Nature Chart & Stat Modifiers
Complete guide to Pokémon natures and their stat modifiers. Learn which natures boost and reduce stats, and how to choose the best nature for your strategy.
Introduction
Natures are a fundamental mechanic that affect a Pokémon's stat growth. Each nature increases one stat by 10% and decreases another by 10%, or provides no modifiers at all (neutral natures). Understanding natures is essential for optimizing your team's performance in competitive battles and challenging trainer fights.
Natures are randomly assigned when you encounter or receive a Pokémon. In Polished Crystal, you can change a nature later via the Mint Tea NPC in Celadon Mansion. If you prefer classic play, natures can also be disabled in the options (Faithful-style).
How Nature Modifiers Work
Each nature modifies two stats (or none for neutral natures):
- Increased Stat: Receives a 1.1× (110%) multiplier
- Decreased Stat: Receives a 0.9× (90%) multiplier
- Neutral Stats: All other stats remain at 1.0× (100%)
Important: Natures only affect five stats—HP is never modified by natures.
Calculation Example
A level 100 Dragonite with Adamant nature:
- Attack: 134 base stat → ~367 at level 100 (with max IVs/EVs)
- With Adamant (+Atk): 367 × 1.1 = 403 (rounded down)
- Sp. Atk: 100 base stat → ~299 at level 100
- With Adamant (-SpA): 299 × 0.9 = 269 (rounded down)
This translates to +44 Attack and -30 Sp. Atk at level 100, which is significant for a physical attacker like Dragonite.
Complete Nature Chart
Attack-Boosting Natures
| Nature | Increased | Decreased | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lonely | Attack | Defense | Glass cannon physical attackers |
| Brave | Attack | Speed | Slow physical attackers, Trick Room teams |
| Adamant | Attack | Sp. Atk | Physical attackers (most common) |
| Naughty | Attack | Sp. Def | Mixed physical attackers (keeps Sp. Atk) |
Defense-Boosting Natures
| Nature | Increased | Decreased | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bold | Defense | Attack | Physical walls (most common) |
| Relaxed | Defense | Speed | Slow physical walls, Trick Room |
| Impish | Defense | Sp. Atk | Physical walls that attack |
| Lax | Defense | Sp. Def | Rarely used (avoid this generally) |
Recommended: Bold or Impish for defensive Pokémon that take physical hits.
Speed-Boosting Natures
| Nature | Increased | Decreased | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timid | Speed | Attack | Special sweepers (most common) |
| Hasty | Speed | Defense | Fast mixed attackers (keeps Sp. Def) |
| Jolly | Speed | Sp. Atk | Physical sweepers (most common) |
| Naive | Speed | Sp. Def | Fast mixed attackers (keeps Defense) |
Recommended: Jolly for physical sweepers and Timid for special sweepers—essential for outspeeding opponents.
Special Attack-Boosting Natures
| Nature | Increased | Decreased | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modest | Sp. Atk | Attack | Special attackers (most common) |
| Mild | Sp. Atk | Defense | Special attackers (keeps Sp. Def) |
| Quiet | Sp. Atk | Speed | Slow special attackers, Trick Room |
| Rash | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | All-out special offense (use caution) |
Recommended: Modest is the go-to for special attackers that don't need speed as much.
Special Defense-Boosting Natures
| Nature | Increased | Decreased | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calm | Sp. Def | Attack | Special walls (most common) |
| Gentle | Sp. Def | Defense | Rarely used (usually prefer balanced) |
| Sassy | Sp. Def | Speed | Slow special walls, Trick Room |
| Careful | Sp. Def | Sp. Atk | Special walls that need Attack |
Recommended: Calm or Careful for Pokémon tanking special attacks.
Neutral Natures (No Modifiers)
| Nature | Effect |
|---|---|
| Hardy | No stat changes |
| Docile | No stat changes |
| Serious | No stat changes |
| Bashful | No stat changes |
| Quirky | No stat changes |
Note: Neutral natures are generally not recommended for competitive play, as you miss out on beneficial stat boosts. However, they can work in casual playthroughs where optimization isn't crucial.
