Walls that use status or special moves love Bold. 10% more Defense and Attack goes down, which doesn't matter if you're not clicking physical attacks. Over in Red & Blue, Clefable is one of the most popular Bold users, alongside Slowbro and Mew. Natures weren't in Red & Blue. Competitive players apply Bold when breeding these Pokemon in Gen 3+ games.
Bold raises Defense by 10% and lowers Attack by 10%. Physical walls and support Pokemon that use special moves. 46 Pokemon competitively run this nature.
| # | Pokemon | Tier | Role | Ability | +Def | -Atk | Spe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Clefable FAIRY | A | Bulky Support | Magic Guard | 73+12 | 70-9 | 60 |
| 2 |  Slowbro WATERPSYCHIC | A | Bulky Support | Regenerator | 110+16 | 75-10 | 30 |
| 3 |  Mew PSYCHIC | A | Bulky Support | Synchronize | 100+15 | 100-12 | 100 |
| 4 |  Jolteon ELECTRIC | A | Bulky Support | Voltabsorb | 60+11 | 65-9 | 130 |
| 5 |  Arcanine FIRE | A | Bulky Support | Intimidate | 80+13 | 110-13 | 95 |
| 6 |  Zapdos ELECTRIC | B | Bulky Support | Pressure | 85+13 | 90-11 | 100 |
| 7 |  Venusaur GRASSPOISON | B | Bulky Support | Overgrow | 83+13 | 82-11 | 80 |
| 8 |  Vaporeon WATER | B | Bulky Support | Waterabsorb | 60+11 | 65-9 | 65 |
| 9 |  Chansey NORMAL | B | Bulky Support | Natural Cure | 5+5 | 5-3 | 50 |
| 10 |  Weezing POISON | B | Bulky Support | Levitate | 120+17 | 90-11 | 60 |
| 11 |  Vileplume GRASSPOISON | B | Bulky Support | Effect Spore | 85+13 | 80-10 | 50 |
| 12 |  Moltres FIRE | B | Bulky Support | Flame Body | 90+14 | 100-12 | 90 |
| 13 |  Lapras WATERICE | B | Bulky Support | Waterabsorb | 80+13 | 85-11 | 60 |
| 14 |  Tentacruel WATERPOISON | B | Bulky Support | Liquidooze | 65+11 | 70-9 | 100 |
| 15 |  Articuno ICE | B | Bulky Support | Pressure | 100+15 | 85-11 | 85 |
| 16 |  Electabuzz ELECTRIC | B | Bulky Support | Static | 57+10 | 83-11 | 105 |
| 17 |  Shellder WATER | B | Bulky Support | Overcoat | 100+15 | 65-9 | 40 |
| 18 |  Magneton ELECTRICSTEEL | B | Bulky Support | Analytic | 95+14 | 60-8 | 70 |
| 19 |  Clefairy FAIRY | C | Bulky Support | Friendguard | 48+10 | 45-7 | 35 |
| 20 |  Magmar FIRE | C | Bulky Support | Vitalspirit | 57+10 | 95-12 | 93 |
| 21 |  Growlithe FIRE | C | Bulky Support | Intimidate | 45+9 | 70-9 | 60 |
| 22 |  Blastoise WATER | C | Bulky Support | Torrent | 100+15 | 83-11 | 78 |
| 23 |  Butterfree BUG | C | Bulky Support | Compoundeyes | 50+10 | 45-7 | 70 |
| 24 |  Wigglytuff NORMALFAIRY | C | Bulky Support | Competitive | 45+9 | 70-9 | 45 |
| 25 |  Nidoqueen POISONGROUND | C | Bulky Support | Sheerforce | 87+13 | 92-12 | 76 |
| 26 |  Exeggutor GRASSPSYCHIC | C | Bulky Support | Harvest | 85+13 | 95-12 | 55 |
| 27 |  Omastar ROCKWATER | C | Bulky Support | Swiftswim | 125+17 | 60-8 | 55 |
| 28 |  Electrode ELECTRIC | C | Bulky Support | Soundproof | 70+12 | 50-7 | 150 |
| 29 |  Hypno PSYCHIC | C | Bulky Support | Insomnia | 70+12 | 73-10 | 67 |
| 30 |  Dewgong WATERICE | C | Special Tank | Thickfat | 80+13 | 70-9 | 70 |
| 31 |  Magnemite ELECTRICSTEEL | C | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 70+12 | 35-6 | 45 |
| 32 |  Tangela GRASS | C | Bulky Support | Regenerator | 115+16 | 55-8 | 60 |
| 33 |  Gloom GRASSPOISON | C | Bulky Support | Chlorophyll | 70+12 | 65-9 | 40 |
| 34 |  Wartortle WATER | C | Bulky Support | Torrent | 80+13 | 63-9 | 58 |
| 35 |  Jigglypuff NORMALFAIRY | C | Bulky Support | Competitive | 20+7 | 45-7 | 20 |
| 36 |  Tentacool WATERPOISON | C | Bulky Support | Clearbody | 35+8 | 40-6 | 70 |
