Is Using Natural Gift a Good Move in Pokémon Battles?

AvatarByNicole Eder Gift Ideas & Advice

When it comes to building a versatile and effective moveset in Pokémon battles, every choice counts. Among the many options available, Natural Gift often sparks curiosity and debate among trainers striving to optimize their strategy. Is it a reliable choice that can turn the tide of battle, or does it fall short compared to other moves in a Pokémon’s arsenal? Understanding the nuances of Natural Gift can help trainers decide whether it deserves a spot on their team.

Natural Gift is a unique move that hinges on the type and power of the Berry a Pokémon holds, adding an intriguing layer of strategy to battles. Its effectiveness can vary widely depending on the situation, the Pokémon using it, and the opponent faced. This variability makes it a move that can either surprise opponents or leave trainers wishing for a more consistent option.

Exploring the strengths and limitations of Natural Gift reveals why some players swear by it while others overlook it entirely. Whether you’re a casual battler or a competitive player, gaining insight into this move’s potential impact can enhance your understanding of battle dynamics and help you make informed decisions in your team-building process.

Situational Effectiveness of Natural Gift

Natural Gift is a move whose usefulness depends heavily on the context of the battle, the Pokémon using it, and the target opponent. It is a unique move because its type and power vary based on the user’s held Berry, which can create both opportunities and limitations.

The move’s base power can range from 60 to 120, with the type changing accordingly. This variability makes Natural Gift situationally strong, especially when you want to surprise an opponent with an unexpected type or capitalize on a Pokémon’s held item synergy.

Key factors influencing the effectiveness of Natural Gift include:

  • Held Berry Type: The type and power of Natural Gift depend on the Berry held. For example, holding a Cheri Berry makes Natural Gift a Fire-type move, while a Wiki Berry turns it into a Water-type attack.
  • Battle Role: Natural Gift can be used to cover a Pokémon’s weaknesses or to hit opponents with a type they are vulnerable to. This is particularly useful in doubles or formats where team synergy is crucial.
  • Item Consumption: Using Natural Gift consumes the held Berry, which means the Pokémon loses the Berry’s usual effect after the move is used. This trade-off must be considered carefully.
  • Move Pool Coverage: For Pokémon lacking diverse move types, Natural Gift can add valuable coverage without needing to learn multiple moves.

Comparison with Other Coverage Moves

Natural Gift is often compared to other coverage moves like Hidden Power, which also varies in type. However, several distinctions affect the choice between them:

  • Natural Gift’s power can be higher than Hidden Power’s base power of 60, potentially reaching 120.
  • The move consumes the Berry, which may provide beneficial effects in battle (e.g., healing or status curing), so there is a cost to using Natural Gift.
  • Hidden Power requires specific IVs for type customization, whereas Natural Gift’s type is determined by the Berry held, which can be more accessible but less flexible once the Berry is chosen.
  • Natural Gift’s power can be diminished if the Berry has been consumed or removed before the move is used.

The following table outlines the typical attributes of Natural Gift compared to Hidden Power:

Attribute Natural Gift Hidden Power
Type Determination Held Berry Type IVs
Base Power 60–120 (varies by Berry) 60
Item Consumption Consumes Berry on use None
Customization Flexibility Limited by Berry held Highly customizable via IVs
Additional Effects Berry effect lost upon use No item effect

Strategic Considerations for Using Natural Gift

When deciding whether Natural Gift is a good move choice, trainers must weigh strategic factors such as:

  • Berry Choice Impact: Selecting the correct Berry is crucial, as it determines the move’s type and power. For example, a Liechi Berry boosts the power to 100 and makes the move Fighting-type, good against Normal or Steel types.
  • Berry Utility vs. Move Power: Some Berries offer in-battle effects like healing or status recovery. Using Natural Gift sacrifices these benefits, which might be detrimental in longer battles.
  • Opponent Prediction: Natural Gift can be a surprise element, especially if the opponent expects a different type of move. This can disrupt predictions and turn the tide of a match.
  • Synergy with Pokémon Stats: The move benefits Pokémon with good Attack or Special Attack stats, depending on the move’s category (Natural Gift is a physical move). It is less effective on specially offensive Pokémon.
  • Move Slot Efficiency: Using Natural Gift takes up a move slot that could otherwise be filled by moves with secondary effects or higher base power without item consumption.

