IMPISH 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 Impish nature calculator below uses the standard competitive formula (Lv50, 31 IVs). For PLA-specific stat calculations, the values shown here are approximate.
BEST IMPISH NATURE POKEMON
Impish gives 10% Defense at the cost of Sp. Attack. Physical walls that rely on Body Slam, Knock Off, or U-turn over special coverage will want this. In Legends: Arceus, Giratina, Gliscor, Hippowdon, and others all run Impish in competitive play. Legends: Arceus assigns natures randomly. No breeding, no Synchronize, no mints. Getting Impish is pure luck.
Impish raises Defense by 10% and lowers Sp. Attack by 10%. Physical walls that rely on physical or status moves. 40 Pokemon competitively run this nature.
| # | Pokemon | Tier | Role | Ability | +Def | -SpA | Spe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Giratina GHOSTDRAGON | S | Bulky Support | Pressure | 120+17 | 100-12 | 90 |
| 2 |  Gliscor GROUND | B | Bulky Support | Poisonheal | 125+17 | 45-7 | 95 |
| 3 |  Hippowdon GROUND | B | Bulky Support | Sand Stream | 118+17 | 68-9 | 47 |
| 4 |  Steelix STEELGROUND | B | Bulky Support | Rockhead | 200+25 | 55-8 | 30 |
| 5 |  Uxie PSYCHIC | B | Bulky Support | Levitate | 130+18 | 75-10 | 95 |
| 6 |  Rhyperior GROUNDROCK | B | Bulky Support | Solidrock | 130+18 | 55-8 | 40 |
| 7 |  Avalugg ICE | B | Bulky Support | Icebody | 184+23 | 44-7 | 28 |
| 8 |  Rhydon GROUNDROCK | B | Bulky Support | Rockhead | 120+17 | 45-7 | 40 |
| 9 |  Regigigas NORMAL | B | Bulky Support | Slowstart | 110+16 | 80-10 | 100 |
| 10 |  Gabite DRAGONGROUND | C | Bulky Support | Rough Skin | 65+11 | 50-7 | 82 |
| 11 |  Grotle GRASS | C | Bulky Support | Overgrow | 85+13 | 55-8 | 36 |
| 12 |  Machoke FIGHTING | C | Bulky Support | Guts | 70+12 | 50-7 | 45 |
| 13 |  Hippopotas GROUND | C | Bulky Support | Sand Stream | 78+13 | 38-6 | 32 |
| 14 |  Toxicroak POISONFIGHTING | C | Bulky Support | Dryskin | 65+11 | 86-11 | 85 |
| 15 |  Turtwig GRASS | C | Bulky Support | Shellarmor | 64+11 | 45-7 | 31 |
| 16 |  Empoleon WATERSTEEL | C | Bulky Support | Torrent | 88+14 | 111-14 | 60 |
| 17 |  Torterra GRASSGROUND | C | Bulky Support | Overgrow | 105+15 | 75-10 | 56 |
| 18 |  Munchlax NORMAL | C | Bulky Support | Thickfat | 40+9 | 40-6 | 5 |
| 19 |  Onix ROCKGROUND | C | Bulky Support | Rockhead | 160+21 | 30-5 | 70 |
| 20 |  Bergmite ICE | C | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 85+13 | 32-6 | 28 |
| 21 |  Togetic FAIRY | C | Bulky Support | Serenegrace | 85+13 | 80-10 | 40 |
| 22 |  Dewott WATER | C | Bulky Support | Torrent | 60+11 | 83-11 | 60 |
| 23 |  Golbat POISON | C | Bulky Support | Infiltrator | 70+12 | 65-9 | 90 |
| 24 |  Bastiodon ROCKSTEEL | C | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 168+22 | 47-7 | 30 |
| 25 |  Gligar GROUND | C | Bulky Support | Immunity | 105+15 | 35-6 | 85 |
| 26 |  Dartrix GRASS | C | Bulky Support | Longreach | 75+12 | 70-9 | 52 |
| 27 |  Nosepass ROCK | C | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 135+18 | 45-7 | 30 |
| 28 |  Duskull GHOST | C | Bulky Support | Levitate | 90+14 | 30-5 | 25 |
| 29 |  Qwilfish WATERPOISON | C | Bulky Support | Intimidate | 85+13 | 55-8 | 85 |
| 30 |  Pachirisu ELECTRIC | C | Bulky Support | Pickup | 70+12 | 45-7 | 95 |
| 31 |  Sudowoodo ROCK | C | Bulky Support | Rockhead | 115+16 | 30-5 | 30 |
| 32 |  Parasect BUGGRASS | C | Bulky Support | Effect Spore | 80+13 | 60-8 | 30 |
| 33 |  Shieldon ROCKSTEEL | C | Bulky Support | Sturdy | 118+17 | 42-7 | 30 |
| 34 |  Paras BUGGRASS | D | Physical Attacker | Dryskin | 55+10 | 45-7 | 25 |
| 35 |  Skorupi POISONBUG | D | Bulky Support | Sniper | 90+14 | 30-5 | 65 |
| 36 |  Snorunt ICE | D | Bulky Support | Innerfocus | 50+10 | 50-7 | 50 |
| 37 |  Chingling PSYCHIC | D | Special Attacker | Levitate | 50+10 | 65-9 | 45 |
| 38 |  Swinub ICEGROUND | D | Utility | Snowcloak | 40+9 | 30-5 | 50 |
| 39 |  Eevee NORMAL | D | Bulky Support | Adaptability | 50+10 | 45-7 | 55 |
| 40 |  Clefairy FAIRY | D | Bulky Support | Friendguard | 48+10 | 60-8 | 35 |
Giratina
GHOST DRAGON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Pressure+Def
120 +17Spe
90Gliscor
GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Poisonheal+Def
125 +17Spe
95Hippowdon
GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sand Stream+Def
118 +17Spe
47Steelix
STEEL GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Rockhead+Def
200 +25Spe
30Uxie
PSYCHIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Levitate+Def
130 +18Spe
95Rhyperior
GROUND ROCK
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Solidrock+Def
130 +18Spe
40Avalugg
ICE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Icebody+Def
184 +23Spe
28Rhydon
GROUND ROCK