| 37 |  Squirtle WATER | C | Special Tank | Torrent | 65+11 | 48-7 | 43 |
| 38 |  Golduck WATER | C | Bulky Support | Damp | 78+13 | 82-11 | 85 |
| 39 |  Bulbasaur GRASSPOISON | C | Special Tank | Overgrow | 49+10 | 49-7 | 45 |
| 40 |  Seadra WATER | C | Bulky Support | Sniper | 95+14 | 65-9 | 85 |
| 41 |  Slowpoke WATERPSYCHIC | C | Bulky Support | Regenerator | 65+11 | 65-9 | 15 |
| 42 |  Poliwhirl WATER | C | Bulky Support | Swiftswim | 65+11 | 65-9 | 90 |
| 43 |  Exeggcute GRASSPSYCHIC | D | Bulky Support | Harvest | 80+13 | 40-6 | 40 |
| 44 |  Venonat BUGPOISON | D | Bulky Support | Compoundeyes | 50+10 | 55-8 | 45 |
| 45 |  Vulpix FIRE | D | Bulky Support | Drought | 40+9 | 41-7 | 65 |
| 46 |  Psyduck WATER | D | Bulky Support | Cloudnine | 48+10 | 52-8 | 55 |
Clefable
FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Magic Guard+Def
73 +12Spe
60Slowbro
WATER PSYCHIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Regenerator+Def
110 +16Spe
30Mew
PSYCHIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Synchronize+Def
100 +15Spe
100Jolteon
ELECTRIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Voltabsorb+Def
60 +11Spe
130Arcanine
FIRE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Intimidate+Def
80 +13Spe
95Zapdos
ELECTRIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Pressure+Def
85 +13Spe
100Venusaur
GRASS POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Overgrow+Def
83 +13Spe
80Vaporeon
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Waterabsorb+Def
60 +11Spe
65Chansey
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Natural Cure+Def
5 +5Spe
50Weezing
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Levitate+Def
120 +17Spe
60Vileplume
GRASS POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Effect Spore+Def
85 +13Spe
50Moltres
FIRE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Flame Body+Def
90 +14Spe
90Lapras
WATER ICE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Waterabsorb+Def
80 +13Spe
60Tentacruel
WATER POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Liquidooze+Def
65 +11Spe
100Articuno
ICE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Pressure+Def
100 +15Spe
85Electabuzz
ELECTRIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Static+Def
57 +10Spe
105Shellder
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Overcoat+Def
100 +15Spe
40Magneton
ELECTRIC STEEL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Analytic+Def
95 +14Spe
70Clefairy
FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Friendguard+Def
48 +10Spe
35Magmar
FIRE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Vitalspirit+Def
57 +10Spe
93Growlithe
FIRE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Intimidate+Def
45 +9Spe
60Blastoise
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Torrent+Def
100 +15Spe
78Butterfree
BUG
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Compoundeyes+Def
50 +10Spe
70Wigglytuff
NORMAL FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Competitive+Def
45 +9Spe
45Nidoqueen
POISON GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sheerforce+Def
87 +13Spe
76Exeggutor
GRASS PSYCHIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Harvest+Def
85 +13Spe
55Omastar
ROCK WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Swiftswim+Def
125 +17Spe
55Electrode
ELECTRIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Soundproof+Def
70 +12Spe
150Hypno
PSYCHIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Insomnia+Def
70 +12Spe
67Dewgong
WATER ICE
Role
Special TankAbility
Thickfat+Def
80 +13Spe
70Magnemite