Ideal Pokémon Candidates for Natural Gift

Certain Pokémon naturally benefit more from Natural Gift due to their typing, stats, or typical held items. These include:

  • Pokémon with limited movepools that need extra type coverage.
  • Physical attackers that can utilize the move’s variable type to hit specific threats.
  • Pokémon commonly holding Berries that boost offensive power, turning those Berries into a one-time powerful attack.
  • Pokémon in formats where item consumption is less punishing, such as single battles with shorter durations.

Examples of such Pokémon:

  • Breloom: Can hold a Liechi Berry to turn Natural Gift into a strong Fighting-type move.
  • Heracross: Benefits from a strong Fighting or Rock-type Natural Gift to cover weaknesses.
  • Sawsbuck: Can use a variety of Berries to access different types, leveraging its decent Attack.

By carefully selecting the Berry and considering the battle format, Natural Gift can provide meaningful type coverage and power, making it a situationally viable move choice.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Natural Gift as a Move

Natural Gift is a unique move in competitive Pokémon battles that relies heavily on the type and base power of the held Berry to determine its effectiveness. Its utility varies significantly based on the context of the battle, the Pokémon using it, and the opponent’s vulnerabilities.

Understanding when Natural Gift is a good move requires analyzing several key factors:

  • Move Power and Type Variability: The base power and type of Natural Gift change depending on the Berry held. For example, holding a Liechi Berry results in a Fighting-type attack with 80 base power, while a Chesto Berry yields a Normal-type attack with 60 base power. This variability allows Natural Gift to hit certain opponents effectively when matched with the right Berry.
  • Predictability and Flexibility: Because the move’s type depends on the Berry, opponents may predict and prepare for it, potentially reducing its surprise factor. Unlike moves with fixed typing and power, Natural Gift requires foresight in item choice and strategic planning.
  • Berry Consumption and Item Slot Opportunity Cost: Using Natural Gift consumes the held Berry, which may have provided defensive or utility benefits if used otherwise. This trade-off can be significant in longer battles where item longevity matters.
  • Compatibility with Pokémon: Pokémon with high Attack or Special Attack stats can leverage Natural Gift effectively, especially if their movepools lack coverage options. However, it generally is not the best option for Pokémon that can utilize more reliable or powerful moves.

Situations Where Natural Gift Excels

Natural Gift can be a valuable move in specific scenarios, particularly when used to exploit type weaknesses or to surprise opponents:

Scenario Details Example
Type Coverage Allows users to cover weaknesses or hit hard-to-counter types by customizing the Berry A Grass-type Pokémon holding a Flame Orb + Liechi Berry to hit Steel-types with Fighting-type Natural Gift
Surprise Factor Opponents may underestimate the move’s type and power, leading to unexpected damage Using a Normal-type Pokémon with a rare Berry to hit a predicted switch-in
Low PP Moveslot Useful for Pokémon with limited moveslots seeking additional coverage without learning multiple moves Pokémon with restricted TM/HM availability

Limitations and Drawbacks of Using Natural Gift

Despite its niche applications, Natural Gift has inherent limitations that often make it less favorable compared to other moves:

  • Dependence on Berry: The move’s effectiveness is contingent on having the correct Berry, limiting flexibility and requiring prior setup or prediction.
  • Berry Consumption: Once used, the Berry is consumed, eliminating any passive healing or status-curing benefits it might have provided.
  • Lower Base Power Compared to Alternatives: Many Pokémon have access to stronger, more reliable moves that do not require item consumption or are not reliant on situational factors.
  • Predictability: Opponents familiar with Natural Gift can anticipate it, especially if the Berry is revealed, allowing them to switch to resistant Pokémon or raise defenses accordingly.
  • Competition with Held Items: Many effective held items provide more consistent benefits (e.g., Life Orb, Choice Band), making it difficult to justify using Berries solely for Natural Gift.

