What does Vulpix evolve into?

Multiple options from Vulpix: Ninetales using a Fire Stone and Alolan Ninetales using a Ice Stone. Each branch takes the 299 BST base in a different direction.

For Sword & Shield, you can run Vulpix through the first few routes without issues. 299 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Ninetales as fast as you can.

Where can you catch Vulpix?

You can find Vulpix in Sword & Shield. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 20 other games across the series.

Does Vulpix have regional forms?

Vulpix has an Alolan form that swaps the typing and reshuffles the stats. Introduced in Gen 7. Worth checking if the original version doesn't fit your team.

Vulpix - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Balanced

DTier

65Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

Sp. Def and Speed carry most of Vulpix's stat budget. HP's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 Speed EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats

Below

HP38

Attack41

Defense40

Sp. Atk50

Sp. Def65

Speed65

Total299

Details

Catch Rate

Easy190 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height0.6 m

Weight9.9 kg

Base XP60

Abilities

Flash Fire

Protects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.

DroughtHATop Pick

Summons strong sunlight that lasts indefinitely upon entering battle.

Flash Fire grants Fire immunity

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1

Speed training source

Pokedex Entries

After long years in the ever-snowcapped mountains of Alola, this Vulpix has gained power over ice.

Vulpix Weakness

Water, Ground, and Rock moves hit Vulpix for super-effective damage. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Vulpix's special bulk (base 65 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Vulpix Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy

Type ChartAvg

3Weak

6Resist

1Immune

Score0

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Water Ground Rock

½xResist

Fire Grass Ice Bug Steel Fairy

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Fire

STAB (4)

Grass Ice Bug Steel

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

Toxapex PoisonWater	A
Available Moves Moves LiquidationLv. 35 Mud ShotTM53 Damage vs Vulpix Liquidation 2x 118-140%KO Mud Shot 2x 34-40% View Toxapex builds →
Seismitoad WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves DiveTM45 DigTM15 Rock SlideTM22 Bubble BeamLv. 20 Damage vs Vulpix Dive 2x 151-178%KO Dig 2x 151-178%KO Rock Slide 2x 94-111%KO Bubble Beam 2x 80-95% View Seismitoad builds →
Barbaracle RockWater	C
Available Moves Moves DiveTM45 DigTM15 Razor ShellLv. 36 Rock SlideTM22 Damage vs Vulpix Dive 2x 163-193%KO Dig 2x 109-129%KO Razor Shell 2x 153-181%KO Rock Slide 2x 153-181%KO View Barbaracle builds →
Mantine WaterFlying	C
Available Moves Moves DiveTM45 Rock SlideTM22 Bubble BeamLv. 24 Water PulseLv. 12 Damage vs Vulpix Dive 2x 80-95% Rock Slide 2x 50-59% Bubble Beam 2x 78-92% Water Pulse 2x 72-86% View Mantine builds →
Drednaw WaterRock	C
Available Moves Moves DiveTM45 DigTM15 Razor ShellLv. 1 Rock SlideTM22 Damage vs Vulpix Dive 2x 176-208%KO Dig 2x 118-139%KO Razor Shell 2x 163-193%KO Rock Slide 2x 163-193%KO View Drednaw builds →

Sword & Shield Evolution

Vulpix doesn't evolve by leveling. You'll need an evolution item to push it forward to Ninetales. The evolved forms gain up to 206 total stats over Vulpix. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Evolutions

#037Vulpix

#038NinetalesFire Stone

Alola

#038Alola NinetalesIce Stone

Stat Comparison 3 Stages

Vulpix

Fire

Ninetales

Fire

Alola Ninetales

Fire

73+35

ATK

76+35

DEF

75+35

SP.ATK

81+31

SP.DEF

100+35

SPE

100+35

BST

299D-Tier

505B-Tier+206

505C-Tier+206

ROLE

Balanced

Pivot

TYPE

Utility

Mixed

Breeding

Easy

Breed Vulpix easily with 152 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Baby-Doll Eyes, Flail, Flame Charge and 4 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Ground

Gender

♂25.0%♀75.0%

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

7moves

Breed With (best first)

Sword & Shield Vulpix Best Moveset

Don't let the NFE status fool you. Vulpix with Eviolite hits bulk numbers that compete with final forms. Max Defense and Speed EVs and Bold nature maximize that, and Drought handles the rest.

