Hikamaru

Age 30
Female
Australia
Seen January 24th, 2019
Posted September 4th, 2018
50,214 posts
12.2 Years
Natures and abilities make all our Pokemon different.

But which abilities or natures do you often lean towards when you want to catch certain Pokemon?

Or don't you even care about the ability or nature?

Discuss here about it.

When I catch a Buneary, I always go for one with Run Away as Klutz is totally useless.

When I'm playing Black and I'm looking for a particular ability (such as Technician Minccino or Iron Fist Golett) I use my Audino's Entrainment to reveal the Pokemon's ability so I can see if it is worth catching.
Gone forever for personal reasons.
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Age 29
Male
Seen March 18th, 2017
Posted January 13th, 2017
188 posts
12.5 Years
I always try and choose the better ability. Those can REALLY make a difference as to how useful a pokemon is.

Natures... not so much. I mean, if a nature COMPLETELY works against what I want (for example, if my Blissey's nature raises Attack and lowers Sp. Defense) I try for another one. But otherwise, I just go with it. Picking and choosing a specific nature can be a real hassle sometimes.

Mister Coffee

Blathering Fool

Male
Seen November 7th, 2020
Posted June 12th, 2019
992 posts
11.7 Years
As a competitive player, abilities and natures are INCREDIBLY important to me.
If I'm building a theme team than the abilites often have to work alongside with that theme. My current favorite team is my drizzle team, so all of my pokemon have to have abilities that can interact well with Rain and Water type moves.

Natures are important for getting the proper boosts. I often aim towards the natures that boost the stats I'm utilizing and lower the stats that I ignore. For instance, when I have a solid physical attacker with it's main moves being physical I'll aim for an Adamant nature because I don't care about Special Attack.

So yeah that stuff is pretty important to me.
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DAT SNARKITUDE

Age 29
Female
Any ol' place really
Seen September 2nd, 2012
Posted December 27th, 2011
2,738 posts
14.8 Years
I do pay attention to natures when I'm breeding for competitive Pokémon. When I'm training an in-game team, not so much but it still happens.

I always try for the better ability. For instance when I was getting a Solosis for my White playthrough I caught one and immediately went, "yayyyy!!! ^_^" but then I realised it had Overcoat. Magic Guard, Solosis's other ability, is an amazing ability that I am totally enamored with that happens to do all Overcoat does and more. So I kept looking for Solosis, and whenever I found one I would use Will-o-Wisp on it. If it did damage, that means no Magic Guard. Once I found one with Magic Guard, I caught him and he has been a valued member of my team ever since. :3

#077: Ponyta - The Fire Horse Pokémon
Fire ~ Field eggs
3'03" ~ 66.1lbs ~ 50/50

Its hooves are 10 times harder
than diamonds. It can trample
anything completely flat in moments.

Abilities: Run Away or Flash Fire or Flame Body
Moves: Growl, Flame Wheel, Stomp, Agility
Locations: Pokémon Mansion

Cry

Other names:

jp: ポニータ (Ponyta)
de: Ponita
fr: Ponyta
cn: 小火馬 (Xiǎohuǒmǎ)


Sydian

fake your death.

Age 30
they/them
Georgia
Seen May 22nd, 2022
Posted November 29th, 2021
33,354 posts
15.2 Years
I don't do competitive, but even for in-game, I try to have decent stuff. Take Axew for example. I was not about to have a Rivalry Axew. Gross. It's a stupid ability, since it relies on the opposing Pokemon's gender. With natures, I'm more lenient, however, I typically don't tolerate a nature that renders a Pokemon useless, like an Adamant Gengar. Just...ew. If it's completely opposite from what it needs to be, I'll catch a new one.
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Mr Cat Dog

Frasier says it best

Age 32
Male
London, UK
Seen September 29th, 2017
Posted July 12th, 2017
11,344 posts
19.1 Years
Normally, I don't really care. I don't play competitively, and a such an in-game wimp that I always make sure that my critters are at least the same level as the opponents I'm facing to render abilities/natures/EVs/whatever relatively obsolete. The only time I do care is when the choice of abilities is a really good, beneficial one and a more crappy, boring one. But the difference has to be substantial for me to care, to be honest.
Seen September 18th, 2020
Posted February 18th, 2018
7,741 posts
16.6 Years
I'm not concerned with natures provided they won't negatively affect the primary stat I wish to draw out in a monster (if any), since the difference is only 10% in each affected stat (ie. negligible for a normal player). I actually prefer to get a neutral nature.

I do pick abilities, but if I'm negligent and end up training something with the ability I'd rather not have, I'm still willing to live with the setup.
Male
Seen March 29th, 2015
Posted March 27th, 2015
589 posts
11.6 Years
If I actually plan on using a particular Pokémon, then I do care what their nature is, to a degree. I won't go out of my way to get one with a specific nature, however I will turn down those who's nature would end up becoming a hindrance to their performance in the field.

