What does a 4-star appraisal mean in Pokemon GO?

Four stars with a red/orange bar is the top appraisal grade. It means total IVs of 37 out of 45 or higher (about 82%). A perfect Pokemon is 15/15/15, which is 100%.

What is the max level in Pokemon GO?

The power-up cap is level 50. The CP multiplier runs from 0.094 at level 1 to about 0.840 at level 50. Powering up past level 40 requires XL Candy instead of regular Candy.

Stats made simple

Pokémon GO IV, CP & appraisal explained

Q: Do IVs matter in Pokemon GO?

For most casual play, level and moveset matter more than IVs. IVs matter most for PvP league cap optimisation and for squeezing out the last bit of raid damage. A low-IV Pokemon is still perfectly usable.

Three numbers decide how strong a Pokémon really is: its IVs, its level (CP multiplier) and its base stats. Here is what each one does and when it actually matters.

Last reviewed: 15 June 2026

IVs (0–15)

Every Pokémon has three hidden Individual Values — Attack, Defense and Stamina — each from 0 to 15. A perfect Pokémon is 15/15/15, a total of 45, shown as 100%.

CP & CP multiplier

CP is a single score combining base stats, IVs and a level-based CP multiplier (CPM). As you power up, CPM rises and CP climbs with it.

Level & XL Candy

Pokémon level runs to 50. From level 40 to 50 you spend XL Candy instead of regular Candy, plus a lot more Stardust.

Reading the appraisal

What the appraisal stars mean

The in-game appraisal groups your total IV percentage into star tiers. The red/orange bar on a 4-star appraisal marks the very best individual stats.

Appraisal	Total IV	Percentage	What it means
4 stars (red bar)	37–45	~82–100%	Excellent. 45/45 is a perfect 15/15/15.
3 stars	30–36	~67–80%	Strong, fine to invest in for most uses.
2 stars	23–29	~51–64%	Average. Usable, especially at the right level.
1 star	0–22	0–~49%	Low IVs — can still be great for PvP league caps.

Tip: for PvP Great and Ultra League, low-Attack / high-bulk IVs are often better than 100% because they pack more stat product under the CP cap.

The CP curve

CP multiplier by level

CPM scales your stats with level. It rises fast early and flattens out near the cap — which is why the last few levels cost so much for so little.

Level	CP multiplier	Notes
1	0.094	Starting value.
10	0.4225	Roughly half of a max-level multiplier.
20	0.5974	Common wild/raid catch ceiling without weather boost.
30	0.7317	Old soft cap; still a strong, efficient stopping point.
40	0.7903	Regular Candy cap. XL Candy needed beyond here.
50	~0.8403	Maximum. Big Stardust and XL Candy cost.

Values come from the game's CPM table. Half-levels exist between each whole level, which is why a power-up sometimes adds only a tiny CP bump.

Practical advice

When is a Pokémon worth powering up?

Worth the Stardust

It is a strong raid attacker for its type with a good moveset.
It hits a PvP league CP cap with high stat product.
You will use it often — daily raids, gym defense, rocket battles.
It is a rare or hard-to-replace species.

Probably wait

You only have a handful of candy and no XL Candy.
A better counter of the same type is easy to get.
The moveset is weak and you have no Elite TM to fix it.
You are chasing the level 40→50 jump for a casual Pokémon.

Good to know

IV & CP FAQ

Do IVs really matter?

For most casual play, level and moveset matter far more than IVs. IVs matter most for PvP league-cap optimisation and for squeezing out the last few percent of raid damage. A 1-star Pokémon is still perfectly usable.

What is the highest CP a Pokémon can reach?

It depends on the species' base stats. CP is maximised at level 50 with 15/15/15 IVs. Bulky high-base-stat species like Slaking, Mewtwo and legendary Pokémon reach the highest CP numbers.

Should I power up to level 50?

Only for Pokémon you use a lot. Level 40→50 costs hundreds of XL Candy and a large amount of Stardust for a small stat gain, so it is best saved for top raid attackers and key PvP picks.