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Rockhead+Def
120 +17Spe
40Regigigas
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Slowstart+Def
110 +16Spe
100Gabite
DRAGON GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Rough Skin+Def
65 +11Spe
82Grotle
GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Overgrow+Def
85 +13Spe
36Machoke
FIGHTING
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Guts+Def
70 +12Spe
45Hippopotas
GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sand Stream+Def
78 +13Spe
32Toxicroak
POISON FIGHTING
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Dryskin+Def
65 +11Spe
85Turtwig
GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Shellarmor+Def
64 +11Spe
31Empoleon
WATER STEEL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Torrent+Def
88 +14Spe
60Torterra
GRASS GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Overgrow+Def
105 +15Spe
56Munchlax
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Thickfat+Def
40 +9Spe
5Onix
ROCK GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Rockhead+Def
160 +21Spe
70Bergmite
ICE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+Def
85 +13Spe
28Togetic
FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Serenegrace+Def
85 +13Spe
40Dewott
WATER
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Torrent+Def
60 +11Spe
60Golbat
POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Infiltrator+Def
70 +12Spe
90Bastiodon
ROCK STEEL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+Def
168 +22Spe
30Gligar
GROUND
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Immunity+Def
105 +15Spe
85Dartrix
GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Longreach+Def
75 +12Spe
52Nosepass
ROCK
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+Def
135 +18Spe
30Duskull
GHOST
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Levitate+Def
90 +14Spe
25Qwilfish
WATER POISON
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Intimidate+Def
85 +13Spe
85Pachirisu
ELECTRIC
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Pickup+Def
70 +12Spe
95Sudowoodo
ROCK
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Rockhead+Def
115 +16Spe
30Parasect
BUG GRASS
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Effect Spore+Def
80 +13Spe
30Shieldon
ROCK STEEL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sturdy+Def
118 +17Spe
30Paras
BUG GRASS
Role
Physical AttackerAbility
Dryskin+Def
55 +10Spe
25Skorupi
POISON BUG
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Sniper+Def
90 +14Spe
65Snorunt
ICE
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Innerfocus+Def
50 +10Spe
50Chingling
PSYCHIC
Role
Special AttackerAbility
Levitate+Def
50 +10Spe
45Swinub
ICE GROUND
Role
UtilityAbility
Snowcloak+Def
40 +9Spe
50Eevee
NORMAL
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Adaptability+Def
50 +10Spe
55Clefairy
FAIRY
Role
Bulky SupportAbility
Friendguard+Def
48 +10Spe
35IMPISH NATURE GUIDE
+10%Defense
-10%Sp. Attack
Flavor Preference
Likes Sour, dislikes Dry
Competitive Role
Physical walls that rely on physical or status moves.
Impish vs Bold
Choose Impish
+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 Bold
+Defense / -Attack
- Defensive Pokemon that still need attacking power
- Pokemon that run both physical and special moves
How to Get
SynchronizeLead with a Impish Pokemon that has the Synchronize ability. Wild Pokemon will match its nature. (Gen 3+)
BreedingGive the parent with Impish nature an Everstone. The offspring will inherit it. (100% since Gen 5)
Nature MintUse an Impish Mint to change stat effects to Impish. The original nature name stays but stats change. (Gen 8+)
Other +Defense Natures
IMPISH FAQs
What does the Impish nature do in Pokemon?
It's a +10% Defense, -10% Sp. Attack nature. The 10% multiplier applies after base stats and EVs, so the actual point difference grows as stats get higher. Pokemon with Impish nature prefer Sour flavor and dislike Dry.
What are the best Impish nature Pokemon?
Giratina, Gliscor, Hippowdon, and Steelix are among the strongest Impish picks. What they share is a reliance on Defense and little need for Sp. Attack. Check the tier list for current rankings.
Is Impish a good nature for competitive Pokemon?
Yes. It fills a solid niche for defensive builds. You'll see Impish on dedicated Defense-focused builds across most tiers and formats.
How do I get an Impish 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) an Impish Mint changes the stat effects after the fact. Mints don't change the nature name, just the stat modifiers.
Should I use Impish or Bold?
It depends on what your team needs. Impish is the physical defense utility option. Bold is the special defense utility option. Most of the time, your Pokemon's moveset and role make the decision obvious.