Pokémon Growth Rates
Experience points
Experience points (EXP) play a crucial role in a Pokémon's growth and progression in battle. Gained through battles and other activities, experience points determine how much a Pokémon has trained and battled over time. When a Pokémon accumulates enough EXP, it levels up, becoming stronger and unlocking new abilities, all the way up to the maximum level of 100.
In the mainline Pokémon games, EXP is typically distributed among all Pokémon that actively participate in battle against an opponent. The total experience gained depends on factors such as the defeated Pokémon's species and level, as well as whether any experience-boosting items or conditions are in play. Items like the Exp. Share or Lucky Egg can increase EXP gains, while Pokémon caught in a different language game or traded from another player also earn bonus EXP.
Relation to level
A Pokémon's level is directly tied to the amount of experience points (EXP) it has accumulated. While the total EXP required varies by species, it remains consistent within evolutionary lines. Each specific amount of EXP corresponds to a particular level, ensuring a predictable progression system. When caught, wild Pokémon at any level start with the exact base EXP required for their level, as do Pokémon hatched from Eggs.
Pokémon are categorized into one of six experience growth groups, which determine the EXP required to reach each level and ultimately level 100. The original four groups—Fast, Medium Fast, Medium Slow, and Slow—were introduced in Generation I and use cubic polynomial functions to calculate experience. Two additional groups, Erratic (Slow Then Very Fast) and Fluctuating (Fast Then Very Slow), were added in Generation III.
Experience required per level
A graph of the experience required for a Pokémon to be a certain level, color-coded by experience growth groups.
- Slow
- Medium
- Fast
- Medium Slow
- Slow Then Very Fast
- Fast Then Very Slow
Cubed experience required per level
Experience required to reach each level, scaled by the cube of the level, reveals unique growth patterns across different Pokémon. This visualization helps highlight the leveling pace and efficiency of each growth rate, making it easier to compare and understand progression.
- Slow
- Medium
- Fast
- Medium Slow
- Slow Then Very Fast
- Fast Then Very Slow
Experience needed to gain a single level
Graph showing experience needed to gain a single level, for each level up to 100. The nature of the 'Slow Then Very Fast' and 'Fast Then Very Slow' curves can be seen more clearly.
- Slow
- Medium
- Fast
- Medium Slow
- Slow Then Very Fast
- Fast Then Very Slow
