attributes evaluated by the Team Leader. | A guarantee that the Pokémon will survive a particular matchup. |
| HP assessment | One of the three separate attributes evaluated by the Team Leader. | A numeric power-up level or a promise about performance in every activity. |
Use all four pieces together when comparing candidates. For example, two Pokémon can have similar CP but different appraisals, or different CP while one has a stronger appraisal. The official guidance does not provide a single cutoff that decides every transfer, so your decision should reflect what you plan to do with the Pokémon.
Do not read the star graphic as a population statistic or as a guarantee of a particular battle result. It is the Team Leader’s in-game assessment. The separate Attack, Defense, and HP readings add detail that the star summary alone cannot show.
How to tell whether you powered a Pokémon up already
Pokémon GO’s official help explains what happens when you use Power Up, but the pages reviewed do not describe a numeric “power-up level” field or a conversion that lets you calculate an exact level from CP. You therefore cannot reliably answer “this is level 25” from the CP number alone using the documented in-app workflow.
To inspect the current power-up state and the next upgrade:
- Open the Pokémon’s summary.
- Look for the Power Up button and the resource amounts displayed beside it.
- Note the Stardust and Pokémon-specific Candy required for the next power-up. If the game shows Candy XL, that resource is required for that upgrade.
- Compare the Pokémon’s current CP and HP with your own records, screenshots, or storage notes if you need to determine whether you personally powered it up before.
A visible cost proves what the next power-up would require; it does not reveal a documented numeric level label. As a Pokémon becomes stronger, the displayed costs may rise. The button is therefore the authoritative place to check the immediate upgrade cost in your current game version.
If you need to know whether you made a particular upgrade in the past, the app’s current screen may not answer that historical question directly. Your own screenshot, note, or comparison with the Pokémon’s earlier CP and HP is more reliable than guessing from CP. Do not infer a precise level merely because two Pokémon have similar Combat Power.
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What powering up changes—and what it cannot change
Niantic states that powering up raises a Pokémon’s CP and HP. It consumes Stardust and Candy from that Pokémon’s evolution family, and higher upgrades may require Candy XL. Powering up does not improve the appraisal. Niantic’s Help Center states: “Please note that Evolving or Powering Up a Pokémon will not improve its appraisal, however Purifying a Shadow Pokémon will improve its appraisal.”
That distinction matters when you are deciding whether to keep a low-appraisal Pokémon in the hope that an upgrade will make its stars or bars better. It will not. A power-up changes the Pokémon’s current CP and HP and spends resources; it does not retroactively change the Team Leader’s Attack, Defense, or HP assessment.
Evolving also does not improve appraisal. The cited guidance specifically distinguishes those actions from purifying a Shadow Pokémon, which Niantic says does improve appraisal. Do not treat evolution or a series of power-ups as a way to repair an appraisal you dislike.
Purification is the exception identified by Niantic’s statement. If a Pokémon is Shadow, do not assume that powering it up or evolving it will change its appraisal; the official distinction specifically names purifying as the action that improves it.
Stardust, Candy, Candy XL, and Trainer-level limits
| Resource or limit | How it affects a power-up |
|---|---|
| Stardust | Required for power-ups. The amount appears next to the Power Up button and can increase as the Pokémon gets stronger. |
| Pokémon-specific Candy | Drawn from the Pokémon’s evolution family and displayed as part of the next upgrade cost. |
| Candy XL | May be required for higher-CP upgrades. Niantic says Candy XL can be collected starting at Trainer level 31. |
| Trainer level | Limits how far you can power up a Pokémon. A Pokémon cannot be raised indefinitely regardless of how much Stardust or Candy you have. |
Check the cost on the Pokémon you are actually viewing rather than relying on a remembered price. Costs depend on the Pokémon’s current state and can rise as it is powered up. Candy and Candy XL are tied to the relevant evolution line, so having enough of one family does not pay for a different family.
If the Power Up control is unavailable or the game indicates that you have reached a limit, your Trainer level may be the reason. The official material establishes the level restriction but does not provide a universal numeric power-up-level display for every Pokémon.
Seeing ordinary Candy beside the button does not mean Candy XL will never be needed. Higher upgrades can change the displayed requirements, so inspect the button again whenever you are about to spend resources. The live cost is more useful than a remembered cost from another Pokémon or an earlier game version.
