Who Should You Use the Silver Bottle Cap On in Pokémon GO?
By Matt · Published IVs barely change anything in Pokémon GO raids and Max Battles, so a Silver Bottle Cap won't make your Pokémon noticeably stronger. Use it on a Pokémon you only ever get two chances at, like Mew, Zygarde or Eternatus, to fill out its hundo Pokédex entry, or on your favourite Pokémon.
The Silver Bottle Cap is back in the Into the Wild Deluxe GO Pass, and this is who I’d use it on. Everything about how to get it is in my Into the Wild news post.
Does the Silver Bottle Cap make your Pokémon stronger?
Not really. IVs barely matter in raids and Max Battles, so a hundo does almost nothing different to the same Pokémon with lower IVs. Don’t use your cap expecting a power difference, because you won’t feel it. That leaves two good choices.
Use it on a Pokémon you only get two chances at
Some Pokémon you only ever get two of: one when it’s released, and another when its shiny comes out. Mew, Zygarde and Eternatus are good examples.
That’s only two rolls at filling out the hundo in your Pokédex. A hundo is a 1 in 216 chance, less than half a percent (0.46%), so using the cap on a Pokémon you’ll only get two shots at is the wise pick.
Or use it on your favourite Pokémon
Nobody else cares what you have a hundo of, but it feels good to honour your own favourite by making it one. If your favourite is Rayquaza and you caught it at an event you have great memories of, that’s a good choice too.
What did you use your last Silver Bottle Cap on?
FAQ
Does the Silver Bottle Cap make a Pokémon stronger in Pokémon GO?
Not in a way you'll feel. IVs barely affect damage in raids and Max Battles, so a hundo does almost nothing different to the same Pokémon with lower IVs.
Which Pokémon should I use the Silver Bottle Cap on?
A Pokémon you only ever get two of, one on release and another when its shiny comes out, like Mew, Zygarde or Eternatus. Or your favourite Pokémon.
What are the odds of getting a hundo?
1 in 216, or about 0.46%, which is why a Pokémon you only get two chances at is the best use of a cap.
Get Matt's full take
The extended write-up on Patreon has Matt’s commentary, what to prioritise and Matt’s own plan.