In Sword & Shield, Nidorina isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Nidoqueen to unlock its full potential. At 365 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

What is Nidorina weak to?

In Sword & Shield, Nidorina's biggest threats include Golem (Ground) and Starmie (Psychic), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

How do you evolve Nidorina?

In Sword & Shield, Nidoran F evolves into Nidorina at level 16. Nidorina evolves into Nidoqueen using a Moon Stone. Nidorina is a middle-stage evolution in the Nidoran F line.

What is the best ability for Nidorina?

Poison Point is the go-to ability for Nidorina. It has a 30% chance of poisoning attacking Pokémon on contact. Its hidden ability Hustle can work in specific setups. Rivalry is the other option. Pick based on what your team needs.

What role does Nidorina play in battle?

In Sword & Shield, Nidorina fills the balanced role. It's leaning toward the physical side (base 62 Attack). At base 56 Speed, it won't be moving first often.

Nidorina - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Utility

Balanced

DTier

56Speed · Slow

Stats & Training

Nidorina's stats barely vary. None sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 2 HP EVs, 1.06M XP medium-slow curve to max.

Base Stats

Avg

HP70

Attack62

Defense67

Sp. Atk55

Sp. Def55

Speed56

Total365

Details

Catch Rate

Moderate120 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Slow1.06M XP

Height0.8 m

Weight20.0 kg

Base XP128

Abilities

Poison Point

Has a 30% chance of poisoning attacking Pokémon on contact.

Rivalry

Increases damage inflicted to 1.25× against Pokémon of the same gender, but decreases damage to 0.75× against the opposite gender.

HustleHA

Strengthens physical moves to inflict 1.5× damage, but decreases their accuracy to 0.8×.

EV Yield

HP+2AtkDefSpASpDSpe

HP training target

Pokedex Entries

The horn on its head has atrophied. It’s thought that this happens so Nidorina’s children won’t get poked while their mother is feeding them.

Nidorina Weakness

Type-wise, Nidorina takes extra damage from Ground and Psychic. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

Nidorina Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Ground, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)	Grass, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Fairy

Type ChartGood

2Weak

5Resist

0Immune

Score+1

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Ground Psychic

½xResist

Grass Fighting Poison Bug Fairy

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (2)

Grass Fairy

How to Beat Nidorina in Sword & Shield (Best Counters)

In Sword & Shield, Hatterene can KO Nidorina with Psychic (193-227%). Garchomp threatens a KO with Earthquake (162-191%). Krookodile's Earthquake also KOs at 142-168%.

Hatterene PsychicFairy	A
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Bounce ItemLeftovers NatureQuiet Moves Dazzling Gleam Trick Room PsychicSTAB ProtectPriority Damage vs Nidorina Dazzling Gleam 43-50% Psychic 2x 193-227%KO View Hatterene builds →
Garchomp DragonGround	A
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Swords Dance Scale Shot Stealth Rock Damage vs Nidorina Earthquake 2x 162-191%KO View Garchomp builds →
Krookodile GroundDark	B
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Knock Off Stealth Rock TauntUtility Damage vs Nidorina Earthquake 2x 142-168%KO Knock Off 46-54% View Krookodile builds →
Alakazam Psychic	B
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemFocus Sash NatureModest Moves Dazzling Gleam PsyshockSTAB Expanding Force Focus Blast Damage vs Nidorina Dazzling Gleam 28-33% Psyshock 2x 170-201%KO Focus Blast 42-50% View Alakazam builds →

Sword & Shield Evolution

This Poison-type links Nidoran♀ (female) to Nidoqueen. Nidorina has 365 stats but sits in the Undiscovered egg group. HP has grown the most so far (+15), but there's still another 140 stats to gain in the final evolution. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms

#029Nidoran♀ (female)

Level 16

#030Nidorina

Moon Stone

#031Nidoqueen

Stat Comparison 3 Stages

Nidoran♀ (female)

Poison

Nidorina

Poison

Nidoqueen

PoisonGround

70+15

90+20

ATK

62+15

92+30

DEF

67+15

87+20

SP.ATK

55+15

75+20

SP.DEF

55+15

85+30

SPE

56+15

76+20

BST

275D-Tier

365D-Tier+90

505C-Tier+140

ROLE

Balanced

TYPE

Utility

Mixed

Breeding

Unavailable

Undiscovered egg group

Sword & Shield Nidorina Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Moves

TMs define Nidorina's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Sludge Bomb and Poison Jab, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it coverage across 8 types. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Growl

