When should the EV spread for Pokemon with Leftovers/Black Sludge focus on Leftovers recovery over maximizing bulk?

Question

Sorry for the confusing title. Here is an example using Leftovers Regenerator Audino:

EV spread 1: 148 HP / 180 Def / 180 SpD
EV spread 2: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

The first EV spread gives Leftovers Regenerator Audino optimal Leftovers and Regenerator recovery since the HP stat, 384, is divisible by both 16 and 3. The rest of the EVs are split into the defense stats. The second EV spread is a basic 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD spread. While it gets more Regenerator recovery, its HP stat, 410, divided by 3 is 136.6666667. If we were to round that number to the nearest whole number, it would be 137, rounding up. Since it rounds down, the number is 136. So, when should you make an EV spread that gives a Pokemon optimal Leftovers/Black Sludge recovery over maximizing bulk?

Comments

Can I just express my hate for 252/128/128 defensive sets lol

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both of those ev spreads are nonsense

Answer 1

In most cases it’s better to max out HP and one defensive EV spread, but using your mixed wall example, it’s much better to use the second EV spread. I ran damage calcs and the defense boost far outweighs the extra leftover recovery.

252 SpA Choice Specs Charizard Flamethrower vs. 148 HP / 180+ SpD Audino: 166-196 (43.2 - 51%)

252 SpA Choice Specs Charizard Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 128+ SpD Audino: 175-207 (42.6 - 50.4%)

Percentage difference per hit: 0.6%

With the first spread you get 24 hp from leftovers per turn, which is 6.25%. With the second you get 25 hp per turn (rounded down from 25.625 so what you said comes into play), which is 6.1%

Percentage difference per turn: 0.15%

Same thing for regenerator, it’s 33.33% with the optimal spread and 33.17% with the normal one, not a big difference.

So go with 252 HP instead.

Edit: I made a generalization that Audino’s always going to be eating up strong item boosted attacks, the other spread could be better in stall and double switch situations but what I said still generally applies