How to Soft Reset for the Best Nature and IVs

Soft reset by saving before an unrepeatable event or Legendary Pokemon encounter then restarting your game if you didn't get a favorable Nature. Read on to learn when to soft reset and how to reroll for the best Nature and IVs in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP).

How to Soft Reset

Save Before Unrepeatable Event

Before encountering unrepeatable one-time events where there's a possibility of obtaining a Pokemon, make sure to save the game, so that you can restart back to your save point if you later don't find the stats of the Pokemon favorable.

How to Save Your Game

Check Pokemon Stats

After continuing with game progression past the save point, check the stats of the new Pokemon you've obtained. Make sure to check its Nature in the Summary page of each Pokemon in your party menu or in boxes.

How to Check Natures

Check IVs via Judge Function in post game

In the post game, you can unlock the ability to check IVs of your Pokemon via the Judge Function at the Battle Tower. Talk to the man beside the east wall of the room near the PC. After talking to him, the Judge Function will become available in your Pokemon Boxes.

How to Check IVs

Restart Without Saving if Unfavorable

If you find that the Nature or IVs of your Pokemon are unfavorable, then you may simply turn off the game then restart it to appear back where you originally saved. You reset the Pokemon's IVs and Nature when you re-encounter it in the new save.

If you prefer the stats after the reset, you can continue playing and enjoy your new Pokemon. If not, you can turn off the game again and repeat the process until you get favorable stats.

Reasons to Soft Reset

For Best Nature and IVs

Players reroll in order to get Natures that don't nerf stats that the Pokemon needs. Additionally, players want to get the most IVs as possible for their Pokemon, which adds onto the Pokemon's base stats, in order to attain the highest stats possible for their Pokemon ("perfect IVs"). Natures and IVs are randomly generated per Pokemon encounter.

This is mostly for online battles against other players, as you don't need high IVs or even the best nature to beat the story.

How to Battle Online

Generally, avoid Natures which decrease Speed

Having a Nature which hurts a Pokemon's Speed is unadvisable in any situation. Generally, it's best to avoid having a Pokemon with any of the above Natures.

When to Soft Reset

Before Choosing Starter Pokemon

Save before entering Lake Verity at the start of the game in order to have the opportunity to reroll for the best starter Pokemon.

Recommended Nature for Each Starter

Recommended Nature
Turtwig Adamant	Chimchar Modest	Piplup Adamant

For physical attackers Turtwig and Chimchar, we recommend the Adamant nature as it boosts their Attack while lowering their Sp. Attack. Piplup on the other hand is a Special attacker, making Modest the best nature for it, as it increases its Sp. Attack while decreasing its Attack.

Before Catching Legendaries

There is only 1 of each legendary Pokemon in each save file and they appear in the overworld before you battle and catch them, so you'll definitely want to save before battling them for a chance at rerolling.

Sinnoh Legendary Pokemon

Pokemon	Location	Recommended Nature
Dialga	Spear Pillar (Brilliant Diamond only)	・Modest to increase Dialga's mostly special attacks ・Bold to strengthen Defense from physical attacks
Palkia	Spear Pillar (Shining Pearl only)	・Modest to increase Palkia's mostly special attacks
Mesprit	Lake Verity	・Timid, which allows Mesprit to be a fast support Pokemon
Uxie	Lake Acuity	・Modest, as Uxie's offense isn't great and it has mostly special attacks
Azelf	Lake Valor	・Calm, as Azelf's Special Defense isn't great and it's unlikely to utilize its Physical attack
Cresselia	Fullmoon Island	・Bold or Calm, to improve Cresselia's tankiness against either physical or special attacks
Heatran	Stark Mountain	・Timid, as Heatran is a bit slow and only hasone physical Steel-type STAB attack
Regigigas	Snowpoint Temple (Player needs Regirock, Registeel, and Regice in party)	・Adamant since Regigigas' learnset focuses on physical attacks
Giratina (Altered Forme)	Turnback Cave	・Adamant to lean into Giratina's physical attacks ・Modest to lean into Giratina's special attacks
Manaphy	As Mystery Gift	・Modest or Timid as Manaphy is an excellent special attacker
Phione	From an Egg after breeding Manaphy and Ditto	・Modest or Timid as Phione is an excellent special attacker

Unrepeatable One-time Events

Ramanas Park and Other Legendary Pokemon

Pokemon	Recommended Nature
Articuno (Shining Pearl only)	・Timid to increase its Speed ・Careful to maximize its high Special Defense stat
Zapdos (Shining Pearl only)	・Modest or Timid as Zapdos is an excellent special attacker
Moltres (Shining Pearl only)	・Modest or Timid as Moltres is an excellent special attacker
Mewtwo	・Modest or Timid to maximize Mewtwo's beastly Special Attack or Speed stat
Mew	・Mew's stats allow it to fit any attacker role, but for offensive strategies let it have either Jolly or Timid Natures
Entei (Brilliant Diamond only)	・Adamant or Jolly to increase potential in being a physical attacker

How to Restart

Delete Save Data

To restart your game from the very beginning, you have to delete your save data. If you're in the middle of the game, quit (with or without saving), then go to System Settings. From there, go to Data Management, then select Delete Save Data and either Pokemon Brilliant Diamond or Pokemon Shining Pearl (depending on the game you're playing).

How to Delete Save Data

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Training and Breeding