CAREFUL NATURE CALCULATOR
Legends: Arceus uses Effort Levels instead of EVs and a different stat formula than mainline games. Natures still boost one stat by 10% and lower another, but the final numbers differ from what you'd see in Scarlet & Violet or Sword & Shield. The Careful nature calculator below uses the standard competitive formula (Lv50, 31 IVs). For PLA-specific stat calculations, the values shown here are approximate.
BEST CAREFUL NATURE POKEMON
10% more Sp. Defense and 10% less Sp. Attack. Careful suits Pokemon that rely on physical attacks or status moves while tanking special hits. Over in Legends: Arceus, Gliscor is one of the most popular Careful users, alongside Hippowdon and Clefable. Legends: Arceus assigns natures randomly. No breeding, no Synchronize, no mints. Getting Careful is pure luck.
Careful raises Sp. Defense by 10% and lowers Sp. Attack by 10%. Special walls that rely on physical or status moves. 37 Pokemon competitively run this nature.
| # | Pokemon | Tier | Role | Ability | +SpD | -SpA | Spe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Gliscor GROUND | B | Bulky Support | Poisonheal | 75+12 | 45-7 | 95 |
| 2 |  Hippowdon GROUND | B | Bulky Support | Sand Stream | 72+12 | 68-9 | 47 |
| 3 |  Clefable FAIRY | B | Bulky Support | Magic Guard | 90+14 | 95-12 | 60 |
| 4 |  Umbreon DARK | B | Bulky Support | Synchronize | 130+18 | 60-8 | 65 |
| 5 |  Snorlax NORMAL | B | Bulky Support | Thickfat | 110+16 | 65-9 | 30 |
| 6 |  Rhyperior GROUNDROCK | B | Bulky Support | Solidrock | 55+10 | 55-8 | 40 |
| 7 |  Avalugg ICE | B | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 46+9 | 44-7 | 28 |
| 8 |  Steelix STEELGROUND | B | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 65+11 | 55-8 | 30 |
| 9 |  Regigigas NORMAL | B | Bulky Support | Slowstart | 110+16 | 80-10 | 100 |
| 10 |  Tangrowth GRASS | B | Bulky Support | Chlorophyll | 50+10 | 110-13 | 50 |
| 11 |  Golbat POISON | C | Bulky Support | Innerfocus | 75+12 | 65-9 | 90 |
| 12 |  Rhyhorn GROUNDROCK | C | Bulky Support | Reckless | 30+8 | 30-5 | 25 |
| 13 |  Drapion POISONDARK | C | Bulky Support | Battlearmor | 75+12 | 60-8 | 95 |
| 14 |  Sliggoo DRAGON | C | Bulky Support | Sapsipper | 113+16 | 83-11 | 60 |
| 15 |  Monferno FIREFIGHTING | C | Bulky Support | Ironfist | 52+10 | 78-10 | 81 |
| 16 |  Munchlax NORMAL | C | Bulky Support | Thickfat | 85+13 | 40-6 | 5 |
| 17 |  Gastrodon WATERGROUND | C | Bulky Support | Stickyhold | 82+13 | 92-12 | 39 |
| 18 |  Shinx ELECTRIC | C | Bulky Support | Intimidate | 34+8 | 40-6 | 45 |
| 19 |  Parasect BUGGRASS | C | Bulky Support | Effect Spore | 80+13 | 60-8 | 30 |
| 20 |  Lickitung NORMAL | C | Bulky Support | Oblivious | 75+12 | 60-8 | 30 |
| 21 |  Vespiquen BUG | C | Bulky Support | Pressure | 102+15 | 80-10 | 40 |
| 22 |  Lickilicky NORMAL | C | Bulky Support | Oblivious | 95+14 | 80-10 | 50 |
| 23 |  Piloswine ICEGROUND | C | Physical Attacker | Thickfat | 60+11 | 60-8 | 50 |
| 24 |  Probopass ROCKSTEEL | C | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 150+20 | 75-10 | 40 |
| 25 |  Walrein ICEWATER | C | Bulky Support | Icebody | 90+14 | 95-12 | 65 |
| 26 |  Kricketune BUG | C | Bulky Support | Swarm | 51+10 | 55-8 | 65 |
| 27 |  Stunky POISONDARK | D | Physical Attacker | Aftermath | 41+9 | 41-7 | 74 |
| 28 |  Togepi FAIRY | D | Bulky Support | Serenegrace | 65+11 | 40-6 | 20 |
| 29 |  Eevee NORMAL | D | Bulky Support | Adaptability | 65+11 | 45-7 | 55 |
| 30 |  Snover GRASSICE | D | Bulky Support | Snow Warning | 60+11 | 62-9 | 40 |
| 31 |  Riolu FIGHTING | D | Bulky Support | Steadfast | 40+9 | 35-6 | 60 |
| 32 |  Mime Jr. PSYCHICFAIRY | D | Bulky Support | Filter | 90+14 | 70-9 | 60 |
| 33 |  Bidoof NORMAL | D | Bulky Support | Simple | 40+9 | 35-6 | 31 |
| 34 |  Wurmple BUG | D | Bulky Support | Shielddust | 30+8 | 20-4 | 20 |
| 35 |  Vulpix FIRE | D | Bulky Support | Flashfire | 65+11 | 50-7 | 65 |
| 36 |  Chimchar FIRE | D | Bulky Support | Ironfist | 44+9 | 58-8 | 61 |
| 37 |  Zubat POISON | D | Bulky Support | Infiltrator | 40+9 | 30-5 | 55 |
Gliscor
GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Poisonheal+SpD
75 +12Spe
95Hippowdon
GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sand Stream+SpD
72 +12Spe
47Clefable
FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Magic Guard+SpD
90 +14Spe
60Umbreon
DARK
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Synchronize+SpD
130 +18Spe
65Snorlax
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Thickfat+SpD
110 +16Spe
30Rhyperior
GROUND ROCK
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Solidrock+SpD
55 +10Spe
40Avalugg
ICE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+SpD
46 +9Spe
28Steelix
STEEL GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+SpD