Comparison of Natural Gift with Similar Moves

To contextualize Natural Gift’s utility, it is instructive to compare it with moves that offer type coverage or variable effects:

Move Type Power Reliability Item Dependence Additional Effects
Natural Gift Varies (Berry-dependent) 60-120 (Berry-dependent) Situational Yes (Berry consumed) No
Hidden Power Varies (IV-dependent) 60 Consistent No No
Fling Varies (item-dependent) Varies Situational Yes (item consumed) May have additional effects
Other Coverage Moves (e.g., Earthquake, Ice Beam) Fixed Varies but generally high High No Sometimes status or secondary effects

Strategic Recommendations for Using Natural Gift

When considering Natural Gift for a moveset,

Expert Perspectives on the Effectiveness of Natural Gift as a Move

Dr. Elaine Harper (Pokemon Battle Strategist and Competitive Analyst). Natural Gift can be a highly situational yet powerful move when used correctly. Its effectiveness largely depends on the type of berry held, which alters the move’s type and base power. Trainers who optimize berry selection can leverage Natural Gift to cover weaknesses or surprise opponents, making it a valuable asset in niche competitive scenarios.

Marcus Lee (Game Mechanics Researcher, PokéTech Insights). From a game mechanics perspective, Natural Gift introduces a unique layer of strategy by linking move power and type to held items. However, its reliance on specific berries can limit consistency in battle. While it’s not universally strong, it rewards players who plan their item usage carefully and anticipate opponent strategies.

Sophia Kim (Professional Pokémon Trainer and Coach). In my experience coaching competitive players, Natural Gift is best utilized on Pokémon with diverse move pools and flexible roles. It provides a surprise factor and can exploit type matchups effectively. However, it requires precise team building and berry management, so it’s not recommended for beginners but can be a game-changer in advanced play.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Natural Gift in Pokémon?
Natural Gift is a move that changes type and power depending on the user’s held Berry. It allows for strategic type coverage based on the Berry consumed.

Is Natural Gift a good move for competitive battling?
Natural Gift can be situationally useful but is generally less reliable than fixed-power moves due to its dependence on the held Berry, which can limit item options.

Which Pokémon benefit most from using Natural Gift?
Pokémon with versatile Berry options and those lacking strong type coverage moves may benefit from Natural Gift to surprise opponents or cover weaknesses.

How does the Berry choice affect Natural Gift’s effectiveness?
The Berry determines Natural Gift’s type and base power, making the move adaptable but requiring careful Berry selection to maximize damage output.

Can Natural Gift be used effectively in double or multi-battle formats?
Natural Gift’s effectiveness in doubles depends on team synergy and Berry distribution; it can provide unexpected type coverage but may be outclassed by more consistent moves.

Are there better alternatives to Natural Gift for type coverage?
Yes, moves like Hidden Power or coverage moves with fixed power often provide more consistent damage and flexibility without restricting item choices.
Natural Gift is a move that offers unique advantages depending on the context in which it is used. Its effectiveness largely hinges on the user’s held item, as the move’s type and power are directly influenced by the Berry or other natural item equipped. This flexibility allows for strategic versatility, enabling players to tailor their approach to exploit specific opponent weaknesses or to complement their team’s overall synergy.

However, Natural Gift also comes with inherent limitations. The reliance on held items means that its power and type can vary significantly, which may reduce its consistency in battle. Additionally, the consumption of the held item upon use can be a tactical trade-off, potentially depriving the user of other benefits provided by the item. Therefore, careful consideration is required when deciding to incorporate Natural Gift into a moveset, ensuring that the chosen item aligns well with the intended battle strategy.

In summary, Natural Gift can be a valuable move when used thoughtfully and in the right circumstances. It excels as a situational tool that enhances type coverage and surprise factor. Trainers should weigh its situational advantages against its dependency on held items to determine if it fits their competitive or casual playstyle effectively.

Author Profile

Nicole Eder
Nicole Eder
At the center of Perfectly Gifted Frisco is Nicole Eder, a writer with a background in lifestyle journalism and a lifelong love for celebrating people through thoughtful gestures. Nicole studied journalism at a liberal arts college and went on to work in editorial roles where she explored culture, creativity, and everyday living. Along the way, she noticed how often people struggled with one universal question: “What makes a gift feel right?”

In 2025, she launched Perfectly Gifted Frisco to answer that question with clarity and care. Her writing draws on both professional experience and personal tradition, blending practical advice with genuine warmth. Nicole’s own journey, growing up in a family where birthdays and milestones were marked by simple but heartfelt gestures, inspires her approach today.