Natures Explained

Natures change a Pokemon's stat growth by boosting one stat by 10% and lowering another by 10%. Five natures are neutral and do not change stats at all.

How a nature works

A nature affects only stats. It can raise Attack, Defense, Sp. Attack, Sp. Defense, or Speed, and it never changes HP directly. The boost and drop apply after the rest of the stat calculation, so the point difference is smaller at low levels and larger later on.

How to choose a nature

The right nature depends on role. Physical attackers want Attack or Speed, special attackers want Special Attack or Speed, and bulky support Pokemon often want a defensive boost or a neutral nature if they do not want to cut a useful stat.

Competitive rule of thumb

Most special attackers prefer a nature that boosts Special Attack or Speed and lowers Attack. Most physical attackers prefer a nature that boosts Attack or Speed and lowers Special Attack. Adamant and Jolly are common physical choices, while Modest and Timid are common special choices. See the List of Natures for every stat combination.

That 10% change is often enough to decide a Speed tie or push a damage roll over the line.

Mints and special cases

In modern games, Mints change the battle effects of a nature without changing the stored nature itself. That means breeding and some nature-based evolution checks still use the original nature. Toxel, for example, evolves into Amped Form or Low Key Form based on its base nature, and Mints do not change that result.

FAQ

Do natures change HP?

No. They only change one non-HP stat up and another non-HP stat down.

Can a nature be changed?

In modern games, Mints can change the battle effects of a nature.

Why do Speed natures matter so much?

A few points of Speed can decide which Pokemon moves first.