Effects of Nature

Learn how to choose and manipulate Pokémon Natures in Pokémon Sun and Moon to boost your team's stats for competitive battling and tough post-game challenges.

In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Natures can significantly impact your Pokémon's performance, especially in competitive play and post-game battles. While not crucial for the main story, understanding Natures is key to optimizing your team.

Choosing a Nature:

The best approach is to identify your Pokémon's strengths and select a Nature that enhances them. For example, if a Pokémon excels at physical attacks, an Adamant Nature (boosting Attack) is a good choice. If it has high Special Defense, consider a Nature that further boosts it. Speed-boosting Natures are also valuable, as higher Speed allows your Pokémon to attack first.

Avoid Natures that don't boost any stats, like Hardy, as having no strengths is a disadvantage in battles. If you plan to use both physical and special moves, opt for a Nature that slightly lowers a Defense stat instead.

Don't rely on Natures to compensate for weaknesses. The 10% stat boost from a Nature is most effective when applied to already high stats. If a Pokémon has a low stat, it's better to work around it or use a different Pokémon.

For example, a Pikachu that learns physical moves like Volt Tackle and holds the Light Ball (which boosts Attack and Special Attack) could benefit from a Jolly Nature if you want it to be fast and prioritize physical attacks. For a mixed attacker (using both physical and special moves), Hasty or Naive Natures are suitable, as Pikachu's defenses are generally low anyway.

Manipulating Natures:

While Natures are randomly assigned, there are ways to influence them:

• Synchronize Ability: A Pokémon with the Synchronize Ability at the front of your party has a 50% chance of passing its Nature onto wild Pokémon encountered.
• Everstone: When breeding, if one parent holds an Everstone, their Nature is passed down to offspring 100% of the time. If both parents hold an Everstone, the offspring's Nature will be a 50/50 split between the parents' Natures.