ELECTRIC STEEL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+Def
70 +12Spe
45Tangela
GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Regenerator+Def
115 +16Spe
60Gloom
GRASS POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Chlorophyll+Def
70 +12Spe
40Wartortle
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Torrent+Def
80 +13Spe
58Jigglypuff
NORMAL FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Competitive+Def
20 +7Spe
20Tentacool
WATER POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Clearbody+Def
35 +8Spe
70Squirtle
WATER
Role
Special TankAbility
Torrent+Def
65 +11Spe
43Golduck
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Damp+Def
78 +13Spe
85Bulbasaur
GRASS POISON
Role
Special TankAbility
Overgrow+Def
49 +10Spe
45Seadra
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sniper+Def
95 +14Spe
85Slowpoke
WATER PSYCHIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Regenerator+Def
65 +11Spe
15Poliwhirl
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Swiftswim+Def
65 +11Spe
90Exeggcute
GRASS PSYCHIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Harvest+Def
80 +13Spe
40Venonat
BUG POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Compoundeyes+Def
50 +10Spe
45Vulpix
FIRE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Drought+Def
40 +9Spe
65Psyduck
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Cloudnine+Def
48 +10Spe
55+10%Defense
-10%Attack
Flavor Preference
Likes Sour, dislikes Spicy
Competitive Role
Physical walls and support Pokemon that use special moves.
Bold vs Impish
Choose Bold
+Defense / -Attack
- Pokemon that need to check physical threats (use +Def)
- Pokemon that need to check special threats (use +SpD)
- Walls and tanks that rarely attack
Choose Impish
+Defense / -Sp. Attack
- Defensive Pokemon that still need attacking power
- Pokemon that run both physical and special moves
How to Get
SynchronizeLead with a Bold Pokemon that has the Synchronize ability. Wild Pokemon will match its nature. (Gen 3+)
BreedingGive the parent with Bold nature an Everstone. The offspring will inherit it. (100% since Gen 5)
Nature MintUse a Bold Mint to change stat effects to Bold. The original nature name stays but stats change. (Gen 8+)
Other +Defense Natures
What does the Bold nature do in Pokemon?
Bold raises Defense by 10% and lowers Attack by 10%. At level 100 with full investment, that's roughly a 30-point swing on the boosted stat. Pokemon with Bold nature prefer Sour flavor and dislike Spicy.
What are the best Bold nature Pokemon?
Top Bold users include Clefable, Slowbro, Mew, and Jolteon. They benefit from the Defense boost because their main damage comes from that stat. The Attack drop doesn't hurt them since they don't rely on it.
Is Bold a good nature for competitive Pokemon?
Bold is a strong competitive nature. It fills a solid niche for defensive builds. The key is matching it to Pokemon that don't need Attack in their moveset.
How do I get a Bold nature Pokemon?
Synchronize is the fastest method. Lead with a Pokemon that has Synchronize and Bold nature, and wild encounters match it (Gen 3+). Breeding works too: give the Bold parent an Everstone and all offspring inherit the nature. Nature Mints (Gen 8+) let you change the stat effect to Bold without rebreeding.
Should I use Bold or Impish?
Bold prioritizes special defense utility, while Impish goes for physical defense utility. Pick Bold when your Pokemon's role depends on the stat it boosts. Go with Impish when physical defense utility matters more for your team.