Training your Cobblemon from level 1 to its maximum potential is a rewarding journey that requires patience, strategy, and careful planning. Whether you're building a team for competitive battles, preparing for tough raids, or simply looking to maximize your Cobblemon’s stats and moves, following the best training path will ensure success. This guide will walk you through the most efficient ways to train your Cobblemon, covering everything from leveling techniques to optimizing EVs (Effort Values) and using key items to enhance your progress.
Step 1: Starting with the Right Cobblemon
The first step to building the perfect Cobblemon is choosing the right one to train. When selecting your Cobblemon, consider the following:
- Nature: A Cobblemon's Nature affects its stat growth. For example, a Jolly Nature increases Speed while lowering Special Attack. Make sure the Nature complements your Cobblemon's role.
- IVs (Individual Values): IVs are hidden stats that affect the maximum potential of each of your Cobblemon's stats. Cobblemon with higher IVs in important stats (like Speed or Attack) will perform better as they level up.
- Moveset: Cobblemon with access to useful moves early on can help speed up the training process.
Tip: Breeding will eventually be the best way to get Cobblemon with ideal Natures and IVs. If that’s not an option yet, focus on catching Cobblemon with good Natures and acceptable IVs.
Step 2: Efficient Leveling Up
Leveling up your Cobblemon is essential to unlocking stronger moves and evolving into its most powerful form. Here are the most efficient ways to level up from 1 to max:
1. Grinding in High-Experience Areas
- Biomes with High-Level Cobblemon: Train in biomes that feature higher-level wild Cobblemon. The faster you can defeat them, the quicker you’ll level up. Areas such as mountains or forests may have strong Cobblemon that provide lots of experience points (XP).
- Tough Raid Battles: Raid battles often feature powerful Cobblemon and grant large amounts of XP, making them ideal for leveling multiple Cobblemon at once.
Tip: Use an EXP Share to spread XP across your team, allowing weaker Cobblemon to gain experience without actively battling.
2. Experience-Boosting Items
- Lucky Egg: When held by a Cobblemon, the Lucky Egg increases the XP gained from battles. It’s an essential item for fast leveling, especially if you're grinding in high-XP areas.
- EXP Candies: When available, EXP Candies (rewards from raids or events) are a great way to quickly boost your Cobblemon's level. Save these for Cobblemon that are harder to train or for reaching the final levels.
3. Participating in Events
- Many servers feature limited-time events or boosted XP weekends where training is significantly faster. Keep an eye out for these opportunities to power level your Cobblemon more quickly.
Step 3: EV Training for Maximum Stats
EV (Effort Value) training is crucial for maximizing your Cobblemon's potential. EVs are awarded by defeating specific Cobblemon, and each Cobblemon can gain a maximum of 510 EVs, with 252 EVs allowed in a single stat.
Key Tips for EV Training:
- Focus on Important Stats: Only invest in stats that matter most for your Cobblemon’s role. For example, a physical sweeper like Garchomp should focus on Attack and Speed, while a tank like Blissey should prioritize HP and Special Defense.
- EV Training Locations: Find biomes or areas where the Cobblemon give out EVs for the stats you want. For example:
- Speed EVs: Defeating fast Cobblemon like Zubat or Pidgey.
- Attack EVs: Beating Cobblemon like Machop or Geodude.
EV Training Items:
- Power Items: Power items (such as Power Bracer for Attack or Power Anklet for Speed) increase the EVs gained from battles. Equipping these can significantly speed up the EV training process.
- Vitamins: Items like Protein (for Attack) or Carbos (for Speed) provide 10 EVs to a specific stat. These are a great way to quickly boost EVs in specific stats, especially in the early stages of training.
Tracking EVs:
- Make sure to track your EVs carefully. Many servers have an EV checker tool, so use it to ensure you're training in the right stats. Once a Cobblemon has maxed out its EVs, you can switch to leveling them up in other areas.
Step 4: Teaching the Right Moves
As your Cobblemon levels up, it will learn stronger moves and evolve, becoming more powerful. When choosing which moves to keep, prioritize those that match your Cobblemon's role:
1. Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB) Moves
- STAB moves are moves that share the same type as the Cobblemon using them, granting a 50% damage bonus. For example, a Fire-type Cobblemon like Charizard will do more damage using Flamethrower than a non-STAB move like Air Slash.
Tip: Prioritize keeping STAB moves that cover a wide range of enemy types.
2. Coverage Moves
- Coverage moves are designed to counter types that your Cobblemon is weak to. For example, Garchomp (a Dragon/Ground type) is weak to Ice-type moves, so teaching it Fire Fang or Stone Edge provides coverage against Ice-types.
Tip: Keep moves that cover your Cobblemon’s biggest weaknesses to round out your strategy.
3. Status and Setup Moves
- Don’t forget about moves that provide utility or set up future turns. Moves like Swords Dance or Calm Mind can boost your Cobblemon’s stats, making them much stronger during battle. Defensive moves like Protect or Substitute can also give you more control over the flow of battle.
Step 5: Evolution and Timing
Evolving your Cobblemon at the right time can make a big difference in its growth and stats. Some Cobblemon evolve naturally through leveling, while others require specific items or conditions to trigger evolution.
Evolution Tips:
- Wait for Key Moves: Some Cobblemon learn key moves earlier if you delay their evolution. For example, Eevee learns more moves before evolving into Umbreon or Espeon, so check your move lists before evolving.
- Use Evolution Stones: Cobblemon like Vaporeon (Water Stone) or Flareon (Fire Stone) evolve using specific stones. Make sure you have the right item before trying to evolve these Cobblemon.
Step 6: Final Level Grinding and Maxing Out Stats
Once you've EV trained your Cobblemon and taught them the right moves, it’s time to finish grinding to the maximum level. Here’s how to make the last few levels go smoothly:
1. High-Level Areas
- Return to high-level biomes or raid battles to quickly earn XP in the final stages of leveling. Defeating high-level wild Cobblemon in these areas will grant the most experience.
2. Using EXP Boosts
- Continue using Lucky Eggs and EXP Share to maximize XP gain, especially when grinding the last few levels. If you have any EXP Candies left, now is the time to use them.
3. Check Final Stats and Adjustments
- Once your Cobblemon reaches the max level, review their final stats and moveset. Make any last-minute adjustments to EVs (if needed), moves, or held items to ensure they are battle-ready.
Step 7: Preparing for Competitive Play or Raids
With your Cobblemon at maximum level and EV trained, you’re now ready to take on tougher challenges like PvP battles or raids. Here’s how to optimize your team for these high-level encounters:
1. Held Items
- Equip your Cobblemon with items that complement their role:
- Life Orb or Choice Band for physical sweepers.
- Leftovers or Rocky Helmet for tanks and defensive Cobblemon.
- Focus Sash for frail Cobblemon that need protection from one-hit knockouts.
2. Team Synergy
- Make sure your Cobblemon work well together by covering each other’s weaknesses. For example, pair Water-type Cobblemon with Grass or Electric-types to handle counters like Rock or Ground-types.
3. Status Effects
- Prepare for opponents that use status effects like Burn or Toxic. Having a Cobblemon with healing moves like Aromatherapy or Rest can help keep your team in top shape.
Conclusion
Creating the best training path for your Cobblemon from level 1 to max is all about careful planning and strategic training. By following the right leveling paths, focusing on EVs, and teaching the right moves, you can maximize your Cobblemon’s potential. With patience and attention to detail, your Cobblemon will be ready for anything, whether it’s battling in competitive PvP or tackling the toughest raids.
What’s your go-to method for leveling up Cobblemon? Share your strategies in our Discord!