GENTLE NATURE CALCULATOR
Check how Gentle nature changes any Pokemon's stats at level 50. Gentle boosts Sp. Defense by 10% and cuts Defense 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 Gentle is the right call.
In Black & White, natures are permanent and can't be changed after catching or breeding.
Select a Pokemon above to see how Gentle changes their stats
BEST GENTLE NATURE POKEMON
Gentle trades Defense for Sp. Defense. Losing physical bulk is rough for a wall, so this only works on Pokemon that already have high Defense or rarely take physical hits. In Black & White, You'll see it on Altaria, Noctowl, Trubbish among others. The competitive scene in Black & White is mature. Gentle is standard on any Pokemon that benefits from Sp. Defense.
Gentle raises Sp. Defense by 10% and lowers Defense by 10%. Specially defensive Pokemon balancing both defense stats. 17 Pokemon competitively run this nature.
SHOWINGRegional4
| # | Pokemon | Tier | Role | Ability | +SpD | -Def | Spe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Altaria DRAGON | C | Bulky Support | Natural Cure | 105+15 | 90-11 | 80 |
| 2 |  Noctowl NORMAL | C | Bulky Support | Insomnia | 96+14 | 50-7 | 70 |
| 3 |  Trubbish POISON | C | Bulky Support | Stench | 62+11 | 62-9 | 65 |
| 4 |  Machoke FIGHTING | C | Physical Tank | Guts | 60+11 | 70-9 | 45 |
| 5 |  Tynamo ELECTRIC | C | Bulky Support | Levitate | 40+9 | 40-6 | 60 |
| 6 |  Drowzee PSYCHIC | C | Bulky Support | Insomnia | 90+14 | 45-7 | 42 |
| 7 |  Spoink PSYCHIC | C | Bulky Support | Thick Fat | 80+13 | 35-6 | 60 |
| 8 |  Roselia GRASSPOISON | C | Bulky Support | Poison Point | 80+13 | 45-7 | 65 |
| 9 |  Sentret NORMAL | C | Bulky Support | Run Away | 45+9 | 34-6 | 20 |
| 10 |  Gulpin POISON | D | Bulky Support | Liquidooze | 53+10 | 53-8 | 40 |
| 11 |  Lombre WATERGRASS | D | Bulky Support | Owntempo | 70+12 | 50-7 | 50 |
| 12 |  Happiny NORMAL | D | Bulky Support | Natural Cure | 65+11 | 5-3 | 30 |
| 13 |  Pansage GRASS | D | Physical Tank | Overgrow | 48+10 | 48-7 | 64 |
| 14 |  Vulpix FIRE | D | Utility | Flashfire | 65+11 | 40-6 | 65 |
| 15 |  Oshawott WATER | D | Bulky Support | Torrent | 45+9 | 45-7 | 45 |
| 16 |  Spinda NORMAL | D | Bulky Support | Owntempo | 60+11 | 60-8 | 60 |
| 17 |  Whismur NORMAL | D | Bulky Support | Soundproof | 23+7 | 23-5 | 28 |
Altaria
DRAGON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Natural Cure+SpD
105 +15Spe
80Noctowl
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Insomnia+SpD
96 +14Spe
70Trubbish
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Stench+SpD
62 +11Spe
65Machoke
FIGHTING
Role
Physical TankAbility
Guts+SpD
60 +11Spe
45Tynamo
ELECTRIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Levitate+SpD
40 +9Spe
60Drowzee
PSYCHIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Insomnia+SpD
90 +14Spe
42Spoink
PSYCHIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Thick Fat+SpD
80 +13Spe
60Roselia
GRASS POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Poison Point+SpD
80 +13Spe
65Sentret
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Run Away+SpD
45 +9Spe
20Gulpin
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Liquidooze+SpD
53 +10Spe
40Lombre
WATER GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Owntempo+SpD
70 +12Spe
50Happiny
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Natural Cure+SpD
65 +11Spe
30Pansage
GRASS
Role
Physical TankAbility
Overgrow+SpD
48 +10Spe
64Vulpix
FIRE
Role
UtilityAbility
Flashfire+SpD
65 +11Spe
65Oshawott
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Torrent+SpD
45 +9Spe
45Spinda
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Owntempo+SpD
60 +11Spe
60Whismur
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Soundproof+SpD
23 +7Spe
28GENTLE NATURE GUIDE
+10%Sp. Defense
-10%Defense
Flavor Preference
Likes Bitter, dislikes Sour
Competitive Role
Specially defensive Pokemon balancing both defense stats.
Gentle vs Calm
Choose Gentle
+Sp. Defense / -Defense
- 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 Gentle Pokemon that has the Synchronize ability. Wild Pokemon will match its nature. (Gen 3+)
BreedingGive the parent with Gentle nature an Everstone. The offspring will inherit it. (100% since Gen 5)
Nature MintUse a Gentle Mint to change stat effects to Gentle. The original nature name stays but stats change. (Gen 8+)
Other +Sp. Defense Natures
GENTLE FAQs
What does the Gentle nature do in Pokemon?
It's a +10% Sp. Defense, -10% Defense nature. The 10% multiplier applies after base stats and EVs, so the actual point difference grows as stats get higher. Pokemon with Gentle nature prefer Bitter flavor and dislike Sour.
What are the best Gentle nature Pokemon?
Altaria, Noctowl, Trubbish, and Machoke are among the strongest Gentle picks. What they share is a reliance on Sp. Defense and little need for Defense. Check the tier list for current rankings.
Is Gentle a good nature for competitive Pokemon?
Yes. It fills a solid niche for defensive builds. You'll see Gentle on dedicated Sp. Defense-focused builds across most tiers and formats.
How do I get a Gentle nature Pokemon?
Three options: (1) Synchronize lead forces wild Pokemon to match your lead's nature. (2) Everstone breeding passes the nature 100% of the time since Gen 5. (3) a Gentle Mint changes the stat effects after the fact. Mints don't change the nature name, just the stat modifiers.
Should I use Gentle or Calm?
It depends on what your team needs. Gentle is the mixed special tank option. Calm is the dedicated special wall option. Most of the time, your Pokemon's moveset and role make the decision obvious.