What does unknown CP mean in Pokemon Go?

Not all creatures in Pokemon Go are created equally, and even the same species can have vastly different CP. However, if you come across a Pokemon with an unknown Combat Power, here’s what it means.

Pokemon Go allows you to live out your ultimate Pokemon trainer fantasy by sending you out into the world to try and catch ’em all. There are hundreds of Pokemon to track down, spanning from the Red & Blue generations all the way up to Scarlet & Violet.

Every Pokemon you bump into around the world has a CP level, and even the same species can have incredibly varied stats.

However, sometimes the CP is labeled as “???”, so check out what it means in case you come across one of those in your travels.

What does unknown CP mean?

Niantic

When a Pokemon appears with an unknown Combat Power, marked by three question marks (???) next to the name, this means that the Pokemon has the highest CP you have encountered so far.

So, while you won’t know exactly what the CP of the Pokemon is until you catch it, you can rest assured it will be higher than your current best creatures.

For example, if the highest CP in your Pokemon storage box is 2,000, then the one you are trying to catch will have a CP of at least 2,001 or more.

What is CP in Pokemon Go?

CP stands for Combat Power in Niantic’s game, and it’s a value that easily explains how strong that Pokemon is. It is worked out based on Individual Values (IVs), such as the Pokemon’s Attack, Defense, Stamina, and overall level.

When you first catch them, CPs can range from as low as 10 to over 4,000, but they can be upgraded using Candy and Stardust.

Does higher CP mean better Pokemon?

DEXERTO

Simply put, CP lets players know how well each Pokemon will perform in battle. This means that if you want to take on other users or defend a nearby Gym, picking Pokemon with the highest CP is your best bet.

More so, as mentioned above, you can increase a Pokemon’s CP using different items. However, how much will depend on each case.

To see how much further you can expand your creature’s Combat Power, you can check the arc on top of them. The current CP will be marked by where the point is, which means that what’s left of the arc’s right side is all you can grow.

Is CP important in Pokemon Go?

Yes, CP is important in Pokemon Go as it is the overall measured strength of your Pokemon. The highest the CP, the strongest it will be in battle.

Nonetheless, checking the creature’s other stats is crucial, as a Pokemon can have incredibly high Combat Power but lousy IVs.

When in battle, other factors will determine if you win or lose, not just the CP. You need to take into consideration the IVs, moveset, type combinations, counters, and more.

That’s all you need to know about unknown CP in Pokemon Go. Don’t forget to check our game coverage with the latest Pokemon Go events, the current Community Day, and Spotlight Hours.