Gentle Nature
Raises Sp. Def +10%, lowers Defense −10%.
Gentle at a Glance
- Raises
- +10% Sp. Def
- Lowers
- −10% Defense
- Likes flavor
- Bitter
- Dislikes flavor
- Sour
- Opposite Nature
- Lax
- Matching Mint
- Gentle Mint
When to Use Gentle
Gentle is built for special walls — it weathers special hits far better. The price is a 10% cut to Defense, so it's a free upgrade for any Pokémon that doesn't rely on that stat.
See who makes the most of the boost: the top Sp. Def Pokémon rankings. And if you'd rather boost Defense instead, flip to Lax, its exact opposite.
A Nature is only a third of the stat story — pair it with EV training and strong IVs to get the most out of any Pokémon.
Other +Sp. Def Natures
Three more Natures raise Sp. Def, each cutting a different stat: Calm (−Attack), Sassy (−Speed), Careful (−Sp. Atk).
All 25 Natures
Gentle Nature Questions & Answers
- What does the Gentle Nature do?
- Gentle raises Sp. Def by 10% and lowers Defense by 10%. HP is never affected by a Nature.
- Which Pokémon want a Gentle Nature?
- Gentle suits special walls: it weathers special hits far better, while the Defense drop only matters if the Pokémon actually relies on Defense.
- What is the opposite of Gentle?
- Lax — it raises Defense and lowers Sp. Def, the exact reverse of Gentle.
- What Berry flavor does a Gentle Pokémon like?
- Gentle Pokémon like Bitter flavors and dislike Sour ones — a disliked-flavor confusion Berry will confuse them.