Quick Reference Table: Stat Modifiers
This table shows which natures boost (+) and reduce (−) each stat:
| Stat | Boosted By (+10%) | Reduced By (−10%) |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | Lonely, Brave, Adamant, Naughty | Bold, Timid, Modest, Calm |
| Defense | Bold, Relaxed, Impish, Lax | Lonely, Hasty, Mild, Gentle |
| Sp. Atk | Modest, Mild, Quiet, Rash | Adamant, Impish, Jolly, Careful |
| Sp. Def | Calm, Gentle, Sassy, Careful | Naughty, Lax, Naive, Rash |
| Speed | Timid, Hasty, Jolly, Naive | Brave, Relaxed, Quiet, Sassy |
Choosing the Right Nature
For Physical Attackers
Priority: Attack and Speed
- Adamant (+Atk, −SpA): Best for pure physical attackers
- Jolly (+Spe, −SpA): Best when you need to outspeed opponents
- Brave (+Atk, −Spe): For Trick Room or naturally slow attackers
Examples:
For Special Attackers
Priority: Sp. Atk and Speed
- Modest (+SpA, −Atk): Best for pure special attackers
- Timid (+Spe, −Atk): Best when speed is crucial
- Quiet (+SpA, −Spe): For Trick Room or slow special attackers
Examples:
For Defensive Pokémon
Priority: Defense and/or Sp. Def, sometimes HP
- Bold (+Def, −Atk): Physical walls
- Calm (+SpD, −Atk): Special walls
- Impish (+Def, −SpA): Physical walls that use physical attacks
- Careful (+SpD, −SpA): Special walls that use physical attacks
Examples:
For Mixed Attackers
Mixed attackers use both physical and special moves effectively. Nature choice depends on which attacking stat is more important:
- If primarily physical with some special coverage: Adamant or Jolly
- If primarily special with some physical coverage: Modest or Timid
- If truly balanced: Consider Hasty or Naive (boost Speed, drop a defense)
Examples:
- Infernape: Naive or Hasty (fast mixed attacker)
- Lucario: Depends on moveset—Jolly for physical, Timid for special
Strategy Tips
1. Match Nature to Role
Always choose a nature that complements your Pokémon's intended role:
- Sweepers: Boost Attack/Sp. Atk or Speed
- Walls/Tanks: Boost Defense or Sp. Def
- Support: Often boost Speed or defenses
2. Don't Reduce What You Need
Avoid natures that reduce stats your Pokémon actually uses:
- ❌ Don't use Modest on a physical attacker
- ❌ Don't use Adamant on a special attacker
- ❌ Don't reduce Speed on a sweeper (unless using Trick Room)
3. Breeding for Natures
When breeding Pokémon, you can pass down natures:
- Give the parent with the desired nature an Everstone to hold
- In Polished Crystal, the offspring always inherits that parent's nature (100%)
- This is essential for competitive breeding
See also: Breeding Guide for more details on passing down natures.
4. Wild Pokémon Nature Manipulation
Some Polished Crystal features may help with nature selection:
- Synchronize ability: If the lead Pokémon has Synchronize, wild encounters match its nature (100%)
- Useful for catching legendary Pokémon with the right nature!
Synchronize Pokémon: Alakazam, Espeon, Umbreon
5. Speed Tiers Matter
In competitive play, specific Speed benchmarks determine turn order. A Jolly or Timid nature can mean the difference between moving first or getting knocked out before you attack.
Example: A Jolly Garchomp (394 Speed at Lv100) outspeeds Adamant Garchomp (358 Speed) every time.
Common Nature Abbreviations
In competitive discussions, natures are often abbreviated:
- Adamant: Ada, +Atk
- Jolly: Jol, +Spe (physical)
- Modest: Mod, +SpA
- Timid: Tim, +Spe (special)
- Bold: Bol, +Def
- Calm: Clm, +SpD
- Impish: Imp, +Def (attacks physically)
- Careful: Car, +SpD (attacks physically)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change a Pokémon's nature?
Yes. In Polished Crystal, you can change a Pokémon's nature via the Mint Tea NPC in Celadon Mansion. For catching, leading with Synchronize guarantees matching natures. For breeding, an Everstone guarantees the parent's nature passes down.
Do natures affect HP?
No. HP is the only stat that is never modified by natures.
What's the best neutral nature?
None. Neutral natures (Hardy, Docile, Serious, Bashful, Quirky) provide no benefits and are generally avoided in competitive play. Always prefer a nature that boosts a useful stat.
How much difference does nature make?
At level 100 with max IVs and EVs, a boosted stat gains roughly +30 to +50 points depending on the base stat, while a reduced stat loses −25 to −40 points. This is a significant difference in competitive battles.
Should I use a nature that reduces Defense or Sp. Def?
Sometimes. If you're building a fast, offensive Pokémon (a "glass cannon"), reducing a defense stat is acceptable since you plan to knock out opponents before they can hit you. However, this makes you more vulnerable to priority moves and faster opponents.
Related Guides
- IVs & EVs Guide — Learn about the other factors affecting stats
- Breeding Guide — How to breed for perfect natures and IVs
- Abilities Guide — Includes Synchronize for nature manipulation
- Team Builder — Plan your team with nature selection
Conclusion
Natures are a cornerstone of Pokémon stat optimization. Choosing the right nature can dramatically improve your Pokémon's performance in battle. For casual playthroughs, natures are less critical, but for competitive battles, challenging gyms, and the Battle Tower, selecting optimal natures is essential.
Quick Tips:
- Physical attackers: Adamant or Jolly
- Special attackers: Modest or Timid
- Walls: Bold, Calm, Impish, or Careful
- Avoid neutral natures in competitive play
- Use Synchronize to catch Pokémon with desired natures