Best Build

Experimental

Bulky Support

Ability

Drought

Item

EvioliteBULK

Best Nature for Vulpix

Bold+DEF

Vulpix best EVs are Defense and Speed

EVs

Def

SpA

Spe

Bulky Support Moveset

Energy Ball
FlamethrowerSTAB
ToxicUtility
ProtectFAST +4

Recommended Teammates

VolcanionExcellent

DragapultExcellent

KartanaExcellent

Moves

Without breeding, Vulpix misses out on Baby-Doll Eyes and Flail. That's 7 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Overheat and Flare Blitz, with coverage across 7 types rounding things out.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Ember

D4010025Fire

Lv 1

Tail Whip

——10030Normal

Lv 4

Disable

C—10020Normal

Lv 8

Quick Attack+1

D4010030Normal

Lv 12

Spite

D—10010Ghost

Lv 16

Incinerate

D6010015Fire

Lv 20

Confuse Ray

D—10010Ghost

Lv 24

Will-O-Wisp

C—8515Fire

Lv 28

Extrasensory

D8010020Psychic

Lv 32

Flamethrower

S9010015Fire

Lv 36

Imprison

D——10Psychic

Lv 40

Fire Spin

D358515Fire

Lv 44

Safeguard

C——25Normal

Lv 48

Inferno

—100505Fire

Lv 52

Grudge

———5Ghost

Lv 56

Fire Blast

C110855Fire

TM Moves

TR12

Agility

C——30Psychic

TM31

Attract

C—10015Normal

TR01

Body Slam

D8510015Normal

TR58

Dark Pulse

D8010015Dark

TM15

Dig

D8010010Ground

TR30

Encore

C—1005Normal

TR26

Endure+4

C——10Normal

TR65

Energy Ball

S9010010Grass

TM39

Facade

D7010020Normal

TR15

Fire Blast

C110855Fire

TM13

Fire Spin

D358515Fire

TR02

Flamethrower

S9010015Fire

TR55

Flare Blitz

C12010015Fire

TR81

Foul Play

D9510015Dark

TR36

Heat Wave

C959010Fire

TM77

Hex

D6510010Ghost

TM44

Imprison

D——10Psychic

TR31

Iron Tail

D1007515Steel

TM92

Mystical Fire

D7510010Fire

TR43

Overheat

C130905Fire

TM57

Payback

D5010010Dark

TM60

Power Swap

———10Psychic

TM25

Protect+4

S——10Normal

TM21

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM76

Round

D6010015Normal

TM19

Safeguard

C——25Normal

TR27

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM24

Snore

—5010015Normal

TR20

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM34

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM40

Swift

D60—20Normal

TM84

Tail Slap

D258510Normal

TM46

Weather Ball

D5010010Normal

TM38

Will-O-Wisp

C—8515Fire

TR69

Zen Headbutt

D809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Egg

Baby-Doll Eyes+1

D—10030Fairy

Egg

Flail

D—10015Normal

Egg

Flame Charge

D5010020Fire

Egg

Howl

D——40Normal

Egg

Hypnosis

C—6020Psychic

Egg

Memento

C—10010Dark

Egg

Roar-6

C——20Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Burning Jealousy

D701005Fire

Sword & Shield Vulpix Locations

Easy grab on Vulpix with high spawn rates across 21 locations in early-game routes. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.

Best Locations to Catch Vulpix in Sword & Shield

Before you go hunting for Vulpix, check which of the 21 spots belong to your version. Sword and Shield each have different walking encounters at Lv. 7-47.

Rolling Fields

SwordOverworld Lv.7-10

60%Early

Intense Sun

West Lake Axewell

SwordGrass Lv.7-11 Cave

40%Early

Intense Sun

Dappled Grove

SwordGrass Lv.11-15 Forest

40%Early

Intense Sun

West Lake Axewell

SwordOverworld Lv.8-14 Cave

35%Early

Intense Sun

East Lake Axewell

SwordGrass Lv.8-12 Cave

30%Early

Intense Sun

South Lake Miloch

SwordGrass Lv.11-13 Water

30%Early

Intense Sun

Rolling Fields - 2

SwordOverworld Lv.7-10

25%Early

Intense Sun

East Lake Axewell

SwordOverworld Lv.10-15 Cave

25%Early

Intense Sun

South Lake Miloch

SwordOverworld Lv.14-16 Water

25%Early

Intense Sun

Rolling Fields

SwordGrass Lv.7-9

20%Early

Intense Sun

Watchtower Ruins

SwordGrass Lv.11-14 Building

20%Early

Intense Sun

Route 3

SwordOverworld Lv.10-14 Route

15%Early

All Weather

South Lake Miloch - 2

SwordOverworld Lv.14-16 Water

15%Early

Intense Sun

Dappled Grove

SwordOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest

2%Early

Intense Sun

Hammerlocke Hills

ShieldGrass Lv.28-30

40%Mid

Intense Sun

Watchtower Ruins

SwordOverworld Lv.26-29 Building

10%Mid

Intense Sun

North Lake Miloch

SwordOverworld Lv.26-28 Water

5%Mid

Intense Sun

Axew's Eye

SwordGrass Lv.35-40

40%Late

Intense Sun

Dusty Bowl

ShieldOverworld Lv.42-47

30%Late

Intense Sun

Giant's Seat

SwordOverworld Lv.33-38 Water

5%Late

Intense Sun

Axew's Eye

SwordOverworld Lv.36-40

5%Late

Intense Sun

Vulpix Guide

Multiple options from Vulpix: Ninetales using a Fire Stone and Alolan Ninetales using a Ice Stone. Each branch takes the 299 BST base in a different direction.
For Sword & Shield, you can run Vulpix through the first few routes without issues. 299 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Ninetales as fast as you can.
You can find Vulpix in Sword & Shield. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 20 other games across the series.
Vulpix has an Alolan form that swaps the typing and reshuffles the stats. Introduced in Gen 7. Worth checking if the original version doesn't fit your team.

