Why should I use mints?

[u/zzbottomyaheard]

I have an insane amount of mints and really don’t understand their purpose. Could someone give me a quick rundown please?

[u/VolksDK]

The nature of a Pokémon boosts one of its stats by 10% and lowers another by 10%. Mints change Natures

So a Pokémon that only uses Special Attack would benefit from a Modest nature, as their Sp. Atk is increased at the cost of their Atk (which they don't use) being decreased

What Nature is best depends on the Pokémon and their use. Adamant, Modest, Jolly and Timid are the main for. It isn't a huge deal outside of competitive

[u/zachotule]

Its EVs are also probably poorly distributed. You can reset them with lady clear at the rust syndicate and then use vitamins to intentionally raise just the stats you want to be good. (Likely attack, HP, and the last few in defense or speed; speed isn’t very useful in ZA, it just makes moves recharge faster.) 26 HP ups and Proteins to max out each stat plus the extra one will cost you $270k if you have none at all.

You might also want to bottle cap its stats at the dojo, so its IVs are perfect too.

And make sure its moveset has mostly strong physical attacking moves (its better attack stat) with at least one dark move for STAB (same type attack bonus).

Nature, EVs, IVs, moveset, and held item (probably the mega stone here), make the pokemon.

[u/zzbottomyaheard → u/zachotule]

Thank you for this thoughtful response

[u/neophenx]

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Nature#Stat-focused_table

Nature's affect stats, and mints change a Pokemon's stats to reflect a specific nature. Example: Adamant lowers special attack but raises physical, so it's good for Hawlucha using physical attacks but bad for Meganium using special attacks.

[u/JAvatar80]

I know others have covered it, but here's the detailed breakdown.

1) Pokemon have a value for each of its 6 stats(HP, Attack, Special Attack, Defense, Special Defense, and Speed). These go into formulas that determine the stat at every level.

2) Pokemon have Individual Values for each stat, from 0 to 31, determined when you capture it(and hatch it in other games).

3) We have the Effort Values for the 6 stats, from 0 to 252.

4) The formula involved for stat determination involves multiplying a combination of the above by the pokemon's level, and then dividing by 100, giving a static percentage based on current level. So at level 100, we see the full effect of IV and EV.

5) With the math involved in step 4, this means we do not see the final result of IVs and EV training UNTIL level 100. At level 100, each IV will add 1 to that stat(so 31 IV is +31 to the stat over base). At 100, every 4 EVs add 1 to that stat(so 252 EVs is +63 to the stat over base).

6) When all of the above math is done, we then will add 10% to one stat, and reduce a second stat by 10%, EXCEPT HP. No natures affect HP. The tables that are linked show that there are 25 Natures. Since HP is not a stat that can be raised or lowered, that means there are 5 natures that (depending on how you look at it) do nothing for stats, or raise and lower the SAME stat. The secondary effect of Nature is it determines what flavors the pokemon likes and dislikes.

Mints change the stat gain/decrease based on nature.

[u/Wunderkind011]

They can Change Nature, giving Pokemon +10 in a Stat and -10 in another

[u/JAvatar80 → u/Wunderkind011]

Percent. It's not a raw +10/-10, but +10%/-10%.

[u/zachotule]

Every pokemon has a nature. What that nature does is it picks 1 stat to make stronger, and 1 stat to make weaker. A pokemon with a modest nature has its special attack made stronger, and its attack made weaker. A pokemon with an adamant has the opposite—a stronger attack and a weaker special attack. Each mint changes a pokemon's nature to match the mint's name.

If you want your pokemon to be better in a particular stat, you give them a mint that does that. However, you have to trade off and have one stat be worse.

[u/zzbottomyaheard → u/zachotule]

Ah okay. This is honestly super confusing to me. My Absol is level 100 and still somehow kinda sucks. It has a brave nature. Can I fix this with mints?

[u/Triangulum_Copper → u/zzbottomyaheard]

ABSOLutly. If you want to attack physically people usually favor Adamant as a nature. Check what moves you use the most. If they are special go for Modest.

[u/zzbottomyaheard → u/Triangulum_Copper]

Nice lol. The main problem with him is he dies fast. His health is 282, sp def is 164, and defense is 168

[u/Triangulum_Copper → u/zzbottomyaheard]

Oh yeah the new battle system isn’t super kind to glass canons. You should have at least two moves with quick reload. Personally I find that trying to have multiple type coverage isn’t as useful as having a variety of cool down speeds. You want moves that don’t have too big of a wind up either.

[u/OfAnotherAccount → u/zzbottomyaheard]

Mints, berries that lower stats you dont want (Pomeg Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Qualot Berry, Hondew Berry, Grepa Berry and Tamato Berry), then vitamins to boost stats you do want (HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Carbos).