CAREFUL NATURE CALCULATOR
Natures weren't part of the series until Generation III (Ruby & Sapphire), so Red & Blue doesn't have them. Every stat is calculated from base stats, IVs (called DVs back then), and Stat Experience alone. If you're looking for the Careful nature's stat effect, switch the game filter above to any Gen III or later title. That said, the concept still helps with planning teams for remakes like FireRed & LeafGreen or HeartGold & SoulSilver, where natures do apply.
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 Red & Blue, Clefable is one of the most popular Careful users, alongside Snorlax and Golbat. There's no way to set natures in Red & Blue. You'll lock in Careful when catching or breeding in Ruby/Sapphire or later.
Careful raises Sp. Defense by 10% and lowers Sp. Attack by 10%. Special walls that rely on physical or status moves. 18 Pokemon competitively run this nature.
| # | Pokemon | Tier | Role | Ability | +SpD | -SpA | Spe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Clefable FAIRY | B | Bulky Support | Magic Guard | 90+14 | 95-12 | 60 |
| 2 |  Snorlax NORMAL | B | Bulky Support | Thickfat | 110+16 | 65-9 | 30 |
| 3 |  Golbat POISON | C | Bulky Support | Innerfocus | 75+12 | 65-9 | 90 |
| 4 |  Dragonair DRAGON | C | Bulky Support | Shedskin | 70+12 | 70-9 | 70 |
| 5 |  Rhyhorn GROUNDROCK | C | Bulky Support | Reckless | 30+8 | 30-5 | 25 |
| 6 |  Muk POISON | C | Bulky Support | Poisontouch | 100+15 | 65-9 | 50 |
| 7 |  Parasect BUGGRASS | C | Bulky Support | Effect Spore | 80+13 | 60-8 | 30 |
| 8 |  Hypno PSYCHIC | C | Physical Tank | Insomnia | 115+16 | 73-10 | 67 |
| 9 |  Lickitung NORMAL | C | Bulky Support | Oblivious | 75+12 | 60-8 | 30 |
| 10 |  Poliwrath WATERFIGHTING | C | Bulky Support | Waterabsorb | 90+14 | 70-9 | 70 |
| 11 |  Koffing POISON | C | Bulky Support | Neutralizinggas | 45+9 | 60-8 | 35 |
| 12 |  Krabby WATER | C | Utility | Sheerforce | 25+7 | 25-5 | 50 |
| 13 |  Jigglypuff NORMALFAIRY | C | Bulky Support | Cutecharm | 25+7 | 45-7 | 20 |
| 14 |  Bulbasaur GRASSPOISON | D | Bulky Support | Overgrow | 65+11 | 65-9 | 45 |
| 15 |  Eevee NORMAL | D | Bulky Support | Adaptability | 65+11 | 45-7 | 55 |
| 16 |  Seel WATER | D | Bulky Support | Thickfat | 70+12 | 45-7 | 45 |
| 17 |  Vulpix FIRE | D | Bulky Support | Flashfire | 65+11 | 50-7 | 65 |
| 18 |  Zubat POISON | D | Bulky Support | Infiltrator | 40+9 | 30-5 | 55 |
Clefable
FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Magic Guard+SpD
90 +14Spe
60Snorlax
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Thickfat+SpD
110 +16Spe
30Golbat
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Innerfocus+SpD
75 +12Spe
90Dragonair
DRAGON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Shedskin+SpD
70 +12Spe
70Rhyhorn
GROUND ROCK
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Reckless+SpD
30 +8Spe
25Muk
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Poisontouch+SpD
100 +15Spe
50Parasect
BUG GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Effect Spore+SpD
80 +13Spe
30Hypno
PSYCHIC
Role
Physical TankAbility
Insomnia+SpD
115 +16Spe
67Lickitung
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Oblivious+SpD
75 +12Spe
30Poliwrath
WATER FIGHTING
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Waterabsorb+SpD
90 +14Spe
70Koffing
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Neutralizinggas+SpD
45 +9Spe
35Krabby
WATER
Role
UtilityAbility
Sheerforce+SpD
25 +7Spe
50Jigglypuff
NORMAL FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Cutecharm+SpD
25 +7Spe
20Bulbasaur
GRASS POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Overgrow+SpD
65 +11Spe
45Eevee
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Adaptability+SpD
65 +11Spe
55Seel
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Thickfat+SpD
70 +12Spe
45Vulpix
FIRE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Flashfire+SpD
65 +11Spe
65Zubat
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, Clefable, Snorlax, Golbat, and Dragonair 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.