Game Availability

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Vulpix has appeared in 21 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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Shuckle BugRock	B
Available Moves Moves Rock ThrowLv. 15 RolloutLv. 5 Rock BlastTM54 Damage vs Vulpix Rock Throw 2x 33-41% Rollout 2x 24-29% Rock Blast 2x 20-24% View Shuckle builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideLv. 20 Rock ThrowLv. 1 Smack DownLv. 4 Rock BlastTM54 Damage vs Vulpix Rock Slide 2x 88-106%KO Rock Throw 2x 59-71% Smack Down 2x 59-71% Rock Blast 2x 33-41% View Onix builds →
Krabby Water	C
Available Moves Moves Bubble BeamLv. 20 Mud ShotLv. 12 Water GunLv. 1 Damage vs Vulpix Bubble Beam 2x 43-53% Mud Shot 2x 25-31% Water Gun 2x 29-35% View Krabby builds →
Palpitoad WaterGround	D
Available Moves Moves Bubble BeamLv. 20 Mud ShotLv. 12 Damage vs Vulpix Bubble Beam 2x 75-88% Mud Shot 2x 65-76% View Palpitoad builds →
Lombre WaterGrass	D
Available Move Moves Water GunLv. 1 Damage vs Vulpix Water Gun 2x 43-53% View Lombre builds →

Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideLv. 20 Rock ThrowLv. 1 Smack DownLv. 4 Sand TombTM49 Damage vs Vulpix Rock Slide 2x 86-102%KO Rock Throw 2x 59-71% Smack Down 2x 59-71% Sand Tomb 2x 42-51% View Onix builds →
Krabby Water	C
Available Moves Moves Bubble BeamLv. 20 Mud ShotTM53 Water GunLv. 1 WhirlpoolTM36 Damage vs Vulpix Bubble Beam 2x 37-46% Mud Shot 2x 22-27% Water Gun 2x 25-31% Whirlpool 2x 25-31% View Krabby builds →
Palpitoad WaterGround	D
Available Moves Moves Bubble BeamLv. 20 Mud ShotTM53 Damage vs Vulpix Bubble Beam 2x 68-81% Mud Shot 2x 59-71% View Palpitoad builds →
Lombre WaterGrass	D
Available Moves Moves Bubble BeamLv. 24 Mud ShotTM53 Water GunLv. 1 WhirlpoolTM36 Damage vs Vulpix Bubble Beam 2x 64-76% Mud Shot 2x 37-44% Water Gun 2x 42-51% Whirlpool 2x 37-46% View Lombre builds →
Shellos Water	D
Available Moves Moves Water PulseLv. 15 Ancient PowerLv. 20 Mud ShotTM53 Water GunLv. 1 Damage vs Vulpix Water Pulse 2x 56-66% Ancient Power 2x 37-44% Mud Shot 2x 34-41% Water Gun 2x 37-46% View Shellos builds →

Sudowoodo Rock	C
Available Moves Moves Stone EdgeLv. 1 Rock TombLv. 20 Rock ThrowLv. 1 Sand TombTM49 Damage vs Vulpix Stone Edge 2x 191-226%KO Rock Tomb 2x 117-138%KO Rock Throw 2x 97-115%KO Sand Tomb 2x 46-55% View Sudowoodo builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideLv. 20 Rock ThrowLv. 1 Smack DownLv. 4 Sand TombTM49 Damage vs Vulpix Rock Slide 2x 82-97% Rock Throw 2x 58-69% Smack Down 2x 58-69% Sand Tomb 2x 43-51% View Onix builds →
Krabby Water	C
Available Moves Moves Bubble BeamLv. 20 Mud ShotTM53 Water GunLv. 1 WhirlpoolTM36 Damage vs Vulpix Bubble Beam 2x 38-46% Mud Shot 2x 23-28% Water Gun 2x 26-32% Whirlpool 2x 23-28% View Krabby builds →
Palpitoad WaterGround	D
Available Moves Moves Bubble BeamLv. 20 Mud ShotTM53 Damage vs Vulpix Bubble Beam 2x 66-78% Mud Shot 2x 58-69% View Palpitoad builds →
Lombre WaterGrass	D
Available Moves Moves Bubble BeamLv. 24 Mud ShotTM53 Water GunLv. 1 WhirlpoolTM36 Damage vs Vulpix Bubble Beam 2x 62-74% Mud Shot 2x 35-43% Water Gun 2x 43-51% Whirlpool 2x 34-42% View Lombre builds →

