How to Get the Nature You Want
Natures are randomly assigned when catching. No Synchronize, no breeding, and no mints available.
Best Natures by Role
Physical Sweeper
Jolly
Adamant
Jolly when outspeeding threats matters more. Adamant when raw power is the priority.
Special Sweeper
Timid
Modest
Timid for speed-dependent sweepers. Modest for slower nukes or Choice Specs users.
Physical Wall
Bold
Impish
Bold drops Attack (for pure support). Impish drops Sp. Attack (if using physical moves).
Special Wall
Calm
Careful
Calm drops Attack (special walls). Careful drops Sp. Attack (mixed defensive).
Trick Room
Brave
Quiet
Both lower Speed intentionally. Brave for physical, Quiet for special TR attackers.
Mixed Attacker
Naive
Hasty
Both boost Speed while sacrificing a defensive stat, keeping both offenses intact.
Attack
Defense
Sp. Attack
Sp. Defense
Speed
S
A
B
C
= competitive tier
Flavors:
Attack = Spicy, Defense = Sour, Sp. Atk = Dry, Sp. Def = Bitter, Speed = Sweet
A nature likes the flavor of its boosted stat and dislikes the flavor of its penalized stat. Flavors affect berry consumption, Pokeblocks, and Poffins.
| Tier | Nature | Increased Stat | Decreased Stat | Fav. Flavor | Disliked Flavor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack + +10% / -10% | |||||
| S | Adamant | Attack | Sp. Attack | Spicy | Dry |
| B | Brave TR | Attack | Speed | Spicy | Sweet |
| C | Lonely | Attack | Defense | Spicy | Sour |
| C | Naughty | Attack | Sp. Defense | Spicy | Bitter |
| Defense + +10% / -10% | |||||
| A | Bold | Defense | Attack | Sour | Spicy |
| A | Impish | Defense | Sp. Attack | Sour | Dry |
| B | Relaxed TR | Defense | Speed | Sour | Sweet |
| C | Lax | Defense | Sp. Defense | Sour | Bitter |
| Sp. Attack + +10% / -10% | |||||
| S | Modest | Sp. Attack | Attack | Dry | Spicy |
| B | Quiet TR | Sp. Attack | Speed | Dry | Sweet |
| C | Mild | Sp. Attack | Defense | Dry | Sour |
| C | Rash | Sp. Attack | Sp. Defense | Dry | Bitter |
| Sp. Defense + +10% / -10% | |||||
| A | Calm | Sp. Defense | Attack | Bitter | Spicy |
| A | Careful | Sp. Defense | Sp. Attack | Bitter | Dry |
| B | Sassy TR | Sp. Defense | Speed | Bitter | Sweet |
| C | Gentle | Sp. Defense | Defense | Bitter | Sour |
| Speed + +10% / -10% | |||||
| S | Jolly | Speed | Sp. Attack | Sweet | Dry |
| S | Timid | Speed | Attack | Sweet | Spicy |
| B | Hasty | Speed | Defense | Sweet | Sour |
| B | Naive | Speed | Sp. Defense | Sweet | Bitter |
| Neutral No stat change | |||||
| D | Hardy | — | — | — | — |
| D | Docile | — | — | — | — |
| D | Serious | — | — | — | — |
| D | Bashful | — | — | — | — |
| D | Quirky | — | — | — | — |
Attack +
Adamant
S
Increased
Attack
Decreased
Sp. Attack
Likes
Spicy
Dislikes
Dry
Brave TR
B
Increased
Attack
Decreased
Speed
Likes
Spicy
Dislikes
Sweet
Lonely
C
Increased
Attack
Decreased
Defense
Likes
Spicy
Dislikes
Sour
Naughty
C
Increased
Attack
Decreased
Sp. Defense
Likes
Spicy
Dislikes
Bitter
Defense +
Bold
A
Increased
Defense
Decreased
Attack
Likes
Sour
Dislikes
Spicy
Impish
A
Increased
Defense
Decreased
Sp. Attack
Likes
Sour
Dislikes
Dry
Increased
Defense
Decreased
Speed
Likes
Sour
Dislikes
Sweet
Lax
C
Increased
Defense
Decreased
Sp. Defense
Likes
Sour
Dislikes
Bitter
Sp. Attack +
Modest
S
Increased
Sp. Attack
Decreased
Attack
Likes
Dry
Dislikes
Spicy
Quiet TR
B
Increased
Sp. Attack
Decreased
Speed
Likes
Dry
Dislikes
Sweet
Mild
C
Increased
Sp. Attack
Decreased
