How has EV training changed between older Pokemon games like Emerald and newer ones like Sword and Shield?

Question

I am replaying some older Pokemon games, and I’m a bit confused about how EV training has changed over generations.
For example, in Pokemon Sword and Shield, it feels much faster compared to older games like Emerald or Platinum.
Can someone explain the main differences in EV training mechanics between older and newer generations?

Comments

What methods are you using for EV training in each game? It's definitely faster to dump vitamins on a mon in SwSh than grind encounters in Emerald, but I'm not sure what's confusing about that.

---

I think the main thing is that the newer games have more EV training items and more accessible EV training items (you can get protein more easily for example, and the vitamins no longer cap), and in general EV training is faster. Some older games still have items like the vitamins or the macho brace but in general it's more grindy with you having to battle a lot more Pokemon.

Also the EXP share allows you to ev train a bunch of Pokemon at once in the newer gens since you can use one battler while your other party members get the EVs.

---

Pardon my stupidity, what does a Pokemon inspired mobile game have anything to do with the question you asked? Why did you edit that in?

---

User is a spammer. I banned them.

Answer 1

Changes to EV training Mechanics by Generation

• Generation 1 and 2 (Stat Experience system)
  • https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Effort_values#Stat_experience
• Generation 3 (Introduction of Modern EVs)
  • From Generations III to V, Pokémon are limited to a total of 255 effort points per stat, and 510 effort points in total.
  • EVs contribute to a stat by dividing by 4 and rounding down, so the usable maximums are 252 effort points per stat, and 508 effort points in total.
  • Upon knocking out an opponent in battle, the Pokemon gains 1-3 EVs in particulat stat (depending on the species of the Pokemon that was knocked out).
  • Vitamins add 10 EVs per use and cannot raise a stat above 100 EVs.
  • Specific stat lowering berries can reduce specfic EVs by 10 points each.
  • Macho Brace and Pokerus double EVs gained and stack with each other.
  • Level 100 Pokemon no longer gains EVs from battling.
  • In Gens 1-3 stats are only updated to include EVs upon level up.
• Generation 4
  • EV-reducing berries reduce EVs to 100 for their speicific stat if EVs in that stat were above 110.
  • The Power items (Weight, Bracer, Belt, Lens, Band, Anklet) are introduced which gives an additional 4 EVs to a particular stat for every opponent defeated in battle.
  • All Pokémon have stats recalculated to include EVs when placed into the box, also allowing to boost stats without requiring a level up, also known as the Box Trick.
• Generation 5
  • EV-reducing Berries no longer reduce Effort Points to 100 if the points were above 110; instead, it always deducts 10 EVs.
  • Pokémon can now gain effort values from battling even at Level 100.
  • Stats are recalculated at the end of every battle instead of only after leveling up.
  • Join Avenue's Beauty Salon, Dojo and Café can alter a Pokémon's EVs for a determined price.
  • Feathers are introduced that give 1 EV to a specfic stat.
• Generation 6
  • Individual stats now max out at 252 EVs instead of 255.
  • A new feature called Super Training is introduced, which allows the player to increase effort points for each stat individually, or remove all effort points from a Pokémon entirely.
  • In Pokémon X and Y, EV-altering juices can be made or bought at the Juice Shoppe in Lumiose City.
  • Catching a wild Pokémon will now give EVs for that Pokémon as if it were defeated.
• Generation 7
  • The six Power Items introduced in Generation IV now yield an additional eight instead of four effort points per Pokémon defeated.
  • Pokémon Sun and Moon introduced Poké Pelago, which allows for passive EV-training of Pokémon currently stored in the PC.
  • All wild Pokémon summoned through SOS calls have their EV yields doubled upon being defeated.
  • Festival Plaza's Bouncy Houses and Food Stalls can alter a Pokémon's EVs for a predetermined price.
• Generation 8
  • Vitamins can now raise EVs above 100 points.
  • Seminars from Hammerlocke University raises their EVs by 4 per hour; these Poké Jobs are always available (once unlocked) and can be used repeatedly.
  • In the Isle of Armor, an NPC on one of the islands in the Workout Sea named Lady Clear will offer to completely reset the EVs of any Pokémon for 10 pieces of Armorite Ore.
  • In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, EVs can be gained from battles as usual. However, they cannot be viewed within Legends: Arceus, and have no effect on the stats of the Pokémon.
• Generation 9
  • In The Teal Mask, Fresh-Start Mochi can be obtained, which can be used to completely reset the EVs of any Pokémon.
  • Macho Brace and Pokerus have been removed.

For further details, check the bulbapedia page linked below.
Source: https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Effort_values

Comments

There's also a few mechanics that aren't directly related to EVs but are still helpful for EV training, like Poke radars.

---

It might be worth mentioning the removal of things such as the Macho Brace and Pokerus in Gen IX.