A practical keep-or-transfer comparison
When several Pokémon appear to be candidates for transfer, compare the information that is visible on the summary and appraisal screens. The following checklist keeps the decision tied to evidence rather than a single number.
| Question | Where to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Which has the higher current CP? | Pokémon summary | Shows current Combat Power and how much immediate battle strength the Pokémon has. |
| Which has the stronger appraisal? | Appraise in the Pokémon menu | Shows stars plus Attack, Defense, and HP assessments. |
| Has one already consumed resources? | Your records and the current Pokémon state | Past Stardust or Candy spending may affect whether replacing it is worthwhile to you. |
| What would the next upgrade cost? | Power Up button | Displays the immediate Stardust, Candy, and, where applicable, Candy XL requirement. |
| Does it have a non-battle reason to keep it? | Your collection, evolution, trade, or personal plans | Appraisal stars are not a complete description of every reason a Pokémon can be valuable. |
A high CP can make a Pokémon useful immediately, while a stronger appraisal may make another candidate more attractive for future investment. The official help does not rank these dimensions for every battle format, so avoid treating CP, stars, or one attribute bar as automatically decisive.
When the candidates are close, write down the visible values before deciding. This prevents a higher CP from overshadowing a better appraisal or a lower-cost investment. It also gives you a record if you need to compare the Pokémon after sorting storage or reviewing your plans later.
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Before you tap Transfer
- Confirm you selected the intended Pokémon, especially if several have similar names, species, or CP.
- Read the CP on the summary.
- Open Appraise and note the stars, Attack, Defense, and HP assessments.
- Check Power Up if you are considering keeping it for investment; record the displayed Stardust, Candy, and Candy XL requirements.
- Consider whether it is needed for an evolution, trade, collection, in-game task, or another personal plan.
- Choose the transfer action only after these checks. The accessible official material describes transfer as a way to free Pokémon storage and receive Candy, but it does not document every current warning dialog or all protected-Pokémon categories.
Because menu wording and confirmation behavior can change with app updates, follow the labels visible in your current version. If a warning or protection message appears, read it before continuing; do not assume that every version presents the same prompt.
Do not treat the transfer screen as the place to discover a Pokémon’s value. Complete the CP, appraisal, and Power Up checks first, then return to the transfer control only when you are satisfied that the selected entry is the one you intend to remove.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Assuming CP is the Pokémon’s level
CP is a performance-related value shown on the summary, not a documented numeric power-up level. Two Pokémon should not be assigned an exact level from CP alone.
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Expecting a power-up to increase stars
Powering up raises CP and HP but does not improve appraisal. If the appraisal is the reason you are keeping a Pokémon, inspect it before spending resources.
Using stars as the only decision rule
The three-star appraisal is an assessment of potential, not a universal statement that every lower-rated Pokémon is useless. Include current CP, the three attribute assessments, resource cost, and your intended use.
Forgetting Candy XL and Trainer-level restrictions
Higher upgrades can require Candy XL, which Niantic says becomes collectible starting at Trainer level 31, and your Trainer level limits how far a Pokémon can be powered up. Check the button’s live cost instead of assuming ordinary Candy is sufficient.
Relying on an old menu path
The documented route starts at Main Menu, then Pokémon, followed by selecting the Pokémon. From its menu, use Appraise. Labels can change, so use the currently visible controls if your interface differs.
Transferring before checking the appraisal
Once you have selected a Pokémon for transfer, pause and inspect its summary and appraisal first. The official material available here does not establish all current confirmation protections, so do not rely on a particular warning to rescue a mistaken selection.
Assuming evolution fixes a poor appraisal
Evolving does not improve appraisal. If the appraisal matters to your decision, read it before evolving or transferring and do not expect the evolution to change the stars or attribute assessment.
Confusing the next cost with past spending
The Stardust and Candy shown beside Power Up describe the next upgrade, not a receipt for everything you have already spent. Use your own records if you need to reconstruct the Pokémon’s history.