Defense
Likes
Dry
Dislikes
Sour
Rash
C
Increased
Sp. Attack
Decreased
Sp. Defense
Likes
Dry
Dislikes
Bitter
Sp. Defense +
Calm
A
Increased
Sp. Defense
Decreased
Attack
Likes
Bitter
Dislikes
Spicy
Careful
A
Increased
Sp. Defense
Decreased
Sp. Attack
Likes
Bitter
Dislikes
Dry
Sassy TR
B
Increased
Sp. Defense
Decreased
Speed
Likes
Bitter
Dislikes
Sweet
Gentle
C
Increased
Sp. Defense
Decreased
Defense
Likes
Bitter
Dislikes
Sour
Speed +
Jolly
S
Increased
Speed
Decreased
Sp. Attack
Likes
Sweet
Dislikes
Dry
Timid
S
Increased
Speed
Decreased
Attack
Likes
Sweet
Dislikes
Spicy
Hasty
B
Increased
Speed
Decreased
Defense
Likes
Sweet
Dislikes
Sour
Naive
B
Increased
Speed
Decreased
Sp. Defense
Likes
Sweet
Dislikes
Bitter
Neutral
Hardy
D
No stat effect
Docile
D
No stat effect
Serious
D
No stat effect
Bashful
D
No stat effect
Quirky
D
No stat effect
Do natures matter in Pokemon?
Yes. Natures are one of the most impactful mechanics in Pokemon. Each nature gives a 10% boost to one stat and a 10% penalty to another, which at level 100 can mean a difference of 30+ stat points. In competitive play, using the wrong nature can determine whether you outspeed a threat or survive a critical hit.
What is the best nature for a physical attacker?
Adamant (+Attack, -Sp. Attack) is the best nature for most physical attackers because it maximizes Attack while lowering the unused Sp. Attack. If outspeeding specific threats is more important, use Jolly (+Speed, -Sp. Attack) instead. For Trick Room teams, Brave (+Attack, -Speed) is optimal.
What is the best nature for a special attacker?
Modest (+Sp. Attack, -Attack) maximizes Special Attack on Pokemon that only use special moves. Timid (+Speed, -Attack) is preferred on fast special sweepers who need to outspeed threats. Choose Modest for raw power, Timid for speed priority.
What are neutral natures in Pokemon?
The five neutral natures are Hardy, Docile, Serious, Bashful, and Quirky. These natures have no stat effect (they increase and decrease the same stat, canceling out). Neutral natures are generally suboptimal in competitive play because they waste the opportunity for a beneficial 10% stat boost.
How do Nature Mints work?
Nature Mints (introduced in Sword and Shield) change a Pokemons stat modifiers to match the mints nature without changing the actual nature. For example, using an Adamant Mint on a Modest Pokemon gives it +Attack/-Sp. Attack effects, but its nature still reads Modest for breeding and flavor purposes.
Can you change a Pokemons nature?
You cannot change a Pokemons actual nature, but Nature Mints (available in Sword/Shield, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, and Scarlet/Violet) can override the stat effects. In earlier games, the only way to get the right nature is breeding with an Everstone or catching with Synchronize.
What nature is best for tanks and walls?
For physical walls, use Bold (+Defense, -Attack) or Impish (+Defense, -Sp. Attack). For special walls, use Calm (+Sp. Defense, -Attack) or Careful (+Sp. Defense, -Sp. Attack). Choose between dropping Attack or Sp. Attack based on whether the wall uses physical moves.
How do natures affect Pokemon breeding?
A parent holding an Everstone will pass its nature to the offspring. In Generation 5 and later, this is 100% guaranteed from either parent. In Generation 4, it was a 50% chance from either parent. In Generation 3 (Emerald only), 50% from the mother only.