You might not know this, but every Pokémon you catch in Sword and Shield has a unique nature that affects their stats. There are 25 different natures total, which means there's a lot of room for variance between the creatures you catch. With that being the case, you might want to catch the same Pokémon multiple times until you get one with a nature that matches your battle style. Here's a list of all of the natures a Pokémon can have in Sword and Shield along with how those natures affect battle stats.
- All Pokémon Natures
- How nature affects stats
- How to check your Pokémon's nature
- It's possible to change a Pokémon's nature
All Pokémon Natures
- Adamant
- Bashful
- Brave
- Bold
- Calm
- Careful
- Docile
- Gentle
- Hardy
- Hasty
- Impish
- Jolly
- Lax
- Lonely
- Mild
- Modest
- Naive
- Naughty
- Quiet
- Quirky
- Rash
- Relaxed
- Sassy
- Serious
- Timid
How natures affect stats
The nature of your Pokémon affects its stats. If you tend to battle with a focus on defense or a focus on attack, then you should try to get Pokémon that have condusive natures.
| Raises | Lowers | |
|---|---|---|
| Adamant | Attack | Special Attack |
| Bashful | None | None |
| Brave | Attack | Speed |
| Bold | Defense | Attack |
| Calm | Special Attack | Attack |
| Careful | Special Defense | Special Attack |
| Docile | None | None |
| Gentle | Special Defense | Defense |
| Hardy | None | None |
| Hasty | Speed | Defense |
| Impish | Defense | Special Attack |
| Jolly | Speed | Special Attack |
| Lax | Defense | Special Defense |
| Lonely | Attack | Defense |
| Mild | Special Attack | Defense |
| Modest | Special Attack | Attack |
| Naive | Speed | Special Defense |
| Naughty | Attack | Special Defense |
| Quiet | Special Attack | Speed |
| Quirky | None | None |
| Rash | Special Attack | Special Defense |
| Relaxed | Defense | Speed |
| Sassy | Special Defense | Speed |
| Serious | None | None |
| Timid | Speed | Attack |
How to check your Pokémon's nature
- While your game is on, Press X to enter the main menu.
- When the next page pops up, Select Pokémon.Source: iMore
- If the Pokémon you want to check is in your party, hover over it and press A. If it's not in your party, press R to go to your Boxes and then click on it.
- Next click Check Summary.Source: iMore
- Use the joystick to scroll over to the pencil and paper icon. Your Pokémon's information and nature will display.
It's possible to change your Pokémon's nature in Sword and Shield
Once you complete the main storyline in Sword and Shield you have the ability to purchase Mints from the Battle Tower. When fed to your Pokémon, these treats change your Pokémon's nature and therefore change its stats. We're currently working on a guide that lists all of the mints you can get and explains how they change your Pokémon's stats. We'll update when it's done.
The laws of nature
Pokémon Sword and Shield are a lot more complicated than they initially seem. Casual gamers can enjoy the storyline and the thrill of catching Pokémon while serious gamers can really dig into the stats of their party and work to complete their Pokédex. Now that you know about natures in Sword and Shield, you can check your party and see what stats each of your main Pokémon have.
Gaming aficionado Rebecca Spear is iMore's dedicated gaming editor with a focus on Nintendo Switch and iOS gaming. You’ll never catch her without her Switch or her iPad Air handy. If you’ve got a question about Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, or just about any other Nintendo series check out her guides to help you out. Rebecca has written thousands of articles in the last six years including hundreds of extensive gaming guides, previews, and reviews for both Switch and Apple Arcade. She also loves checking out new gaming accessories like iPhone controllers and has her ear to the ground when it comes to covering the next big trend.
