Ekans and Arbok are both beloved members of the original 151 Pokémon. While fans may remember them fondly on Team Rocket teams, or through the anime, they are very difficult to use in battle. None of Arbok's base stats are over 100, making it hard to compete with stronger Pokémon. That being said, there are still ways to make this Pokémon work, especially with the right nature.
Which is the best nature for Ekans and Arbok in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?
The best natures for Ekans and Arbok in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are as follows:
- Impish (+ Defense, -Sp. Atk)
- Adamant (+ Attack, - Sp. Atk)
There are two general philosophies with Arbok; either make it an all-out attacker or use Coil to boost its defenses. I would recommend the latter, since Arbok can use the Intimidate ability to lower the opponent's Attack stat.
Arbok doesn't come with the highest Defense stat (69 at base). By stacking enough Defensive boosts onto it through abilities, held items, and the Impish nature, it can become a decent Physical wall. As a Poison-type Pokémon, Arbok also gets access to Toxic, allowing it to get KO's by inflicting a status effect.
Related: Best Nature for Squawkabilly in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
As for offensive Arbok, the only real way for it to get kills is to abuse Coil. This move boosts Arbok's Defense and Attack at the same time. At 80 speed, Arbok can't outspeed much, so it's better to make it a tank that can take a hit and fire back. This is why Impish is preferred for Coil Arbok.
How to select natures in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Selecting a Pokémon's nature is all about determining its role. Some Pokémon are more offensive (Chi Yu, Baxcalibur), while others are more defensive (Toxapex, Corviknight). As a result, some natures work better on certain Pokémon than others.
Of course, all natures hinder a stat as well as buffing another. It's best to hinder a stat that the Pokémon won't be using. In Arbok's case, it's fine to downgrade its Special Attack, since it's a physical attacker anyways. This minimizes the cost to Arbok's overall base stat total.
Ultimate Nature Chart for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
| Nature | Increased Stat | Decreased Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Lonely | Attack | Defense |
| Adamant | Attack | Special Attack |
| Naughty | Attack | Special Defense |
| Brave | Attack | Speed |
| Bold | Defense | Attack |
| Impish | Defense | Special Attack |
| Lax | Defense | Special Defense |
| Relaxed | Defense | Speed |
| Modest | Special Attack | Attack |
| Mild | Special Attack | Defense |
| Rash | Special Attack | Special Defense |
| Quiet | Special Attack | Speed |
| Calm | Special Defense | Attack |
| Gentle | Special Defense | Defense |
| Careful | Special Defense | Special Attack |
| Sassy | Special Defense | Speed |
| Timid | Speed | Attack |
| Hasty | Speed | Defense |
| Jolly | Speed | Special Attack |
| Naive | Speed | Special Defense |
| Hardy | - | - |
| Docile | - | - |
| Bashful | - | - |
| Quirky | - | - |
| Serious | - | - |
Want more Pokémon Scarlet & Violet guides? Pro Game Guides has you covered with Best nature for Vulpix and Ninetails in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.
Published: Sep 13, 2023 04:39 pm