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.
Because it lived almost entirely underground, it is nearly blind. It uses its antennae instead.
It can sometimes live underground for more than 10 years. It absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees.
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 |
 Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Corviknight builds →Pluck 2x69-81% Peck 2x42-50% | ||
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
 Drifloon Ghost | D | |
 Woobat Psychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Woobat builds →Air Cutter 2x100-119%KO Gust 2x69-81% | ||
 Natu Psychic | D | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Corviknight builds →Pluck 2x63-75% Peck 2x39-48% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Butterfree builds →Air Slash 2x163-193%KO Gust 2x91-107%KO | ||
 Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Farfetch'd builds →Aerial Ace 2x68-80% Peck 2x39-48% | ||
Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Woobat Psychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Woobat builds →Air Cutter 2x95-113%KO Gust 2x63-75% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Corviknight builds →Pluck 2x65-77% Peck 2x40-48% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x98-116%KO Air Slash 2x155-184%KO Peck 2x27-34% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Butterfree builds →Air Slash 2x160-189%KO Gust 2x90-106%KO | ||
Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Farfetch'd builds →Aerial Ace 2x65-77% Air Cutter 2x94-111%KO Peck 2x40-48% | ||
Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x96-114%KO Drill Peck 2x84-99% Pluck 2x65-76% Peck 2x38-46% | ||
 Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x100-118%KO Bounce 2x92-110%KO Wing Attack 2x67-80% Aerial Ace 2x67-80% | ||
 Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x71-84% Air Slash 2x194-228%KO Air Cutter 2x154-182%KO Gust 2x106-125%KO | ||
 Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x119-141%KO Air Cutter 2x109-129%KO Gust 2x73-87% | ||
 Cramorant Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Cramorant builds →Fly 2x92-110%KO Dive 2x84-99% Drill Peck 2x84-99% Pluck 2x65-76% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x95-112%KO Drill Peck 2x86-101%KO Pluck 2x64-76% Peck 2x40-47% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x98-116%KO Bounce 2x95-112%KO Wing Attack 2x67-80% Aerial Ace 2x67-80% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x70-83% Air Slash 2x196-231%KO Air Cutter 2x157-184%KO Gust 2x107-127%KO | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x119-141%KO Air Cutter 2x110-130%KO Gust 2x76-90% | ||
Cramorant Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Cramorant builds →Fly 2x95-112%KO Dive 2x82-98% Drill Peck 2x82-98% Pluck 2x64-76% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x92-109%KO Drill Peck 2x84-99% Air Slash 2x112-132%KO Pluck 2x64-76% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x98-115%KO Bounce 2x92-109%KO Wing Attack 2x67-79% Aerial Ace 2x67-79% | ||
 Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Drifblim builds →Fly 2x87-102%KO Acrobatics 2x56-66% Gust 2x92-109%KO | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x67-79% Air Slash 2x187-221%KO Air Cutter 2x151-178%KO Gust 2x100-119%KO | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x114-135%KO Air Slash 2x131-155%KO Air Cutter 2x105-125%KO Gust 2x73-86% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x95-112%KO Drill Peck 2x84-99% Air Slash 2x116-137%KO Pluck 2x65-77% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x97-115%KO Bounce 2x91-109%KO Wing Attack 2x67-80% Aerial Ace 2x67-80% | ||
Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Drifblim builds →Fly 2x89-105%KO Acrobatics 2x56-67% Icy Wind 2x84-100%KO Gust 2x91-109%KO | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x70-83% Air Slash 2x193-227%KO Air Cutter 2x154-182%KO Icy Wind 2x94-111%KO | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x116-137%KO Air Slash 2x132-156%KO Air Cutter 2x109-128%KO Gust 2x72-86% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x94-112%KO Drill Peck 2x84-100%KO Air Slash 2x117-138%KO Pluck 2x65-76% | ||
 Togekiss Fairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Togekiss builds →Sky Attack 2x97-115%KO Fly 2x62-74% Air Slash 2x225-265%KO | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x100-118%KO Bounce 2x94-112%KO Wing Attack 2x67-79% Aerial Ace 2x67-79% | ||
 Noivern Dragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Noivern builds →Fly 2x82-97% Air Slash 2x189-224%KO Wing Attack 2x55-65% Air Cutter 2x152-179%KO | ||
Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Drifblim builds →Fly 2x89-106%KO Acrobatics 2x55-65% Icy Wind 2x88-104%KO Gust 2x97-115%KO | ||
In Sword & Shield, Volcarona can KO Nincada with Psychic (134-158%). Slowbro's Scald also KOs at 209-247%.
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Volcarona builds →Psychic134-158%KO | ||
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
 Slowbro WaterPsychic | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Slowbro builds →Scald 2x209-247%KO | ||
 Mamoswine IceGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityThickfat ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Mamoswine builds →Earthquake57-67% Ice Shard 2x93-109%KO Knock Off50-59% | ||
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolarpower ItemChoice Specs NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Nincada View Charizard builds →Air Slash 2x432-508%KO Flamethrower 2x519-610%KO Overheat 2x747-879%KO Heat Wave 2x546-643%KO | ||
Sword & Shield 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 47 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Bug Bite, Final Gambit, Flail and 2 more to offspring.
Sword & Shield Nincada 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
The egg pool carries weight here. Bug Bite and Final Gambit aren't available any other way for Nincada, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Bug Buzz and Dig for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Sword & Shield Nincada Locations
high spawn rates in early-game routes across 8 locations. Nincada's one of the easier catches on the list. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Best Locations to Catch Nincada in Sword & Shield
You can catch Nincada through 8 walking encounters from Lv. 7-18, but availability differs between Shield and Sword. Some spots are exclusive to one version.
Nincada Guide
In Sword & Shield, 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 Sword & Shield. 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