Lunatone RockPsychic	A
Available Moves Moves Stone EdgeLv. 35 Rock SlideLv. 15 Rock ThrowLv. 1 Sand TombTM49 Damage vs Vulpix Stone Edge 2x 127-150%KO Rock Slide 2x 96-114%KO Rock Throw 2x 67-79% Sand Tomb 2x 32-38% View Lunatone builds →
Pelipper WaterFlying	B
Available Moves Moves Water PulseLv. 20 Water GunLv. 1 WhirlpoolTM36 Damage vs Vulpix Water Pulse 2x 85-100%KO Water Gun 2x 57-68% Whirlpool 2x 51-61% View Pelipper builds →
Cramorant FlyingWater	C
Available Moves Moves DiveLv. 28 Water GunLv. 7 WhirlpoolTM36 Damage vs Vulpix Dive 2x 139-164%KO Water Gun 2x 51-61% Whirlpool 2x 45-54% View Cramorant builds →
Solrock RockPsychic	C
Available Moves Moves Stone EdgeLv. 35 Rock SlideLv. 15 Rock ThrowLv. 1 Sand TombTM49 Damage vs Vulpix Stone Edge 2x 190-225%KO Rock Slide 2x 142-168%KO Rock Throw 2x 96-114%KO Sand Tomb 2x 46-55% View Solrock builds →
Quagsire WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves Aqua TailLv. 28 Muddy WaterLv. 34 DigTM15 Mud ShotTM53 Damage vs Vulpix Aqua Tail 2x 157-186%KO Muddy Water 2x 90-107%KO Dig 2x 139-164%KO Mud Shot 2x 57-68% View Quagsire builds →

Lunatone RockPsychic	A
Available Moves Moves Stone EdgeLv. 35 Rock SlideLv. 15 Rock ThrowLv. 1 Sand TombTM49 Damage vs Vulpix Stone Edge 2x 124-147%KO Rock Slide 2x 95-113%KO Rock Throw 2x 64-75% Sand Tomb 2x 31-36% View Lunatone builds →
Pelipper WaterFlying	B
Available Moves Moves Water PulseLv. 20 Water GunLv. 1 WhirlpoolTM36 Damage vs Vulpix Water Pulse 2x 83-99% Water Gun 2x 58-68% Whirlpool 2x 49-58% View Pelipper builds →
Cramorant FlyingWater	C
Available Moves Moves DiveLv. 28 Water GunLv. 7 WhirlpoolTM36 Damage vs Vulpix Dive 2x 139-164%KO Water Gun 2x 51-61% Whirlpool 2x 45-55% View Cramorant builds →
Solrock RockPsychic	C
Available Moves Moves Stone EdgeLv. 35 Rock SlideLv. 15 Rock ThrowLv. 1 Sand TombTM49 Damage vs Vulpix Stone Edge 2x 188-222%KO Rock Slide 2x 141-167%KO Rock Throw 2x 95-113%KO Sand Tomb 2x 45-55% View Solrock builds →
Quagsire WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves Aqua TailLv. 28 Muddy WaterLv. 34 DigTM15 Mud ShotTM53 Damage vs Vulpix Aqua Tail 2x 156-184%KO Muddy Water 2x 92-109%KO Dig 2x 139-164%KO Mud Shot 2x 58-68% View Quagsire builds →

Tyranitar RockDark	A
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves CrunchSTAB Stone Edge Earthquake Stealth Rock Damage vs Vulpix Crunch 82-97% Stone Edge 2x 204-241%KO Earthquake 2x 136-160%KO View Tyranitar builds →
Excadrill GroundSteel	A
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Rapid Spin Iron Head Swords Dance Damage vs Vulpix Earthquake 2x 125-148%KO Rapid Spin 21-25% View Excadrill builds →
Krookodile GroundDark	B
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Knock Off Stealth Rock TauntUtility Damage vs Vulpix Earthquake 2x 107-126%KO Knock Off 35-41% View Krookodile builds →
Slowbro WaterPsychic	B
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureRelaxed Moves TeleportUtility Future Sight ScaldSTAB Slack Off Damage vs Vulpix Scald 2x 76-90% View Slowbro builds →
Swampert WaterGround	B
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureSassy Moves Stealth Rock EarthquakeSTAB Flip Turn ToxicUtility Damage vs Vulpix Earthquake 2x 88-104%KO Flip Turn 2x 53-62% View Swampert builds →