As for abilities, I will say that some guys, like Haxorus, are better off with one ability, rather than the other one.

PlatinumDude

Nyeh?

Age 29
Male
Canada
Seen July 31st, 2020
Posted May 30th, 2020
12,958 posts
12.7 Years
Yeah, I do. I try to go for the preferred nature(s) on the Pokemon's Smogon articles, but I settle for things that are close enough (like Hasty when Timid is preferred). As for abilities, I also go for Smogon's preferred abilities.

blue

gucci

Male
United Kingdom
Seen September 26th, 2021
Posted August 7th, 2019
21,056 posts
15.4 Years
Nah, I never bother putting effort into EVS/IVS/Natures/Abilities.. I just catch and train the Pokémon I like and want on my team... simple as!

Elite Overlord LeSabre™

On that 'Non stop road'

Age 97
Shimoda City
Seen 3 Days Ago
Posted January 25th, 2022
9,705 posts
15.5 Years
Yes, both are very important. Even for my in-game team, I try to choose Pokemon with natures that enhance their main attacking stat (and don't cut Speed). As far as ability, if I'm training a Persian, I prefer Technician as it somewhat makes up for its relatively low attack. Of course, when breeding for a battling team, getting a specific nature becomes vital, and I'll go with one that boosts Speed and reduces the attacking stat the Pokemon doesn't use, unless it's a slow Pokemon to begin with.

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shengar

♥ Mikan Enthusiast ♥

Age 29
Male
Seen June 25th, 2013
Posted June 15th, 2013
667 posts
13 Years
I do care about them.
EV is not very bother to do, so I do it to very Pokemon I train as best as I can.
Nature for me at least shouldn't hindering a pokemon best stat. It at least should be neutral.
I don't really care about IV because as the name suggest, it is the individual value of a pokemon. Although it tempting at first to do some "IVing' but i try to keep out of it as best as possible for not turning me into a robot pokemon trainer.


Pokemon is a Japanese RPG Made By a Japanese Developer With Japanese Audience in Mind I tell You

psyanic

pop a wheelie on a zeitgeist

Age 26
Male
USA
Seen April 10th, 2023
Posted June 30th, 2018
1,284 posts
12 Years
It kind of depends on the pokemon. Like for example, when I catch an Aron, I want it with the ability "Rock Head" so I don't kill myself using Take Down. Just pokemon like those. Natures only matter if they seriously ruin a pokemon's stats. I'd hate to have a modest Machop. Other than that, neutral is fine as long as it's only in-game.

Oryx

CoquettishCat

Age 30
Female
Seen January 30th, 2015
Posted December 27th, 2014
13,184 posts
12.2 Years
In-game I don't care at all, and I use the Natures as a kind of cute "oh look, this is what my Pokemon is like" kind of thing. I found it hilarious looking at my Jolly Swadloon (mr. grumpy face), and I thought my boyfriend's Serious Stoutland was pretty cool and when we talked about Pokemon we would always characterize it as a serious Pokemon. Abilities I don't like as much but I still don't care, I just get what I get and that's all, lol.

Competitively though, of course I care. :x


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Hikamaru

Age 30
Female
Australia
Seen January 24th, 2019
Posted September 4th, 2018
50,214 posts
12.2 Years
When I first played Ruby (which was the first game with Abilities and Natures) I didn't care about natures, I just used that Pokemon.

But with each generation gone by, I suddenly heard about that large group of competitive players who prefer certain natures.

Pearl, Platinum and SoulSilver I just catch a Pokemon, still not worrying about the nature but more about the abilities.

When I catch a Buneary, I always make sure it has Run Away and not Klutz.

A Pokemon I really started caring about natures was Skuntank, I love this thing but every time I get one by trading with my brother's Diamond or hatching a Stunky, I always ended up with either a neutral nature or one that makes it terrible (I remember getting a Modest Skuntank once) and I only go for Skuntanks that have Aftermath cos I hate Stench.

It was in Black that I really started going for certain natures and abilities more seriously.

When I catch a Minccino, I only take ones with Technician (as Marriland recommends).

When I caught an Elgyem, I was fearing she'd have a terrible nature but I ended up with a Quiet nature, which made her terribly slow but at least a Special Attack boost. I didn't evolve her until the post-game cos of that Speed stat, I still like Elgyem but its Speed is a let-down (no wonder why Gothitelle became my main battling Psychic in Unova).

And when I caught a Venipede, he had an Adamant nature, which is great and now he is the ultimate Scolipede! I couldn't believe he had the right nature.

I also have a Leavanny, with a Lonely nature. Hello high Attack stat!

