What do Pokemon natures do?

Most Pokemon natures raise one stat by 10 percent and lower another stat by 10 percent. Neutral natures do not change stats.

What are the best Pokemon natures?

The best nature depends on the Pokemon's role. Adamant and Jolly are common for physical attackers, while Modest and Timid are common for special attackers.

Are neutral natures bad?

Neutral natures are acceptable while testing, but optimized teams usually prefer a nature that boosts the Pokemon's most important stat.

Stat planning

Pokemon Natures

Q: Should I choose Adamant or Jolly?

Choose Adamant when extra physical damage matters more, and choose Jolly when outspeeding key threats is more important.

Pokemon natures fine-tune a role by raising one stat and lowering another. Choose a nature after you know whether the Pokemon needs speed, power, or durability.

How to choose a Pokemon nature

Start with the stat your Pokemon uses to win. Physical attackers often want Adamant for more damage or Jolly for more speed. Special attackers often choose Modest or Timid. Defensive Pokemon commonly choose Bold, Impish, Calm, or Careful depending on which side they need to survive.

Neutral natures are rarely optimal for polished teams, but they are useful while testing. Once a Pokemon has a clear job in the Pokemon team builder, pick the nature that makes that job more reliable.

Nature choice workflow

Choose the role first, then choose the stat. If a Pokemon is meant to outspeed threats, prioritize Speed. If it already moves after the opponent, prioritize damage or bulk. Finally, lower the attacking stat the Pokemon does not use whenever possible.

Nature recommender

Pick a nature by battle role

Select the job a Pokemon has on your team and get nature picks that match how that role wins games.

Physical attacker

Prioritize Attack, then decide whether Speed matters more than bulk.

Lower Sp. Atk when the Pokemon does not use special moves.

Adamant+Attack / -Sp. Atk

Physical sweepers and wallbreakers

Jolly+Speed / -Sp. Atk

Fast physical attackers

Brave+Attack / -Speed

Trick Room attackers

Decision matrix

Pick a nature by asking the right question

Nature choices become easier when you know what a Pokemon must do in battle. Use this matrix before locking in a stat boost.

Does it use physical attacks?

Choose: Adamant or Jolly

Avoid: Lowering Attack unless the Pokemon is purely special

Does it use special attacks?

Choose: Modest or Timid

Avoid: Lowering Sp. Atk unless the Pokemon never attacks specially

Does it need to move first?

Choose: Jolly or Timid

Avoid: Lowering Speed outside Trick Room or very slow defensive sets

Is it a defensive pivot?

Choose: Bold, Impish, Calm, or Careful

Avoid: Lowering the defensive stat it is supposed to rely on

Nature table

All Pokemon natures

Hardy

Raises: NoneLowers: None

Neutral testing

Lonely

Raises: AttackLowers: Defense

Physical attackers that avoid contact

Brave

Raises: AttackLowers: Speed

Trick Room attackers

Adamant

Raises: AttackLowers: Sp. Atk

Physical sweepers and wallbreakers

Naughty

Raises: AttackLowers: Sp. Def

Mixed physical attackers

Bold

Raises: DefenseLowers: Attack

Physical walls

Docile

Raises: NoneLowers: None

Neutral testing

Relaxed

Raises: DefenseLowers: Speed

Slow defensive pivots

Impish

Raises: DefenseLowers: Sp. Atk

Physical tanks

Lax

Raises: DefenseLowers: Sp. Def

Niche physical bulk

Timid

Raises: SpeedLowers: Attack

Fast special attackers

Hasty

Raises: SpeedLowers: Defense

Mixed speed control

Serious

Raises: NoneLowers: None

Neutral testing

Jolly

Raises: SpeedLowers: Sp. Atk

Fast physical attackers

Naive

Raises: SpeedLowers: Sp. Def

Mixed offensive leads

Modest

Raises: Sp. AtkLowers: Attack

Special sweepers

Mild

Raises: Sp. AtkLowers: Defense

Mixed special attackers

Quiet

Raises: Sp. AtkLowers: Speed

Trick Room special attackers

Bashful

Raises: NoneLowers: None

Neutral testing

Rash

Raises: Sp. AtkLowers: Sp. Def

Special mixed breakers

Calm

Raises: Sp. DefLowers: Attack

Special walls

Gentle

Raises: Sp. DefLowers: Defense

Niche special bulk

Sassy

Raises: Sp. DefLowers: Speed

Slow special walls

Careful

Raises: Sp. DefLowers: Sp. Atk

Specially defensive physical Pokemon

Quirky

Raises: NoneLowers: None

Neutral testing

Common picks

Popular natures by role

Physical offense

Adamant boosts damage, while Jolly helps outrun threats. Brave fits slow Trick Room attackers.

Special offense

Modest increases special damage, while Timid helps fast special attackers move first.

Defensive roles

Bold and Impish improve physical bulk. Calm and Careful improve special bulk.

FAQ

Pokemon natures questions

Should I choose Adamant or Jolly?

Choose Adamant when extra damage matters more. Choose Jolly when outspeeding key threats is more important for that Pokemon's job.

Can a Pokemon change nature?

Modern games include nature mints that can change the stat effect, although the displayed nature may remain separate depending on the game.

Which nature should mixed attackers use?

Mixed attackers often lower a defensive stat or Speed, depending on whether they need both attacking stats or Trick Room support.

Pokemon Natures

How to choose a Pokemon nature

Nature choice workflow

Pick a nature by battle role

Physical attacker

Pick a nature by asking the right question

Does it use physical attacks?

Does it use special attacks?

Does it need to move first?

Is it a defensive pivot?

All Pokemon natures

Hardy

Lonely

Brave

Adamant

Naughty

Bold

Docile

Relaxed

Impish

Lax

Timid

Hasty

Serious

Jolly

Naive

Modest

Mild

Quiet

Bashful

Rash

Calm

Gentle

Sassy

Careful

Quirky

Popular natures by role

Physical offense

Special offense

Defensive roles

Pokemon natures questions

Should I choose Adamant or Jolly?

Can a Pokemon change nature?

Which nature should mixed attackers use?

Related Pokemon team resources