How much do IVs really matter?

it matters when u care
it doesn't matter when u don't care
why get yourself into trouble and make it double
lol

IV's matter a lot. So do moves.

But candy and stardust matter as well.

You have no dust and no candy. I wouldn't power this up if I were you.

I would save your candy and dust for creatures in the 95% or better range.

You will slowly get top tier creatures in the upper IV brackets and those will become your priority.

That's my two cents.

226CP is the difference between the bottom of a gym or the top. It does indeed make a big difference.

That said, there's no reason to NOT use a high level pokemon like this. It's an excellent pokemon. I would just say it isn't worth using valuable Lapras candy to power up.

A 2073CP Lapras is just that, 2073CP. Doesn't matter if the IVs are 0/0/0 or 15/15/15, unless you start to power it up it will be that strong. Once gyms are competitive and you need to place higher though, this one won't have as much potential.

Imagine your Lapras was Level 20
100 66 33 0
131 Lapras 1703 1625 1550 1475

Lapras gets like 40 Per Powerup.
Lapras then gets like 20 after Level 30.

So in terms of the above Level 30 Game your You're 150 Points down from IVs thats 7.5 Power Ups

Right now, 150/40 is almost 4. So your Level 27 Low IV Lapras is basically little stronger than a Level 25 Perfect IV Lapras

So if you MAX max your lapras it would be between a Level 36.5 and Level 37 Perfect IV Lapras

Right now, there is no difference between 2073 Lapras (well not quite true as the spread could be different with one taking more damage and doing more damage)

Or another way to think of this, I'm over level 30.
I automatically evolve any eveee or slowpoke I catch at level 30. But I only power up if good ivs

I caught two Lapras just like yours, both with FB/Blizzard, under 40% iv, and about that level. I know it might seem disappointing but they are still awesome. Great used to attack with and at a CP about perfect to be slightly below the lowest gym defender. It might not max out high enough to last in a gym but maybe its high enough in your area. I'd walk it and attack and wait for an Ice shard one to power up

It matters if you want them to.

As a frame of reference I have a 93% IV Lapras and it is stronger than yours at a lower level. I don't need to power it up as much for maximum effectiveness

It's better than most Pokemon out there, so the fact that it's max cp is capped is pretty unimportant for attacking and only really comes into play if the gyms round you have a very high bar on entry.

Lots of answers, I'd like to point out that all of them are essentially opinions.
My opinion is, that IV is overrated. I have many 40-80 % pokemon I regularly use to take down or defend gyms and they do it very well. Some of my friends are waiting for "perfect" pokemon and never going to get one, all the while I'm trumping the gyms around here.

226 CP worse lapras with good moveset is a lot better than 226 higher with lousy moves. And yours is definitely attacker.

IVs matter a lot if you want to stay in gyms...If you don't, then just attack with it and be happy. It also depends on your area and 2073 CP is going to be near 300-400 short of the bottom slot in some gyms in my area now.

As the 93% guy mentioned, I have an 88% Lapras and it has higher CP than yours and is of a lower level.

All in all, CPs and IVs matter very little for attacking pokemon. If anything, lower CPs are actually better so don't even bother powering up attackers...since you can prestige with them...Things like Dewgong or Cloyster are great against Dragonites...

For gym defense, at least at this point in the game for my area, 226 CP is a huge difference if you look at some lvl 10 stagnant gyms. Outside of Dragonite, that 226 could put in right under them or near the bottom about to get sniped out.

Opinion is opinion and mine is...
- IV's matters on Defense to achieve high CP. Higher IV's will get higher Max CP which will allow them to be on the top spot and will be the last one to get kicked out in the gym but of course you have to have great move set for battle survival.
- On the other side, IV's less or even don't matter on Offense but "Move Set" does. If your an Attack Maniac then essential elements would be Ranked A/B Move Set, Element Advantage & Dodge Capacity and it will be more than enough whether you have low or high CP.
- Since you your Lapras is an attack type then no need to power up. It has a decent CP already with the best offensive move set. It will most likely take down a 3000 CP dragonite even without dodging.

I suggest you to keep it atleast you can use it to take down 2-3 dragonites 2500+cp easily on gym attack.