Stats & Training
Nothing fancy in Ninetales's spread. It leans mixed with Sp. Def out front. And you'll get 2 Sp. Def and Speed EVs per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
NINETALES casts a sinister light from its bright red eyes to gain total control over its foe’s mind. This POKéMON is said to live for a thousand years.
Legend has it that NINETALES came into being when nine wizards possessing sacred powers merged into one. This POKéMON is highly intelligent - it can understand human speech.
Ninetales Weakness
Type-wise, Ninetales takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. The Fire typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Ninetales's special bulk (base 100 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
In Ruby & Sapphire, Magneton's Thunderbolt hits Ninetales for 54-63%. Aerodactyl threatens a KO with Rock Slide (140-165%). Starmie's Surf also KOs at 86-101%.
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemMagnet NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Magneton builds →Thunderbolt54-63% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRockhead ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake 2x125-147%KO Rock Slide 2x140-165%KO Double Edge75-88% | ||
 Starmie WaterPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Starmie builds →Rapid Spin11-14% Ice Beam14-17% Thunderbolt29-34% Surf 2x86-101%KO | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin15-17% Explosion72-85% Earthquake 2x59-69% | ||
Ruby & Sapphire Evolution
Ninetales evolved from Vulpix's chain using an evolution item. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Vulpix eggs (average hatch time). The evolution from Vulpix pushed Ninetales to 505 total stats. HP saw the largest single gain at +35. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Ninetales to get Vulpix eggs easily using 102 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Disable, Feint Attack, Flail and 5 more.
Ruby & Sapphire Ninetales Best Moveset
Modest nature gives Ninetales the special lean it needs to trade hits effectively. Leftovers adds passive recovery each turn, max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs split the difference, and double STAB punishes anything trying to wall it.
Best Build
Ninetales best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Attacker Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Will O Wisp
- Overheat
- Hypnosis
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding's the move. Disable and Feint Attack give Ninetales options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Ground coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Overheat and Fire Blast. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Ninetales in Ruby & Sapphire
Ninetales doesn't appear wild. Catch Vulpix instead, it shows up at decent rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Ninetales. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Ninetales in Ruby & Sapphire
Step 1Catch VulpixMt. Pyre - OutsideSapphireGrass Lv.25-29 Cave20%MidMt. Pyre - OutsideRubyGrass Lv.25-29 Cave20%Mid
Step 2Ninetales ✓
Ninetales Guide
In Ruby & Sapphire, Ninetales looks average on paper at 505 BST. But Drought is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier pivot on our tier list. Flamethrower with Leftovers is the standard set.
Ninetales gets Drought and Flash Fire. But Drought is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Ninetales is a special attacker with base 81 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the pivot role.
In Ruby & Sapphire, Drought is the hidden ability. It summons strong sunlight that lasts indefinitely upon entering battle. Worth hunting for if you want Ninetales to compete at a higher level.
Game Availability
Available since Red & Blue, Ninetales appears in 21 games spanning 10 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained an Alolan form in Generation 7.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
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 7SMAlolan
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