My Galvantula wasn't that good, Brave nature and Unnerve ability (terrible for Galvantula) so sadly I don't get those good Thunders.

I was inspired by Elesa and caught myself an Emolga, with a Quiet nature! Special Attack power boost, but the Speed lowering didn't do much as Emolga is very fast anyway. Same case with my Swoobat, thankfully he has Unaware and not Klutz (I HATE KLUTZ!)

My Garbodor turned out to be the most terrible Pokemon I ever caught. Bold nature + Weak Armor = totally stinks.

My Reshiram has the right nature, oh yeah, Modest baby!

I caught a Grumpig and Mr. Mime via Poke Transfer, and sadly they are Adamant, sob.

And my Mantine and Lanturn (also via Poke Transfer) were given Special attacks by me only to discover they were Jolly.

Jolly? Oh, Jolly, why why! (sorry, I was imitating Marriland there)

And my Gabite (Poke Transfer caught) sadly has a Calm nature, looks like she'll never be used competitively because of sacrificing some of her Attack for a darn Special Defense boost!

I have a Misdreavus that is a Special Attacker, and yep, cursed by a Jolly nature.

My Probopass is hindered by a stupid Timid nature, sob.

At least my Luxray got the right nature, Naughty baby!

My poor Hariyama is TIMID! Argh!

My Rampardos is female, and a Brave nature, yeah baby!

Fearow, sadly has a Bold nature. Damn!

And my worst-case scenario - I caught a Golett only to discover it was Klutz, I went back to Dragonspiral Tower, caught another one, this time with Iron Fist but wait for it, I got the worst possible nature and that nature is...
Spoiler:
MODEST!


And my Stunfisk is Adamant, stupid.

My Shuckle is Modest, terrible as it is.

And my Bibarel is darn TIMID!

At least my Heracross, Gliscor and Absol ended up with good natures (Naughty for Heracross and Adamant for Gliscor and Absol)

I find Graveler terrible, not only that 4x Grass/Water weakness, but mine has a... CALM NATURE! ARGH!

At least my Lapras, Ninjask, Hitmontop and Swellow got the right natures.

I remember catching my Stoutland as a little Lillipup, she hit hard as a Herdier but not really overwhelming, and that's because she is Timid! Timid stinks for Stoutland so I caught one more Lillipup (male this time) and he is an Adamant baby!

And one more worst case scenario, I wanted to train a Pawniard, caught one but sadly she has the worst nature you could get for Pawniard, which is a...
Spoiler:
CALM! DARN YOU!


So I had to catch another Pawniard, same gender and ability as before, but a Gentle nature. I raised the Gentle one into a Bisharp eventually.

And with Axew, I only accept ones with Mold Breaker cos Rivalry is dependent on its foes gender. No wonder my Haxorus sucked, I went and caught a Mold Breaker Axew eventually.

For Pidove, Tranquill and Unfezant I only catch ones with Super Luck. Big Pecks is useless.

To test for a Pidove, Tranquill or Unfezant with Super Luck, use a Defense-lowering move like Tail Whip, Screech or Leer. If Defense is lowered it has Super Luck.

Luxray also have Rivalry, but Intimidate is so much better!

So yeah, a lot of my reviews there!
Gone forever for personal reasons.
Visit my Tumblr page if you wish to contact me.

http://daikenkki.tumblr.com/

miltankRancher

Mega Ampharos is the one.

Age 28
Male
Philippines
Seen June 11th, 2014
Posted September 7th, 2013
3,947 posts
13 Years
Not too much though. I choose the better ability for my favorite Pokemon, but the others, nah.

It's a different story competitively no. Everything must be in sync competitively.

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...and I am PROUD of it.
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Pokemon Trainer Touko

春野サクラ ♥

Age 25
Female
Konoha ★
Seen June 3rd, 2012
Posted March 7th, 2012
1,712 posts
12.3 Years
Nope, I don't care about abilities or natures which is one of the reasons why I suck at battling lol. :'D I didn't even know what natures and abilities were for until I joined pc oAo;
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NidoJosh

Unleash your inner Nidocity

Male
Australia
Seen January 27th, 2012
Posted December 7th, 2011
65 posts
11.5 Years
Well in game nothing bothers me.
I like to just use the pokemon I decided to catch and the natures and abilities didn't matter.
Only when I'm forming competitive teams do I look out for the natures, abilities and IV's.


^Feel free to use this :3^
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Seen May 29th, 2012
Posted February 6th, 2012
34 posts
11.6 Years
I agree with Mr. Cat Dog. I don't bother, because I can never remember which abilities do what, and which stats are improved by which natures, and it all just muddles me up. I'm one of those people who just train more if it doesn't work. And I always level up my pokemon in a methodical, balanced way, like they tell you to, because I'm a wimp.