In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Mints are primarily used to adjust how a Pokémon's Nature affects its stat growth. Choosing the wrong Mint doesn’t just slow progress — it can make otherwise strong Pokémon feel inconsistent or underpowered in real battles. While most Mints follow the same basic rule—boosting one stat while lowering another—their value depends heavily on how a Pokémon is built and what role it plays in battle. 

 

This page focuses specifically on which Mints are considered "best" for each stat focus, helping players choose efficiently instead of guessing.

 

 

Understanding What Makes a Mint "Best"

There is no universally optimal Mint.

A Mint is considered "best" only when:

The boosted stat directly benefits the Pokémon's main role

The lowered stat is rarely or never used

The change improves consistency in battle, not just raw numbers

For most players, the “best” Mint is the one that delivers the most reliable performance with the least decision-making during combat.

With that in mind, the sections below group the best-performing Mints by stat priority, which aligns with how most players evaluate Pokémon builds.

 

Best Speed Mints

Speed-focused Mints are commonly used on Pokémon that rely on acting first, either to secure knockouts or apply pressure before taking damage.

 

Recommended Speed Mints

- Timid Mint – Increases Speed, lowers Attack

- Jolly Mint – Increases Speed, lowers Sp. Atk

- Hasty Mint – Increases Speed, lowers Defense

- Naive Mint – Increases Speed, lowers Sp. Def

 

Why these work

Speed-oriented Pokémon usually specialize in either physical or special damage, making one offensive stat expendable. These Mints allow Speed to scale without sacrificing a Pokémon’s primary damage output.

In practice, Timid and Jolly are considered the safest default Speed Mints, as they boost Speed without compromising the Pokémon’s primary damage output.

 

Best Attack Mints (Physical-Focused)

Physical attackers benefit most from maximizing Attack while minimizing investment in unused stats.

 

Recommended Attack Mints

- Adamant Mint – Increases Attack, lowers Sp. Atk

- Lonely Mint – Increases Attack, lowers Defense

- Naughty Mint – Increases Attack, lowers Sp. Def

- Brave Mint – Increases Attack, lowers Speed

 

Usage notes

Adamant is generally preferred for its stability and lack of meaningful drawbacks. Brave is situational but effective on slower Pokémon that do not rely on Speed to function.

Among all Attack-focused options, Adamant remains the most commonly used Mint for physical attackers due to its reliability and straightforward stat trade-off.

 

Best Special Attack Mints

Special attackers typically do not rely on physical moves, making them ideal candidates for focused Special Attack growth.

 

Recommended Special Attack Mints

- Modest Mint – Increases Sp. Atk, lowers Attack

- Mild Mint – Increases Sp. Atk, lowers Defense

- Rash Mint – Increases Sp. Atk, lowers Sp. Def

- Quiet Mint – Increases Sp. Atk, lowers Speed

 

Usage notes

Modest is the most efficient option in most scenarios, offering strong damage gains with minimal downside. Quiet is mainly used on slower builds where Speed is not a priority.

For players optimizing damage without overthinking stat trade-offs, Modest is the go-to choice for the majority of special attackers.

 

Best Defense Mints (Physical Defense)

Defense-focused Mints are commonly applied to tank or support Pokémon expected to absorb repeated physical hits.

 

Recommended Defense Mints

- Bold Mint – Increases Defense, lowers Attack

- Impish Mint – Increases Defense, lowers Sp. Atk

- Lax Mint – Increases Defense, lowers Sp. Def

- Relaxed Mint – Increases Defense, lowers Speed

 

Usage notes

Bold is favored for non-attacking walls, while Impish fits defensive Pokémon that still apply physical pressure.

Defensive builds that prioritize survivability over damage tend to perform most consistently with Bold or Impish, depending on whether physical attacks remain part of the moveset.

 

Best Special Defense Mints

Special Defense Mints improve survivability against special attackers and elemental damage.

 

Recommended Special Defense Mints

- Calm Mint – Increases Sp. Def, lowers Attack

- Careful Mint – Increases Sp. Def, lowers Sp. Atk

- Gentle Mint – Increases Sp. Def, lowers Defense

- Sassy Mint – Increases Sp. Def, lowers Speed

 

Usage notes

Calm and Careful are widely favored for defensive builds because they preserve offensive relevance while improving survivability.

 

Is Serious Mint Ever the Best Choice?

Serious Mint does not modify stat growth and keeps all stats balanced.

While it can be useful early on or for experimentation, Serious Mint is rarely a competitive choice once players begin optimizing Pokémon for tougher encounters. Specialized Mints almost always provide better results.

 

How to Choose the Best Mint for Your Pokémon

When deciding which Mint to use, ask yourself three questions:

1. Does the boosted stat directly support its main function?

2. Is the lowered stat unnecessary for its moveset?

3. Will the change improve consistency across battles?

If a Mint clearly strengthens what the Pokémon already does best while removing an irrelevant stat, it is almost always worth using.

 

Where to Get These Mints

All of the Mints mentioned above can be purchased from Mint Stalls in Lumiose City.

For players actively optimizing multiple Pokémon, having quick access to the correct Mint saves significant time compared to fixing suboptimal builds later.

For stall locations, prices, and a complete breakdown of every Mint effect, see the full Mint locations and usage guide.

 

Summary

In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the “best” Mint is defined by efficiency, not rarity.

• Speed-focused Pokémon perform most reliably with Timid or Jolly

• Physical attackers overwhelmingly favor Adamant

• Special attackers are best served by Modest

• Defensive builds typically rely on Bold or Calm, depending on damage type

Understanding how each Mint aligns with a Pokémon’s role is the key to long-term performance. Choosing the right Mint early ensures smoother progression and more consistent results in every battle.