Pokemon Radio: Trainer Teacher (6)
Hosts: Himchan and Youngjae

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Himchan: Welcome to another episode of Trainer Teacher!

Youngjae: Yeah!

Himchan: Oh, we have two noisy people here today.

Youngjae: That's right, so we'll be twice the fun!

Himchan: Actually, it's because the others aren't free. Anyways, right. So, we're at our next episode of Trainer Teacher! Isn't that great?

Youngjae: Of course. What are we talking about today, Himchan?

Himchan: Well, today, we have three topics! Stats, Natures and EVs and IVs.

Youngjae: Isn't that four topics?

Himchan EVs and IVs are under one topic.

Youngjae: Oh. So! Stats.

Himchan: That's right. Stats. What are Stats, Youngjae? 

Youngjae: Oh, you know. Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed, Accuracy and Evasion. You know how Pokemon moves are split into Physical and Special?

Himchan: And Status, but okay.

Youngjae: So, when you use a Physical move on the foe, whether your attack is devastating depends on your Attack stat. There are some Pokemon with naturally high Attack stats like Fighting-type Pokemon. Like Machoke, Mienshao, Sawk.

Himchan: Makes sense. So, what about Defense?

Youngjae: How much damage you take from a Physical attack depends on your Defense stat. If it's high, like most Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon, you won't take a lot of damage, but if it's low, then you kinda will.

Youngjae: So, it's safe to assume it's the same case for Special attacks except that we take Special Attack and Special Defense stats into consideration?

Himchan: Yeah.

Youngjae: What were the other stats...? Speed, Accuracy, and...ah! Evasion.

Himchan: Speed determines how fast your Pokemon is, right?

Youngjae: Yeah, there are some Pokemon with naturally high Speed, like most Electric-types and Daehyun's Monferno. And there are naturally slow Pokemon like...well...there are some Pokemon you can tell are naturally slow. Like Snorlax and Slaking.

Himchan: Accuracy and Evasion seem to come hand in hand.

Youngjae: Uh huh. Accuracy affects how likely your move is going to hit, and evasion affects whether you can dodge moves well.

Himchan: Ah, I see.

Youngjae: Right, what's next...? Ah. Natures. Heard you're great at that. 

Himchan: As a matter of fact, yes. Yes I am. Each Pokemon has a Nature that is specific to it. The Nature can be anything from Adamant to Docile to Lax to Quirky. Like, Yongguk's Grovyle has a Quirky Nature.

Youngjae: Uh huh, and what's that got to do with training Pokemon?

Himchan: It has everything to do with training Pokemon, Youngjae-ah.

Youngjae: Yeah, so what do Natures do?

Himchan: Natures affect the stat growth of a Pokemon. For example, a Pokemon with a Calm Nature will grow more strongly in the Special Defense department, but won't be able to execute Physical attacks very well.

Youngjae: Hey, since you're so good at it, what are my Pokemon's natures?

Himchan: Well, Petilil's Rash, means it has a higher growth in Special Attack but has a lowered Special Defense. Lopunny has a Naughty Nature, means higher Attack but lower Special Defense. Braixen has a Lonely nature. Ups Attack but lowers Defense. A bit of a problem, though. Braixen has a higher natural Special Attack.

Youngjae: Braixen is still Braixen. Doesn't matter whether it has higher Special Attack or Attack.

Himchan: Well said. Anyways, Calm Nature, which I mentioned above, and Cubone has a Bashful Nature, which, get this, has no special stat growth!

Youngjae: There are Natures that can do that?

Himchan: Well, yeah. Pokemon that are Bashful, Hardy, Docile, Serious and Quirky have no, like, special stat growth or anything.

Youngjae: Isn't that great, though? There wouldn't be a stat that becomes lower because of the Nature.

Himchan: But there wouldn't be a stronger stat either. It just depends on how you play the game, I guess.

Youngjae: Is that it for Natures?

Himchan: Well, if your Pokemon are, ahem, breeding, and they hold onto a Everstone, they are more likely to pass down the same Nature to their offspring.

Youngjae: ...I'm not going to ask how you know about that. Guys, Himchan has a dangerous hobby.

Himchan: I do not...What the hell? Oh ...Oh , I'm not suppo--ah!

Youngjae: Cursing on broadcast, I see. See, everyone, Himchan is a dangerous specimen. Approach with caution.

Himchan: ...

Youngjae: Speechless, I see. Anyways, Natures of Pokemon also affect the Pokeblock flavour they like. Pokemon that are, like, Modest and Quiet prefer dry Pokeblocks. Brave and Adamant prefer spicy. Bold and Impish prefer sour, Timid and Hasty prefer sweet and Sassy and Careful prefer bitter. Yes.

Himchan: ...

Youngjae: So, let's move on to EVs and IVs, shall we?

Himchan: Uh...okay. *clears throat* So, what do EVs and IVs stand for, Youngjae?

Youngjae: EVs stand for Effort Values and IVs stand for Individual Values. Individual Values refer to the potential growth of the stats of a particular Pokemon. and Effort Values refer to the strength that Pokemon gain when they defeat certain Pokemon.

Himchan: I...still don't get the EVs part.

Youngjae: So, when you beat different Pokemon, you get different EVs. Like, if you beat a Wingull, you get...one Speed EV. The more EVs you have for a particular stat, the more that stat will grow when you level up.

Himchan: That's actually quite cool. Imagine if you have the right Nature and you have like high EVs and you have the right IVs. You have a powerhouse right there!

Youngjae: That's why for really good battlers, they concentrat a lot on getting the right Nature and the right IVs and EVs.

Himchan: Cruelty to Pokemon, that's what it is.

Youngjae: Yeah, I never really liked the notion of it either. You should like your Pokemon just the way it is.

Himchan: Yup. Words of advice from Youngjae and myself. Your Pokemon are special. So, just, like them the way they are, okay?

Youngjae: So, this is Trainer Teacher from Himchan and I! Hope you've enjoyed it!