Yes, you can change a Pokémon's nature, but the method depends on which game you're playing
A Pokémon's nature affects which of its stats grow faster as it levels up. If you catch or breed a Pokémon with a nature that doesn't match your battle strategy, you have options to change it. The easiest method is using a Nature Mint, an item that permanently changes a Pokémon's nature without any side effects. Nature Mints are available in Pokémon Sword and Shield, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
If you're playing an older game like Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, or Diamond and Pearl, you cannot change a nature once it's set. Your only option in those games is to catch or breed a new Pokémon with the nature you want. In games that do have Nature Mints, they cost money or require specific items to obtain, so you'll need to know where to find them.
Key Takeaways
- Nature Mints permanently change a Pokémon's nature in games from Sword and Shield onward, with no loss of experience or moves.
- Each nature has a corresponding mint: a Pokémon with an Adamant nature needs an Adamant Mint to change to a different nature.
- In older games like Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, and Sapphire, natures cannot be changed and you must breed or catch a new Pokémon.
- Nature Mints are purchased with currency or found as rewards, and the cost or location varies by game.
How Nature Mints work in modern games
A Nature Mint is a held item that changes a Pokémon's nature permanently. When you use a Nature Mint on a Pokémon, the nature changes when ready and stays changed. The Pokémon keeps all its experience points, moves, and stats—only the nature itself changes, which affects how future stat gains are distributed as it levels up.
Each mint corresponds to one nature. If you want to change a Pokémon to an Adamant nature, you use an Adamant Mint. If you want Timid, you use a Timid Mint. There are 25 different natures in the game, so there are 25 different mints to match them. Once you use a mint, it is consumed and disappears from your bag.
The main limitation is cost or availability. In Pokémon Sword and Shield, mints are sold by the Watt Trader in the Wild Area for 50 Watts each. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, they are sold by the Auction House in Mesagoza for 20,000 Pokédollars each. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, they are purchased from the general store for 1,000 Pokédollars. Prices and locations differ, so check your specific game's shop or reward system.
Where to find Nature Mints in each game
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, the Watt Trader in the Wild Area sells all 25 mints for 50 Watts each. You earn Watts by defeating Dynamax Pokémon in raid battles or by shaking berry trees. This is the most straightforward way to stock up on mints if you have multiple Pokémon to adjust.
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Auction House in Mesagoza sells mints for 20,000 Pokédollars each. You can also find mints as rewards from Tera Raid battles and as items scattered in the overworld. The Auction House restocks regularly, so you can purchase multiple mints over time.
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, mints are sold in the Jubilife Village general store for 1,000 Pokédollars. You can also receive mints as rewards from certain tasks and requests. Since the game uses a different progression system than traditional Pokémon games, mints are less central to the experience but still available if you need them.
In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, mints are available through the Grand Underground and as rewards from the Battle Tower. You can also purchase them from the Pokémon Center in the postgame, though availability is more limited than in Sword and Shield or Scarlet and Violet.
Why you might want to change a Pokémon's nature
A Pokémon's nature boosts one stat by 10 percent and lowers another by 10 percent as it levels up. For example, an Adamant nature raises Attack and lowers Special Attack. If you have a Pokémon you want to use for physical attacks, Adamant is ideal. If that same Pokémon has a Timid nature instead, which raises Speed but lowers Attack, it will be weaker in the role you want it to fill.
Changing a nature is most useful when you've already invested time training a Pokémon and don't want to start over with a new one. If you've trained a Pokémon to level 80 and then realized its nature doesn't match your strategy, a Nature Mint lets you fix that without losing all your progress. This is especially valuable for competitive players or anyone who has spent significant time on a single Pokémon.
Breeding for the right nature can take many attempts, so Nature Mints also save time if you're building a team. Instead of breeding dozens of eggs hoping for the right nature, you can breed for other traits like individual values or moves, then use a mint to set the nature you want.
Common mistakes when changing natures
The most common mistake is forgetting that a nature change only affects future stat growth. If a Pokémon has already leveled up with the wrong nature, changing the nature now will not retroactively fix the stats it already gained. The Pokémon's current stats stay the same; only the growth rate going forward changes. If this is a problem, you may need to train the Pokémon further to see the benefit of the new nature.
Another mistake is using a mint on a Pokémon you don't plan to use. Since mints cost money or require effort to obtain, it's worth thinking through your team before spending mints. Write down which Pokémon need nature changes and which natures you want them to have, then purchase or find the mints you need.
A third mistake is confusing natures with abilities. A Pokémon's ability is separate from its nature and cannot be changed with a mint. If you want to change a Pokémon's ability, you need an Ability Capsule or Ability Patch, which are different items entirely.
Breeding for nature versus using mints
If you're breeding Pokémon, you can control the nature without using mints. A parent Pokémon holding an Everstone will pass its nature to its offspring 100 percent of the time. This means if you breed a Pokémon with the nature you want, all the eggs will have that same nature. This method is free once you have the right parent, but it requires time and patience to breed multiple eggs.
Using a Nature Mint is faster but costs money or requires raid battles to earn the currency. If you're building a competitive team and need multiple Pokémon with specific natures, mints are usually more efficient. If you're casually playing and only need one or two Pokémon with adjusted natures, breeding might be worth the extra time.
In modern games, most players use a combination of both methods. They breed for other traits like moves or individual values, then use a mint to set the final nature. This balances the time investment with the cost of mints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Nature Mints work on legendary Pokémon?
Yes, Nature Mints work on any Pokémon, including legendaries. If you catch a legendary with the wrong nature, you can change it with a mint just like any other Pokémon. This is one of the main reasons mints are useful—legendaries are hard to catch multiple times, so being able to adjust the nature of the one you have is valuable.
Can I change a Pokémon's nature back to what it was?
Yes, you can change a nature as many times as you want, as long as you have the mints. If you change a Pokémon from Adamant to Timid and then decide you preferred Adamant, you can use an Adamant Mint again to change it back. Each mint is consumed when used, so you'll need a new mint for each change.
What if I don't have enough money for mints?
In games where mints are sold for currency, you can earn money by battling trainers, selling items, or completing tasks. In Sword and Shield, you can also earn Watts by shaking berry trees or defeating raid Pokémon, which is often faster than grinding for money. Check your specific game for the fastest way to earn the currency you need.
Do natures matter for casual play?
Natures matter less in casual play than in competitive battles. A Pokémon with the "wrong" nature will still be usable and can still win battles—the 10 percent stat difference is noticeable but not game-breaking. If you're playing through the story, you don't need to worry about natures at all. Mints are mainly useful if you're building a competitive team or want to optimize a Pokémon you've already trained.
Can I change a Pokémon's nature in Pokémon Go?
Pokémon Go does not use natures in the same way as the main series games. Pokémon Go has different mechanics for stats and does not have Nature Mints or a way to change natures. If you're playing Pokémon Go, nature changes are not relevant to that game.