CAREFUL NATURE CALCULATOR
Check how Careful nature changes any Pokemon's stats at level 50. Careful boosts Sp. Defense by 10% and cuts Sp. Attack by the same amount, so it matters more for some builds than others. Type a name below to see the exact stat shift and whether Careful is the right call.
In Legends: Z-A, Nature Mints can change a Pokemon's stat effects without changing its actual nature.
Select a Pokemon above to see how Careful changes their stats
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: Z-A, Garganacl is one of the most popular Careful users, alongside Hippowdon and Clefable. In Legends: Z-A, Tera Type + Careful creates walls that opponents struggle to crack without specific coverage.
Careful raises Sp. Defense by 10% and lowers Sp. Attack by 10%. Special walls that rely on physical or status moves. 43 Pokemon competitively run this nature.
| # | Pokemon | Tier | Role | Ability | +SpD | -SpA | Spe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Garganacl ROCK | B | Bulky Support | Purifyingsalt | 90+14 | 45-7 | 35 |
| 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 |  Avalugg ICE | B | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 46+9 | 44-7 | 28 |
| 6 |  Steelix STEELGROUND | B | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 65+11 | 55-8 | 30 |
| 7 |  Carbink ROCKFAIRY | B | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 150+20 | 50-7 | 50 |
| 8 |  Skarmory STEEL | C | Bulky Support | Keeneye | 70+12 | 40-6 | 70 |
| 9 |  Scraggy DARKFIGHTING | C | Bulky Support | Shedskin | 70+12 | 35-6 | 48 |
| 10 |  Metang STEELPSYCHIC | C | Bulky Support | Clearbody | 80+13 | 55-8 | 50 |
| 11 |  Golbat POISON | C | Bulky Support | Innerfocus | 75+12 | 65-9 | 90 |
| 12 |  Dragonair DRAGON | C | Bulky Support | Shedskin | 70+12 | 70-9 | 70 |
| 13 |  Eelektrik ELECTRIC | C | Bulky Support | Levitate | 70+12 | 75-10 | 40 |
| 14 |  Frigibax DRAGONICE | C | Bulky Support | Thermalexchange | 45+9 | 35-6 | 55 |
| 15 |  Sableye DARKGHOST | C | Bulky Support | Prankster | 65+11 | 65-9 | 50 |
| 16 |  Swablu NORMAL | C | Bulky Support | Natural Cure | 75+12 | 40-6 | 50 |
| 17 |  Nacli ROCK | C | Physical Tank | Purifyingsalt | 35+8 | 35-6 | 25 |
| 18 |  Sliggoo DRAGON | C | Bulky Support | Sapsipper | 113+16 | 83-11 | 60 |
| 19 |  Trevenant GHOSTGRASS | C | Bulky Support | Harvest | 82+13 | 65-9 | 56 |
| 20 |  Marshtomp WATERGROUND | C | Bulky Support | Torrent | 70+12 | 60-8 | 50 |
| 21 |  Kecleon NORMAL | C | Bulky Support | Protean | 120+17 | 60-8 | 40 |
| 22 |  Altaria DRAGON | C | Bulky Support | Natural Cure | 105+15 | 70-9 | 80 |
| 23 |  Gogoat GRASS | C | Bulky Support | Sapsipper | 81+13 | 97-12 | 68 |
| 24 |  Throh FIGHTING | C | Bulky Support | Guts | 85+13 | 30-5 | 45 |
| 25 |  Phantump GHOSTGRASS | C | Bulky Support | Harvest | 60+11 | 50-7 | 38 |
| 26 |  Feraligatr WATER | C | Physical Tank | Torrent | 83+13 | 79-10 | 78 |
| 27 |  Swalot POISON | C | Bulky Support | Liquidooze | 83+13 | 73-10 | 55 |
| 28 |  Jigglypuff NORMALFAIRY | C | Bulky Support | Cutecharm | 25+7 | 45-7 | 20 |
| 29 |  Garbodor POISON | C | Bulky Support | Aftermath | 82+13 | 60-8 | 75 |
| 30 |  Shelgon DRAGON | C | Bulky Support | Rock Head | 50+10 | 60-8 | 50 |
| 31 |  Bulbasaur GRASSPOISON | D | Bulky Support | Overgrow | 65+11 | 65-9 | 45 |
| 32 |  Eevee NORMAL | D | Bulky Support | Adaptability | 65+11 | 45-7 | 55 |
| 33 |  Snover GRASSICE | D | Bulky Support | Snow Warning | 60+11 | 62-9 | 40 |
| 34 |  Shuppet GHOST | D | Bulky Support | Cursedbody | 33+8 | 63-9 | 45 |
| 35 |  Gulpin POISON | D | Bulky Support | Liquidooze | 53+10 | 43-7 | 40 |
| 36 |  Riolu FIGHTING | D | Bulky Support | Steadfast | 40+9 | 35-6 | 60 |
| 37 |  Igglybuff NORMALFAIRY | D | Utility | Cutecharm | 20+7 | 40-6 | 15 |
| 38 |  Numel FIREGROUND | D | Bulky Support | Simple | 45+9 | 65-9 | 35 |
| 39 |  Mime Jr. PSYCHICFAIRY | D | Bulky Support | Filter | 90+14 | 70-9 | 60 |
| 40 |  Pansage GRASS | D | Bulky Support | Gluttony | 48+10 | 53-8 | 64 |
