Introduction

Natures modify your Pokémon's stats by +10% in one stat and -10% in another. Five neutral natures exist with no effect.

The right nature enhances strengths or compensates for weaknesses. Not critical for casual play, but necessary for competitive battling and team optimization.

This guide covers nature mechanics, choosing natures by role, and obtaining natures via Synchronize and breeding.

What Natures Do

Every Pokémon has one of 25 natures. Most natures increase one of five stats (Attack, Defense, Speed, Sp. Atk, or Sp. Def) by 10% and decrease a different stat by 10%. HP is never affected.

The modifier applies to the final stat calculation after base stats, IVs, and EVs are factored in. For example, an Adamant nature (+Attack, -Sp. Atk) on a Pokémon with 200 Attack becomes 220 Attack.

Five neutral natures (Hardy, Docile, Serious, Bashful, Quirky) have no effect - they boost and reduce the same stat, canceling out.

Nature Chart

The table below shows all 25 natures and their stat modifiers. Natures boost one stat by 10% and reduce another by 10%, except for neutral natures which have no effect.

Choosing the Right Nature

The best nature depends on your Pokémon's role, base stats, and moveset. Match the nature to how you'll use the Pokémon in battle.

Physical Attackers

Physical attackers use Attack-based moves and want one of these natures:

Adamant (+Attack, -Sp. Atk) - Best for pure physical attackers with no special moves. Maximizes damage output.

Jolly (+Speed, -Sp. Atk) - Use when Speed is more valuable than raw power. Ideal for fast sweepers who need to outspeed opponents.

Example: Heracross has high Attack but average Speed. Adamant maximizes damage, while Jolly helps outspeed threats like Gengar.

Special Attackers

Special attackers rely on Sp. Atk-based moves:

Modest (+Sp. Atk, -Attack) - Maximizes special damage output. Use when you don't need extra Speed.

Timid (+Speed, -Attack) - For fast special sweepers. Prioritizes outspeeding over damage.

Example: Alakazam has very high base Speed. Timid guarantees it moves first, while Modest may be overkill since it's already fast.

Defensive Walls

Tanks and walls prioritize Defense or Sp. Def, depending on what they need to handle:

Bold (+Defense, -Attack) - Walls physical attackers. Reduces unused Attack stat.

Impish (+Defense, -Sp. Atk) - Same as Bold but for Pokémon with no special moves.

Calm (+Sp. Def, -Attack) - Walls special attackers. Reduces unused Attack stat.

Careful (+Sp. Def, -Sp. Atk) - Same as Calm but for Pokémon with no special moves.

Relaxed (+Defense, -Speed) or Sassy (+Sp. Def, -Speed) - For walls that don't rely on Speed, or benefit from moving last (when using moves like Gyro Ball or in Trick Room).

Example: Umbreon has balanced defenses and low Attack. Bold or Calm work well depending on team needs. Careful is ideal if running only physical moves.

Mixed Attackers

Pokémon using both physical and special moves should avoid natures that reduce either attacking stat:

Hasty (+Speed, -Defense) or Naive (+Speed, -Sp. Def) - Boost Speed without hurting offense.

Mild (+Sp. Atk, -Defense), Rash (+Sp. Atk, -Sp. Def), Lonely (+Attack, -Defense), or Naughty (+Attack, -Sp. Def) - Situational. Only use if the defensive drop doesn't matter.

Mixed sets are generally suboptimal - most Pokémon perform better specializing in one attacking stat.

Support and Utility

Support Pokémon focus on moves like status effects, hazards, healing, or screens rather than damage:

• Prioritize Speed if you need to set up before opponents act (Timid, Jolly)
• Prioritize Defense or Sp. Def to survive longer (Bold, Calm, Impish, Careful)
• Reduce the attacking stat you won't use

Example: Clefable runs Wish and Moonlight for support. Bold or Calm increases bulk without affecting its utility.

Analyzing Base Stats

Check your Pokémon's base stats before choosing a nature:

1. Identify the highest stats. These are natural strengths to amplify.
2. Identify the lowest stats. Safe to reduce with a nature.
3. Check Speed tier. Can the Pokémon outspeed key threats with a +Speed nature? If it's too slow regardless, prioritize power or bulk instead.
4. Match the boosted stat to your moveset. Don't boost Attack if you're using special moves.

If a Pokémon has balanced attacking stats but low Speed, consider a defensive nature to create a bulky attacker or wall.

Common Patterns

• High Attack, low Sp. Atk: Adamant or Jolly
• High Sp. Atk, low Attack: Modest or Timid
• High Defense, low Attack: Bold or Impish
• High Sp. Def, low Attack or Sp. Atk: Calm or Careful
• Balanced stats, low Speed: Defensive nature (Relaxed, Sassy) or neutral nature
• Extreme Speed (130+ base): Modest/Adamant usually better than Timid/Jolly

When in doubt, boost your best stat and reduce your worst stat. Use a neutral nature if unsure.

Synchronize Ability

Put a Pokémon with Synchronize in your party's lead slot. Wild encounters will always match that Pokémon's nature.

Pokémon with Synchronize:

• Abra, Kadabra, Alakazam
• Natu, Xatu
• Espeon, Umbreon
• Mew

This is the most reliable way to catch specific natures in the wild. Breed for a Synchronizer with your target nature, then hunt for the Pokémon you want.

Breeding for Natures

Give a parent Pokémon an Everstone to hold. The offspring will always inherit that parent's nature.

This guarantees nature inheritance when breeding competitive Pokémon. Combined with other breeding mechanics (IVs, egg moves, Hidden Abilities), you can pass down the exact nature you need every time.

Where to get Everstone:

• Wild Geodude, Graveler, Golem (both Plain and Alolan forms) can hold one
• Purchase from Item Maniac