Modest boosts Sp. Attack by 10% at the expense of Attack. In Gold & Silver, top picks include Lugia, Mew, Clefable, and more. You'll want this on anything that only fires off special moves. Natures weren't in Gold & Silver. Competitive players apply Modest when breeding these Pokemon in Gen 3+ games.

Modest raises Sp. Attack by 10% and lowers Attack by 10%. Special Sweepers and special Wallbreakers that only use special moves. 98 Pokemon competitively run this nature.
#PokemonTierRoleAbility+SpA-AtkSpe
1
Lugia
Lugia
PSYCHICFLYING
SSpecial TankMultiscale
90+14
90-11
110
2
Mew
Mew
PSYCHIC
ASpecial TankSynchronize
100+15
100-12
100
3
Clefable
Clefable
FAIRY
ASpecial TankMagic Guard
95+14
70-9
60
4
Gengar
Gengar
GHOSTPOISON
ASpecial AttackerCursedbody
130+18
65-9
110
5
Starmie
Starmie
WATERPSYCHIC
ASpecial AttackerNatural Cure
100+15
75-10
115
6
Entei
Entei
FIRE
ASpecial TankPressure
90+14
115-14
100
7
Rhydon
Rhydon
GROUNDROCK
ASpecial TankLightningrod
45+9
130-15
40
8
Jolteon
Jolteon
ELECTRIC
ASpecial AttackerQuickfeet
110+16
65-9
130
9
Slowbro
Slowbro
WATERPSYCHIC
ASpecial TankOwntempo
100+15
75-10
30
10
Raikou
Raikou
ELECTRIC
ASpecial TankPressure
115+16
85-11
115
Lugia
Lugia
PSYCHIC FLYING
S
Role
Special Tank
Ability
Multiscale
+SpA
90 +14
Spe
110
Mew
Mew
PSYCHIC
A
Role
Special Tank
Ability
Synchronize
+SpA
100 +15
Spe
100
Clefable
Clefable
FAIRY
A
Role
Special Tank
Ability
Magic Guard
+SpA
95 +14
Spe
60
Gengar
Gengar
GHOST POISON
A
Role
Special Attacker
Ability
Cursedbody
+SpA
130 +18
Spe
110
Starmie
Starmie
WATER PSYCHIC
A
Role
Special Attacker
Ability
Natural Cure
+SpA
100 +15
Spe
115
Entei
Entei
FIRE
A
Role
Special Tank
Ability
Pressure
+SpA
90 +14
Spe
100
Rhydon
Rhydon
GROUND ROCK
A
Role
Special Tank
Ability
Lightningrod
+SpA
45 +9
Spe
40
Jolteon
Jolteon
ELECTRIC
A
Role
Special Attacker
Ability
Quickfeet
+SpA
110 +16
Spe
130
Slowbro
Slowbro
WATER PSYCHIC
A
Role
Special Tank
Ability
Owntempo
+SpA
100 +15
Spe
30
Raikou
Raikou
ELECTRIC
A
Role
Special Tank
Ability
Pressure
+SpA
115 +16
Spe
115
+10%Sp. Attack
-10%Attack
Flavor Preference
Likes Dry, dislikes Spicy
Competitive Role
Special Sweepers and special Wallbreakers that only use special moves.
Modest vs Timid
Choose Modest
+Sp. Attack / -Attack
  • Pokemon that rely purely on special moves for damage
  • Trick Room special attackers
  • Bulky special attackers that do not need to outspeed
  • Choice Specs wallbreakers focused on raw power
Choose Timid
+Speed / -Attack
  • Fast special sweepers in the base 80-110 Speed range
  • Pokemon that need to outspeed base 100 threats
  • Setup sweepers (Nasty Plot, Calm Mind) that boost power anyway
How to Get
SynchronizeLead with a Modest Pokemon that has the Synchronize ability. Wild Pokemon will match its nature. (Gen 3+)
BreedingGive the parent with Modest nature an Everstone. The offspring will inherit it. (100% since Gen 5)
Nature MintUse a Modest Mint to change stat effects to Modest. The original nature name stays but stats change. (Gen 8+)
Other +Sp. Attack Natures
Mild (-Defense)Quiet (-Speed)Rash (-Sp. Defense)
What does the Modest nature do in Pokemon?
Modest raises Sp. Attack by 10% and lowers Attack by 10%. At level 100 with full investment, that's roughly a 30-point swing on the boosted stat. Pokemon with Modest nature prefer Dry flavor and dislike Spicy.
What are the best Modest nature Pokemon?
Top Modest users include Lugia, Mew, Clefable, and Gengar. They benefit from the Sp. Attack boost because their main damage comes from that stat. The Attack drop doesn't hurt them since they don't rely on it.
Is Modest a good nature for competitive Pokemon?
Modest is a strong competitive nature. It's one of the most-used natures in competitive formats. The key is matching it to Pokemon that don't need Attack in their moveset.
How do I get a Modest nature Pokemon?
Synchronize is the fastest method. Lead with a Pokemon that has Synchronize and Modest nature, and wild encounters match it (Gen 3+). Breeding works too: give the Modest parent an Everstone and all offspring inherit the nature. Nature Mints (Gen 8+) let you change the stat effect to Modest without rebreeding.
Should I use Modest or Timid?
Modest prioritizes power, while Timid goes for speed. Pick Modest when your Pokemon's role depends on the stat it boosts. Go with Timid when speed matters more for your team.