If anyone asks the common person on the street aboutPokemon, they will likely know a few things about the game, usually centered around catching monsters. They may even know the phrase “Gotta catch them all!” However, devoted Pokemon fans and hard-core players know that the world ofPokemonis far more vast and complex.
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Part of this complexity involves Pokemon Natures. Natures are a mechanic introduced in Generation 3, and essentially determine a Pokemon’s personality. Players can find their Pokémon’s Nature displayed on the Pokémon’s summary screen. Additionally, starting withPokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the stats affected by a Pokémon’s Nature are highlighted on their summary screen. For serious players, this is an important consideration. Catching and training a Pokémon with the correct nature can greatly impact success in a battle. Here are a few reasons why.
Stat Changes
Stat changes are not a small consideration in the games. In fact, they can be a huge contributor to a player’s successor failure. A Pokemon’s Nature will boost one stat by 10% and decrease another by 10%. The exception to this is a Pokemon with a neutral Nature, in which case neither will happen.
In every game fromHeartGold and SoulSilveronwards, the player can determine the affected stats by the text color of the stat’s name. Red means the stat is increased, while blue means the stat is decreased. There are a total of 25 different Natures, and each one affects a Pokemon’s stats in different ways.
Unique stat changes by Nature:
Players need to also be aware that the NaturesHardy, Docile, Serious, Bashful, and Quirkydo not change a Pokemon’s stats in any way.
Playing To Strengths
The best way to use Natures is to play to the Pokemon’s strengths. For example, on a Pokemon such asTogekiss, players would want a to look for a Nature. This gives it a plus10% to Special Attack and minus 10% to physical Attack.
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This is good for Togekiss, since it’s exclusively a Special Attacker. It gets a boost to the stat it will use the most, and decrease the stat will not care about. Players can use this same logic to just about any Pokemon. Physical Attackers, defensive Pokemon, Fast Pokemon, etc, will work just as well.
Offsetting Weakness
There are some benefits in trying to offset a Pokemon’s weaknesses, however. A player can strategize by using a moredefensive Nature on a frail Pokemon. This would allow it to survive some hits that would otherwise knock it out. This tactic also works with using a speed-increasing Nature on a slower Pokemon, which allows it to get in a move before theopposing Pokemon has a chance to attack.
The important thing to remember here is that picking the right Nature can give a player opportunities that they would not otherwise have. It is up to the player to decide how useful they would truly be, and for which Pokemon they are best suited.
Nature & Evolution
Generation 8has now given Nature a new wrinkle. The Nature of the Pokemon Toxtricity will determine if it evolves into Amped Form or Low Key Form.
Nature & Flavors
Serious players know that flavor is important to Pokemon, even if they aren’t all designed with food in mind. In generations 3, 4, and 8, Natures determine a Pokemon’s preference in flavors when tasting Pokeblocks, Poffins, and Curry.
This important to Pokemon development, because Flavor preferences usually influence the effectiveness of the food. For example, a Pokéblock that has a spicy flavor will raise a Pokémon’s Cool condition. However, if a Pokémon doesn’t like spicy foods, then its Cool condition will not be raised as much as it will for a Pokémon that likes spicy foods that is fed the same Pokéblock.
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List of flavor preferences by Nature:
Players need to also be aware that the NaturesHardy, Docile, Serious, Bashful, and Quirkydo not affect a Pokemon’s flavor preference whatsoever.
Breeding & Transfer
If the player wants to breed a specific Nature, that can also be done. Pokémon Natures can be bred in, and the trick to it is the Everstone. When thefemale Pokémon is holding an Everstone, there is a 50% chance the offspring will share the same Nature as the mother.
Finally, with the release ofPokemon SwordandShield, Nature can now betransferred. When a Pokémon with the Synchronize Ability (introduced in Gen 3) is at the front of the party, it will guarantee that wild Pokémon copy its Nature. This greatly expedites the player’s search for just the right Pokemon.
