In Pokémon, there are many different ways to ensure you have the strongest Pokémon possible — the right moves, the maximum amount of Grit investment, and of course, Natures. Natures are important for Pokémon, as they can influence stats by 10%. If you’re curious on how to pick the right Nature for your Pokémon, look no further.

Pokémon attacks are split into two categories: Physical and Special. Physical attack damage is influenced by your Pokémon’s Attack stat and the defending Pokémon’s Defense stat, while Special Attack damage is influenced by your Pokémon’s Special Attack stat and the defending Pokémon’s Special Defense stat. If you look at your Pokémon’s stat screen via the Summary option, you may notice that one of it’s stats are raised and one stat lowered. This is due to Nature.

There are 25 Natures in Pokémon, each with different effects. When you catch a Pokémon, a Nature will be randomly assigned to it. Five Natures will do nothing to your Pokémon’s stats, while the other 20 will raise a stat and lower a stat. Here is the list:

  • Hardy: Does nothing.Serious: Does nothing.Bashful: Does nothing.Quirky: Does nothing.Docile: Does nothing.Lonely: Attack Up, Defense DownBrave: Attack Up, Speed DownAdamant: Attack Up, Special Attack DownNaughty: Attack Up, Special Defense DownBold: Defense Up, Attack DownRelaxed: Defense Up, Speed DownImpish: Defense Up, Special Attack DownLax: Defense Up, Special Defense DownTimid: Speed Up, Attack DownJolly: Speed Up, Special Attack DownHasty: Speed Up, Defense DownNaive: Speed Up, Special Defense DownModest: Special Attack Up, Attack DownMild: Special Attack Up, Defense DownQuiet: Special Attack Up, Speed DownRash: Special Attack Up, Special Defense DownCalm: Special Defense Up, Attack DownGentle: Special Defense Up, Defense DownSassy: Special Defense Up, Speed DownCareful: Special Defense Up, Special Attack Down

The trick to choosing the right Nature for your Pokémon is looking at two main things:

  • What type of attacks does your Pokémon have access to?What stat is higher: Attack or Special Attack? Defense or Special Defense?

Speed is always important: you typically do not want to lower Speed. The one instance you would have in previous games was Trick Room, a move that allowed slower Pokémon to go first. Trick Room is not in Arceus, so you do not need to worry about it.

We will use Alakazam for an example: Alakazam is a Pokémon with high Special Attack and low Attack. Alakazam gets access to many powerful Special Attack moves, such as Psychic and Shadow Ball. In this instance, we would want to choose the Modest or Timid Natures, to maximize either Special Attack or Speed at the expense of Attack, a stat we wouldn’t use.

Another example: Landorus. This Pokémon has high Attack and high Special Attack, but the Attack stat is higher. Landorus has access to a new move called Sandsear Storm, which is a Special Attack, but also access to moves like Outrage and Stone Edge, which are physical Attacks. You could go either way, but because the Attack stat is higher, we would recommend Jolly or Adamant to maximize your damage.