——10040Normal

Lv 1

Poison Sting

—1510035Poison

Lv 1

Scratch

—4010035Normal

Lv 1

Tail Whip

——10030Normal

Lv 15

Fury Swipes

—188015Normal

Lv 22

Toxic Spikes

C——20Poison

Lv 29

Double Kick

D3010030Fighting

Lv 36

Bite

D6010025Dark

Lv 43

Helping Hand+5

C——20Normal

Lv 50

Toxic

C—9010Poison

Lv 57

Flatter

D—10015Dark

Lv 64

Crunch

D8010015Dark

Lv 71

Earth Power

D9010010Ground

TM Moves

TM31

Attract

C—10015Normal

TM37

Beat Up

D—10010Dark

TR06

Blizzard

D110705Ice

TR01

Body Slam

D8510015Normal

TM29

Charm

C—10020Fairy

TR32

Crunch

D8010015Dark

TM15

Dig

D8010010Ground

TR67

Earth Power

D9010010Ground

TR26

Endure+4

C——10Normal

TM39

Facade

D7010020Normal

TR13

Focus Energy

C——30Normal

TM41

Helping Hand+5

C——20Normal

TR05

Ice Beam

D9010010Ice

TR31

Iron Tail

D1007515Steel

TR57

Poison Jab

C8010020Poison

TM25

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM33

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM21

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM76

Round

D6010015Normal

TM65

Shadow Claw

D7010015Ghost

TR27

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TR22

Sludge Bomb

C9010010Poison

TM24

Snore

—5010015Normal

TM98

Stomping Tantrum

D7510010Ground

TR20

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM34

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM23

Thief

D6010025Dark

TR09

Thunder

D1107010Electric

TR08

Thunderbolt

D9010015Electric

TR54

Toxic Spikes

C——20Poison

TR91

Venom Drench

——10020Poison

TM74

Venoshock

D6510010Poison

Egg Moves

Nidorina doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Nidorina can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Nidorina in Sword & Shield

No wild encounters for Nidorina. The 2-stage line runs through Nidoran♀ (female), which you can catch at solid rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 16 once you've got the levels.

How to Obtain Nidorina in Sword & Shield

To get Nidorina, start by catching Nidoran♀ (female) through walking encounters at Lv. 60-65. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.

Step 1Catch Nidoran♀ (female)
Old Cemetery
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
35%Post
Normal Weather
Old Cemetery
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
35%Post
Normal Weather
Giant's Bed
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
26%Post
Overcast
Giant's Bed
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
26%Post
Normal Weather
Giant's Bed
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
26%Post
Thunderstorm
Giant's Bed
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
26%Post
Snowing
Giant's Bed
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
26%Post
Raining
Old Cemetery
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
25%Post
Intense Sun
Old Cemetery
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
25%Post
Intense Sun
Old Cemetery
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
25%Post
Raining
Old Cemetery
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
25%Post
Raining
Giant's Bed
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
24%Post
Snowstorm
Giant's Bed
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
24%Post
Intense Sun
Giant's Bed
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
22%Post
Heavy Fog
Old Cemetery
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
22%Post
Heavy Fog
Giant's Bed
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
21%Post
Overcast
Giant's Bed
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
21%Post
Normal Weather
Giant's Bed
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
21%Post
Thunderstorm
Giant's Bed
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
21%Post
Snowing
Giant's Bed
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
21%Post
Raining
Giant's Bed
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Normal Weather
Giant's Bed
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Normal Weather
Giant's Bed
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Snowstorm
Giant's Bed
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Snowstorm
Giant's Bed
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Snowing
Giant's Bed
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Snowing
Giant's Bed
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Raining
Giant's Bed
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Raining
Giant's Bed
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Heavy Fog
Giant's Bed
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Heavy Fog
Giant's Bed
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Overcast
Giant's Bed
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Overcast
Old Cemetery
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
20%Post
Thunderstorm
Old Cemetery
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
20%Post
Thunderstorm
Old Cemetery
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
20%Post
Snowing
Old Cemetery
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
20%Post
Snowing
Old Cemetery
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Normal Weather
Old Cemetery
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
20%Post
Normal Weather
Old Cemetery
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
20%Post
Overcast
Old Cemetery
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
20%Post
Overcast
Old Cemetery
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
20%Post
Snowstorm
Old Cemetery
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
20%Post
Snowstorm
Giant's Bed
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
19%Post
Snowstorm
Giant's Bed
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
19%Post
Intense Sun
Giant's Bed
SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
17%Post
Heavy Fog
Old Cemetery
ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
17%Post
Heavy Fog
Giant's Bed
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Thunderstorm
Giant's Bed
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Thunderstorm
Giant's Bed
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Intense Sun
Giant's Bed
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Intense Sun
Old Cemetery
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Intense Sun
Old Cemetery
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Intense Sun
Old Cemetery
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Snowing
Old Cemetery
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Snowing
Old Cemetery
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Raining
Old Cemetery
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Raining
Old Cemetery
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Heavy Fog
Old Cemetery
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Heavy Fog
Old Cemetery
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Overcast
Old Cemetery
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Overcast
Old Cemetery
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Snowstorm
Old Cemetery
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
16%Post
Snowstorm
Old Cemetery
SwordGrass Lv.60-65
14%Post
Thunderstorm
Old Cemetery
ShieldGrass Lv.60-65
14%Post
Thunderstorm
Train until Level 16
Step 2Nidorina ✓

Nidorina Guide

In Sword & Shield, Nidorina isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Nidoqueen to unlock its full potential. At 365 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
In Sword & Shield, Nidorina's biggest threats include Golem (Ground) and Starmie (Psychic), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
In Sword & Shield, Nidoran F evolves into Nidorina at level 16. Nidorina evolves into Nidoqueen using a Moon Stone. Nidorina is a middle-stage evolution in the Nidoran F line.
Poison Point is the go-to ability for Nidorina. It has a 30% chance of poisoning attacking Pokémon on contact. Its hidden ability Hustle can work in specific setups. Rivalry is the other option. Pick based on what your team needs.
In Sword & Shield, Nidorina fills the balanced role. It's leaning toward the physical side (base 62 Attack). At base 56 Speed, it won't be moving first often.

Game Availability

Nidorina has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 19 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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