| 41 |  Spinarak BUGPOISON | D | Bulky Support | Swarm | 40+9 | 40-6 | 30 |
| 42 |  Zubat POISON | D | Bulky Support | Infiltrator | 40+9 | 30-5 | 55 |
| 43 |  Pumpkaboo GHOSTGRASS | D | Bulky Support | Pickup | 55+10 | 44-7 | 51 |
Garganacl
ROCK
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Purifyingsalt+SpD
90 +14Spe
35Hippowdon
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
65Avalugg
ICE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+SpD
46 +9Spe
28Steelix
STEEL GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+SpD
65 +11Spe
30Carbink
ROCK FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+SpD
150 +20Spe
50Skarmory
STEEL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Keeneye+SpD
70 +12Spe
70Scraggy
DARK FIGHTING
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Shedskin+SpD
70 +12Spe
48Metang
STEEL PSYCHIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Clearbody+SpD
80 +13Spe
50Golbat
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Innerfocus+SpD
75 +12Spe
90Dragonair
DRAGON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Shedskin+SpD
70 +12Spe
70Eelektrik
ELECTRIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Levitate+SpD
70 +12Spe
40Frigibax
DRAGON ICE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Thermalexchange+SpD
45 +9Spe
55Sableye
DARK GHOST
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Prankster+SpD
65 +11Spe
50Swablu
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Natural Cure+SpD
75 +12Spe
50Nacli
ROCK
Role
Physical TankAbility
Purifyingsalt+SpD
35 +8Spe
25Sliggoo
DRAGON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sapsipper+SpD
113 +16Spe
60Trevenant
GHOST GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Harvest+SpD
82 +13Spe
56Marshtomp
WATER GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Torrent+SpD
70 +12Spe
50Kecleon
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Protean+SpD
120 +17Spe
40Altaria
DRAGON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Natural Cure+SpD
105 +15Spe
80Gogoat
GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sapsipper+SpD
81 +13Spe
68Throh
FIGHTING
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Guts+SpD
85 +13Spe
45Phantump
GHOST GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Harvest+SpD
60 +11Spe
38Feraligatr
WATER
Role
Physical TankAbility
Torrent+SpD
83 +13Spe
78Swalot
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Liquidooze+SpD
83 +13Spe
55Jigglypuff
NORMAL FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Cutecharm+SpD
25 +7Spe
20Garbodor
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Aftermath+SpD
82 +13Spe
75Shelgon
DRAGON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Rock Head+SpD
50 +10Spe
50Bulbasaur
GRASS POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Overgrow+SpD
65 +11Spe
45Eevee
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Adaptability+SpD
65 +11Spe
55Snover
GRASS ICE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Snow Warning+SpD
60 +11Spe
40Shuppet
GHOST
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Cursedbody+SpD
33 +8Spe
45Gulpin
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Liquidooze+SpD
53 +10Spe
40Riolu
FIGHTING
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Steadfast+SpD
40 +9Spe
60Igglybuff
NORMAL FAIRY
Role
UtilityAbility
Cutecharm+SpD
20 +7Spe
15Numel
FIRE GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Simple+SpD
45 +9Spe
35Mime Jr.
PSYCHIC FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Filter+SpD
90 +14Spe
60Pansage
GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Gluttony+SpD
48 +10Spe
64Spinarak
BUG POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Swarm+SpD
40 +9Spe
30Zubat
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Infiltrator+SpD
40 +9Spe
55Pumpkaboo
GHOST GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Pickup+SpD
55 +10Spe
51CAREFUL 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, Garganacl, 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.