65 +11Spe
30Regigigas
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Slowstart+SpD
110 +16Spe
100Tangrowth
GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Chlorophyll+SpD
50 +10Spe
50Golbat
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Innerfocus+SpD
75 +12Spe
90Rhyhorn
GROUND ROCK
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Reckless+SpD
30 +8Spe
25Drapion
POISON DARK
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Battlearmor+SpD
75 +12Spe
95Sliggoo
DRAGON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sapsipper+SpD
113 +16Spe
60Monferno
FIRE FIGHTING
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Ironfist+SpD
52 +10Spe
81Munchlax
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Thickfat+SpD
85 +13Spe
5Gastrodon
WATER GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Stickyhold+SpD
82 +13Spe
39Shinx
ELECTRIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Intimidate+SpD
34 +8Spe
45Parasect
BUG GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Effect Spore+SpD
80 +13Spe
30Lickitung
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Oblivious+SpD
75 +12Spe
30Vespiquen
BUG
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Pressure+SpD
102 +15Spe
40Lickilicky
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Oblivious+SpD
95 +14Spe
50Piloswine
ICE GROUND
Role
Physical AttackerAbility
Thickfat+SpD
60 +11Spe
50Probopass
ROCK STEEL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+SpD
150 +20Spe
40Walrein
ICE WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Icebody+SpD
90 +14Spe
65Kricketune
BUG
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Swarm+SpD
51 +10Spe
65Stunky
POISON DARK
Role
Physical AttackerAbility
Aftermath+SpD
41 +9Spe
74Togepi
FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Serenegrace+SpD
65 +11Spe
20Eevee
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Adaptability+SpD
65 +11Spe
55Snover
GRASS ICE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Snow Warning+SpD
60 +11Spe
40Riolu
FIGHTING
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Steadfast+SpD
40 +9Spe
60Mime Jr.
PSYCHIC FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Filter+SpD
90 +14Spe
60Bidoof
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Simple+SpD
40 +9Spe
31Wurmple
BUG
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Shielddust+SpD
30 +8Spe
20Vulpix
FIRE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Flashfire+SpD
65 +11Spe
65Chimchar
FIRE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Ironfist+SpD
44 +9Spe
61Zubat
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Infiltrator+SpD
40 +9Spe
55CAREFUL NATURE GUIDE
+10%Sp. Defense
-10%Sp. Attack
Flavor Preference
Likes Bitter, dislikes Dry
Competitive Role
Special walls that rely on physical or status moves.
Careful vs Calm
Choose Careful
+Sp. Defense / -Sp. 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 Calm
+Sp. Defense / -Attack
- Defensive Pokemon that still need attacking power
- Pokemon that run both physical and special moves
How to Get
SynchronizeLead with a Careful Pokemon that has the Synchronize ability. Wild Pokemon will match its nature. (Gen 3+)
BreedingGive the parent with Careful nature an Everstone. The offspring will inherit it. (100% since Gen 5)
Nature MintUse a Careful Mint to change stat effects to Careful. The original nature name stays but stats change. (Gen 8+)
Other +Sp. Defense Natures
CAREFUL FAQs
What does the Careful nature do in Pokemon?
Careful gives your Pokemon 10% more Sp. Defense at the cost of Sp. Attack. That tradeoff works best when the lowered stat isn't part of your moveset. Pokemon with Careful nature prefer Bitter flavor and dislike Dry.
What are the best Careful nature Pokemon?
Competitively, Gliscor, Hippowdon, Clefable, and Umbreon run Careful most often. The +Sp. Defense boost complements their role, and the -Sp. Attack penalty barely affects their game plan.
Is Careful a good nature for competitive Pokemon?
For the right Pokemon, Careful is one of the best natures you can pick. It fills a solid niche for defensive builds. Just don't slap it on something that uses Sp. Attack-based moves.
How do I get a Careful nature Pokemon?
Breeding with an Everstone is the most reliable approach since Gen 5. The parent holding it passes its nature to every offspring. Synchronize works for wild catches. And if you already have the Pokemon, a Careful Mint from the Battle Tower changes the stat effects to Careful.
Should I use Careful or Calm?
Short answer: Careful for physical wall utility, Calm for special wall utility. There's no universal best. Check your Pokemon's base stats and common threats in the format you're playing to decide which tradeoff is better.