Discover why Pokemon Go’s worst Smeargle became a collector’s dream and learn advanced rarity strategies
The Paradox of Perfection in Imperfection
In the competitive world of Pokemon Go, where trainers typically chase perfect IVs and powerful combat creatures, an unexpected phenomenon has emerged: collectors now actively seek the game’s most fundamentally useless Pokemon. This shift represents a fascinating evolution in player psychology, where rarity transcends practical utility.
The discovery of an exceptionally weak Smeargle has captivated the Pokemon Go community, demonstrating how perceived worthlessness can transform into extraordinary collector value through sheer statistical improbability.
This phenomenon mirrors real-world collecting markets where misprints, errors, and imperfections often command premium prices due to their unique nature and extreme scarcity among mass-produced items.
Pokemon Go’s Unique Stat System Explained
Pokemon Go employs a simplified stat determination system compared to main series games, utilizing three core attributes—Attack, Defense, and Stamina—that generate randomly when creatures spawn. These Individual Values (IVs) range from 0 to 15 for each stat, creating 4,096 possible combinations.
The appraisal system translates these IV combinations into star ratings: zero stars (0-48% IV perfection), one star (51-64%), two stars (67-80%), three stars (82-98%), and the coveted four stars (100% perfect). While competitive battlers pursue four-star specimens, dedicated collectors have discovered equal excitement in pursuing zero-star Pokemon.
Move sets introduce additional complexity, with certain combinations being exceptionally rare or strategically useless. The probability of obtaining both terrible IVs and useless moves creates mathematical rarities that exceed the likelihood of finding perfect Pokemon.
Advanced collectors utilize this knowledge to calculate exact rarity probabilities, often discovering that certain ‘bad’ combinations appear less frequently than their perfect counterparts due to game mechanics and spawn algorithms.
Analyzing the Ultimate Failure: The 12 CP Smeargle
On September 9, Redditor slhcslhc unveiled what many consider the pinnacle of Pokemon Go failure—a 12 CP Smeargle bearing the prestigious yet disappointing zero-star appraisal. The creature’s caption, “I may have caught the most useless pokemon,” barely captured the statistical marvel they had discovered.
The Smeargle’s move set elevated it from merely weak to functionally useless: Splash, a Water-type move dealing zero damage, paired with Struggle, a Normal-type move that damages the user. This combination creates a Pokemon incapable of winning battles without self-destructing, representing the absolute antithesis of combat viability.
Community response demonstrated the shifting collector mentality. Comments ranged from “That is actually crazy. Nice catch there” to recognition that “This is useless but super rare.” One collector with a similar specimen acknowledged the superiority, stating they needed to rename their “Nundo Smeargle from Worst Artist to Bad artist now.”
This case study illustrates how the Pokemon Go community has developed sophisticated appreciation metrics beyond simple combat effectiveness, creating subcultures dedicated to finding and preserving these rare failures.
Advanced Collection Strategies for Rare Finds
Seasoned Pokemon Go collectors employ specific methodologies for targeting exceptionally rare imperfect specimens. Zero-star hunting requires understanding spawn mechanics and recognizing that certain Pokemon species have higher base stats, making low IV combinations more noticeable and collectible.
Move set rarity represents another collection dimension. While most trainers seek optimal moves, collectors document and pursue terrible combinations, particularly those involving moves like Splash, Struggle, or other low-damage options. The intersection of bad IVs and useless moves creates the ultimate collector trophies.
Preservation techniques include careful naming conventions (adding “Nundo” for zero-IV specimens), dedicated storage boxes, and community documentation through platforms like Reddit and Discord. Many collectors maintain spreadsheets tracking their worst finds and their statistical probabilities.
Common mistakes include transferring potentially valuable bad Pokemon before appraisal, overlooking move set analysis, and failing to recognize that some ‘bad’ combinations are rarer than perfect specimens. Advanced collectors recommend appraising every catch, regardless of CP, to avoid missing these rare gems.
Optimization strategies involve focusing on Pokemon with particularly bad base stats, as their low IV versions become exceptionally weak, and targeting species known for having useless move possibilities to increase chances of finding the ultimate failure combination.
Low CP Evolution Mechanics and Their Surprises
Pokemon Go’s evolution system creates additional collection opportunities through low-CP specimens. The game permits evolving fully evolved Pokemon at levels typically inaccessible through normal gameplay, allowing collectors to obtain creatures like Charizard at level one with minimal combat power.
These low-CP evolutions represent novelty items rather than practical combatants. A level one Charizard, while visually impressive, lacks the statistical foundation to compete in battles but holds significant collector value due to the resource investment required and the unusual nature of the specimen.
However, even these deliberately weak evolved forms pale in comparison to the ultimate failure represented by the 12 CP Smeargle. The combination of naturally low stats, terrible moves, and zero-star appraisal creates a specimen that cannot be replicated through evolution mechanics alone.
Strategic implications include prioritizing candy investment for creating novelty evolved forms versus hunting for naturally occurring terrible specimens. Many advanced collectors pursue both strategies simultaneously, recognizing that each approach offers unique bragging rights within the community.
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No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Pokemon Go trainer catches the “most useless” Pokemon and fans love it Discover why Pokemon Go's worst Smeargle became a collector's dream and learn advanced rarity strategies