Pokémon Natures & Stats Guide
Every Pokémon has a nature that boosts one stat by 10% and lowers another by 10%. Choosing the right nature is one of the easiest ways to optimize your Pokémon for competitive battling. This guide explains how natures work and which to pick for every role.
How Natures Work
Each Pokémon receives a random nature when caught or hatched. There are 25 natures total: 20 that boost one stat and lower another, plus 5 neutral natures that have no effect. The boosted stat gains +10% and the lowered stat loses −10%. Natures affect all stats except HP.
Nature Stat Modifier Table
| Nature | +10% Stat | −10% Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Adamant | ↑ Attack | ↓ Sp. Atk |
| Jolly | ↑ Speed | ↓ Sp. Atk |
| Modest | ↑ Sp. Atk | ↓ Attack |
| Timid | ↑ Speed | ↓ Attack |
| Bold | ↑ Defense | ↓ Attack |
| Calm | ↑ Sp. Def | ↓ Attack |
| Impish | ↑ Defense | ↓ Sp. Atk |
| Careful | ↑ Sp. Def | ↓ Sp. Atk |
| Brave | ↑ Attack | ↓ Speed |
| Relaxed | ↑ Defense | ↓ Speed |
| Quiet | ↑ Sp. Atk | ↓ Speed |
| Sassy | ↑ Sp. Def | ↓ Speed |
| Naughty | ↑ Attack | ↓ Sp. Def |
| Rash | ↑ Sp. Atk | ↓ Sp. Def |
| Lax | ↑ Defense | ↓ Sp. Def |
| Naive | ↑ Speed | ↓ Sp. Def |
| Lonely | ↑ Attack | ↓ Defense |
| Mild | ↑ Sp. Atk | ↓ Defense |
| Gentle | ↑ Sp. Def | ↓ Defense |
| Hasty | ↑ Speed | ↓ Defense |
Natures
Best Natures for Physical Attackers
Adamant (+Atk, −SpA) is the go-to for physical attackers that don't use special moves. Jolly (+Spe, −SpA) is preferred when outspeeding opponents matters more than raw power. Both dump Special Attack, which physical attackers don't need.
Best Natures for Special Attackers
Modest (+SpA, −Atk) maximizes special damage output. Timid (+Spe, −Atk) trades some power for crucial speed. These two natures are the standard for special sweepers in competitive play.
Best Natures for Defensive Pokémon
Bold (+Def, −Atk) for physical walls, Calm (+SpD, −Atk) for special walls, and Impish (+Def, −SpA) for physical tanks that still use physical moves. Relaxed (+Def, −Spe) suits Trick Room teams.
Speed Tiers & Nature Choice
In competitive Pokémon, speed decides who attacks first. A +Speed nature can push a Pokémon above key thresholds. For example, Jolly Garchomp (333 Speed) outspeeds Adamant Garchomp (317 Speed). Check your Pokémon's speed tier before choosing between a power or speed nature.
Nature Mints (Sword/Shield+)
Starting in Sword & Shield, Nature Mints change a Pokémon's stat modifiers without changing its displayed nature. This lets you fix natures on legendaries and gift Pokémon. Mints are obtained from the Battle Tower or Tera Raid rewards.
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