Stats & Training
Nothing fancy in Nincada's spread. It leans mixed with Defense out front. And you'll get 1 Defense EV per KO for it. Follows a standard growth curve.
NINCADA lives underground for many years in complete darkness. This POKéMON absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees. It stays motionless as it waits for evolution.
NINCADA lives underground. It uses its sharp claws to carve the roots of trees and absorb moisture and nutrients. This POKéMON can’t withstand bright sunlight so avoids it.
Nincada Weakness
Type-wise, Nincada takes extra damage from Fire, Water, Ice, and Flying. Electric moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. Nincada's physical bulk (base 90 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Water, Ice, Flying |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Poison, Ground |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
 Taillow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Taillow builds →Wing Attack 2x53-63% Peck 2x39-47% | ||
 Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Wingull builds →Wing Attack 2x39-47% Water Gun 2x74-87% | ||
 Torchic Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
 Surskit BugWater | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 102 Surfing | ||
 Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x139-166%KO Water Gun 2x66-79% | ||
Taillow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Taillow builds →Wing Attack 2x48-59% Peck 2x33-39% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Wingull builds →Wing Attack 2x37-46% Water Gun 2x65-78% | ||
Torchic Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Torchic builds →Ember 2x76-91% Peck 2x22-26% | ||
Surskit BugWater | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 102 Surfing | ||
 Zubat Poison | D | |
Taillow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Taillow builds →Wing Attack 2x52-61% Peck 2x31-39% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Wingull builds →Wing Attack 2x37-44% Water Gun 2x70-83% | ||
Zubat Poison | D | |
Torchic Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Torchic builds →Ember 2x80-94% Peck 2x20-26% | ||
Surskit BugWater | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 102 Surfing | ||
 Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Skarmory builds →Air Cutter 2x62-74% Peck 2x38-46% | ||
 Swellow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Swellow builds →Wing Attack 2x62-74% Peck 2x38-46% | ||
 Golbat Poison | D | |
 Swablu Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Swablu builds →Ice Beam 2x75-89% Peck 2x26-32% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Wingull builds →Ice Beam 2x91-108%KO Wing Attack 2x34-42% Water Gun 2x66-78% | ||
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Skarmory builds →Air Cutter 2x62-74% Peck 2x36-43% | ||
Swellow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Swellow builds →Wing Attack 2x65-78% Peck 2x41-48% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Swablu Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Swablu builds →Ice Beam 2x75-90% Peck 2x25-30% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Wingull builds →Ice Beam 2x93-110%KO Wing Attack 2x32-39% Water Gun 2x65-78% | ||
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x90-107%KO Air Cutter 2x62-74% Aerial Ace 2x62-74% Peck 2x38-45% | ||
 Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Tropius builds →Fly 2x79-95% Aerial Ace 2x55-66% Gust 2x38-45% | ||
Swellow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Swellow builds →Fly 2x93-111%KO Wing Attack 2x66-78% Aerial Ace 2x66-78% Peck 2x41-49% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 2x62-74% Aerial Ace 2x62-74% | ||
Swablu Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Swablu builds →Fly 2x55-66% Ice Beam 2x77-90% Aerial Ace 2x38-45% Peck 2x23-29% | ||
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x91-107%KO Air Cutter 2x61-72% Aerial Ace 2x61-72% Peck 2x38-45% | ||
 Dodrio Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Dodrio builds →Fly 2x117-138%KO Aerial Ace 2x78-93% Peck 2x46-55% | ||
 Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Xatu builds →Fly 2x87-103%KO Aerial Ace 2x59-69% Peck 2x34-41% | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Tropius builds →Fly 2x78-93% Aerial Ace 2x55-66% Gust 2x38-45% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 2x61-72% Air Cutter 2x61-72% Aerial Ace 2x61-72% | ||
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x91-108%KO Air Cutter 2x61-72% Aerial Ace 2x61-72% Peck 2x38-46% | ||
Dodrio Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Dodrio builds →Fly 2x116-137%KO Aerial Ace 2x77-91% Peck 2x47-55% | ||
Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Xatu builds →Fly 2x86-101%KO Aerial Ace 2x58-68% Peck 2x36-42% | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Tropius builds →Fly 2x79-95% Aerial Ace 2x55-65% Gust 2x38-46% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 2x61-72% Air Cutter 2x61-72% Aerial Ace 2x61-72% | ||
In Ruby & Sapphire, Charizard can KO Nincada with Fire Blast (385-454%). Regice's Ice Beam also KOs at 300-353%.
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemLeftovers NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Fire Blast 2x385-454%KO | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Gyarados builds →Earthquake31-37% | ||
 Regice Ice | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemLeftovers NatureQuiet Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Regice builds →Ice Beam 2x300-353%KO Explosion67-78% | ||
 Dragonite Dragon | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLeftovers NatureLonely Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Dragonite builds →Earthquake32-37% Ice Beam 2x168-198%KO | ||
Ruby & Sapphire Evolution
Nincada can evolve into Ninjask and Shedinja. Nincada sits before the split, so check the evolution methods below to pick your path. Evolving adds up to 190 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Nincada easily with 37 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Endure, Feint Attack, Gust and 1 more to offspring.
Ruby & Sapphire Nincada Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 3.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The egg pool carries weight here. Endure and Feint Attack aren't available any other way for Nincada, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Leech Life and Dig for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Ruby & Sapphire Nincada Locations
decent spawn rates for Nincada across 2 locations in early-game routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Best Locations to Catch Nincada in Ruby & Sapphire
Nincada Guide
In Ruby & Sapphire, For a casual playthrough, Nincada works as a placeholder. Bug/Ground coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Ninjask. That's where the stats start mattering.
Nincada is catchable in Ruby & Sapphire. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 13 other games across the series.
Game Availability
Debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Nincada appears in 14 games across 8 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through catching or hatching as a base form.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves