|
-
Synchronize
- When afflicted with status, the enemy is afflicted also. Can pass nature to wild Pokemon.
-
Early Bird
- Reduces sleep time.
-
Magic Bounce
- Bounces back certain non-damaging moves.
|
Level 5 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
40
|
- |
20 |
23 |
- |
| Atk |
50
|
9 |
11 |
14 |
15 |
| Def |
45
|
9 |
11 |
14 |
15 |
| SpA |
70
|
11 |
13 |
16 |
17 |
| SpD |
45
|
9 |
11 |
14 |
15 |
| Spe |
70
|
11 |
13 |
16 |
17 |
Overview
Natu is a peculiar little Pokemon that has a very unique niche in the NU metagame. Before BW came around, Natu was never used, even in the NeverUsed tier itself. This was mainly because of two reasons: it had terrible stats, and was infinitely outclassed by virtually every Psychic-type in the tier. However, Natu has received two gifts from the fifth generation that has changed it forever: the addition of the item Eviolite, and the ability Magic Bounce from the Dream World. Magic Bounce reflects almost every support move in existence, meaning Natu is immune to status moves, most phazing attempts, and Taunt. This allows Natu to easily set up whatever it wants to, which is especially useful as it has a ton of great support options. It also sports instant recovery in the form of Roost, meaning that it won't go down after a few hits. Despite its naturally low defenses, with Eviolite equipped, Natu becomes quite the sturdy little bird. Thanks to the combination of Eviolite and Magic Bounce, Natu makes a great support Pokemon for nearly any team.
Natu is one of the best dual screeners in NU as it cannot be Taunted, thanks to Magic Bounce. Reflect and Light Screen are mandatory on a dual screen set, as they give teammates an easier time setting up. The third moveslot is dependent on your team's needs; Roost provides instant recovery, and allows Natu to outstall certain moves with low PP, such as Stone Edge. Toxic wears down walls slowly, while Thunder Wave cripples any faster sweepers, making them easy pickings for the rest of your team. U-turn is used for its utility; Natu can simply U-turn out to the appropriate teammate once Reflect and Light Screen have been set up.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Teammates who appreciate Stealth Rock and other entry hazards off the field, such as Butterfree, Rotom-S, and Swellow, can easily take advantage of the absence of entry hazards for an easier sweep. Although Magic Bounce allows Natu to reflect virtually any non-attacking move, it cannot just switch in willy-nilly to users of entry hazards, as many of them can severely damage Natu with a super effective attack. For example, Pokemon such as Regirock, Golem and Armaldo can clip Natu's wings with a super effective Rock-type attack. Even with Eviolite, Natu is still somewhat frail, and will not survive powerful super effective attacks. Because of this, fast, hard-hitting teammates such as Choice Scarf Sawk that can get rid of opponents that utilize Ice-, Electric-, Dark-, and Rock-type attacks are quite useful. A faster EV spread is viable, as Natu has a respectable base 70 Speed, but because its defenses are already so low, it is best to fully invest in Defense and HP in order to make the best use of Eviolite.
Other Options
Natu has a variety of support options such as Haze, Trick Room, FeatherDance, Trick, Sunny Day, and Rain Dance, but most of these options can be used better by other Pokemon. With Natu's decent Speed and Special Attack, as well as Magic Bounce, which allows it to set up uninterrupted, a Calm Mind set is feasible, but unfortunately, it is majorly outclassed by numerous other Psychic-types in the tier, who sport higher offenses and bulk. Grass Knot can be used to deal heavy damage to Pokemon such as Regirock and Golem, both of whom possess super effective STAB moves that can knock the poor little psychic bird right out of the sky.
Checks and Counters
Since Natu rarely runs any attacking moves, it can be setup bait for Pokemon such as Samurott and most Pokemon that run Substitute. Depending on Natu's moveset, certain Pokemon can wall it all day long, as Steel- and Poison-types aren't affected by Toxic, while Ground-types are immune to Thunder Wave. Strong, super effective, special attacks such as Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Shadow Ball can ruin Natu's day—especially if they are backed by STAB. Even with Eviolite, Natu's defenses are still rather low, which means that powerful Pursuits from the likes of Skuntank can easily destroy it. VoltTurn teams can also annoy Natu to no end, as it is weak to Volt Switch and is only neutral to U-turn. Although Natu's ability allows it to reflect any entry hazards, the most common users of entry hazards, such as Golem and Regirock, can easily take Natu down with super effective STAB moves.
