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In Pokémon GO, a 4-star Pokémon has the highest appraisal category. Search your Pokémon storage for 4* to find these Pokémon, then use Appraise to inspect Attack, Defense, and HP. The rating describes appraisal potential; it does not, by itself, tell you which Pokémon is best for every battle.
What does 4-star mean in Pokémon GO?
Appraisal is the game’s assessment of a Pokémon’s potential. It displays an overall star category alongside separate evaluations for Attack, Defense, and HP. Four stars is the highest appraisal category. Niantic’s appraisal guide explains what the Team Leader evaluates.
A 4-star rating is useful information about those appraised stats, but it is not a universal battle ranking. The official appraisal guidance does not establish that a 4-star Pokémon is automatically the best choice for every species matchup or battle format.
How to find and inspect 4-star Pokémon
- From Map View, open the Main Menu and tap Pokémon.
- Tap the magnifying-glass search field and enter
4*. The results are Pokémon in the top appraisal group. Niantic documents this search syntax in its inventory search guide. - Open a result, open its menu, and tap Appraise. Your Team Leader will show the star category and assessments for Attack, Defense, and HP.
- If you want to protect a valuable catch from accidental transfer, mark it as a favorite. Niantic says favoriting helps prevent a favorite Pokémon from being transferred.
You can combine inventory search terms with & or | to narrow results, though the exact filters you need depend on what you are looking for. The search guide lists the available syntax.
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Can evolving or powering up make a Pokémon 4-star?
No. Evolving and powering up do not improve appraisal, so spending Candy or Stardust cannot turn a lower-appraisal Pokémon into a 4-star one. Niantic states: “Please note that Evolving or Powering Up a Pokémon will not improve its appraisal, however Purifying a Shadow Pokémon will improve its appraisal.”
Purification can improve a Shadow Pokémon’s appraisal, but Niantic’s guidance does not promise that purification will always result in a 4-star rating.
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Should you power up a 4-star Pokémon?
Appraisal is one factor to consider, not an instruction to spend resources. Powering up raises a Pokémon’s CP and HP, and requires Stardust and species Candy. Candy XL is needed for higher-level power-ups; Niantic says players can begin collecting Candy XL at level 31. Costs may rise as a Pokémon gets stronger. See Niantic’s power-up guide for the process and requirements.
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- Check the appraisal if you want to know its Attack, Defense, and HP evaluations.
- Consider whether you plan to use that Pokémon before committing scarce Stardust, Candy, or Candy XL.
- Do not assume the 4-star label alone identifies the best choice for a specific battle; the official appraisal guidance does not make that claim.
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