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.
Dwells on sacred peaks perpetually covered in snow. Said to appear to virtuous people who have lost their way on mountain paths—it then guides them back down to the mountain’s base.
Ninetales Weakness
Type-wise, Ninetales takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. It resists 6 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. 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, Fairy |
 Gyarados Water | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Gyarados builds →Hydro Pump 2x58-69% Aqua Tail 2x107-126%KO Surf 2x48-57% Waterfall 2x95-111%KO | ||
 Dondozo Water | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Dondozo builds →Wave Crash 2x117-138%KO Hydro Pump 2x61-73% Aqua Tail 2x89-105%KO Surf 2x51-61% | ||
 Quaquaval WaterFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Quaxly (Cabo Poco Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Quaquaval builds →Wave Crash 2x136-160%KO Hydro Pump 2x76-89% Surf 2x61-73% Liquidation 2x98-116%KO | ||
 Cloyster WaterIce | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Cloyster builds →Hydro Pump 2x76-89% Surf 2x61-73% Liquidation 2x80-95% Waterfall 2x76-89% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Vaporeon builds →Hydro Pump 2x93-109%KO Muddy Water 2x76-89% Surf 2x76-89% Liquidation 2x60-71% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Amoonguss builds →Sludge Bomb30-36% | ||
 Tinkaton FairySteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPickpocket ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Tinkaton builds →Knock Off16-20% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Corviknight builds →U Turn10-12% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Ninetales View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin13-16% Volt Switch12-14% | ||
Scarlet & Violet 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 206 partners from the Ground egg group.
Scarlet & Violet Ninetales Best Moveset
the remaining moves keeps opponents guessing about Ninetales's real targets. Heatrock provides extra utility while max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs and Timid nature handle the stat profile. Drought ties it together.
Best Build
Ninetales best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Heat Wave
- Solar Beam
- Protect
- Will O Wisp
Support Moveset
- Encore
- Healing Wish
- Will O Wisp
- Weather Ball
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Support Moveset
- Protect
- Heat Wave
- Will O Wisp
- Encore
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Nasty Plot
- Energy Ball
- Fire Blast
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Most of Ninetales's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Overheat and Flare Blitz, but Normal and Dark and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Ninetales in Scarlet & Violet
Ninetales can't be caught in Scarlet & Violet. Transfer Vulpix from Blue, Yellow, or Omega Ruby and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
Ninetales Guide
In Scarlet & Violet, Ninetales looks average on paper at 505 BST. But Drought is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. B-Tier pivot on our tier list. Heat Wave with Heatrock 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 Scarlet & Violet, 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