How to tell Max CP?

I'm comparing different pokemon of the same type (e.g. comparing pidgeys with each other), to see which ones I want to keep and which to transfer. I want to select based on Max CP -which differs per each pokemon-, but it's a bitch to find what a pokémon's max CP would be.

Even though the bar fill isn't very accurate (not determined per every 1%), if a CP bar is filled to 50%, it's not hard to find out what the max CP of that pokemon is. But otherwise, since there are no round measurement tools in any software I know of, it stays at mere guessing.

Does anyone know of a way to do this effectively?

5 Answers

You could do this with a protractor. Originally I thought you'd need to do an upgrade and measure the difference, but I was making it more complicated than it needs to be.

Thankfully, the bar is exactly half a circle, this makes things a bit easier with a standard protractor. I have assumed that the bar is linear, meaning that if the bar is half full, then the Pokémon is at half of it's max CP.

The bar on this example is 110 / 180 or about 60% full.

You can then work out your estimated max level with this formula:

max = CurrentCP / (angle / 180)

Example:
max = 72 / (110 / 180)
max = 72 / 0.61
max = 118

Based on the other answer, it seems that the max CP might change as you level up, so you might need to remeasure.

But again, a physical one would have to have the same radius as the image/app on your screen.

Nope, with a ruler (or any straight edge for that matter), you can use a smaller protractor. Just put the protractor so that it's middle is in the middle of the bar and place your straight edge as indicated by the white line.

Your Max CP of a Pokemon is also based on your level, it will increase if your level goes up. And the same Pokemon could have a different CP max. Some have more potential for growth than others.

So there isn't really a way to accurately determine what the max CP of a pokemon is.

You can calculate the exact maximum CP for each Pokémon, as long as you have all the correct data for that specific Pokémon.

Individual Values

The first thing you're going to have to figure out, are what the individual values (IV) are for each Pokémon you want to compare. Every Pokémon has 3 hidden IVs, one each for Attack, Defense, and Stamina. These values range from 0 to 15, and are used to calculate the Pokémon's CP.

You can use online tools such as the IV Calculator from Poké Assistant to find these values.

Base Stats

The next thing you'll have to look up, are the base stats for whichever species of Pokémon you're comparing. Each species has a set of base stats, which are also used to calculate CP.

You can find base stats all over the web, The Silph Road has a whole list of Species Stats

Level

To calculate the maximum possible CP, you'll simply use level 40 in your calculations. If you want to know what the maximum CP is for your current trainer level, you'll use your trainer level plus 1.5. For example, if you're level 20, you can only power a Pokémon up to level 21.5.

CP Multiplier

To calculate CP, you don't use the level directly, instead you have to look up the CP Multiplier for that level. Luckily, the CP Multiplier can also be found on the web, at sites like GamePress.

The Formula

The formula looks like this...

Max CP = Floor(((BaseAttack + IndividualAttack) * (BaseDefense + IndividualDefense)^0.5 * (BaseStamina + IndividualStamina)^0.5 * CPMultiplier^2) / 10)

As an example, I'll calculate the maximum CP of a 12/14/15 Pidgey if your trainer level was 20.

Max CP = Floor(((85 + 12) * (76 + 14)^0.5 * (80 + 15)^0.5 * (0.619399365)^2) / 10)
Max CP = Floor((97 * 9.4868329805051379959966806332982 * 9.7467943448089639068384131998996 * 0.383655573362403225) / 10)
Max CP = Floor((3441.0921526345817698060490793408) / 10)
Max CP = Floor(344.10921526345817698060490793408)
Max CP = 344

You can also easily calulate the absolute maximum CP, by simply using the CP Multiplier for level 40.

Max CP = Floor(((85 + 12) * (76 + 14)^0.5 * (80 + 15)^0.5 * (0.79030001)^2) / 10)
Max CP = Floor((97 * 9.4868329805051379959966806332982 * 9.7467943448089639068384131998996 * 0.6245741058060001) / 10)
Max CP = Floor((5601.9440442159961329825324916023) / 10)
Max CP = Floor(560.19440442159961329825324916023)
Max CP = 560

Maximum cp level of your Pokémon changes as you level up according to an algorithm. Yes, you can measure this with a protractor, but to truly understand the math behind it, you need to look at the data of the system. I would also like to add that it is yet a bit unclear about whether or not the size xs or xl affect this. I do not believe it currently does, but algorithms can change with updates ;)

Based on the data from what someone wrote about max trainer level in another forum, click this link to see the algorithm for max cp increases as you're leveling up. Here is the link to the datamining:

Also-- there's a lot of other useful info in that data, so enjoy ;)

Source article:

"According to this article the maximum trainer Level is 40. They found the information with datamining, there is no official statement about this.

Two more sources (thx to Kaz Wolfe): source1 source2

You need 5 million experience points to reach from level 39 to 40.

Afaik at the moment (20.07) the highest level players reached is level 30 and they need 500k xp for level 31

To calculate if I am going to keep an Pokemon and train it for gym battles, I look at the skills of the pokemon (do they have the skillset I would like), and at the appraise from the gym leader. That will give a good indication if the pokemon can also achieve a good CP for battle.

But there are also websites where you can calculate how good your pokemon is against other pokemon of the same spiecies.

For example my Ninetailes: Ninetailes
Link to the website: Link