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A compact decision worksheet
For a side-by-side review, write down one row per Pokémon:
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|---|---|
| Species and identifying details | Enough information to distinguish it from similar entries in storage. |
| Current CP | The number shown on the summary. |
| Appraisal stars | The Team Leader’s star rating. |
| Attack, Defense, HP | The three separate appraisal assessments. |
| Next Power Up cost | Displayed Stardust, Candy, and Candy XL if shown. |
| Reason to keep | Battle plans, evolution, trade, collection, or another personal purpose. |
This worksheet does not create a new game statistic; it simply prevents a rushed transfer by putting the visible evidence in one place. If two candidates remain close, keep the one that best matches your stated purpose rather than applying an invented universal cutoff.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the official workflow does not tell you
The official help pages establish the summary CP display, the Appraise action, the three-star and attribute assessments, and the effects and costs of powering up. They do not establish a numeric power-up-level readout or a formula that converts CP into an exact level. They also do not document every current transfer warning dialog or every category of Pokémon that may receive special protection in the app.
That evidence boundary is important: use the game’s current summary, appraisal, and Power Up controls for the values they explicitly show, and avoid third-party assumptions that promise an exact level from CP alone. If a future update adds a level indicator or changes the transfer flow, the labels in your installed version should take precedence over older instructions.
Fast answers to the questions players ask most
How do I check a Pokémon’s CP before transferring it?
From Map View, open Main Menu, choose Pokémon, select the entry, and read the CP on its summary. Do this before opening the transfer action so you are reviewing the exact Pokémon you intend to remove.
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How do I see a Pokémon’s IVs?
Open the Pokémon’s menu and tap Appraise. The Team Leader shows the three-star rating and separate Attack, Defense, and HP assessments. “IVs” is common player wording; the official control is labeled Appraise.
What do the appraisal stars and bars mean?
They are an assessment of battle potential: stars provide the broad rating, while Attack, Defense, and HP provide separate attribute assessments. They do not create a universal transfer cutoff or guarantee a result in every battle format.
How can I tell if I powered it up already?
Inspect the current CP and HP, then check the Power Up control and its next-cost display. The official help reviewed here does not provide a numeric power-up-level field or a CP-to-level conversion. Use your own screenshots or notes when you need to confirm past spending.
Will powering up or evolving improve the appraisal?
No. Niantic says evolving and powering up do not improve appraisal. Its statement identifies purifying a Shadow Pokémon as the action that does improve appraisal.
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Why does the Power Up button show Candy XL?
Candy XL may be required for higher-CP upgrades. Niantic says Candy XL can be collected starting at Trainer level 31, and your Trainer level limits how far you can power up. Read the live cost on the Pokémon’s button rather than relying on a general price.
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Should I transfer every Pokémon with fewer than three stars?
No universal rule is established by the official guidance. Compare CP, all three appraisal assessments, the next resource cost, and your reasons for keeping the Pokémon. A lower-rated entry may still be useful for an evolution, trade, collection, task, or personal plan.
Does the app always show a warning before transfer?
The accessible official material describes transfer as a way to free storage and receive Candy but does not document every current warning dialog or every protected category. Read any message shown in your installed version, and do not depend on a particular warning to prevent a mistake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can CP tell me a Pokémon’s exact level?
No. CP appears on the summary, but the official help reviewed here does not document a numeric power-up-level field or a formula for converting CP into an exact level.
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Players commonly use “IVs” for the Attack, Defense, and HP information shown by Appraise. Niantic’s user-facing label is appraisal, which includes the stars and the three separate assessments.
Does a power-up change the stars or bars?
No. Powering up raises CP and HP but does not improve appraisal. Niantic separately says purifying a Shadow Pokémon improves its appraisal.
What resources should I check before investing?
Use the Power Up button to see the next Stardust and Pokémon-specific Candy cost, including Candy XL when shown. Costs can rise as the Pokémon gets stronger, and your Trainer level limits how far it can be powered up.
What should I compare when choosing between two Pokémon?
Compare current CP, appraisal stars, Attack, Defense, HP, the displayed next power-up cost, prior investment, and your intended use. The official guidance does not make one of these dimensions decisive for every player or battle format.
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Can I recover a Pokémon after transferring it?
Treat transfer as a permanent decision for the selected Pokémon. Complete the summary, appraisal, and Power Up checks first, and read any confirmation or protection message shown by your current app version.
The Bottom Line
Before transferring, open the Pokémon’s summary for CP, use Appraise for stars and Attack, Defense, and HP, and inspect Power Up for Stardust, Candy, Candy XL, and Trainer-level limits. CP alone does not reveal an exact power-up level, and powering up or evolving does not improve appraisal.
Quick Recap
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